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Las Vegas to Rio on DRZ

40K views 142 replies 63 participants last post by  tiernanturner 
#1 ·
Thought you guys might be interested in my upcoming ride! Myself and my best buddy Matt are riding our '06 and '08 DRZ 400SM's from Las Vegas through Central/S America to Rio de Janeiro in time for Carnival. ...if we're still alive. Matt just started riding a couple months ago and I like to go really fast all the time. :hmmm:

We're outfitting the bikes for the adventure touring, but we're keeping the 17's on with Distanzias.

The whole trip is going to be documented in HD, and there's going to be a finished film next Summer.

Right now we've got just about all of the gear and we'll be building the bikes in a few days. Check out the website for more info:

ride-report.com

-Tiernan
 
#7 ·
Mad props and best of luck to you and your buddy!

I attempted a drive by car (June, 2005), just San Diego -> CanCun. An officer stopped me in north central Mexico and told me to go straight back to the US border. It was good advice, there is good money for cartel gangs regarding american ransoms.

A few years later on vacation in Acapulco (Feb 2009), I rented a bike to explore the pacific highways, AND RECEIVED THE SAME ADVICE. areas just outside major cities (also tourist hotspots) are hotbeds for drug activity and kidnappings. Throw in lack of law enforcement and you have yourself a shit creek.

be careful man, I STRONGLY suggest making the trip with 3-4 people.

After reading the ADV thread, it turns out the OP had MedJetAssist (http://www.medjetassist.com/) one of the services that got Clayton back to the US in a timely manner. You can't put a price on your life/health, but that looks worth it!
 
#9 ·
Thought you guys might be interested in my upcoming ride! Myself and my best buddy Matt are riding our '06 and '08 DRZ 400SM's from Las Vegas through Central/S America to Rio de Janeiro in time for Carnival. ...if we're still alive.
Ummm...... you do realize that there is no road connecting North / Central America to South America don't you? :headscrat
 
#10 ·
Best of luck to you and your buddy.... This should be an EPIC adventure!

A couple of friends and I went to Costa Rica in early October. We rented Two DRZ-400's and a DR 650. Ended up covering over 1000 miles in 6 days on the bike, and it was the best time I have ever had. We were on dirt most of the time, and went through some of the most secluded parts of the country. Traveling by motorcycle, especially dual sport's give you a chance to see some AMAZING things that would otherwise be out of reach.

Be careful down there though, I dont know about South America, but in Central America they have no regard for human life on the open road.

Best of luck!
 
#13 ·
clayton's story

That was one of the first posts I read when I found Advrider about a year ago. It definitely opens my eyes to some of the dark possibilities, but shit happens, what can you do? Living in fear is not on my agenda. Besides, I've already crashed three times in the last year, I think I've already met my quota.:rolleyes2:

As for connecting Central/South America, I'll probably catch a boat to Cartagena. Unless I'm drinking that day, then I'll just ride through the Darien gap :arsenal
 
#14 ·
As for connecting Central/South America, I'll probably catch a boat to Cartagena. Unless I'm drinking that day, then I'll just ride through the Darien gap :arsenal
I've been to the Darien Gap and I would love to see the video of y'all trying to cross it. :thumbup: :nutkick:(I realize you're being facetious)
 
#16 · (Edited)
I have to say I'm envious. Every time I travel the tragic stories seem like such rare chances. Stay sharp, be strong, and bring good deeds to your travels. I look forward to hearing of your success. Darien gap is a crazy place it would be ballsy to see it before it too becomes travelled. There are stories of people who have travelled it. Great lives are made by doing great things, some get crushed along the way but it's better then living and working to pay for the war. Hey man one thing I was thinking was, I wear a Leatt on the track and I would take it on this trip. Crappy fences and wire on roads seem to come up with some frequency. I like my neck.
 
#18 ·
best of luck guys.you'll need it!I cant imagine how painful your arses are gonna be.I could just about make it to belfast (40 miles away) on my xr650r and even that would would require an icepack on each butt cheek!lol
 
#20 ·
pre-bike build day 1

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 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.
 
#21 · (Edited)
Nice set-up so far.

I really like the cycle racks and side bads, which aren't the big aluminum cases that you so often see on adventure bikes. These look pretty slick.

Just curious where you got them, the cost and how easy they were to mount. I think i'd like something like that for my Baghira, on longer trips.

With 4 gallon tank, that should give you a range of about 200 miles.

The biggest problem I saw with that ride that went bad, is that the guy went solo. This means, if something goes wrong, you're on your own. With a buddy, it's a lot safer - at least my common sense say so.
 
#23 ·
build update

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"

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.
 
#25 ·
There was an article in the Washington Post last monday about a guy from Brazil who did this in reverse. He started from Southern Brazil and rode to Washington DC (in a failed attempt to get some justice for the big auto companies ripping off his patent). Only he did it on a Honda 125. Went through 4 sets of tires, 2 wheel rims & 19 oil changes. Covered over 20k miles. Thought about flying back home but decided to return folowing the West Coast instead (came up following the east Coast. Did it all without a plan or maps, said he just asked for directions from people as he went along.
 
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