My advice to anyone renting a motorcycle in Peru is to steer clear of Around the Block Moto Adventures owned by Mr. Shannon. He ripped me off for 2800 USD. I laid down 5000 USD on a rental/buyback agreement whereby at the end of my rental period I would be returned the 5000 less a per diem of 28 USD. The bike suffered many failures – 7 in total over a 14 day period. These were hard mechanical issue that involved a repair. In addition the bike stranded me and refused to start on many occasions. This was related to the bike being old and what the final failure was. When I arrived to pick up the bike Mr. Shannon said that they were not happy with the oil flow and were trying to tighten things down. 15 days later the bike failed and the root cause was a failed oil pump. This is exactly what the mechanic in Chile said and what I also saw with my own eyes. There was almost no oil coming to the head end. Mr. Shannon agreed to refund all of mty 5000 plus the mechanics fees. The amail is below:

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-------- Original message --------
From: Toby Shannon <aroundtheblock07@gmail.com>
Date: 3/11/2016 10:07 AM (GMT-08:00)
To: YYYYYYYYYYYY <XXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com>
Subject: Re: Clarification.


OK.* I understand your points.* It was my true belief and intention that I sold you a motorcycle that would easily do the trip.* It has not been that motorcycle...
You want to continue with your trip as soon as possible and be free of the motorcycle.* To coordinate this I have a few questions:
1) Are you coming back to Peru to fly out of Lima?* I ask this to try to coordinate the sale back into my name.* If not, I will try to work something out that does not put you out. or require you to travel.
2) Have you already ordered/paid for the parts?* I ask this to speed things up if you have not.* Perhaps the mechanic has pickup and you could return it that way to Tacna WITHOUT fixing it.

I believe I have found a secure shipper just over the border in Tacna, Peru (the moto CAN'T be shipped over the Peru/Chile border, but must be taken over some way).* The shipper will completely prep the bike (all you would have to do it take the mirrors off and tape them to the seat) who will freight it to Lima (maybe even COD), so that is all the further you would have to take it.* With this freight company it would be safe at their depository in Lima until I arrive in 12 days.* As long as you sent it to my name and scan me a copy of the paperwork the shipper makes out, I could pick it up there in Lima and get it to Huanuco on a freight truck.* I can make the phone calls and clear everything up so that they will be expecting you and know what to do.* Then you can be free to continue your travels in the way you wish..
I will cover ALL COSTS to do this.* Even kick back and have a on me guy.!* So sorry you have had to go thru this.
Let me know what your timetable is.
Cheers!
On Thu, Mar 10, 2016 at 5:26 PM, YYYYYYYYYYYY <XXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com> wrote:
Thanks but no thanks on the tornado. I had no intention of being back where I started after 4 weeks.* I have a friend in paraguay that is ill and this is my last chance to see him. I also want to see rio and parts of brazil. Time now dictates how I travel and motorcycle can't do it. I would in essence have to travel the same highway seeing the same sights for the third time.* Ecuador and Columbia were not in the plans nor can they be due to time. This has been one of the worst experiences of my life when I should be enjoying myself. All of it due to a poorly maintained motorcycle. It doesn't matter that it started in your shop or that you drove it with no problems. That is past history and was your experience, *not mine which was exactly the opposite. Obviously the previous owner was a hack. I find it really painful to have you minimize what has happened. I, wish you could have been along to see for yourself. Maybe then you would understand. I have contributed zero to the failures, there was nothing I did that caused them. I did lubes, oil changes, filter cleaning - everything that was required. I am stuck til Monday because of waiting on the part which I should get tomorrow but then I have to wait till Monday for the office. One whole week and zero miles.* My holiday will be half over soon and to be at starting point is screwed up. I want to drive this bike as little as possible. I want something more workable than just try. What happens on next breakdown
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I did everything requested and had to even fly to Lima to get paparwork done but this was to help return the bike as agreed and to get my deposit back. Quite some time (a month) elapsed and I had received nothing so I inquired. The email is below.


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On 16-04-05 03:42 PM, Toby Shannon wrote:
Jon, right now I only have $1,400 in the Paypal account and am waiting for some payments to have the total to send you.* I spent alot of what you paid in getting the 600R ready, then counted on you being out for 3 months and moved some finances around.* Now I need it back in the Paypal account to refund you.* I should have it by the end of the week.* I can forward the $670.00 separately if you wish.
Toby

On Tue, Apr 5, 2016 at 3:52 PM, YYYYYYYYYYYY <XXXXXXXXX@hotmail.com> wrote:
Where are we at? I have not heard anything from PayPal
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He then returned 2500 and we were back into waiting mode until he came forward weeks after the incident and claimed that I had over heated the bike and that it was all my fault and that I would only be receiving $401.80 of the 3,170 USD owing.

At no time did I ever overheat that bike and the mechanic in Chile found that not only had the pump failed but someone had attempted to seal it with silicon. The initial problem that Mr. Shannon was working on when I arrived was the exact same issue that caused the mototrcycle to fail. I had no idea that the little oil flow issue would end up costing me about 2800 USD for a 14 day ride. I was ripped off because Mr. Shannon had financial issues As far as I know he never contacted the mechanic in Chile despite my repeated requests to do so. Of course there is lots more detail. For those that want to read more I put dates, emails, contacts etc. in the document attached to this post. Lots of the email is pretty revealing. One more thing, after the oil pump was repaired I did not drive the motorocycle at all. It was trucked and shipped from Arica Chile to Tacna, Peru and then to Lima,Peru where is was received on Mar 18. That was the return date.

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