....especially the encouraging ones.

First of all sorry for somewhat late answering.

But as my tablet just broke down after 6 weeks of travelling ( broken micro-usb-contact ) I am about to set up all my IT with a new netbook I have to organize) And due to travelling I am not permantently online.

Thebackground of my question is that after all of many years of travellling and sharing just the same positive impressions like you for so many years ( why otherwise I would be back on the road if not for that ;-) there is a more than ever serious concern, resulting also of sources like this one

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bzN_tcK0NzI

( tough stuff , sorry for that)

By the end I will involve all your positive affirmation into the final decisions- and do , what I ever did - follow the guts.

Thank you for taking that thread serious here - that is a true bikers and travellers forum.Apprecuate that and will have all travelling bikers welcome in my place in the bavarian alpes , once I am back home,

See you all hopefully out on the road

BABA :-)

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BABA Henning
www.ride-of-smiles.com - when bikers make a better world

A good riding buddy is a retired Orthopedic surgeon. He's worked with Doctor's Without Borders and other NGO's. He is a rider too, but doesn't screw around on bike trips pretending to be a charity ... he goes directly to various countries and operates or teaches, usually BOTH.

I feel Traveling by bike means little to local folk ... other than perhaps they think you've arrived from another world. (you have, Germany) Best get down to earth. One on ONe help is best.

I give to local charities I know, that work for projects I understand and can see ... not foreign ones with unknown middlemen claiming affiliation with an NGO.

Just because you're riding a bike is no guarantee readers here will support you. Why would they? We are all constantly barraged to GIVE GIVE GIVE. Why don't you try to get Brazilians to support your charity ... see how that goes.

BTW, How things going over on ADV Rider?

IMO, the best you could ever do for Brazilians (a relatively wealthy country) or anywhere they truly need help, would be to go there and TEACH young doctors and medical students everything you know.

To me, that is valuable and important work. Riding round on a lark ... while fun for YOU, does not help others. At all. And few will pay you to screw around on a new BMW while millions continue to suffer.

I share your concern about riding around on a new $25,000 BMW GS ... after all, it's worth more money than average folk there make in 10 years of hard work. No wonder they would steal it ... and possible KILL YOU to get it. Lots of guns in Brazil, not like many Latin countries where guns are basically illegal.

If you want to ride around and DO GOOD ... buy something the locals ride, like a scooter or 125 and get to work teaching and applying your medical skills and sharing what you've learned.

My friend also goes round to hospitals in California and gets them to donate equipment and supplies they consider to be obsolete. He does this on a project by project basis. He ships TONS of stuff, and has managed to obtain all sorts of perfectly GOOD equipment ... free!

So far he has been to Vietnam, Haiti, Philippines, Mexico, Uganda.
He rides a BMW too ... but would never be sponsored by them. (funny side note: both Uganda and Philippines wanted DUTY paid on the free equipment that was being donated to local clinics/hospitals! )

Do you want to be famous or do some good?



PS: I worked ON/Off for two major NGO's for 10 years, so I've seen a bit of the world where medical help is needed. (Africa, Asia, S. America) I really admired some of the Doc's I meant, like the ones in Cambodia. But I was there as a paid professional, not a volunteer.

Looking at this bike-jacking video, your bike should be ok as long as it has crashbars fitted Motor vehicles get stolen the world over and there are "parts of town" in any large city where you shouldn't go.

While I've never had a gun pointed at me, I've felt very uneasy in parts of Marseilles and Los Angeles (during the day). Does this mean I wouldn't go to France or the USA? No. Local knowledge will help you avoid the no-go-areas.

Carrying a mugger-wallet (in addition to your normal wallet), or just one wallet with not much in it can be viewed as a good idea in quite a few North and Latin American/African/Asian/European countries. Brazil is one of many IMHO.

I also try to avoid cities where-ever I go, and if I do visit cities, I park the bike up at the hotel and take public transport/walk/taxi.

Whether shooting a thief is justified is open to debate (my opinion is irrelevant on this topic), but probably not an appropriate topic on a motorcycle travel forum that tries to help and spread global understanding.

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TBS.com

Just go........

No more dangerous than anywhere else you have been.

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