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3 Jan 2012
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Join Date: Jun 2004
Location: Hong Kong
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Central/South America- 2012
Dear All,
I am a Hong Kong Chinese with 43 years riding experience.
I am planning a trip from San Francisco to Tierra del Fuego and back up somewhere in S. America. The bike I shall be using is a 2007 KLR650. I want to start the trip in Oct. 2012 and hope that it will end in about 3 months.
I love to take photos and shall be spending some time capturing beautiful scenes along the way.
Any seasoned traveller who thinks about the same way would be welcomed to discuss the plan here.  May be we can make a team.
Happy New Year!
Franki
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3 Jan 2012
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Join Date: May 2011
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Franki,
I'm in Guatemala right now and I can tell you that you will need a lot more than 3 months. Think 6 or more to make it enjoyable.
I have already been in Mexico, Belize and Guat for over two months.
Unless you want to ride from sunrise to sunset every day and take all the toll roads there is pretty much no way. You won't enjoy it.
__________________
"Old enough to know better, young enough to not care"
2003 Honda XR650R, 2005 Aprilia RSV1000R, 2008 KTM 250XC
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3 Jan 2012
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Location: Nova Scotia
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I hope to be crossing into Mexico middle to end of August but at your pace it shouldn't take too long for you to catch me maybe I'll see you on the road. I'll be riding a vstrom 650
Cheers Growler
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5 Jan 2012
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Longer!
There,s no reason to even do it if you don't take at least 6 months! Read some of the moto travel reports for the areas you want to travel and adjust your time. 250km is a good day on gravel. 400km is a good day on pavement. If you will have to cross a border, then 1/2 the kms of the afor mentioned. Rest day every 3rd (for you as much as to fix things on the moto). At special places (Cuzco, Foz, Salta, etc) take 2 or 3 days...
Any faster than that and you will return home with regrets...
Just sayin... after my 30 years riding in South America...
Toby  
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8 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by charapashanperu
There,s no reason to even do it if you don't take at least 6 months! Read some of the moto travel reports for the areas you want to travel and adjust your time. 250km is a good day on gravel. 400km is a good day on pavement. If you will have to cross a border, then 1/2 the kms of the afor mentioned. Rest day every 3rd (for you as much as to fix things on the moto). At special places (Cuzco, Foz, Salta, etc) take 2 or 3 days...
Any faster than that and you will return home with regrets...
Just sayin... after my 30 years riding in South America...
Toby   
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Thank you Toby for your insights. I have to agree with you about the daily riding distance. I do about the same in China. I shall be studying more on other people's travel reports, its never too late to learn
Franki
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14 Jan 2012
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Worth Doing WHATEVER your time frame.
I agree with everything except your first comment. There are many reasons to do it whatever your time frame.  MY primary goal is to explore Brasil for three months by motorcycle and improve my Portuguese. Riding there is a treat even if you move quickly. Unavoidable complications delayed my departure 2 weeks.
I traveled from Nogales, Arizona to San Blas Panama in under 12 days. Everyone said it would be impossible along the way and I would miss my boat the Stahlratte. On the boat they thought mine might be a record.
Yes, only one day in Mexico City (Christmas day), entered and exited Honduras in the light of a single day. Border crossings were tedious and someone lifted a stash of cash but I saw and experienced far more than if I flew over at 30,000 feet. Agave fields gave way to pineapple then banana.  Views of the Pacific shifted to the Atlantic and back. I have spent 5 days in Cartagena and also Medellin and prefer this pace. I plan to climb Machu Picchu and traverse Patagonia prior to Brasil.
I know another who did round trip from the San Bernardino mountains to Tierra del Fuego in 2 months. Your Milage WILL Vary!
Quote:
Originally Posted by charapashanperu
There,s no reason to even do it if you don't take at least 6 months! Read some of the moto travel reports for the areas you want to travel and adjust your time. 250km is a good day on gravel. 400km is a good day on pavement. If you will have to cross a border, then 1/2 the kms of the afor mentioned. Rest day every 3rd (for you as much as to fix things on the moto). At special places (Cuzco, Foz, Salta, etc) take 2 or 3 days...
Any faster than that and you will return home with regrets...
Just sayin... after my 30 years riding in South America...
Toby   
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__________________
 Jay  '1Dakar Calif.2Rio de Janeiro Carnival'12, Ushuaia 2 Amazon on Atlantic. Interior, Brasilia, CarnivalRio'13. Andes, PacificPatagonia USA>Florida>DeadhorseAK2014!
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8 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Growler
I hope to be crossing into Mexico middle to end of August but at your pace it shouldn't take too long for you to catch me maybe I'll see you on the road. I'll be riding a vstrom 650
Cheers Growler
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Hi Growler,
I'll be looking out for a DL650 on the road
See ya,
Franki
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8 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Shibby!
Franki,
I'm in Guatemala right now and I can tell you that you will need a lot more than 3 months. Think 6 or more to make it enjoyable.
I have already been in Mexico, Belize and Guat for over two months.
Unless you want to ride from sunrise to sunset every day and take all the toll roads there is pretty much no way. You won't enjoy it.
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Thank you Shibby for your suggestion. I know it might take a lot longer to enjoy Latin America. The length of time is not fixed, but may be my wallet size will determin how far I can go
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10 Jan 2012
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Hey Growler we should keep in touch. We may be hitting Mexico around the same time. My plan is to leave Canada in June and work my way down towards Mexico around the end of August as well. I have no set timeline so am in know rush when I get to Mexico and work my way down through Central/South america. I am planning a RTW and expect to be on the road for years not months. I will be riding a Triumph Tiger 800.
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10 Jan 2012
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Location: RTW, From Vancouver BC 2012
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We will be in Mex/CA in fall to winter. Maybe we will see you on the road if you are able to go more than 3 months! Sara & Daniel
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10 Jan 2012
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Quote:
Originally Posted by saralou
We will be in Mex/CA in fall to winter. Maybe we will see you on the road if you are able to go more than 3 months! Sara & Daniel
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Hi Sara & Daniel,
Even if I zoomed passed Latin America, I stiill like to stop and talk to fellow travellers. I shall be posting the development on this thread and see how many HUers I can talk to on the way.
Franki
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11 Jan 2012
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Roameo: Sounds good, I might be slightly ahead but want to take spanish lessons somewhere, you'll probably catch up to me  , where are you leaving from?
Cheers Growler
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11 Jan 2012
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Wil be leaving from Winnipeg. Funny I start spanish lessons here for starting end of Jan. Thought it would be good to get a little knowledge before I hit the border. I here Guatemala is the popular place for spanish lessons. I am sure we will meet up somewhere!
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21 Jun 2012
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Hi Franki,
I will be leaving Florida on Nov 1st and hope to be in Ushuaia by New Year. I know everyone, it is crazy... I won't see anything, blablabla... Maybe I will miss New Year and still be in Mexico, who knows!
Anyway, keep in touch, it would be cool to meet somewhere along the way. Really fast, haha!
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16 Jan 2012
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Hi guys, sounds like SA will be run over by Canadians in 2012! My take off date from Winnipeg is set for approx June. Going to travel the U.S.A. and work my way to mexico. Like Growler and Franki we should all keep in touch. Figure out a place for a Canadian reunion lol. Maybe we will be hitting the Mexican border at the same time.
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