Through South America

[livelarg]

I am planning a trip through South America. I am wanting to stay as close to the west coastline as I can. My planned route is through:
Mexico
Guatamala
San Salvador
Honduras
Nicaugurau
Cost Rica
Panama
Colombia
Ecuador
Peru
Chile
Argentina- end at the very tip of the cape.

What I am hoping is to get as much info as possible of each country. What I am really wanting now is a good route through all of them.
I am wanting to create a route that is not all road, but a combo of light off-road and on. I was hoping that there are people that have adventured in those countries that can help me plan my way through. I will be riding a bike similar to the BMW GS1200. So that shows the limitations of my ride.
My ride actually goes up to Alaska then down the west coast and through South America. It will start in East Troy, Wiscinson. So I got quite a nice ride ahead of me.
Thanks for any and all help.

[AndyT]

If your starting in E. Troy, it sounds like you must be picking up a new Ulysses at the Buell factory and heading out from there. Best of luck, I own a '95 S2, which I bought new. If they will sponsor me a bike, I'll go with you.

People have written books and not answered your question. My experience ends in Panama, but I think you will find that there are very few choices for your main route, but for side trips the choices are endless. Some more info on what you want to see and do would help.

[livelarg]

you are correct sir. I want the bike fresh from the factory. The first day I will ride the 600 miles for the first tune up, then continue on my way. Wish me luck!

[Twintraveller]

Hi, check out our trip at http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/tst...twintraveller/

we did some offroad, not too much, no supe heavy stuff on the trip unless u want to try a side trip. Mexico is almost entirely paved, Guatemala as well. From Honduras Thru Central America u probl. have to follow the Panam, which is not too bad. In Ecuador u can take the Avenida de los Volcanoes, which is the Panam but ok. In Peru the Panam is Shit because u dont see much, but side roads to Huaraz (from south) is paved, (from north dirt but possible), Ayacucho is paved, Cusco is paved, Arequipa is paved. U just have to go back to Panam all the time if u dont want the dirt here, which can be hard. In Chile most is paved and in argentina the 40 is so so and the Carretera Austral u have to accept the gravel.

But!!!for this bike u prob. should make some depots for tires from time to time. Might be hard to get them.
hav fun
Martin

[RangeRider]

Livelarg,
My wife and I are taking off from Denver next month and are pretty much taking the same route. I don't have any info to add but I'd love to take a look at your Ulysses if we run into each other. Are you taking off soon?

Have fun!

[livelarg]

I am still in the planning phase. Since I am going through some varying temeratures, I am trying to get it all worked out. I have only 30 days to do the whole trip, so I need to have a good plan.
I am hoping to go in the late spring, maybe May or June.
Let me know about your trip when you get back.

Kent

[livelarg]

I also am lookinhg to ride through Baja Mexico. what are the ferry options to go from San Lucus to Mazatlan?

Thanks

[RangeRider]

Kent,
We will let you know what kinds of roads we find down there and any other route info you might be interested in. Come next spring we should be in either Argentina or Brasil.

[BklynDakar]

As for temperatures, here is a good link of a chart of temps. Also the guy rode a KTM, areal off road bike, through SA. I wouldn't worry so much about planning exact rodes just go meet people and start asking. You might try reading/searching the many blogs under Travellers' Stories. I'm sure what every route you want to do has been done before.

A big bike like that is not really going to work well off road. Also, do you want to break something on a new production bike in the mountains of Guatemala or somewhere. This is not an invitation to be flamed.



------------------
Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

[livelarg]

Jsherm:
I am really needing an exact course before I leave. I am on a very tight schedule and cannot spend time on the road trying to figure my way around.
As for the new bike, the whole plan is to see what the bike can do.

Rangerider:
Would like to meet up with you if we are in the same place. how will we be able to contact you out on the road?

thanks
Kent

[livelarg]

Jsherm:
BTW, what link to the temps are you talking about, I would really like to see it.

Thanks
Kent

[BklynDakar]

It helps if I include the link doesn't it
http://www.fowb.co.uk/indexPrep.htm

To each his own, but if you are so pressed for time then you are just wasting your time. If you are more concerned about the bike than the people, then you are missing an experience of a life time.

BTW, I think there was another firefighter who AndyT rode with through CA and then he went through to Tierra del Fuego. He got a big GS and spend through SA. I think it he has a blog called Ride to Fire or something.


------------------
Brooklyn Dakar
http://motorcycleramblings.blogspot.com/

[This message has been edited by JSherm (edited 10 August 2005).]

[livelarg]

I do want to see the people and meet other riders, it's not that. It just that I can only get a certain amount of time off of work, and i want to make this ride. That is why the planning is so important. If I get my route and everything about making my destination worked out in advance, I can spend the time on the road seeing what is there, instead of worrying about my timetable.
If I could spend a few months doing it, I would, but I can't. But I am not going to let a little thing like time keep me from making my trip.
thanks for the link, It is what I am needing.

Kent

------------------
Kent
Team-Buellfool:
My own Pan-Am

[AndyT]

Originally posted by livelarg:
I am still in the planning phase. Since I have only 30 days to do the whole trip, so I need to have a good plan.
I am hoping to go in the late spring, maybe May or June.

Kent

I don't want to rain on your parade, but you won't be able to do what you suggest in your timeframe. I once drove a pickup truck from Valdez AK to Madison, WI. It took 7 days of 12 hour days do that. Wisconsin to the north slope of AK and down to California will chew up most of your 30 days, even if everything goes perfect and you ride every day.

My suggestion is buy some maps and Lonely Planet type guide books and work out milage and either extend your time by a factor of 5 to 10 (really), or cover less (way less) ground. Once you work out a realistic trip, there are lots of people on this board who will be happy to help.

I'm not trying to be a smart ass or know it all, but that is just reality.

[AndyT]

BTW, I think there was another firefighter who AndyT rode with through CA and then he went through to Tierra del Fuego. He got a big GS and spend through SA. I think it he has a blog called Ride to Fire or something.

[/B]

JSherm is right, the url is: www.calltofire.com Also a few pics on my site www.tiegs.com