There are decent clinics here in Honduras, especially here in Tegucigalpa and also in San Pedro Sula. But, the overall quality of the medical care in this country is not on par with those in the USA. A fellow teacher here went to 3 clinics for her bad knee. All three suggested surgery. She went back to the USA for another opinion and they had her do PT. She's back to kickboxing and exercising regularly just a few months later...no surgery. That's just one of many many examples of over zealous Honduran doctors that I've heard stories about while living here for the past 5 years.

If I needed any serious medical care, I wouldn't have it done here.

Thanks Patrick. Yes, I’m a fan of dampers. All my bikes have them. I put Scott’s on my KTM and BMW. The Ural has one from the factory, similar to the setup on an R1200GS.

Re: age. You’re correct, of course. But I strength train three days a week and do cardio the other days. Just got back from a gnarly power line and single track ride with some 30 somethings on my KTM. I don’t ride as fast as they, but I do complete the ride.

Good for you Mike that you are in good shape. Did you plan some workouts to do while on the road?

Last year, I did not workout while riding from North to South Africa. After 7 months on the road, I could feel that I was less in shape while riding my dr650 fully loaded with extra fuel and water in Namibia's deep sand. Riding a close to 500lbs bike in deep sand is a lot of work. My arms were taking so long to recover and I was just 43yo. Next trip, I will workout regularly while on the road.

Patrick

Patrick,

Every trip e take we "plan workouts" to do on the road. Actually doing them is a different matter. :(

It’s just a matter of our both keeping each other accountable for our morning routines...meditation, yoga, and strength work. We expect to do enough walking and hiking that we won’t have to plan for that.

If you’re interested, Lisa Thomas (Home - 2RidetheWorld.com) was a trainer before she and Simon packed it in and started their now 13 year journey. She has a video on exercises specifically targeted at daily recovery and prep for long distance MC traveling.

I already took care of my next workout routines. I have always wanted to do gymnastic.. I told myself it is now or never. So I got myself gymnastic programs for floor, rings, mini parallel bar. I love it. Much more fun than going to a regular gym and lifting weights.

I looked at Lisa's video. It is well made!

Patrick

I've worked in medical insurance the last 5 years.

If it's something serious, unless you can pay all the bills before the air ambulance arrives, you will die. The Hospitals truly don't give a shit, if you can't pay, they will throw you out on the street, so unless you can cover a minimum of a weeks medical cover, you've had it.

Bear in mind also that in order for an evacuation to take place, you have to be well enough to evacuate, even by air ambulance. If you're really sick they may not want to take that risk until you are better, fit to fly, so you could be looking at several weeks you have to pay for.

A budget of $10000 a day would be more realistic. I have seen people have to sell their houses to pay and, like I say, in some countries (including ones in central and south America) they won't treat you until either you have paid a sizeable deposit and continue to pay upfront, or your insurer has put a guarantee in place. I have had to place guarantees in 30 minutes because they were going to throw people who would die, out onto the street. They truly don't care, it's all about the money.

The way I think about medical insurance is better safe than sorry. Hopefully, you would not have to use it, but in the case of extended travels, it's likely that you will seek medical assistance. It's just wiser to have one if it were me.

I have been an expat in several Latin American countries for a few decades.

In most countries, when you show up, the clinics or the hospitals want to get paid. if they have doubts that you can pay, they would not admit you, if they admit you, you have to pay before you get release.

Buying the best insurance coverage, will not instantly solve this is issue.

On the other hand, it is mandatory to buy insurance (SOAT)when entering a country with a motor vehicle. In an event of an accident, no worries to have medical attention.

Still some foreign riders try to escape to get the SOAT ...

chill out, nothing out of place here.

Thanks for your input (and for your previous, on-topic post). If there is nothing out of place, it's because I edited out a bunch of stuff. You'll have to use your imagination.

Mark

Medicare does not cover out of country medical expenses at all. But 3 of the multiple choices of Medicare supplements do cover 80% of “appropriate” expenses (i.e NOT plastic surgery!!) up to $50k , but only in the first 60 days of travel. I have plan G.
Speaking of plastic it sounds like 2-3 paid up $50000 limit credit cards could save one’s life.

Cholo I'm afraid you are dead wrong. Ecuador, Brazil argentina soat is mandatory. There is an agreement between the countries of the Mercosur. T
When I buy the soat for the motorcycle in Brazil I'm covered when I traveled in other countries of the mercosur.
here is no such free healthcare to motorcyclist.

Ecuador had a new law that requests a vehicle be submitted to a revision before being able to buy seguro. That seguro is a must to buy the plates. This has nothing to do with a road tax. Everytime I travel to ecuador with my colombian motorcycle, I don't need to buy seguro because there is an agreement between both countries. Other vehicles extranjero must be covered by a 30 days soat.

I would like to share something. 3 years ago I buy a new MC in Colombia. I requested for a seguro. they told me no problem, but when I went to pick the motorcycle I was told that because I couldn't show my cedula de extranjero, I could not buy seguro.

I told that to my colombiana wife, she called a friend that is an insurance broker. She an insurance documento that, a passaport was a valid ID to buy seguro and I bought my soat through her. Obviously it was a lie.

Why she lied, only God knows.

be careful

You are mixed up not I. Not sure of your Spanish or Portugeese understanding? Show me any text in Portugeese and Spanish.

Looks like you have never been in these countries solo un dia when you suggest to call the embassies. You need an insurance broker, nothing less nothing more.

Colo, don't polute my mail box, write it here what you have to say. I don't give a dam where you lived, and how long . So be kind and explain to us what is the agreement between the countries of the Mercosur concerning the soat, and what happen if a motorciclist in any of these countries has an accident without the soat since you seem to say, no importa,in Brazil and Argentina healthcare is free.

I am living in Nicaragua and health care is free. I have had to go to the hospital a couple times and had excellent care. I am always surprised at the time they take and the high level of competency.