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TRAVEL Hints and Tips Post your TIPS to travellers - all the interesting little tidbits you learned on the road about packing, where to get stuff, and how to cope with problems. Please make sure the subject describes the tip clearly!
Photo by Andy Miller, UK, Taking a rest, Jokulsarlon, Iceland

I haven't been everywhere...
but it's on my list!


Photo by Andy Miller, UK,
Taking a rest,
Jokulsarlon, Iceland



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  #1  
Old 19 Aug 2008
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Why bother travelling on a fancy motorcycle
I travelled three years on an old Moto Guzzi V7 (1975) from Deadhorse to Ushuaia. I never had a problem to get my bike fixed. To be honest, it never broke down, only needed some maintanance. New motorcycles with computers, injection and shit give mechanics in third world countries a headache and you as well. Long live the old school.
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  #2  
Old 19 Aug 2008
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What are you doing now in Bolivia? Any work there?
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Last edited by mollydog; 26 Mar 2009 at 20:11.
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  #3  
Old 19 Aug 2008
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Yeah, but you DID have a total overhaul before leaving, didn't you? ;-)

Anyway: Guzzi rulez. Most people know that.
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  #4  
Old 19 Aug 2008
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My bike was as standard as can be. And I went many, many times off road. She never gave up. I'm in Bolivia at the moment. Made my last girlfriend pregnant. we will have two boys in 1,5 months. Bit nervous at the moment. No work in Bolivia. I was a journalist in Holland. Working on my book. could be an other thread - which rubbers to bring.
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  #5  
Old 19 Aug 2008
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Yes I did. But in Buenos Aires I had the engine looked after. The mechanic told me that the bike inside still was brand new after 60.000 k's of torture. I could easely travel back from South Africa to Amsterdam. That trip have to wait for a while. While travelling back to Bolivia I crashed hard on the Guzzi. First time in 3 years. Bike is a ****ing mess at the moment. Which is not a problem for the local mechanics.
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  #6  
Old 20 Aug 2008
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Yes, it IS a great bike! I don't think it's the mechanic in general that fails in older Guzzis. It's more the electric. If the bike is re-wired it can run forever, it seems. I know of several Guzzis with more than 300 000 miles on the clock. I'm sure yours'll be no exeption when brought back into one piece.

BTW: I saw your diary on your site. Great piece of work. Well done with the upcoming twins too! It had to be twins, right? I have two kids myself. Would never be without them ever. I became father very young and nearly crapped my pants when thinking about the responsibility. But no worries. I assure you. Guzzisti always come through you know.
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  #7  
Old 20 Aug 2008
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Old schools sre better...
Quote:
Originally Posted by Guzzigalore View Post
I travelled three years on an old Moto Guzzi V7 (1975) from Deadhorse to Ushuaia. I never had a problem to get my bike fixed. To be honest, it never broke down, only needed some maintanance. New motorcycles with computers, injection and shit give mechanics in third world countries a headache and you as well. Long live the old school.
I totally agree on that.
I have an old school bike, a 1996 airhead and wouldn't change to a brand new 1200 GSA, though it is free...

Good luck in Bolivia and sure you'll love your life with kids. Wait for 6 months which you can handle them better and easier.

I don't know how old are you (30 something). We don't know how precious the kids are when we are young. When we have kid at later ages, they seem to be more precious. I guess we understand the life more or being seen a lot when the time pass more...

Cheers,

Sami
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Old 22 Aug 2008
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Thanks for the compliment - I´m 44. The funny thing with the electrics is that it is as old as the bike. Never rewired. My upcoming kids are called on my weblog the V-twins. Three hours after I stepped of my bike in Ushuaia I heard from Roxana that we will have to boys. Life has mysterious ways, I tell you. Anyway, I working on my book. If it sells I'll drive the Guzzi back to Amsterdam, from South Africa through the Middle East. I'm a traveller, a wanderer but always come back to Bolivia. Roxana understands that. Not only with the Guzzi i'm lucky, also with the wife. Thanks for the responses,

Paul
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