I have to chime in on an 80's Honda. I did a 5 day trip with some friends. One was on an early 90's KTM, one on a Dr. Big (Suzuki 750 single cylinder), one on a S-Strum, one on a 2010 KTM and me on my 1982 Nighthawk 750 - IO paid $1,00 for the bike. We did 90 K on a dirt highway in western Canada and I had zero problems. As for the road riding I was by far the most comfortable - especially the two guy's on new bikes with stock seats. If I was going on your tour I'd get an 80's goldwing - they feel a lot like the 90's Nighthawks but with a bigger engine and a long as you're smart about speed you should be good almost anywhere you go or for even less an 80's Nighthawk. Smaller, lighter and lower than the Goldwing but top end speed for the highway miles is slow.
Also find the book investment banker. It's from the 80's about a guy who rode BMW's around the world and covering all the continents. Its a great read and even today sheds light on riding through south America. Sean On Sunday, November 11, 2012 6:05:19 AM UTC-10, EGrider wrote: > > OK, you iron butts. I might have mentioned this before, but ever since I > watched "The Motorcycle Diaries" I've been dying to ride across South > America. Well last May I did a 3-day trip in Peru (that's me in the blue > helmet) and this Christmas I'm doing two rides in Bolivia. But as for the > grand tour, I've checked out companies that arrange bike tours, considered > buying a bike down there, and considered having one shipped. These are all > pricey options. Then I got the idea of just riding something south as far > as it would take me and leaving it there. Disposable bike! That's the > answer. Surely there should be something that runs on regular gas, has a > comfortable riding position, on-off road tires, a big gas tank, could take > some ammo boxes on the sides, and has 7-8,000 miles left in it to make it > to Buenos Aires? I'm serious about this. I have also driven cars across > Mexico, Guatemala, and Costa Rica, so I know a little about what I'm > getting into. I'm pushing 60 and I want to do this ride while I still can. > Any suggestions as to a suitable disposable bike? Craigslist's winter > pricing is setting in. Thanks. > -- You received this message because you are subscribed to the Google Groups "Nighthawk Motorcycle Lovers!" group. To post to this group, send email to [email protected]. To unsubscribe from this group, send email to [email protected]. Visit this group at http://groups.google.com/group/nighthawk_lovers?hl=en-US.
