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Exp. with Honda, BMW and Yamaha in Latin America Exp. with Honda, BMW and Yamaha in Latin America
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Which Bike? Comments and Questions on what is the best bike for YOU, for YOUR trip. Note that we believe that ANY bike will do, so please remember that it's all down to PERSONAL OPINION. Technical Questions for all brands go in their own forum.
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Old 4 Mar 2014
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Join Date: Aug 2002
Location: Venezuela
Posts: 35
Post Exp. with Honda, BMW and Yamaha in Latin America
I live(d) in Latin America with these three bikes and here is my resumee about the companies - not the models!





1. 1999 Honda XRV 750 Africa Twin
2. 2001 BMW F650GS
3. 2010 Yamaha XTZ1200 Super Tenere




The best bike is from Honda.
The petrol pump of the Africa Twin leaked in Brasil and I made it to the Honda station in Vacaria.
First – there are no AT sold in Brasil, so there are no parts for an AT.
Second – these guys found out that the petrol pump of the Shadow Shopper in the window was equal to what I needed. “Do you want us to uninstall it and put it into yours?” YES!
Best and quickest help I ever received. (Obrigado Vacaria!)

If you can: Buy a Honda!

The worst bike is from BMW.
We had a breakdown in Natal (north Brasil), we had to carry the bike to Rio de Janeiro (around 2500km). Then I had to travel to Sao Paulo (around 300km) in order to get the warranty.
First – bike was bought in Germany, broke down in Brasil, BMW said it is not responsible for it anymore.
Second – Sao Paulo promised to garanty the work of BMW Rio de Janeiro.
The bike broke down again. BMW never answered nor cared. The written warranty of BMW Brasil was without any value. We had to throw a two year old F650GS away. No kidding.
(BTW: We are germans, who officially work abroad. If BMW does not give a dump about representatives of Germany, what do you think they do for a Mr. Smith traveller?)
If you can avoid it: Do not buy a BMW!


In the middle so far is Yamaha.
Right now (march 2014) I am in Guatemala with an in Germany bought Yamaha.
There is a worldwide “calling back” because of light problems (something can overheat and the lights go out – accident danger). Yamaha Germany (thanks for the info!) says, I have to go to the Guatemala Yamaha dealer here to have it done without charge, but these guys have not even heard about the Yamaha XTZ1200 call (but they sell the bike here of course). So far I waited ten days only for the result, that they do not get an answer from Germany…
Well well.
And where did I get the info from?



My advice is: Do not buy the bike only because of the bike.
1. With a Suzuki you can go to Kawasaki, with a Kawasaki to Yamaha, with Yamaha to Honda, but with a BMW you need BMW.
2. There are motivated people, who want to help you NOW and there are talkers who NEVER help. I do not remember one terrible Honda workshop in South America, nor do I remember one good BMW one.
3. Beside Honda shops – I was always happy with the private shops. Sitting in the Argentinia Chaco with a family in the garden while the dad was fixing my bike.
4. Always(!!!) control what the people do to your bike. I just had a simple tyre change here at Yamaha. I asked how much pressure was put in. The answer was, that the tyre has the info on it. There is an info on the tyre??? -> Yeah, an info about the maximum pressure!
Imagine: At Yamaha they do not know the tyre pressure of a Tenere.
5. Buy a bike which was build longtime and use a late model, so that the childhood sicknesses are overcome. It is not so fancy – I know, but it will hold and nobody touches this boring donkey.
6. I had GIVI hardplastic boxes and now I have Yamaha Alumininia ones. Buy GIVI. The original parts from the bike factories are not as solid as GIVI. I admit I am a GIVI fanatic, but there is a reason (i.e. accidents on plastic ).
7. Same is valid for side bar protections.
8. Have a skidplate out of metal. Here in Guate the speedbumper are so high, that even my Super Tenere scratches (I just bought “bones” to higher her 2,5cm up).
9. Last but not least: Today’s people like to think, that the other (i.e. mechanic) is the expert. But responsible for your safety are you – so do not forget to check, what “experts” did to your bike. Are all screws there? Etc.



...to be continued...
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