Anyone know if Suzuki vstrom parts are available in Salta? In need of some brake pads and sprockets. I am going to go to Dr. bikes and see if he can help but thought someone on here might know something as well

I haven't owned a motorcycle as long as most and am only on my second bike. It took me a while to come around to the idea that generic parts are often just as good as brand parts. I guess I was a victim of corporate marketing. I drank the Koolaid, deeply. I was turned around in Brazil more from sticker shock and to a degree by availability of parts. The prices for parts that I could only get from the dealer (yes, BMW) were painful in Belem. So, I started looking for generic brake pads. Later some strange sounds ended up being cause by a chipped sprocket tooth. A BMW dealer in Sao Paulo fixed the problem at dealer prices. A set of generic sprockets and chain might have been fixed at a better price by any good mechanic with generic parts. On the flip side, the dealer had the parts and the skills.

Now that I am home, the latest set of sprockets and chain were swapped by yours truly, with generic, not brand, parts. On my next trip extended adventure, replacement sprockets, brake pads and chain will be in my kit.

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

You may find brake pads to fit at a good dealer for Japanese bikes. The Vstrom uses fairly common ones IIRC. Sprockets are another matter. Since the splines and sprocket mounting holes must match up ... this is more a challenge as sprockets are more bike specific and NO generic sprockets are likely to fit.
525 size is probably not common in Argentina, but Suzuki dealers should have something.

Keeping a close eye on pads, sprocket and chain wear are important so that you can order needed items WELL AHEAD of actually needing them ... and timing that predicted service a long way up the road.

Now ... you may have to wait wait wait ... for DHL or whom ever. If the Vstrom is sold in B.A., maybe a chance getting parts order there and sent up by bus. Good luck!

Peter, you were lucky they could find sprockets for you. Did they custom drill the mounting holes? What BMW were you riding (F650?)

If you learn about good chains and sprockets then this could save some heartache down the road. Unless you plan a continuous, non stop ride of more than 20,000 miles where you would never see a BMW dealer ... then I would NOT carry a spare chain. Just no need.

Start with the BEST CHAIN: top of the line ZVM DID X ring chain. good for at least 20,000 miles if not more. (I've done 25K miles)

Quality sprockets are a debate point. My experience says OEM ones are best, but not sure this applies to BMW ... as they've a poor rep for using really crap chains and sprockets from the factory.

Japanese OEM sprockets are THE BEST IN THE WORLD.

But, in a pinch, go with Thai made JT sprockets. Quite good, last about 15% less than OEM in my experience but suitable. The trick to getting a chain to last is to swap out the front sprocket before you think it needs swapping.
Like at 8K to 10K miles. IT WORKS!!!

A rear sprocket "should" last 20K miles if a quality item, but lots depends on use and conditions here. Lots of rain or mud is TOUGH on drive line components.

So I would not be opposed to bringing a spare rear sprocket along ... but a PITA to carry. I carry 2 front sprocket with me and always start with NEW or near new chain and sprockets. NOTE: by swapping front sprockets frequently you not only extend chain life, but rear sprocket life as well! WIN WIN!

I've gone 22K to 25K miles on my DID chains using the above technique, staying on the same rear sprocket, riding my DR650 (now at 60K miles). Similar results on former DL1000 Vstrom, 90K miles, got 20K or so out of each DID X ring chain. (stock O ring only 12K miles)

Get the very best, toughest chain you can afford and you will have ZERO drive line problems. Don't cheap out on sprockets. I've tried many different brands over the years and 50 bikes. No name crap sprockets will burn you for sure.
been there, seen it.

The front sprocket of my F800GS chipped a tooth very near the 20,000 mile mark. A BMW dealer in Sao Paulo had both sprockets and a chain in stock. There are four BMW dealers in Sao Paulo, but only one had all of the above. The first dealer I found kindly called the others until he found the one with all the parts. BMW dealers generally will put an adventure rider at the front of any service queue. The only time this didn't happen was in La Paz, when there were three other adventure riders ahead of me. The majority of countries in Central and South America have at least one BMW dealer. but stocking parts is a sore subject all across Latin America. Why? Because high end bikes are luxury items and people are accustom to order parts and waiting. Sure, some of the big metro dealers will have a good inventory, but it is usually a thin representation. Even in the US I have to wait for some parts. No long, but sometimes it happens. A rear sprocket is pretty flat, so for my next adventure I will slip one in my panniers. A spare chain can save your bacon when you are in the middle of nowhere and shit happens. I learned to carry a chain breaker tool after two guys fixed my broken chain in rural Bolivia with the most basic of tools.

I carry a few spare parts with me on the road and save money by doing my own oil and air filter change. Over a 9 month, 32,000 mile trip my wife meet me three times and I flew home once. Each time a few oil filters and other parts resupplied the kit. I think I only bought one oil filter on the road. New sprockets and chain, new air filter and swapping semi-off road tires for those for street tires that I was carrying cost nearly $1000 USD at a dealer in Brazil. Brazil and BMW dealer are always an expensive pair. If I had the parts and done it myself, it would have cost half as much. Next time I will. Its important to conserve funds when on extended trips. The more your money lasts, the more you can travel. Not to take this concept to extremes, because I like to splurge at times too. =)

__________________
Peter B
2008/09 - NJ to Costa Rica and back to NJ
2012/13 - NJ to Northern Argentina, Jamaica, Cuba and back to NJ
2023 - Peru, Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, Chile, Bolivia...back to Peru.

Blogs: Peter's Ride

Suzuki Vstrom 1000 Kit De Transmision Stanleymotocentro - $ 2.999,00 en MercadoLibre

Thanks for all the info. I stopped by Dr. Bikes for a reccomendation when I got into town. He sent me over to Division 2 Rueda. They actaully had everything I needed right there. Chain and sprockets and brakes. They gave me a pretty good deal paying in cash.