Tires for KLR650 in La Paz, Bolivia
 

Hi,
I am right now in La Paz and tried to finde a rear tire.
All i found was a shitload of brazilien-made which i dont realy trust. they will leaste max 3000km and i try to do the TransAmazonica to venezuela starting in Cusco in about 3 weeks. I dont want to carry extra tires with me if it is not realy necessary. I also dont know wich kind of profile i should use. will be a lot of mud and gravel. ruff profile would be good but it is shit for the road.

1. Does someone know a shop where i can get good, longleasting tires?
2. Which type would you use if available? (Mitas E07, Dunlop, ....)
3. Does somone have experiences with the Brazilien brands for longer trips?

Thx for your help.
Martin

A couple of guys two up on '99 KLR made it from Texas to Ushuaia on single set of Pirelli Scorpion Trail. The tires are made in Brazil so may be available.

Cusco and beyond
 

If you can't find what you want in La Paz, then you may have luck in Cusco. Its hard to find the good stuff in Bolivia. You might have better luck in Santa Cruz, but that's a bit out of your way at this point. I bought a Pirelli in Cusco, via the boys at the Honda dealer. They took me to another location (it wasn't clear if it was their shop or not) where I got what I needed, a cheap Brazilian... Sometimes on the road you buy what you can find. I wasn't looking for off road by that point in my trip, so it was fairly easy to find a piece of rubber that fit my wheel.

I'm a little confused my your post. The Trans Amazonian (BR-230) doesn't go to Venezuela. It starts a little east of Humaitá, then goes more or less east, not north. I think you are planning to take BR-319 from Porto Velho, passing Humaitá, to Manuas, then north to Venezuela. The 420 mile road between Humaitá and Manuas is not maintained by the government and its a challenge in the dry season, with few to no services. Ok, from everything I have read, there are no services. Assuming this is your route, know that February is the wettest month of the year for that part of the Amazon. You could be lining up to tell a 420 mile mud story. I met a French guy in La Paz who took BR-230 in December. He said he had never dropped his so many times...in the mud. If you make it, you'll have bragging rights that no one can touch. I was thinking about it, but changed my route. I'll take on BR-319 another day.

If you are taking the Trans Amazonian, well prepare for mud that way too. Either way you go, plan to buy the knobbiest tires you can find. Carry the off road tires with you until you are deep into Brazil and running out of tarmac or the rubber is running out on what you got. Its not so bad to carry a tire; lots of riders do it.

Have fun. I wish I was traveling with you.

I found some Pirelli in La Paz and carry them now with me. My olde ones will least for about 1000km. I found no knobbies in the dimension so i try my luck in cusco. Anywhere there i will stay for a few days to do oilchange and prepair everything(agian)
I am planing to take the 30C from Cusco to Brasil than the 317, 364 and 319 to Porto Velho.
I think i have no chance at this time to go from Porto Velho to Manaus but as far as i know there is a boat wich goes in 2 days to Manaus. From manaus it should be possible to go to Venezuela.
Worst case:rain:: I have to spent 2 months in the jungle doh jeiger

But thx for your advices
I will give you some informatiomns as soon as i made it out of the jungle.-


Oh. and i just have to say
:mchappy: I LOVE MY KLR. Its no racebike, its not a perfect bike at all but it is so much fun to drive and fits perfectly into South America. Looking forward to the next few thousend miles :mchappy:

boat transport
 

From what I understand there is boat/ferry/barge transportation from Porto Velho to Manuas. I took a barge way down stream, near where the Amazon empties into the Caribbean, just to get from one side to the other. The river is so wide at that point it took 36 hours to get across. I took a slow barge to save money, not the fast ferry. I wasn't in a hurry anyway. Shop around, there should be a few boats and get a price that works for you. Chances are the cost will include meals, lunch and dinner, with something simple like coffee, crackers and butter for breakfast. At least that was my experience. Plan on buying a simple hammock to sleep in or pay extra for a cabin. I picked up some snacks and beer, giving the cook a beer to keep the rest of the six pack cold. Its a relaxing trip, taking a float down the river.

Remember, the people that take the boat can't afford to fly, so keep an eye on your valuables.

I may be a little late in the game here, but Walter Nosiglia, Avenida Costanera 29 in La Paz sorted my KLR out - plenty of stuck from reputable brands. They opened late for me when I needed a new chain and sprockets fitted.

They'll also have a pair of Hein Gericke Pathan gloves knocking about too, given I left mine behind there a few years back... damn it.