Been done. Been done on a 50cc scooter to so I am told.
Merry Xmas from the South Pole - Ushuaia, Argentina Travel Blog

HD not my first choice but then nether is a 1200 BMW or a little scooter.

Swinging
 

Every swingin dick is doing it on a Bmw.If you make it to Colombia or Ecuador on your Harley,I,m buying the beer!!!
Al theturtleshead

Go with the one you'd enjoy the most.

There will be times when the BMW would be best suited and others where the HD might be more your choice...

Personally, I'm not a HD fan, but if it'll give you the most pleasure to ride, I say its a no brainer (sounds to me like you really like them...). Certainly, don't avoid the brand you really want just because you think 5-10% of the trip will be dirt tracks....

We were in Argentina, and attended the Viedma HUBB meet. There were several of GSs (inc 2 singles), a couple of sidecars, a couple of Yamaha Diversions (!!), a couple of V-stroms, 2 Katooms, a KLR and one couple on a Harley Electra Glide!

They went down the same dirt and sand, rutted tracks that the rest of us did. The HD arrived a little while behind the rest of us, but it arrived, white-wall tyres and all....
It was a really crappy track, so if they managed it, why not you? (Just don't expect it to be easy, though!)

That said, from personal experience, the GS did a beautiful job (ours was an 1150: and I'd go for an airhead or 1100/1150 if you choose Bavarian...better value for money...!). I don't recall anyone of the other riders having any particular problems with any of their bikes.

Just don't buy a new bike, whatever the brand!! Any new bike would depreciate incredibly after a trip like that.

So, either will do it on a marque you know, or spread your wings on a different style of bike. If you do it on a bike that you love: you'll enjoy the trip even more...

We are: boxer twin GS (written-off) now replaced with boxer twin Ural!

I have to say I was most impressed with a a sportster someone had.

The low seat height makes it and easier than expected bike to ride.

Ride what you are at ease with and just allow for its strengths and weaknesses

Ride the bike with the best and most aftermarket support, and the most reliable, and since it's going to be hot, water cooled, that eliminates HD and BMW.

Ride that Hog
 

There are great Harley owners groups and dealerships all the way down. The roads all the way down are no worse than what you find at times in the US. You may have to creep along from time to time, buy you will make it. The money you will lose selling the bike you already own and buying anything else will buy a lot of hotel rooms and nafta.

At the end of the day, a liquid cooled bike with a drive shaft and fuel injection would be your best choice, but between what you have and what you propose, you are better off taking the money you lose whenever you trade bikes and using it on your trip.

water: it's for making beer
 

Water pumps fail (see bmw F650), coolant needs changing, shafts strip splines and so on. It all adds power but also weight. It's six of one and half a dozen of the other. The long dreamed of (in the US mostly) K1500GS just doesn't fit everyones needs.

Personally, my dream bike is probably an FI Ural built in Japan, a Triumph Scrambler with the Bonneville engine or a Moto Guzzi off roader properly downsized to 750cc. I don't think any of them will happen, so I'll stick to Uralising my Bonneville!

I totally understand why people like Harleys. If they'd make a European style frame/fork set up that'd be on my wish list too! If anyone from HD reads this, bit of advice, go look at a Vincent and then think of how many sales you'd take off Triumph and Ducati!

Andy

What about the Sportster XR1200. It is build for Europe (I think it is not even available in the US)

Might be a decent travel bike!

Harley +1
 

Harley is good for sure. I've tried it in many places and never had serious problems. All what can heppend with it can be fixed easyly. Just keep another belt and instruments with you.
I ride it in Russia, and we have not the best roads in the world...
http://ruriders.com/statya.php?id=15301

Whilst I aggree with most of what you say, I am unconvinced that water cooling bestows an mpg advantage. This has not been my experience unless the air cooled motor employed a fan.

I'm amazed
 

I deliberately didn't read this thread earlier because I was sure it would be full of so called know it alls who have never ridden a Harley slagging them off.
Nice to see there are a few more "live and let live" types posting at the moment.

Moto Guzzie made a 650 off roader NTX ..
1989 Moto Guzzi NTX 650 specifications and pictures

From Granada, Nicarauga
 

We've made it this far on a BMW R12GSA, but I see no reason why you couldn't do it on a Harley. IMHO, it's more a matter of how you ride. There are hazards lurking everywhere so you must ride within your capabilities and those of the bike.

Example: We are riding 2Up and while this is a great bike, right now it is very heavy and less manouverable. I don't have to change my riding style too much on the US Interstate. But it was a very different story on Ruta 16 east of Hermosillo, MX.

If you do take your Harley, consider adding some protection to the underside. Even with a GS, my center stand and bash plate have rubbed over a few of the more agressive "Topes" (speed bumps).

Enjoy the ride!