Alaska to Argentina on a drz400.. Prep advice needed

[Mike54]

Buy a new bike out there, sell it when finished. save on shipping, parts and concern.

[Simon_100]

Buy a new bike out there, sell it when finished. save on shipping, parts and concern.

That's a popular idea, but the is where you need to checkout the HUBB. Where and how do you source bike in USA or Canada, how do you cross frontiers in South America if you're nit a national of the country where the bike is registered and especially what do you do with it in Argentina, where if you 'import' a vehicle across the frontier you can't leave the country without taking it with you ...

But it's still a good idea ... (thumbs)

Regs

Simon

[Old Git Ray]

Mike54 wrote: Buy a new bike out there, sell it when finished. save on shipping, parts and concern.
That's a popular idea, but the is where you need to checkout the HUBB. Where and how do you source bike in USA or Canada, how do you cross frontiers in South America if you're nit a national of the country where the bike is registered and especially what do you do with it in Argentina, where if you 'import' a vehicle across the frontier you can't leave the country without taking it with you ...
But it's still a good idea ... (thumbs)
Regs
Simon

+1 on this. It can be a real PITA at the borders. They do go through your paperwork with a fine tooth comb in many places. The "take it out with you" thing is taken very seriously as most of the poorer countries do not want you to leave your bike there as no huge import duties are paid on it like the locals have done. Mexico is an exception: I paid $430 to import, (on a debit card !!! ) and they paid $400 back to the card imediately on exit. Many countries put the bike import documentation in your passport alongside the visa/entry stamp.

Oh, and despite what the RAC and the carnet system say (if they still do it ??), you do not need a carnet for South America.

[flipflopdog]

Most obvious things have been said but think about rear punctures and chain maintenance..?? Rig a centre stand up or some kind of prop for right hand side of bike so you can work on the back end..?? Sheepskin for the saddle, I swear by them, hot, cold, rain they do the lot and will make your life easy on a biggy like this. Perhaps an uprated alternator as well. Perhaps the most important mod that has been mentioned is an uprated rear shock, front will be ok. I've fitted two uprated shocks to bikes now from Alf Hagon and they were a much needed bonus.

[Redmurty]

http://www.twsvehiclewiring.co.uk/


great guys to speak to about anything to do with wiring

http://www.britanniacomposites.com/lynx ... -400-ssme/

pick one of these up over there

cheers Spud