Go Back   Horizons Unlimited - The HUBB > Regional Forums > South America
South America Topics specific to South America only.
Photo by Hendi Kaf, in Cambodia

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Hendi Kaf,
in Cambodia



Reply
 
LinkBack Thread Tools Display Modes
  #1  
Old 22 Dec 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 25
Tires in Central/South America

Hi, I have just been reading some posts about trouble finding tyres on the road in Central/South America. I am on a KLR and currently halfway through Mexico having done about 4000 miles on a pair of Avon Gripsters. Does anyone know about buying tires in out in SA? I guess mine will last until Panama.
Cheers Baz.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 22 Dec 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: All over the map
Posts: 116
I'm currently in Santiago, Chile. My advice would be to get tires in Panama City before shipping the bike. There you should be able to find most any brand.
__________________
» “What do you expect to find there? Well, if I knew, I wouldn’t go there!” — Jacques Cousteau
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 24 Dec 2008
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Mar 2006
Location: Connecticut, USA
Posts: 58
Bogota and Medellin both have huge Motorcycle neighborhoods with dozens of shops all within a block or two of eachother. I saw 17 inch Pirelli MT60's in both. I bought a MT60 at a small shop in the small town of Monteria, north of Medellin. The police use DR650's in Colombia, so 17inch are easy to come by. At least that's my theory. Side note, and personal opinion, but the MT60 has worked great all around, and I've had it for almost 4000 miles, with a lot of highway time in Colombia and Ecuador, and it still has life left.
__________________
www.Jeffs9thSemester.com
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 25 Dec 2008
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Sep 2008
Location: London
Posts: 25
Excellent I will stop panicking then. I was wondering what the cops/army used in Colombia I have seen pics of them in the background two up fully ARMED. (surely they weren't DR650s?).
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 25 Dec 2008
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,824
Guatemala City

Maybe here can provide the name or Tel # of a shop?
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 09:48.
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 25 Dec 2008
albert crutcher's Avatar
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Apr 2006
Location: colombia-ecuador
Posts: 218
Yep

Tyres of all types,shapes and sizes in Medellin are available.Even the prices are reasonable!!!
Al theturtleshead
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 27 Dec 2008
Registered Users
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: Norwich,Ontario,Canada
Posts: 1,058
I actually enjoy riding around Guatemalea city, it really is quite easy once you get yourself a good city map with the various zones marked and then keep track of several of the major arteries which feed traffic around and through the "CENTRO"
I keep telling folks about the store called FPK Electronics and Autoparts which carries a good supply of tires in many sizes of different style and brands, and inexpensive too . They are located at - mind the address directions!- 7 Avenida 8-08 Zona 4. This is the zona directly on the south side of Zona 1 which is the historic core of the city and they are very close to the steel trellis tower which resembles the Eiffel Tower and stradles 7 Av. intersection. Find the tower easy to spot from a distance and you are at the location. Bonus is that a number of different Big 4 Japanese bike shops and the official BMW dealership are all clustered near that area within Zona 4 Find one and you will have a short hop to the others- look in the yellow pages or google the brands and you will easily find them.
__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 29 Dec 2008
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,824
Good info Charlie.


Patrick
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 21 Mar 2009 at 22:00.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 5 Jan 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: Asheville, NC. USA
Posts: 8
Got a set of Pirelli's in Trujillo Peru

Picked up a set of Brazilian made Pirelli Rally cross for my KLR in Trujillo Peru for $100 mounted and balanced. Lima Street has tons of shops with tires and parts.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 9 Jan 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Location: Bogota Colombia
Posts: 1
Buy them in Panama as they would be cheapier.
Can buy them here in Colombia, but certainly a bit more expensive.
I bought a set for my V-strom 650 Anakee for a decent price. Sometimes even better prices than in the states.
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 9 Jan 2009
mollydog's Avatar
R.I.P.
Veteran HUBBer
 
Join Date: Aug 2003
Location: california
Posts: 3,824
I mentioned reports of NO tires in Panama earlier in this thread. (my first post)
__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Last edited by mollydog; 21 Mar 2009 at 22:01.
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 13 Jan 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: Costa Rica
Posts: 36
I.M.O., the best value on DP tires in C. America are Pirelli Scorpians. They are made in Brazil, but are the same quality as the ones made in Europe.
I bought a 90/90-21 frt. about a year ago, and as I recall, it was about $60.
As one enters San Jose from the North, there is an area called La Urca, where there are 4 bike shops grouped close together. The owner of one, Mini-Moto, speakes English and is real helpful.
I'm in Puerto Rico at the moment, so I don't have the #, but it's easy to find. If you want better directions, PM me.
__________________
Motomech
Playas del Coco
Costa Rica

"..an attaching bike on which one rolls serenly along."
(Google translation of a French R100GS review)
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 16 Mar 2009
Registered Users
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 29
I'd be grateful for some local advice (local being for Mexico and Central America!) I'm riding down from San Diego to Panama from April '09 (taking about 6 months) and I don't know what type of tyres to go for, as I have not been to the area before.

I hope to be riding a mixture of paved and dirt roads but don't really know how bad and how frequent the dirt roads generally are thus how knobbly my tyres should be. I'm looking at the following for my XL650 Transalp and would be grateful for any advice.

Do you think I should be going for at what they call "Enduro Street" or "Enduro On/Off" types?

Enduro Street being tyres such as:
Metzeler Tourance / Enduro
Pirelli MT60 / MT80
Dunlop 607
Michelin Sirac
Enduro On/Off being tyres such as:
CONTINENTAL TKC80
Metzeler MCE Karoo
Metzeler MCE Six Days
Pirelli MT70
Michelin T63

Any advice would be much appreciated.

Thanks,
Ollie

Greasy Sprocket
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 25 Mar 2009
Registered Users
New on the HUBB
 
Join Date: Mar 2009
Posts: 8
Tires in Guatemala

In Guatemala you could find any brand or type of tires, here are the links for some vendors, they have Pirelli, Dunlop, Michellin, Metzeler, Continental, IRC, Maxxis, Bridgestone:

MotoPunto (4ave. A 13-24 Zona9)
Bienvenidos a Ogris - Artículos para motos
:::Motoshop VRC:::Motos en las venas desde 1,973:::
Tarmoto Guatemala. Distribuidor Autorizado de Aprilia, Moto GUzzi y Vespa
BMW Motorrad Latin America

and this website is a forum of motorcycles in Guatemala
Moti7.com
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 25 Mar 2009
Contributing Member
HUBB regular
 
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location: El Salvador
Posts: 47
Tires

I suggest Enduro Street , you will get a lot more milleage from them.
Ride safe
Saludos de El Salvador
Mario
Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 Registered Users and/or Members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are On
Pingbacks are On
Refbacks are On


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Need Tires BMW F650GS Central America fritzsampson South America 10 19 Jan 2010 05:14
States - Central America - South America Alanissy Travellers Seeking Travellers 14 15 Mar 2009 08:15
Shops with 17 inch tires in Central America Jeffr726 Central America and Mexico 10 11 Feb 2009 23:34
tires in Africa, south america?? Hindu1936 Route Planning 8 7 Nov 2006 18:19
Tires in Central America (KLR650) travelHK Repair Shops, Central America and Mexico 3 25 May 2006 23:58

 
 

Announcements

Thinking about traveling? Not sure about the whole thing? Watch the HU Achievable Dream Video Trailers and then get ALL the information you need to get inspired and learn how to travel anywhere in the world!

Have YOU ever wondered who has ridden around the world? We did too - and now here's the list of Circumnavigators!
Check it out now
, and add your information if we didn't find you.

Next HU Eventscalendar

25 years of HU Events
Be sure to join us for this huge milestone!

ALL Dates subject to change.

2025 Confirmed Events:

Virginia: April 24-27
Queensland is back! May 2-5
Ecuador June 13-15
Germany Summer: May 29-June 1
CanWest: July 10-13
Switzerland: Date TBC
Ecuador: Date TBC
Romania: Date TBC
Austria: Sept. 11-14
California: September 18-21
France: September 19-21
Germany Autumn: Oct 30-Nov 2

Add yourself to the Updates List for each event!

Questions about an event? Ask here

See all event details

 
World's most listened to Adventure Motorbike Show!
Check the RAW segments; Grant, your HU host is on every month!
Episodes below to listen to while you, err, pretend to do something or other...

Adventurous Bikers – We've got all your Hygiene & Protection needs SORTED! Powdered Hair & Body Wash, Moisturising Cream Insect Repellent, and Moisturising Cream Sunscreen SPF50. ESSENTIAL | CONVENIENT | FUNCTIONAL.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

2020 Edition of Chris Scott's Adventure Motorcycling Handbook.

"Ultimate global guide for red-blooded bikers planning overseas exploration. Covers choice & preparation of best bike, shipping overseas, baggage design, riding techniques, travel health, visas, documentation, safety and useful addresses." Recommended. (Grant)



Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance.

Ripcord Rescue Travel Insurance™ combines into a single integrated program the best evacuation and rescue with the premier travel insurance coverages designed for adventurers.

Led by special operations veterans, Stanford Medicine affiliated physicians, paramedics and other travel experts, Ripcord is perfect for adventure seekers, climbers, skiers, sports enthusiasts, hunters, international travelers, humanitarian efforts, expeditions and more.

Ripcord travel protection is now available for ALL nationalities, and travel is covered on motorcycles of all sizes!


 

What others say about HU...

"This site is the BIBLE for international bike travelers." Greg, Australia

"Thank you! The web site, The travels, The insight, The inspiration, Everything, just thanks." Colin, UK

"My friend and I are planning a trip from Singapore to England... We found (the HU) site invaluable as an aid to planning and have based a lot of our purchases (bikes, riding gear, etc.) on what we have learned from this site." Phil, Australia

"I for one always had an adventurous spirit, but you and Susan lit the fire for my trip and I'll be forever grateful for what you two do to inspire others to just do it." Brent, USA

"Your website is a mecca of valuable information and the (video) series is informative, entertaining, and inspiring!" Jennifer, Canada

"Your worldwide organisation and events are the Go To places to for all serious touring and aspiring touring bikers." Trevor, South Africa

"This is the answer to all my questions." Haydn, Australia

"Keep going the excellent work you are doing for Horizons Unlimited - I love it!" Thomas, Germany

Lots more comments here!



Five books by Graham Field!

Diaries of a compulsive traveller
by Graham Field
Book, eBook, Audiobook

"A compelling, honest, inspiring and entertaining writing style with a built-in feel-good factor" Get them NOW from the authors' website and Amazon.com, Amazon.ca, Amazon.co.uk.



Back Road Map Books and Backroad GPS Maps for all of Canada - a must have!

New to Horizons Unlimited?

New to motorcycle travelling? New to the HU site? Confused? Too many options? It's really very simple - just 4 easy steps!

Horizons Unlimited was founded in 1997 by Grant and Susan Johnson following their journey around the world on a BMW R80G/S.

Susan and Grant Johnson Read more about Grant & Susan's story

Membership - help keep us going!

Horizons Unlimited is not a big multi-national company, just two people who love motorcycle travel and have grown what started as a hobby in 1997 into a full time job (usually 8-10 hours per day and 7 days a week) and a labour of love. To keep it going and a roof over our heads, we run events all over the world with the help of volunteers; we sell inspirational and informative DVDs; we have a few selected advertisers; and we make a small amount from memberships.

You don't have to be a Member to come to an HU meeting, access the website, or ask questions on the HUBB. What you get for your membership contribution is our sincere gratitude, good karma and knowing that you're helping to keep the motorcycle travel dream alive. Contributing Members and Gold Members do get additional features on the HUBB. Here's a list of all the Member benefits on the HUBB.




All times are GMT +1. The time now is 10:38.