Radioman Rides the World.......

[lulo]

WOW !!! its funny i guess, it was just last summer when i had the great pleasure of meeting you @ rudys BBQ while you were up here in the NE in mobill's company (i was in the boxter cup that day trying to kickstart rudys husky), and now i find out you've been roaming around my hometown for the last weeks ....wish i would have known earlier, gotta like the motorcycle shops around la valladera .

dude if you need parts i have cross country bmw near me and i send parts down every other week, any help w logistics shoot me a pm, i have lot of friends that can assist should you need anything.

if in town this weekend try to make the trip up to llanogrande/rionegro via las palmas (gotta love the hike up to the top), go past the small round point for el retiro and continue towards llanogrande and up ahead you will find a second small round point for don diego, go past it w llanogrande still in your sight and keep ur eyes peeled to the right, about a click up ahead you will see an argentinian steak house called el rancho de la chacha (cant miss the argentinian flag).....believe me it will blow your taste buds away...tell him you want to try the solomito sausage, fyi he's open only on the weekends.

after continue towards llanogrande and go past the mall (the llanogrande mall that is) and look for the split on the right for the town of san antonio de pereira....truly a must stop.

keep on riding safe and keep enjoying the view around el lleras....plenty to look at night .

[TowPro]

Radioman, your an internet sensation.
I searched google for el rancho de la chacha, and this thread was the 3rd one down in the list

[N9921X]

I just followed the google suggestion and watched the u tubes.
Wow, that made me hungry. I'm snowed in here in Colorado!
Looks like a great place.
Radioman, we need a full report on this place! Viva Colombia.

[Idahosam]

So Mark, How's the front fork issue coming along? Is James corrupting you with constantly exceeding the 3 drink limit or has that long pasted?

I hate to think as much as you cursed caring that K60 all those miles... something like 8000 miles and after just barely getting it mounted and scrubbed off it comes. Well hopefully you can sale it for the price of a tank of gas.

and as I always close, KEEP The RUBBER DOWN Buen Viaje, mi amigo

[TowPro]

Originally Posted by Idahosam

I hate to think as much as you cursed caring that K60 all those miles... something like 8000 miles and after just barely getting it mounted and scrubbed off it comes. Well hopefully you can sale it for the price of a tank of gas.

and as I always close, KEEP The RUBBER DOWN Buen Viaje, mi amigo

It might be the tire of choice if what everyone saying about the roads getting worse as you go south is correct.
If I recall reading a couple pages back, your buddy you were following has brand-new street tires, and you just pushed that back tire past that fine line. .

[Carbomb]

Originally Posted by towpro

It might be the tire of choice if what everyone saying about the roads getting worse as you go south is correct.
If I recall reading a couple pages back, your buddy you were following has brand-new street tires, and you just pushed that back tire past that fine line. .

I agree. The K60 seems to be the longevity choice, and given that the road quality gets much worse before it gets better again, there's probably going to be a lot of ooh aah time and slower riding. Probably save the tread on that TKC for roads in Argentina and Chile

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by lulo

now i find out you've been roaming around my hometown for the last weeks ....wish i would have known earlier, gotta like the motorcycle shops around la valladera .

keep on riding safe and keep enjoying the view around el lleras....plenty to look at night .

Thanks so much for the info and PM. Loving Colombia!!

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by Idahosam

So Mark, How's the front fork issue coming along?

Is James corrupting you with constantly exceeding the 3 drink limit or has that long pasted?

and as I always close, KEEP The RUBBER DOWN Buen Viaje, mi amigo

Hola Sam,

Front fork tube was straightened today and I hope to get it all put back together tomorrow before continuing on!!

Still keeping it around 3 drink limit. Not a big issue for me

Oh, rubber side down.. Now I got it

[Radioman]

Back in Medellin feels very comfortable. Know our way around, large ex patriot group of people here, good food, and you can get errands done.

At the KTM dealer.... They were taking a parts run



Crapes and Waffles has really great and healthy food.



James and Sherri Jo checking out the desserts....... This was fun to watch there excitement.



Tiramisu was really tasty :



James had some ice cream with chocolate dessert.



We all had our cameras out.





being on the road, Conor and the rest of us take advantage of the free wifi to check in with family and friends.... Just giving Conor a hard time and doing it while we were all together.



Across from the hotel we are staying in was a large market and a mix of next and old.





Annie is now out of the hospital after her surgery on her leg and arm. She willl be recoperating while staying at the Shamrock! Wishing her a quick recovery !



We decided to move back over to El Poblado area, so we packed up our gear and got a taxi. They are small with little or no trunk space. So we were jammed in



My front fork was still our of Ruta 40 to get straightened... But have been told it would be back Friday PM or Saturday...... Just have to wait since new parts have to be flown in from US or Germany and take weeks... Patience is a must.

So James and I decided to go back downtown to get a few stickers made.



We go to these guys and they were great!! We had to draw sort of what we wanted and they jumped right in to get it the design, and then make the stickers.





James has hit (or been hit by two Vultures so far) so decided to get a "Vulture Killer" sticker made up












In this area of town you can get al things Moto done. Paint, plastic repair, seats, engine work, parts etc....



Motos just ride up and into this hallway and down to some businesses! great fun to watch!



I had a simple one made for the front of my bike.



Lane splitting our way back to the hostel....





Stopped at Ruta 40 BMW Friday afternoon and the Fork tube arrived repaired.... So we will get it all put back together Saturday AM.

Decided to change out the rear break pads while the rear tire was off...



Back at the Shamrock.... everyone was meeting up. Conor wanted to sit on James GS.... In case he sells his WeeStrom 650.




Getting anxious to get back on the road.... Just need to get my bike put back together Saturday Morning before Ruta 40 closes for the weekend.

[ian408]

Just catching up with all the pictures and such. Glad to hear you're OK and that things are getting fixed up!

[OldPete2112]

Hmm, fantastic country, incredible views, sketchy roads, sketchy company, some friendly locals, this ride report has it all!

Another get off eh? No more reruns please! Your poor bike is sure putting up with a lot!

And I agree, it was great of James to accompany you back to Medellin. Glad you hooked up with a great riding partner, as sometimes it is sure nice to have someone to help you with such incidents.

Wife and I both ride sport bikes, and although we are NOT planning to do away with them, after reading this (well and a bunch of other ride reports) we found ourselves at the local BMW dealers looking at dual sports. Had some other friends get the F800GS in the last few years, and I wondered about the choice of bike versus getting the larger bike. The reasons are now perfectly clear, as well as the the excellent support from the dealer network when travelling in other countries.

Looks like a couple of F800GS bikes are in our not too distant future. And maybe a trip to Colombia too!

I look forward to reading more in your ride report as it unfolds, be careful out there and have a great time Mark!

Pete

[Cal]

radioman
Let James know I am doing my best to help with the Buzzard population!


this was near Yaviza Panama, he was eating a snake on the road then flew up straight at me with the snake in its grasp and we met a 60mph Broke the windshield and headlight! Damn you sopalotes!!

[Parcero]

What a great city. There's a point in time when a person is in Medellín that they decide to just stay. I know. I was close to that point.

[Throttlemeister]

Originally Posted by Parcero

What a great city. There's a point in time when a person is in Medellín that they decide to just stay. I know. I was close to that point.

^^ Took almost every once of self control I had and then I left out right in the middle of a rain storm to rescue myself from total damnation. That place is a trap if I ever saw one I was lucky but the place calls my name when I'm sleeping at night in my dreams

Still in Cali for a little while more...

[Radioman]

Originally Posted by Cal

radioman
Let James know I am doing my best to help with the Buzzard population!


this was near Yaviza Panama, he was eating a snake on the road then flew up straight at me with the snake in its grasp and we met a 60mph Broke the windshield and headlight! Damn you sopalotes!!

Have passed this along ! Good laugh was had!