San Francisco to South America, eventually

evermore · 07-14-2010, 05:20 PM

I'm presently getting my bike (and myself) ready for a ride from San Francisco down to South America. My initial goal is to hit Santiago de Chile but leaving myself the option of making it all the way down to Tierra del Fuego. While I am planning on flying out of Buenos Aires (and shipping the bike back from there), there is the additional option of entering Brazil. So many decisions... but I figure I'll leave those to the point when I actually reach Santiago and I see how I feel about these endeavors at that time.

So the bike... a 2002 Suzuki DR650SE

Obviously, the rear wheel is missing right now as I'm having the rear spokes replaced and considering having the wheels sealed so I can run tubeless.

The blue IMS tank is courtesy of Dan Hershberger who is letting me borrow it for the trip. It's giving the bike a nice ratty look though I like the overall color scheme. At the very least, I'll be popular with
Boca Junior fans.

Other upgrades include a center stand (also courtesy of Dan), Dirt Bagz, new front and rear brake pads, new air filter, oil change and new oil filter, valve clearance check (thanks Rick!), a new gold DID chain (got bling?), a huge Parabellum windshield, and a Sargent seat that should save my butt.

Route wise.. the plan for now is to go down Baja and catch the Tuesday August 3rd ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan, then bump along the Pacific coast until splitting inland towards Oaxaca. Swinging by places such as Palenque, I should ultimately arrive in Panama where I have to decide whether to take a sailboat to Cartagena, Colombia or fly to Bogota. I don't like the idea of giving myself a deadline for reaching the sailboat (which would be the 24th of August) but a 4-5 day island cruise along the San Blas islands does seem pretty nice. We shall see..

Oh right, unless issues with my rear wheel rebuild force a delay, I am planning on leaving San Francisco on July 29th.

Rangerrat · 07-14-2010, 06:31 PM

Uhmm, an awesome trip on a Suzuka DR650. Can't wait for the feedback.

crashmaster · 07-16-2010, 07:17 PM

Nice!

Seal the rear, its very nice to be running tubeless when you pic up nails, 5 minute flat repair. Run a little higher pressure to keep from dinging the rim. I still carry a rear tube just in case I slice a sidewall or ding the rim. So far so good. I did slice a sidewall in Mexico but it was slow leaker.

No sense in sealing the front since you will probably ding the rim on the topes or rocks in short order and start running tube anyway. My front rim looks like someone took a hammer to it.

UHD tubes for the front are great.

Buen viaje!

GB · 07-16-2010, 08:16 PM

Safe journey

Update us along the way,

wheatwhacker · 07-17-2010, 07:12 AM

Hey. Are you close to the sunset district?

evermore · 07-17-2010, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wheatwhacker

Hey. Are you close to the sunset district?

Russian Hill actually :)

wheatwhacker · 07-17-2010, 06:02 PM

We should have a beer or 10 before you leave.

srileo · 07-17-2010, 11:29 PM

Count me in for the beers. I suggest a nuetech tubliss for the front. I have a dr650 as well.

evermore · 07-18-2010, 09:51 AM

beer sounds good... are you guys free monday evening? Any favorite bars?

tmex · 07-18-2010, 02:10 PM

How are you planning to get around the Darien Gap?

evermore · 07-18-2010, 04:25 PM

still not decided but either take the stahlratte on august 24th or fly..

srileo · 07-18-2010, 05:52 PM

Monday may be possible 4042930606
Pm sent to evermore.

Quote:

Originally Posted by evermore

beer sounds good... are you guys free monday evening? Any favorite bars?

evermore · 07-18-2010, 10:24 PM

turns out I can't do Monday... Tuesday or Wednesday? maybe Ace Cafe on 14th and Mission?

wheatwhacker · 07-18-2010, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evermore

turns out I can't do Monday... Tuesday or Wednesday? maybe Ace Cafe on 14th and Mission?

Hmmm, let me think........................thinking............. .......OK.

How about the Homestead, 19 and folsom. More character and some interesting Frenchmen to give good advice.
Ace is for motorcyclists, Homestead is for travellers.
Tuesday is good. 7pm?

wheatwhacker · 07-18-2010, 11:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by evermore

still not decided but either take the stahlratte on august 24th or fly..

You may be flying. 1 month to get to Panama. Doable but not much fun.

07-14-2010, 05:20 PM	#1
evermore ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 305	San Francisco to South America, eventually I'm presently getting my bike (and myself) ready for a ride from San Francisco down to South America. My initial goal is to hit Santiago de Chile but leaving myself the option of making it all the way down to Tierra del Fuego. While I am planning on flying out of Buenos Aires (and shipping the bike back from there), there is the additional option of entering Brazil. So many decisions... but I figure I'll leave those to the point when I actually reach Santiago and I see how I feel about these endeavors at that time. So the bike... a 2002 Suzuki DR650SE Obviously, the rear wheel is missing right now as I'm having the rear spokes replaced and considering having the wheels sealed so I can run tubeless. The blue IMS tank is courtesy of Dan Hershberger who is letting me borrow it for the trip. It's giving the bike a nice ratty look though I like the overall color scheme. At the very least, I'll be popular with Boca Junior fans. Other upgrades include a center stand (also courtesy of Dan), Dirt Bagz, new front and rear brake pads, new air filter, oil change and new oil filter, valve clearance check (thanks Rick!), a new gold DID chain (got bling?), a huge Parabellum windshield, and a Sargent seat that should save my butt. Route wise.. the plan for now is to go down Baja and catch the Tuesday August 3rd ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan, then bump along the Pacific coast until splitting inland towards Oaxaca. Swinging by places such as Palenque, I should ultimately arrive in Panama where I have to decide whether to take a sailboat to Cartagena, Colombia or fly to Bogota. I don't like the idea of giving myself a deadline for reaching the sailboat (which would be the 24th of August) but a 4-5 day island cruise along the San Blas islands does seem pretty nice. We shall see.. Oh right, unless issues with my rear wheel rebuild force a delay, I am planning on leaving San Francisco on July 29th. __________________ San Francisco to South America, eventually

07-16-2010, 07:17 PM	#3
crashmaster ow, my balls! Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Girdweed, AK Oddometer: 4,601	Nice! Seal the rear, its very nice to be running tubeless when you pic up nails, 5 minute flat repair. Run a little higher pressure to keep from dinging the rim. I still carry a rear tube just in case I slice a sidewall or ding the rim. So far so good. I did slice a sidewall in Mexico but it was slow leaker. No sense in sealing the front since you will probably ding the rim on the topes or rocks in short order and start running tube anyway. My front rim looks like someone took a hammer to it. UHD tubes for the front are great. Buen viaje! __________________ Riding the Americas: No Fumar Español - Terminado. _____________________________________________ crashmaster screwed with this post 07-16-2010 at 07:22 PM

07-16-2010, 08:16 PM	#4
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,440	Safe journey Update us along the way, __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

07-17-2010, 07:12 AM	#5
wheatwhacker It's raining here Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Cork, Ireland Oddometer: 2,703	Hey. Are you close to the sunset district? __________________ European bike sales and storage. https://www.facebook.com/motofeirme

07-17-2010, 06:02 PM	#7
wheatwhacker It's raining here Joined: Oct 2006 Location: Cork, Ireland Oddometer: 2,703	We should have a beer or 10 before you leave. __________________ European bike sales and storage. https://www.facebook.com/motofeirme

07-14-2010, 06:31 PM	#2
Rangerrat Adventurer Rat Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa Oddometer: 27	Uhmm, an awesome trip on a Suzuka DR650. Can't wait for the feedback.

07-17-2010, 11:29 PM	#8
srileo dot Indian snakecharmer Joined: Aug 2006 Location: San Francisco Oddometer: 888	Count me in for the beers. I suggest a nuetech tubliss for the front. I have a dr650 as well. __________________ "One measure of a man is what he does when he has nothing to do." - Robert Fulton "There is no situation so bad that it can't be made worse by asking Jo Momma for advice." - Ninjak

07-18-2010, 09:51 AM	#9
evermore ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 305	beer sounds good... are you guys free monday evening? Any favorite bars? __________________ San Francisco to South America, eventually

07-18-2010, 02:10 PM	#10
tmex Beastly Adventurer Joined: Apr 2006 Location: NorCal Oddometer: 2,039	How are you planning to get around the Darien Gap? __________________ my favorite bike - R1200GS

07-18-2010, 04:25 PM	#11
evermore ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 305	still not decided but either take the stahlratte on august 24th or fly.. __________________ San Francisco to South America, eventually

07-18-2010, 10:24 PM	#13
evermore ^OP Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Jun 2010 Location: San Francisco, CA Oddometer: 305	turns out I can't do Monday... Tuesday or Wednesday? maybe Ace Cafe on 14th and Mission? __________________ San Francisco to South America, eventually

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