Matt, thanks for the help again.

Gil, thank you for your help as well. We have not purchased bikes yet, but we are planning on buying them in Accra as soon as we sign on the dotted line saying that we are no longer property of the US govt. Do you have any recommendations on where we can buy bikes in decent shape at a reasonable price? And also where we can get supplies like helmets, gloves, etc. Just want to buy the helmet and gloves to be safe.

And where can we get the International Registration Certificate? We are going to be considered Residents of Ghana according to our passports and will be for another 2 years so we can always lie and say we are going to go back to Ghana for our work, etc.

Thanks again for all the help.

Hi John,
Sorry I can't really advise on the purchase of second hand bikes so much. I bought a Honda once from a local chief and a yamaha from a DFID employee. Been much more involved in cars (which I should have made clear). Once you have bought the vehicle you go with the current owner to the DVLA with a picture and make the transfer of ownership form. You can also at the DVLA get the International Vehicle Registration Certificate which is a green passport sized document - they won't be bothered whether you are resident or coming back. As I said it would seem that MBs don't get troubled for this so much, but in a 4x4 vehicle in Ghana/BF and BF/Mali I have always been asked for it. For safety gear I cannot really advise - I have no idea as I had a cheap helmet and some work gloves and that was it. You could always call these guys near Accra and see if they can help:
Home Page

We did recently buy a little (China made I think, but a Yamaha) Yamaha YBR125 which cost us c1,243 on the road. Was bought from 'Autoparts' I think... I had a shot on it and it was no road burner but it has been pretty durable after a few months use and abuse. I do know a general trader (Lebanese company) who can source just about anything:
kobruco(atyahoodotcom) His name is Mr. Ghazi Mouhamed and I am pretty sure he would be able to source cheap (but probably new) bikes. Lost his number, but you would find it easy in 'Surf' or another Ghana Directory - company name is 'Kojo Bruce'.

Gil

John, the Nsawam Road or Pigfarm areas of Accra have plenty of used bike sellers. You can buy new Yamahas in Japan Motors for just over $1k. They sell helmets (Asian origin) also. I have never seen a pair of gloves for sale in Ghana in 12 years so if you need bike gloves I suggest you get them abroad and have them sent to you.

So as promised I will try and update on this trip that I am taking with another Peace Corps Volunteer.

We bought our bikes today. They are Yamaha Serow's. We spent 1500 GHC on them or around US$1260. We went with one of the Peace Corps staff who knows a lot about bikes and is friends with a lot of those dealers in that area. It seems we got a good deal after comparing the prices from all the dealers in that area. Oh yeah, I forgot to mention we bought it in the Caprice area in Accra.

We actually found some riding gloves as well. They are cheap Chinese made ones that cost us 7 GHC. They wanted 10GHC. Hopefully they last us the whole way. The gloves were also found in the Caprice area. They have the full gloves or the ones with the fingers cut off.

First time on the bike I popped a wheelie (by accident). Didn't realize how light and fast the bike was after learning to ride on a 125cc Chinese made Sukida. We will get the bikes registered on Monday at DVLA as well as take care of insurance and international license. We hope to leave Accra this Tuesday or Wednesday for Kumasi.

The helmets that they were selling at Japan Motors was around 90 GHC. You can find the EXACT same ones for 40 GHC in the Caprice area. We ended up buying our helmets for around 30 GHC.

The price for the bikes in Japan Motors was kind of ridiculous. They wanted around 4000 GHC for a new 125cc dirt bike type motorcycle.

Wish us luck!

And I think I will keep updating on this thread. Hopefully it helps out anyone wanting to do the same trip.

So we went to get our bikes serviced and we were there also to learn the basics about fixing them as well. One of the Peace Corps staff introduced us to someone that goes by the name of Father. We don't know much about bikes, but he seemed to know what he was doing and was more than willing to show us anything we wanted to know about the bike and how to fix/maintain them. We will also be sitting with him tomorrow as he changes some other parts for us.

He fixes bikes out of his house. It is located by the Adabraka area in Accra. If you are going there by tro take it to Cricle. Once there take another tro to Accra and drop at the Roxy Cinema. Call him up and he will come and get you. His number is listed below.

Father
0244505746

Hi John,
i`m very interested, how you are selling the bike and what price you can get.
Want to drive down to Mali or Mauretania to sell a Yamaha XT600.
So any advice is welcomed!

best wishes

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