Can anyone comment on the relative price of new/used bikes in South Africa... as say, compared to US prices? For example, in the US you can get a new KLR650 or XR650 or DR650 for around $5000 USD. And you can pick up a decent used one for $2500-$3000.

Which are the most common "thumpers" over there and/or most recommendable for a trip from SA up to Kenya... in terms of parts availability, etc. Any other advice on an Africa travel bike, not necessarily a thumper, is welcome.

thanks

__________________
Steven
www.twowheeledtraveller.com
Americas, '05-'06
RTW, poco a poco

If you go to the site below and register, then click on forum, then click on guttertalk...then post your questions about bike prices to the guys and girls there they will probably be more than willing to help you.
Say Jaqhama sent you.
Note: If you're having trouble finding info about biking SA on the Net it's because they normally write it as ZA, that's Zuid Africa.
If you find the thread in gutter talk called So what's biking like in Sa? you can find the answers to many of the questions that I have already asked them.

Be aware that some of the stuff you will read about ZA is NOT what you will get from your local travel agent.
Like the Carjackings, the muggings, the shootouts, the Carguard extortion rort, the kidnappings etc etc.
Think of ZA as the Wild West, I learned heaps of stuff from Jakes, Madhatter and Nicky that I had no idea of before.
The guy who runs the site is Big Dog, nice bloke, he and Jakes are very helpful.
Despite all the errr, obvious problems they are having in ZA (like power blackouts in the Cape) I am still considering going over there for a few weeks later this year or early the next.
I want to do ZA thru to Namibia, they all agree that Namibia is THE off road destination.
Good luck mate, let me know how you go.

http://www.bikerza.co.za/forum/index.php

Cheers: Jaq.

PS: Type Bikers ZA into google for more results.

expensive! REALLY expensive. XR650R was more than 9000USD new a couple of years ago. I doubt you'll find the KLR and don't count on finding spares or aftermarket stuff in stock especially outside Johannesbourg. if you're going to ride up through Africa, either buy a secondhand that's just come down or bring your own. airfreight is cheap. seafreight seems cheaper, but then there's all the customs clearances ...

The website I most often use is autotrader.co.za,click on the bike icon and then do a search on whatever bike you are looking for.
The thumpers you find down here are Bmw (a lot of but are expensive,$10000 new and $7500 secondhand depending on what you are looking for, KTM (also very epensive,about the same as the BMW),Honda XR600 and XR650r (beter priced but also sometimes difficult to find), KLR650 (Round about $5500 for 2003 model, 3 available now on website) and yamaha xt and teneres from time to time.
In general bikes is a bit more expensive than US and UK but have a look for you're self. Maybe you will find something.
Cheers

Umm My initial equires have the bike around 120% of my personal air ticket. Cheap?

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Regards Frank Warner
motorcycles BMW R80 G/S 1981, BMW K11LT 1993, BMW K75 G/S

what do you weigh, man? (I don't really want to know, but to explain why I think its a bargain)

an XR650R plus crate is going to be 150-200kg depending on style of crate. most people pay by volume rather than by weight so that 200kg crate may be charged at 300kg for volume. I paid less than 180kg from Perth to Cape Town, but I'd packed the bike super small, took the front wheel in my luggage and left the tyres behind!

for your airfare, you get a silly little seat, a meal and 20kg of luggage. 120% for taking your bike? bargain! I paid 450 quid for my airfare and 550 including all crating, handling etc - London to Jo'burg in 2003. seafreight to Cape Town/Durban would have been 400-600 depending on the hidden charges!

or fork out 10,000 for a bike there ... now, compared to 5-6,000 in the USA, that sounds expensive

Hi

you can also check my side www.600.xt.ms for second hand bikes

I also buy the bike back after your journey.

a new 2005 KLR 650 A (optical a 1987 model) you get at the moment for 39995 Rand by some Kawaski Dealers. The exchange rate at the moment is arount 1 USD = 6 Rand. So that will be around 6667 USD for a bike. That is the cheapest Adventure Bike in RSA.

Or buy a bike at home ship & sell it to me, I will do customs and import the bike for you, make your south african registration and sell it back to you. After your journey you can sell your bike here.

No trouble with a carnet

regards

Thomas

Definately agree that SA bikes are on the expensive side. I would at least budget 20-25% more than comparable prices in the US, Oz etc.

I ended up paying about US$9k for a second hand KTM 640 Adv - at least 25% more than it would have cost me for a similar year model in other countries.

Ahem...no offence to Thomas here but I see he is also a newbie at HU.
The idea of selling and shipping my bike, to a guy I've never met, in another country, somehow does not appeal to me.
No disrespect to Thomas at all, I am just being carefull.
Just because people have websites advertising used bikes on the Internet means nothing.
Any of us can do that.

As I said before, have a chat with the guys at the Biker ZA website and see if they can help you out.

Giving Thomas the benefit of the doubt I will ask some riders I know in his area to drop by his shop and check it out.
If they like what they see I will be happy to sing Thomas praises here in the future.
Give me at least a week or more to return here with a reply.

Cheers: Jaq.

I know Thomas and do business with Thomas for quite a while already and can recommend him for being trustworthy.

I also do have a website www.lecap.co.za which even made it into a listing on HU but now you will probably tell me I got that only from placing a link to HU

The KLR 650 (KL650A) officially sells for 44000 Rand.
A decent and reliable second hand 650 will cost you some 25000 to 30000 Rand.
The market is pretty small and most bikes offered for sale are ancient and in bad condition.
I sold a 2001 DR650SE in top condition 48000km for 30000 two months ago.

I did a buyback deal with a danish girl in 2002. She took one of my DR650SE to Dar via Namibia and Zambia and returned via Mozambique. Did not even have a puncture.

Masses of BMW F650 around and good secondhand market but crazy prices and I wouldn't trust one to take me to Kenya. More the vehicle to go clubbing in CT.

Lecap said " I also do have a website www.lecap.co.za which even made it into a listing on HU but now you will probably tell me I got that only from placing a link to HU."

Many of us are in countries far away from South Africa mate.
Can you blame me for being catious?

Were I a dealer I would encourage people to do as much checking as they wanted before doing any business with me.

My freinds in ZA will get back to me shortly. If they are happy then I'll recommend Thomas myself.

Anything wrong with that plan?

Well typical...it will be later next week when I get a reply from my mates at biker za because they are changing servers this week/end. LOL.

A couple of ZA riders at another forum do know Mr LeCap however and say they are happy to vouch for him.

That's the best I can tell you at this time.

but jaqhama, the original question was how much bikes in Zuid Afrika cost.
you did not give an answer, Moto Zulu (and others) did, 100% to the point, also by referring to his motorbike shop.
Moreover, he did more than that, he suggests plenty of possibilities of obtaining a bike in ZA. All without risk.
Dont understand why you're trying to scare people.

Unfortunately, moto zulu is located in ZA and not in East Africa, because I'd have loved buying a baghira from him, simply the best bike available.

Hi Uganduro,

do you stay permanent in Uganda? Next year we wanna go up to Kilimanjaro with our bikes. How is Uganda for biking? Maybe a nice detour?

regards

Thomas

Hi moto zulu.
If you've got enough time for it, the country is definitely worth a visit...
check your private messages.