Hi, I am living in Salta, Argentina and want to buy a bike that I can use for short trips to the surrounding mountainous areas in the Salta and Jujuy provinces. I am also planning a trip around the whole of Argentina next year sometime.

I have around £4000 - £4500 to spend and have narrowed it down to a brand new Falcon NX4 or a second hand Transalp. What you guys think? Btw..I haven't rode a bike in about 20 years if it makes any difference...

Thanks for any replies.

niceguyeddie, you are in luck, one of the best adventure guides who knows most things motorcycle, and much more.... lives in and operates WayraChaKi Excursiones en Moto from Salta. His name is Frank and you can communicate with him in his native German, Spanish or English.... he is fluent in all three languages and is one of the best and most well informed motorcycle guides in Argentina.

My opinion, after 21,000 K and 6 South American countries is that a new NX400 Honda Falcon has what it takes for South America.

I would not advise 2 up with gear on a Falcon. I never attempted that. But if you buy new, you will have the 12,000 K or one year warranty. Elisa did the same trip on her XR250 Honda Tornado, so I never really pushed the NX400.

She just bought a brand new NX400 Falcon. She is very happy with the Falcon too.

I have never riden a Transalp and suggest you contact Frank for an expert opinion. www.wayrachaki.com.ar , or ask locally how to contact him.

Long ago, Frank paid his dues, by touring Argentina for two years, before opening his business...just to get the feel of the country and her people.

xfiltrate

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Discover how to legally Buy, Tour and Sell a motorcycle in Argentina

I loved my Falcon to pieces and would recommend to anyone.. an ideal bike.. but it, me and minimal luggage were SO light that I was swept off the road by a gust of wind hurtling across open ground in Tierra del Fuego. Oops.

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The Falcon is aHonda right? Can you actually find them in Europe / UK? Never seen one while they were every where in Brazil etc....
It would be a good choice for my next trip, If I coult find one!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

.... after all the Falcon comments, I want to add my little biddy stuff, too.

I have owned my TransAlp (Japanese model with 400 ccm engine) for the past 3 years, bought used with 35.000 kilometers down (now close to 50.000). It is a 1992 model, so almost "vintage"?!?!

I am not an extreme rider, however, do love touring. For my height (186cm) the TA is just ideal. It does have enough power to ride 2 up with luggage (paniers). It is very easy to maintain (actually the only maintenance I have done so far is oil-changes) as well as handle (forgives rider-mistakes without any problems).

I paid something like 1.800 Euros for it (over here in Japan) and I assume it was a bargain, since it came with 3 months warranty.

It took me to Hokkaido 2 years ago (close to 4.000 kilometers roundtrip) and the only thing that had to be done was using some oil spray for the chain. Gas-milage is good, too (of course depending on your riding style), I get something like 100 kilometers / 4 liters of gas.

For more info or just for entertainment, check out my homepage and go to the photo gallery section (Hokkaido and others).

If you have any questions, just contact me.

Hope you will have fun riding a bike again!!

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Hi Maria. There was a secondhand Falcon for sale in Essex a couple of years ago.. and that's all I can report after keeping my eyes open for one in the eight years since I owned one in Brazil.

Moral of the story: I should have bought that one when I had the chance.

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Mike there are couple on sale in the UK right now in autotrader if you are still interested (both are 2006 model).

Any one know the size of the fuel tank? This little bike could be the ideal bike for me for the next big trip (in 18 months time). Maybe a bit early to buy my next trip bike just yet though for me. Also I do like my current bike (Versys). Ideal for Europe.
Argh! can't wait for Jan 2011 to come!

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Maria

www.franglais-riders.com

Just seen this thread. My partner and I bought 2 new Falcons in UK in 2005, shipped them to Valparaiso and rode them 22,000 km round Chile, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Ecuador before airfreighting them to Miami. They were brilliant. We still use them on daily basis back in UK as our preferred transport (so many speed cameras!) and they've now each done about 45000 km. We plan to refurbish them and take them on our RTW trip starting October! We're 2 women and can still pick them up by ourselves ....Our Bandit 600 and CBR 600 have sat languishing in the garage for the last year .... must get rid of them. See pictures on www.bugbitten.co.uk/shoandpat Cheers Sheonagh

Sheonagh, did you buy them from a dealer? Were they imported from Brazil before being shipped to Chile? I think there's a few of us interested in getting Falcons in the UK.

*Jealous!*

That link is not quite correct, by the way, but glad I searched some more: great tales and pictures at Sheonagh Pat's Travel Journal | Travel Recommendations | Travel Blogs

--Mike

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hello, I will be in Salta and will be looking for a new bike. How did it go with your purchase? Did you buy the 400? How do you like it. I want to do some touring to Chile and in the mountains. Did you consider a Tornado? Which dealer did you choose as there are several in Salta? Regards Andrew

I am interested in buying a used Falcon 2008 with 26,000 kmon it, here in Costa Rica. Everything here costs twice as much as anywhere else so it will cost almost $7000 after I pay it off with interest, my question is: is this bike something that is worth investing in can be worked on and kept like new over the long haul.Anyone have any input? My other alternatives are to buy a much older bike, or a much cheaper chinese 400, or pay a lot more for a newer one.

Hi Niceguyeddie,
I've never heard of the Falcon so can't comment, but I bought a Transalp in 2009. Since then I've done 22000 miles(about 30000kms.) on it, mostly touring with wife and full load in Honda top box, panniers(soft), and tank bag. We took it to Turkey the first year and did 6000miles and 16 countries. After servicing it in Turkey they did not put oil filter back properly(Honda agent) and it leaked oil til we got to Bucharest where they rectified it. Next year we went to Morocco and toured around the country(2000miles) with some off road as they were building a new highway along the Mediterranean coast.(It was a building site for 80miles.) On the way back through Spain we had problem with fuel injection. Honda in Salamanca could not find fault. The dealer where I bought it put a new EFI unit in(£1100-under warranty!)Next year we went to the Pyrenees-same problem-Honda at La Rochelle found a faulty lead! Cured! All the way from West to East of Pyrenees and this year to Med. via Alps. No problem. Cruises motorways 80+mph.. Mountain passes no problem. Averages 12-13mpl(20kms/litre). Holds 17.5 litres. It is top heavy and heavy to pick up. Helps to have another person to pick it up. Not most comfortable but have done 400 miles in a day. It's a bit tall for me(28ins-71cms leg) so just get toes down. With full load much better. I have a taller screen, heated hand grips and lower seat. A 4 year old one like mine should be around £3500-£4000.