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Honda or BMW in South America? Honda or BMW in South America?
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Photo by Lois Pryce, schoolkids in Algeria

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Photo of Lois Pryce, UK
and schoolkids in Algeria



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  #1  
Old 22 Jan 2014
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10 weeks to get the parts to fix my BMW!
It took three weeks to fix my BMW transmission in Lima, Peru only to discover the clutch matercylinder was bad and it was going to take another three weeks to get the parts, seven weeks after arriving at the Lima BMW shop and the day I was supposed be be back on the road they discovered the rear para lever bearing is bad and it's going to be another three weeks to get the part! Thats a ten week stay in Lima waiting on the BMW dealership to get my bike back on the road because they can't get parts and take forever to work on the bike.

Total cost to date: seven weeks in a hotel $2000, Parts and Labor in Lima $1600, airline flight to California to get the parts the shop couldn't $1000. Price of a brand new KLR $6000. Enough said?

Skip the BMW and enjoy your vacation!

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  #2  
Old 23 Jan 2014
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Sorry to crash the thread but someone mentioned to:

"Check the valves"

How does one do this? What am I looking for?

Quote:
seven weeks in a hotel $2000


Good luck mate!
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  #3  
Old 23 Jan 2014
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Long waits for BMW parts is not something just afflicted on those out of western Europe.

I currently have four 1200GS's in pieces. Waiting WEEKS for parts which one would think would be instantly available.


If I need an obscure part for my 20 year old Honda ... I can have it within a week.
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Can't say anymore.
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  #4  
Old 23 Jan 2014
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Mr Steam Turbine View Post
It took three weeks to fix my BMW transmission in Lima, Peru only to discover the clutch matercylinder was bad and it was going to take another three weeks to get the parts, seven weeks after arriving at the Lima BMW shop and the day I was supposed be be back on the road they discovered the rear para lever bearing is bad and it's going to be another three weeks to get the part! Thats a ten week stay in Lima waiting on the BMW dealership to get my bike back on the road because they can't get parts and take forever to work on the bike.

Total cost to date: seven weeks in a hotel $2000, Parts and Labor in Lima $1600, airline flight to California to get the parts the shop couldn't $1000. Price of a brand new KLR $6000. Enough said?

Skip the BMW and enjoy your vacation!
I've ridden with BMW buddies for years. None keep their BMW past the warranty period. Most buy extended warranty, so they get 3 or 4 years additional on top of the factory 3 year warranty. Plus, for international travel ... they carry travel insurance.

Some BMW devotees around here are able to do work themselves and carry various parts half way round the world in their panniers to prove a point ... you never know when something will let go! But they have the skills, parts and tools to do the work themselves. Most of us don't have those skills.

In defence of BMW ... I think most Japanese bikes (including KLR's) would also have to wait on parts in the case of major engine or trans component failure. Unless the model you ride is sold/serviced at local dealers, then you won't find parts for it even at a Kawasaki dealer.

But I'm thinking parts may be located closer than Germany?
Example: The Suzuki DR650 is now assembled in Colombia and sold in several S. American countries including Colombia, Ecuador and perhaps Peru'. I'm assuming parts are available at stocking dealers but cannot confirm this. :confused1: Also, they build the Vstrom 650 there too.
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