I’m planning a return to South America and I have at present an ultra low mileage BMW Funduro .
Anybody have any views as to wether I should take this or spend a couple of grand on something else like an MT350 for example .
I’ve got a bit of time to sort an alternative out but at loggerheads as to what is the best direction .
Any constructive criticism would be much appreciated .

Although the MT350, I presume you mean Harley Davidson, is a robust bike it is heavy, under powered with just about zero spares availability in South America, I would take the Funduro or buy one out there.

I've rented a Funduro a couple of times in the past for touring in Costa Rica and Australia. I think except for the question of getting parts while on the road, I think it would do well. If you like the bike, I'm sure you'll do fine on it.

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Bruce Clarke - 2020 Yamaha XV250

Thanks very much for your comments guys .
I’m going to go to the next annual get together next year as I would like to go up into Central America but I’m not sure about the additional cost of getting there from Colombia will be within my budget .
I’m taking a mate who’s never been to South America let alone deal with all the ups and downs of a trip like this .
Is there a time and place for next years meet up .
Once again thanks for your response on my topic .

May view:

Depends of what you mean with "return to South America"

For how long time ?
To which parts ?

For me, it is more about to compare shipping vs buying.
Not so much type of bike.
There are plus and minus with both alternatives.
Anyone needs to decide what factorsa are most important for that person.

Shipping will cost in the area of 2 500 Euro.
Than you have your own bike.
It is your favourite and well equiped. That is fine.
All preparations are done at home.
Large service and new tires.
Spare parts and tools in place.
You know your bike.

On the other had. You can buy a bike and than sell it.
Might need to do some modifications after buying.

New: Just go to the dealer and get what you want.
Easy paper work.

Some possiblities:

Royal Enfield Himalayan 3 350€
AKT TT 250 2 800€
AKT TT 200 1 500€
Apache RTR 1 400€
Brazilian made Hondas in Brazil. Large selection of nice bikes.

Already buying prices are in most cases lower than shipping cost.
And it would be possible to get at least 30% back (More on the RE) when selling after along trip.

Used. Need to look around, test, spend time. Risk fior need of major overhaul. Less help with paper work. Possibilites to get extra equipment as part of the deal, when buying an already equiped bike.

Large selection of different bikes. If you have time to wait, search and flexible to buy in any place.

=

Only you can decide what is mot important for you.

What I would prefer depends on where and how I would travel.
This is how I have been thinking. (And yes, I have plans for a SA tour, and have read alot)
I do not argue that it is in any way more correct than any others opionion.
So take what you want and leave the rest.

=
Start and end in Colombia at fixed dates
- Buy a new RE, Sell it after trip via store

Start and end in Brasil
- Buy a new Honda. Sell after trip via store

Other route with fixed and limited time
- Ship my own bike. Bring back home.

Trip that is flexible in time and places to place start en end.
Or a one way trip from E.g Chile to Colmbia
- Buy a used bike from a foreign traveller. Sell to other traveller after trip.

I have been on a permanent round the world tour since 2011 and two of my motorcycles were funduro never had a problem, go anywhere, not watch for theft because not in the category of what they need in these countries. The parts you have to do the minimum of storage, but easy to do a lot by yourself on the go. interestingly, the more difficult to find the oil filter, but look at the sea side, the seadoo have the same rotax engine as the bmw gromono. I am in spain, tour of europe finished and I am also going back to america ... central ?? or south ?? no say ... have two BMW F650GS one dakkar and one reg. for sale by Germans for 12/31-2020 ;-) I'm just looking at one, but maybe they have a lot of info to give you ... MT300 or under 650cc I completely forgot that .. not strong enough to altitude and longgggg distance it's hard.. depend what you want to do ... me just a little woman run 300-500 km a day on and off road (80-20%) good luck

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Be free Be happy

I know the Funduro very well.

It's a simple and very robust Rotax powered 650 single. With simple electrics.

Perfect adventure bike. It's hard to find one with low mileage.

If it is in good condition and well serviced then why not ? It's far more reliable and capable than any brand new Chinese/Indian crap that people seem to be so into.

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Did some trips.
Rode some bikes.
Fix them for a living.
Can't say anymore.

Except for the waterpump lipseal, voltage regulator, 250 sized chain, forks, centre stand lugs, incredibly shallow rims designed for TL tyres with tubes and bad engine paint. Apart from those its really robust

Knowing which parts Aprillia stuffed up and BMW did on the cheap is half the battle though. If fixing the above doesn't scare you and you really want your own bike, go for it.

Andy

So its a cheaper RE Himalayan then?

So that's the Funduro's areas of concern. I've only got two or three hours so I'll skip listing the issues that seem to attract people's ire with the Himmy and ask if there are any suitable travel bikes at all that don't seem to have weak spots that need fixes - usually aftermarket ones at great expense.

It seems to me that close to everything is either too heavy, too fragile, too unreliable, too fast, too slow, not enough power, weak this, unsuitable that, boring etc etc. Even bikes that hit the travel 'sweet spot' for some people (based on how many you see anyway) like the 1200GS seem to have a whole load of invented issues for which a fix is available (at a price of course), ie the Touratech catalogue. I thought it was only golfers and cooks that fell for that

So lets have some candidates for the travel bike of the moment (or the near past). Which ones should we be aspiring towards. Which ones tick most of the boxes most of the time? None of my old wrecks would make any sort of list like that but what I've done is redefine their annoying faults as endearing quirks so I don't feel so bad. I know someone who's done close to 1/4 million miles on MZs so such self delusion can get you a long way but really, should you have to take anti depressants to cope with looking at the bike before you head off on a trip?

For riding in South America there are a few decent dual sports available new and on the used market. A good candidate with parts available just about anywhere is the Honda NX4 Falcon. No longer being fabricated in Brasil but they are plentiful on the used market. One downside to these are that they are sought after by thieves as well. Honda XRE 300 also, but I consider it a bit light for extended adventure traveling. Doesn't have the load capacity of the NX4. KLRs can be found as well. But parts are less available.

Sent from my SM-A307G using Tapatalk

I would not be shipping a vehicle that you are not prepared to walk away from anywhere for quite a while due to Covid.

Which in some ways makes life a bit easier. Fly in, by the cheapest bike the locals ride and sell it when done.

Just a thought.

I've just recently bought an F650 and whilst I've not yet taken it far, I'm very impressed; its weaknesses are noted above, but neither spare regulators nor water pump repair kits are expensive or take up much space - you'll fit both in that otherwise useless space at the back of the seat.
A great point was made to me thirty-odd years ago: "If you go on a bike which you already own, like and has served you well, it'll probably break down at some point, but it's earned the right to do so and you'll forgive it. However, if instead you've spend x-thousand £/$/€ on a new/recommended/hyped bike especially for the trip it too will probably break down at some point, but you'll be less forgiving and are also less likely to be able to fix it for yourself.

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BobnLes

Love your quote BobnLes

I came home with a leaking rear damper on my ‘08 GSA and was a little shitty about it. My wife said leave the poor bloody bike alone. It’s done enough miles to get a cold every now and then LOL.

I have failed to break a CB500 (on my 2nd) and early ones are certainly now within reach if you need to include carnet value. Performance and spec is actually very close to the F650. The usual work (OE tyres, OE chain, shocks if these things bother you..) is required to turn them from weekend play thing to every day ride and protecting the sump is difficult without a full frame. The valve service, an expedition to the centre of the bike via bodywork, tank, electrics tray.... is close to V-strom silliness but at 16000 miles is acceptable.

I likewise failed to break an NC750. These fix many of the CB500's bad points but are lumps to ride.

I regularly broke my Bullet, but thats part of the experience.

I did not get on with Moto Guzzi, a shed-built machine for hobbyists with bad parts availabilty, an unsupported Enfield.

I sold my last MZ in 2014. I'd love one (if would be my 6th) but for some reason parts supply of vitals like crank seals has not kept up. My classic Honda (CL350) scratches that itch.

I would love to try many of the 150-250cc work bikes they don't bring to the UK. The CT125 is coming and rumours about the H-Ness please me.

There are no perfect bikes, only better starting points and knowledge about likely results and potential fixes.

Andy