I've been looking at a trip from Arizona to Panama and the logistics and cost of shipping the bike make my head hurt. So I was thinking why not buy a used Honda Rebel 250 for $900.00, ride it South and then just leave the bike with some lucky hostel worker.

My question is can a street bike handle the road surfaces? And is Panama a country you can bring a bike into and fly out of without the bike?

keep riding,
dave

As far as I know no country wants you to just drop you bike off in them. It is the taxes and fees and fines and money there not getting you see. That is why there is something called a Carnet something that is vary nasty and will drive you nuts it will pay the tax and import fees on the bike for you. Good thing you do not need one. You may be able to sell the bike to a bike shop for any amount they give you and fly off, the tax is payed, import fees payed and you are free to go off (save all the paper work!!) Or get a Carnet or pay the fees and fines and tax and all the paper work you will need to fill out. Baring all that you can try a cop shop and tell them you must go home and do not need the bike but need to your paper work fixed. Most places will have you fill out a "temporary vehicle import" and you must have that stamped in out out of a country leve with out it and if you ever go back you can held till you pay up (+more fees and late fees and fines and more tax and hell bribes) or bared from ever going back.

BUT you can do it. Sell the bike to a shop (for parts) or ship it back is the fast easy LEGAL way to do it.
But a Honda Rebel 250 can do the job gust fine. You will need to pick you way around a bit more that is all. You top speed may be bit slow for some of the roads but not near as bad as in the USA. Not the best bike for the job but if you can get one for $900 and do the ride or get 650 and stay home get the 250 and go.

While I'm not advocating it.. Panama is the easiest country to dump a bike. When I shipped my bike to Colombia from Panama, I went crazy insisting that SOMEONE stamped my temp import sticker that I shipped the bike to colombia and was obsessive about having correct paperwork.

No one cared.

When I left panama, no one looked for the vehicle stamp.. when I talked to the customs people at the airport, they looked at me like I was crazy for wanting them to cancel my import permit.

In addition, I know a couple of sold one bike in Guatemala (legally imported it I think) and then they sold their last bike in Panama and didn't do paperwork.

Regarding roads: No problem. Central America has paved roads everywhere. All the major cities and sites have paved access. You'll encounter some unpaved construction zones.. but thats it. As long as you keep your load light, you'll have no problems. If in doubt, don't bring it!

__________________
http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

Thanks for the replies guys. I know the top speed on the 250 would be limited, the one I use for commuting tops out at 65-70mph. That would probably drop down to 50-55 with cargo. But it's about the journey and not the destination, If I was in a hurry I would fly. The slower speed would force me to see more of the country I'm riding through. But it is nice to have the extra hp when you need it. Like passing another vehicle ...

With the rebel's limited suspension I was concerned about the road surface, but sounds like it wouldn't be a problem. What about altitude any steep climbs from Mexico to Panama?

Also because of work I'm limited to traveling during July & Aug, what kind of weather am I going to get?

Re Weather: Hot. Very hot.... until you get to central america at altitude. It won't be cool, but it won't be hot either. The problem is that it will be rainy. In CA, they call July-Dec winter because it is the rainy season. Because you're so close to the equator, seasons don't matter too much... just elevation.

I left Houston in July and was only hot until I got out of Mexico.

Re Speed: In the US/Mexico.. you'll be on the slow side, but in CA.. not a problem. I never made it over 55 mph in CA. I'm not a fast driver by any stretch.. but really I like to keep my eyes open for people/livestock/chickens/topes/potholes.. plus you get better gas mileage and use less tire. While I could do 100mph, I rarely went over 55mph on the entire trip.

re climbs: Doesn't matter.. if you're having a hard time, there will be other ppl having hard times too.

As long as you're not too picky about schedule, you'll have a great time. Getting an older bike to Panama is as big of an adventure as actually riding there. You meet the nicest people when you have a broken bike


You'll also realize that having a 250 puts you in the top 5% of big bikes down there.

__________________
http://davegtravels.com - RTW on a DRZ
All the way south - Texas to Tierra del Fuego in '08-'09

My Spanish is non-existent but I think the following from the Panamanian website says that the import duties for a motorcycle are 5-15%

87.11 MOTORCYCLES MOTOCICLETAS(INCLUDING (INCLUIDOS THE LOS
MOPEDS) CICLOMOTORES) And Y Velocipede VELOCÍPEDOS
EQUIPPED WITH AUXILIARY MOTOR, WITH EQUIPADOS CON MOTOR AUXILIAR, CON
Or without sidecars, sidecars. SIDECAR O SIN ÉL; SIDECARES.
8711.10
Engine piston (piston) alternative Con motor de émbolo (pistón) alternativo de
cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cm cilindrada inferior o igual a 50 cm
8711.10.10
New (os) Nuevas (os)
15% 5%
8711.10.20
Used (os) Usadas (os)
15% 5%
8711.20
Engine piston (piston) alternative Con motor de émbolo (pistón) alternativo de
cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cm cilindrada superior a 50 cm
, But not , pero inferior o equal to 250 cm igual a 250 cm 15% 5%
-- --
With a cylinder capacity exceeding 50 cm Con cilindrada superior a 50 cm
to 125 hasta 125cm
including: inclusive:
8711.20.11 --- Technology (I) 8711.20.11 --- Nuevas (os) 15% 5%
8711.20.19 --- Other 8711.20.19 --- Las demás 15% 5%

I think a $100-150 charge to import and sell the bike legally is not a bad deal. However I don't know how they calculate the value of the bike. I prefer to be legal whenever I can ...

If a native Spanish speaker can confirm my conclusions, here is the link:

http://www.ana.gob.pa/portal/images/...IVEnmienda.pdf

Thanks,
dave