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harley or bmw?
we are going to ride across the states, through mexico, central america, and then on into south america, and cannot get a straight answer to our boggle.....can this be done on a touring harley, I have riddden Harleys all my life, but am wondering if a GS may be a better option for this one, and we are going 2Up.................words of wisdom please!
Dan |
Those are very valid reasons for taking it along. Learning a new bike (BMW) on the road is not the best time for that.
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Straight answer
I rode an Ultra Classic down Baja, across the Sea of Cortez by ferry, across the Devils Backbone and out at McAllen, Tex. Took a Softail all over the Yucatan and had a ball. No prob, just be careful of your kickstand on the topes(speedbumps). Not on a Harley, but on my ride to Panama, I did not run across anything I would be afraid of with a Harley ---- careful of the potholes and sugar cane. SA dunno - yet. All the normal south of the border precautions apply. Take the Harley. |
A Harley is the wrong bike for the job. There are many unmarked speedbumps that you will hit at high speed. It is likely that you will come upon washed out roads that you can not do on a Harley. Buy a lighter dual sport and you will have a lot more fun on the trip, trust me.
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Take your Harley. It's your bike, you know its quirks and you like it (Keep in mind it may look totally different when you return... bye bye to smooth chrome if that matters to you.)
In any case ,I agree with the first response. Knowing your bike is important on the road and adds a layer of confidence. Just keep your speed down (even perhaps painfully slow at times) on dirt / gravel roads and look out for oil on the roads. Another aspect is that there is something great in my opinion about having a high mileage bike that has been places with you... like a great pair of boots or any equipment you have had for a long time. It's an odd but wonderfull bond. Have a great trip. |
Hi,
Water melon or banana? Which one has more vitamin? A Guatalaman man will choose banana, a middle eastern will water melon... Go for the one you know and use well.... IMHO. :scooter: Enjoy your ride... |
Having done trips on a Triumph Bonneville that "people" tell me are only possible on an dual purpose type bike I'd say take the Harley. Only thing I'd suggest is look for tyres that won't block up with anything loose, so a block/catspaw tread rather than semi-slicks. Far better to have a bike you are comfortable with mechanically and on 90% of surfaces than start planning for the what if's.
Enjoy your trip, Andy |
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Lovely bike. --Mike |
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I rode with a dutch guy on a HD pulling a trailer down to The Gambia in 2006 and he had no problems, he had also 'done' Mongolia on the same machine, I now ride R80gs but would have no worries on riding a HD or any other bike for that matter on a trip,ride what you know,I can't understand why you either have to be a Charley Ewan or David Knight clone to do a trip. |
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Other then that most of the above summed it up.. ride the bike you know/love.. you will spend way too much time with something that you dont love.. so your harley is the right tool for the job... Sure a deep river fording will mean you have to turn around and find a different route.. but this could be an adventure in on itself. have fun! |
Take the Hog. Myself and Gato would not because we ride different. There are Harleys all over CA and SA. (Not allot, but they are here.) There are paved roads almost everywhere. If you decide not to take paved roads, put a different set of rubber on it and ride a little slower.
Your bike is probably allready set up too. You should leave tomorrow. :mchappy: Jeff |
Hi There,
i rode a couple of BMW years ago while my former wife forced me to sell my harley instead of a more confortable Boxer. we went in morocco north europe and middle east. nothing to say, were excellent bikes expecially the gs 1100r. but i felt in love with harley once again and loose her. i owned an old '93 electra sport, wich allowed me to ride through iran for 12.500km, no problems. then i buyed a new Dyna fxd in 2002. with this one i rode through caucasus, middle east, west sahara 'till dakar and back. and last year leaving from Italy i went to touch the sky on khardung la, himalaya, just 3 months after Peter & kay forwood. now it have 90,000km just common maintenance tyres, brake pads & battery. it still work so i'm plan to ride south america on 2009. everyone makes the choice he's feel, everyone ride the bike he's like. u can ride the world with your mind, but still on two wheels... www.lungastrada.it |
harley or BMW
to all of you who replied to my post, thank you!! I will venture forth with much more confidence now with your support, but ifmy bike sinks into a bog in Ecuador, I will come find you:stupid:!!!!
but seriously, thanks to all for your wisdom, I have never taken my baby out of europe, and the pictures of the Off Road possee going through rivers and down gravel mountains scares the $@*t out of me! Happy riding all of you look out for some short guy pushing a HOG round SA , it could be me!! Dan |
The bottom line is: Ride what you love.
That said, you will face certain constraints when riding a Harley instead of a large dualsport-ish bike like the BMW GS: * You will avoid the dirt and malpaved roads more than you would otherwise. Ground clearance makes a huge difference. * Topes will be significantly more irritating. On a GS with a well-behaved passenger (who stands up when you do) you should be able to hit topes barely slowing down. * You should be more concerned about locking the bike up. There's a huge aftermarket for Harley parts so they're easy to strip and sell. Not so much for KTMs or BMWs. Don't accept anyone's anecdotal reports of the reliability of the bikes; Harleys and BMWs both fail with enough frequency to provide plenty of fun stories on advrider. You will have problems, it's just part of the experience. If you're in a hurry take an airplane! Personally I would not go south without a dualsport because the backroads are WAY MORE FUN. I can't comment on South America, but if you stick to major highways you miss out on 90% of the experience of Central America. Jeff |
Asado(grill) in BA is on me!!!!
Hey great choice!
Do the trip,modern HD are great bikes.Far better then crap chinese....fu%&$ing bikes. Remember when you enter BA i will make your first asado here. Why don´t you share a few pictures(or link to them)of your travelling HD? Maybe we all can advice you a bit more. Have seen 1200 sporster on TKC 80! Karl |
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.
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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.
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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 |
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Might be a decent travel bike!
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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 |
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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. |
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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! |
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A R80 GS and a HD ! . . . Quite similar by many ways, at least both are two wheeled ;-) Cheers, |
!Cuidado! T O P E S !
Hey man, they don't make twisty roads like 16 in Canada, eh, hoser? :rofl:
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Ride your HD...
I am taking my HD Street Glide down in about 4 weeks. I have 25k on it now after purchasing in April of this year. I have done nothing but regular service and new rubber.
Been down dirt roads, pot hole filled roads, muddy roads, icy roads, animal filled roads, roads with fire on both sides of the lane and no visibility, roads filled with topes, roads with oil just layed on 'em, etc. When I run into these kinds of challenging roads, I slow way down, period. There have even been times when I had to pull over, and think out an approach. In Baja, San Quintin, I took what was advertised as a two mile dirt road to a hotel, (the road was actually about 6-10 miles), filled with pot holes, sections of sand, etc., it took me more than two hours, including a stop or two for a smoke, but I made it. The owner of the hotel told me I was mucho loco, and then proceeded to bring me six cold beers in a bucket with some fresh shrimp and ceviche. During my smoke breaks, I took about 50 pics of beautiful blooming cactus, and met two local kids, who happened to be the deck hands on my fishing charter the next day. It was the most ruggedly beautiful 10 miles I have ever ridden. Their is NO SUCH THING as the RIGHT BIKE. I do believe however there is the "RIGHT" mindset. Dont be afraid, trust and have confidence in yourself and the world around you, and you will be fine no matter what happens. Hope to see you down the road! |
Fire and Miles...
Scary pic. Glad you lived to tell about it. I rode through fire on the mainland as I was heading to Guad. from the west. There was literally flames broiling up on both sides of the road and I couldn't see the front end of my bike for the smoke, for just about a half mile.
The above happened on my trip through Baja and Mexico, which also included my 10 mile dirt ride to, yep, the Old Mill, like this Old Mill right??http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3106/...61cf589693.jpg I do believe you, and the sign, are right about the mileage, just wasn't the mileage I rode. i do remember coming back out to the main road when I left however took me a lot less time... I really liked that place and if I can get out of here in the next week or so, I just may head through Baja, and stop by the Old Mill, again, before heading to CA. Cheers! |
Taqueria I know.
Have a great ride! |
I have to echo what most everyone is saying... Know your bike's capabilities, know your own capabilities, and you can ride anything almost anywhere.
My fav pictures from Peter Forwood's site are of him riding his Electra Glide and FORDING RIVERS :eek3: with it in Iceland. After seeing that, I re-defined my concept of what could be done with a Harley touring bike. That being said, if you're planning on taking a bike like mine (2006 HD Ultra Classic) into some of the rougher parts of the world, you need to be willing to say farwell to your bike's show-worthy shine and pristine chrome. There's a price for leaving the nice smooth ribbon of black ;) |
Ride what you like at the end of the day its not a race but an experince. I got my nick name for traveling from Le Havle to Malaga in a day 22.30 hrs but on a bike for the job and was something i wanted to do.
I have taken my Harley all over Europe and down some right shite tracks to dead ends and sometimes the opposite. Its all about the experince and riding the pace you want to go at, to0 fast and you will miss something. With the HD i imagine you will end up staring in your own movie from the attention you will get. Have a great trip and there has been some really good advice on this thread. Steve |
Just to keep the post going I will add my 2 cents.
Dan (the guy that started this post) should be to Fin Del Mundo about now as I passed him in Cali Columbia as I went north in Oct. I think he has a blog on here if anyone wants to check his progress. IMHO as others have said anything can make it, met a rider on a 1943 Harley flat head heading south, he had already been on the road 14 months. But if I did it again it would be with something that I could get nobbies on. I rode 22,600 miles in South and Central America on a Buell XB12X and took it down four times, twice in mud and twice in loose gravel. But after seeing the '43 HD making it I get the urge to prep my '53 Indian and see how far I can get. So if you are buying a bike for the big trip, get one that will do it all, if you have a bike you like, just go for it. Bob:scooter: |
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