I thought you all might be interested in seeing my DRZ SM ride something like 10,000 miles.:ride: I'm leaving in three weeks, but in the meantime I'm building my bike (along with my travel companion and best friend Matt, also on a DRZ), and planning the trip. If you'd like to know more, check out ride-report.com.
Thanks to all on this forum that answer questions! This is my first bike, and I don't have any friends that ride, so all technical knowledge I have is from this community. Matt just started riding himself a couple of months ago, so I'm the designated mechanic. Expect some questions...

Tiernan

Thats a pretty gnarly adventure. Should be a lot of fun. Ride safe and good luck!

How are you going to get across the Darien Gap?

MF

Just need a little more speed me thinks.:bonk:

Seriously tho that sounds like a super fun trip, My riding instructor when I got my license rode from the south tip of south america home (canada) with his wife on the back. Thats dedication.

Most likely we'll hop on a boat to Cartagena from Panama, but we're playing everything by ear once we're there. Think we should try to ride through?

Awesome RR here
http://www.advrider....ad.php?t=431849

Plus some helpfull tips aswell for navigating the local in South America.

Can't wait to see the report.
Goodluck and Ride safe.

We've got the facebook page up now, http://www.facebook....39851783?ref=ts

We could use some fans!

All good, thanks, and much respect Bryan and TT! We're waiting to put the parts on until we have everything, which should be on Monday. We'll have a nice write up with some photos soon after. Lots of mods and accessories going on...

There will probably be days that will seem like your riding inside Pandora's box,hang in there ! Alot of us out here would love to join you!!
Keep us posted!
Fg

Good luck, and I'm watching.................how's your Spanish?

I have some extended family in Santiago, Chile, and some good friends in Bariloche, Argentina......you should stop in Bariloche, it is BEAUTIFUL!!!!

My Spanish was pretty good in high school!
Bariloche looks a little far South for us, but we're likely to pass through Santiago.
Thanks for all of the support, I'll post up tomorrow with a report on the bike build. :)

Here's the poop:

Matt's black 2006 DRZ 400SM-
Matt bought his bike on ebay. It came with an FCR MX, FMF Powerbomb exhaust, and Cyclops headlight. Today we'll add:
-Cycleracks luggage rack and saddle bags
-Thumpertalk case savers
-IMS 4 gal tank
-Corbin seat
-Britannia Composites Lynx Fairing

My white 2008 DRZ 400SM-
Bought this new from the dealer last year. Bone stock today, other than removed CA smog can and kickstand safety... and, ahem, custom :lol: shorty brake lever. Actually I got over anxious the last week and already put on the Cycleracks luggage racks and saddle bags. I actually dropped my bike the other day on the road and the racks/bags passed the test with flying colors! Today we'll add:
-TT case savers
-IMS 4 Gal tank
-Alaskan leather sheepskin dual sport seat cover

This is day 1, hopefully we'll have our gear from Wheeling Cycle Supply tomorrow and can put on the rest of the goods.

tiernanturner said:

you simply can't ride from Panama to Cartagena there is no road across the Darrien gap You either put the bike on a boat or airplain . Check out ADVRIDER.COM for more info , or horizons unlimited for trip planning info

"-Britannia Composites Lynx Fairing"


Haven't heard of that one.......

Where are the after pics?

http://britanniacomp...s.com/lynx.html
They're really nice, I would have gotten one but couldn't afford it (much like the nicer seat.)

So here's a status update:

If you've followed our website blog at all, you might have noticed Matt got Yellow Fever (we think) from the inoculations last week.
Plus, we spent a little time putting together our cameras and mics, so we got a very late start on the build.

As of today, I've got my luggage racks/panniers, MCCT, IMS 4 gal tank, case savers, and sheepskin ready to go. I'm waiting to lock down the tank and seat until I get the Unibiker radiator guards, which should arrive any day with the rest of the goods from Forrest.

Matt has been spending time on his Lynx fairing mainly, but managed to brake the bold which tightens the gear lever when he was putting it back on after installing the case "saber" :lol:

He's flying to Colorado now for Thanksgiving and we'll resume the build when he gets back in a few days.



The jet kits were sent out today, and the Wheeling Cycle Supply order should be in by the end of the week as well.

Where in Colorado?

Traveling with Yellow Fever................?

That sounds like a very long ride on one of these bikes. If time is on your hands, should be alot of fun. Have you done your loctite fixes? My primary nut backed out and my motor had to be rebuilt at 6200 miles. I loctited everything but the primary nut. Take some time with the motor and do these fixes if you haven't already. Good luck, can't wait to read about this trip.