I'm currently on the road from the Chicago area to Samaipata, Bolivia. I'm looking for a place to store the bike in the general area or in an adjoining country in short stomping distance. I expect to leave on Aug. 16. I would return to retrieve the bike and finish the trip to TDF in a year or so.

What logistical problems will I run into keeping the bike in the country this long? Will my customs paperwork run out of time? What kind of penalty is involved, if any? Or would it be better to just ship the bike back to the US?

Hi Jet,
We are now in La Paz, Bolivia.
You will not have any problems with customs storing a bike in Bolivia. There is no registration or importation in Bol. like in all other countrys.... If you fly out and later in, la paz would be a mutch better option to store a bike isnt it.. Samaipata is anyway a very nice place where you can find storage as well....
We are happy to help you.
On the Hubb you cab find a adress of a helpfull Honda dealer to store your bike...
greetings, Peter & Conny on R80GS´s 3 months in SAm

Last week i left Bolívia at the Guaharamirin border (NE) and at the police checkpoint prior the officer there noticed my temporary permit had expired by 3 weeks. I extended my visa but not my bike permit because I was confident they wouldn´t give me hassle, and they didn´t. The police don´t seem to worry about a lot in Bolívia. I would leave a pub in Sucre after many hours to get on my bike, and the police would come over to talk to me about my bike!

Otherwise don´t give back your temporary permit when you leave, as I expect they´re always in a different location to the immigration. Or just hand it quickly then go. I doubt any of them would know if there is an official penalty, so at worse if you were to pay them then that amount would be whatever makes them smile. Not that i´ve heard of anyone bribing Bolivian police and i doubt you would have to. Or probably better again is to say you lost it, and they´ll assume you were issued with one on the same date as the entry stamp in your passport.

It should only take a couple of days in Samaipata to find someone you trust to store your bike, and if not then a motorcycle shop and pay them. If you thought USD10 per week was fair you´d probably return to see your reflection in the spokes!

Hello
I,m looking for a place where I could store a Motorbike in La Paz , Bolivia for up to nine months before returning to do some more of Souh America.
Does someone know of a place or if their there are any hassles in doing so as I intend to fly out shortly afterwards.

Hello
Check out the following LA PAZ (PAGE 313) TYNDA . This was recomeded to me but I have not been there (yet). I will be leaving for South America soon for 6 to 8 weeks then plan on storing till next winter (summer there) and ride the other way. Storing in La Paz is looking like the best option.

Bob

Hello
I,ve recently stored a bike in Las Paz , Bolivia (27th of Coctober 2008).

I went to Honda Nosiglia Sport shop which is well stocked with motocross gear etc , NOSIGLIA SPORT and saw very briefly for first time Walter Nosiglia.
At first I thought it might not be possiable to store a bike through Walter as they may be moving completely out from their Calacoto ,La Paz shop.
But recently they have opened a new shop in the San Pedro area of La Paz which is in walking distance of the tourist streets of La Paz.
Its on Calle Riobamba number 598 , San Pedro ,La Paz and is run there by a guy called Fernando. Its a huge shop currently with lots of room.
Walter is more probaly likely to be found currently at his Calacoto , La Paz shop.
Walter seems very easy going with storing stranger,s motorbikes at his place there.

I,d entred Bolivia by the Desaguadero border where customs just entred my bike details etc into a book and stamped a date etc onto a photocopy of my license which I,m to Keep.
I then left later via the more scenic route ( by Bus )at Yunguyo.
Guess that piece of paper if not lost shall have too be dealt with on much later return date via the normal way to solve such problems.