South America and back on a 250 Super Sherpa Minimalist Adventure

[Foot dragger]

You gotta love the variety on ADV,I was just reading a guy's story about riding a new Ducati 1199 Panigale across the US with a backpack for luggage,testing it's 185mph top speed at times and just going where ever the mood strikes.

The theres guys riding 250 Kawis down to Panama and back,with luck. Everybody does it different,I like the minimalist idea though,so much less to worry about on the road,easier to pick up out of mudholes.

I will be checking in,best of luck,keep an eye on the scenery.

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Foot dragger

I will be checking in,best of luck,keep an eye on the scenery.

Hi Footdragger,

I could use some flat tracking lessons. Can't believe I recognized HumuHumuNukuNukuApua'a in your sig line.



I remember those boogers swimming around the reefs back when I lived in Kona. Haven't heard that name in a while.

Best,
John Downs

[bikepharmer]

Great plan, and great bike to do it on. I am on board with the 250, too. This isn't Dakar, but a leisurely trip there and back. Easy to work on (as you noted), and find parts for. Don't forget to call on fellow ADV Riders-- I just sent an SOS on my last trip and was welcomed with a shady place to change a tire, good company and conversation, and some good words of wisdom.

[Pedro Navaja]

Originally Posted by JDowns

... I tell people I'm heading out on a 250 dirt bike and they think I'm nuts...

I’ve been using my Honda CB250 Nighthawk for all my Mexico rides. I get the same reaction. I think these bikes are ideal for this type of travel. It’s a low profile bike and easy to maintain. I can fix just about everything on that bike myself while on the roadside provided the maintenance issue is outside of the engine. I’ve kitted it up special for adventure riding, to include dual-purpose tires.

Originally Posted by VooDooDaddy

My minimalist philosophy comes from my time on active duty in a Marine Corps infantry company.

What? Too much stuff in your rucksack? US Army Ranger School graduate here. Went through similar experience with a 90-lb rucksack. No way I need all this stuff in here. Pare down. Less is more.

Looking forward to this report

[VooDooDaddy]

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

What? Too much stuff in your rucksack? US Army Ranger School graduate here.

You Sir, have my respect. I know quite a bit about the Ranger course, and I have intense admiration for anyone who can complete that training! Ranger school is a real kick-in-the-nuts!

Serving in an infantry company, you learn really quick that ounces turn into pounds, and pounds = pain! And I know this translates to motorcycle travel as well. I know I mentioned it already, but I am literally gob-smacked at the amount of crap some people take on their moto-trips; simply unbelievable, i.e. huge panniers, topboxes, tank bags stuffed to the brim on a huge 700lbs. Beemer GS for one person going across the USA? I just don't get it.

I have Long Way Round and Long Way Down saved and I watch them with much pleasure. However, there is no facking way I would go around the world with such a huge/heavy machine with all the damn crap dear ole Charlie and Ewan carried; and I'm not even counting the huge SUV's full of $hit.

One more cheer for the Sherpa traveling philosophy!

[JDowns]

The few, the proud, the Marin... Minimalists.

I realize traveling light and freezing at night isn't for everyone. I used to ride big overloaded BMWs down through Latin America in the previous century back before ADVrider was around. People thought I was nuts back then as well. Who cares? It was my comfort level back then. I quickly learned that a light bike is much more fun in Latin America and a small dirt bike is easy on gas and can take you to some really remote and interesting places that a bigger bike rider traveling solo might not try. But there is no perfect way to travel on a motorcycle. Everyone finds what works for them. I have nothing against people whatever or however they pack and ride.

My hope is that people can follow along on this ride report and decide for themselves if this is something they would like to try. I know there are a lot of people out there that think, no way will I ever be able to do something like that. I think you'd be surprised how long and far you can go for less than you'd think if you are willing to give it a go. I'll be reporting back what I find.

Best,
John Downs

[Lee C]

Well put John have a safe and great time

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Lee C

Well put John have a safe and great time

Thanks Lee. Will do. It is getting colder each day up here in the northern plains. Temp is 36F right now at 11 am. The more I think about it the better Vince's advice sounds. Just Gooooo.

So I am moving my departure day up. I have to put some windows in a country church next weekend and as soon as I finish that it is time to hit the road methinks.

Best,
John Downs

[Blader54]

Wishing you all the best on this trip and will be following along! It's vital that there are ride reports like yours....proving again that you don't have to be a millionaire movie star to take off on an adventurous ride. And 250 is NOT too small a bike for the job. There was a guy over on The HUBB who posted a nice report about a journey from Texas down into Argentina (as I recall) on a 250 Ninja....and get this.....his girlfriend was riding on the back.....AND they camped out most of the time......AND the guy himself was 6 foot 4! So......a 250? Heck yeah! I will now have to go back and read your earlier ride report!! I am always curious as to how folks who don't sell off everything and ride into the sunset manage to come back to jobs and stuff....i.e. everything they left behind for a while, 'cause that seems to be the biggest thing holding folks back: time off from work, bills, possessions.....any tips?

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by Blader54

Wishing you all the best on this trip and will be following along! It's vital that there are ride reports like yours....proving again that you don't have to be a millionaire movie star to take off on an adventurous ride. And 250 is NOT too small a bike for the job. There was a guy over on The HUBB who posted a nice report about a journey from Texas down into Argentina (as I recall) on a 250 Ninja....and get this.....his girlfriend was riding on the back.....AND they camped out most of the time......AND the guy himself was 6 foot 4! So......a 250? Heck yeah! I will now have to go back and read your earlier ride report!! I am always curious as to how folks who don't sell off everything and ride into the sunset manage to come back to jobs and stuff....i.e. everything they left behind for a while, 'cause that seems to be the biggest thing holding folks back: time off from work, bills, possessions.....any tips?

Hi Blader,

Glad to have you along for the ride! As far as tips on how to take off on a long ride, that is a tough one. You just have to be determined to make it happen. Nobody will make these trips happen for you. I have the greatest respect for younger guys with families that work hard and save and plan and negotiate with a family or wife that thinks their motorcycle advriding ideas are nuts and still are able to take off for the horizon now and again.

In my case it is easier. I choose to live simply and save as much money as I can. There is no twelve step program for me. And nobody to intervene since I'm a bachelor and self-employed contractor and can leave whenever I want.

I have chosen to live in a very inexpensive area of the country. I rode my motorcycle out here 6 years ago to put a brick façade on my Aunt's ranch addition since there aren't any brick masons out in this sparsely populated part of the country. Used her ranch truck to pick up supplies in town and saw how cheap the houses were and I bought this house for 7500 bucks 6 years ago:



in Bassett, a town in rural Nebraska. Cost less than a good used truck. And the taxes are 160 bucks a year. And soon people were asking me to fix stuff. Install garage doors, tile bathrooms, re-roof hail damage. That sort of thing. I figured when I moved here I would have to go back to the big city and work to make money and come back to visit my new hobby house. But six years later I'm still here. And I am really liking how friendly the folks are here. And I have learned from them a simpler less materialistic lifestyle. And folks are practical around here. Plus you don't have to lock your doors since everyone knows everyone and there is no crime to speak of. And the winters are severe, so good time to take off south.

Even when I was younger and making a lot of money I found time to ride to Guatemala and Alaska. I just had to ride like hell since I only had two weeks max. The older you get the more time you will find to ride. So there's light at the end of the tunnel. But I don't look back on my life and wish I had worked more and ridden less. Take off now if you can swing it. The sooner the better. And especially for those younger folks reading this, take a long ride before you settle down, get married and have kids and a full time job.

I don't know if this is much help, but it's what has worked for me.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

[TK-LA]

Originally Posted by JDowns

Hola Panama,

A name like yours instantly has me remembering Van Halen belting out PANAMA in the earbuds. I think that is my new theme song for the first 5000 miles of this upcoming ride.

In fact I can't get it out of my head now.

What was the question? Oh yes, I'm leaving on the next full moon right before Halloween.

So glad that you were able to put the info in that last ride report to good use. Poverty riders need to know that there is light at the end of the Darien. I will try to report back more helpful tips on traveling on a limited budget without being a creepy user mooch kind of person.

Colombia here I come!!!!

Hope to see you down the road.

Best,
John Downs

With a quest, such as his, I'm thinking of a different song, one from Cypress Hill; "Insane in the membrane, Insane in the brain!"

Best of luck!!!

[JDowns]

Originally Posted by TK-LA

With a quest, such as his, I'm thinking of a different song, one from Cypress Hill; "Insane in the membrane, Insane in the brain!"

Best of luck!!!

Hey TK-LA,

Made me smile. 5000 miles of Cypress Hill might just make me live up to the song title. Thanks for the well wishes.

I'm still stuck on:



Cheers,
John Downs

[TravlinLeoJ]

Originally Posted by JDowns

Take off now if you can swing it. The sooner the better. And especially for those younger folks reading this, take a long ride before you settle down, get married and have kids and a full time job.

I don't know if this is much help, but it's what has worked for me.

Kindest regards,
John Downs

This is probably the best advice in the world.

I'm gonna have to take it.

[crashmaster]

Originally Posted by JDowns

Temp is 36F right now at 11 am. The more I think about it the better Vince's advice sounds. Just Gooooo.

So I am moving my departure day up
Best,
John Downs

[what car??]

I'm already down here in Guatemala. Was planning on leaving last year, kind of like you mentioned; one thing led to another and a year later I finally left. I'm on a KTM990, and after having to pick it up out of the mud and a few other times, makes me think about when I had my KLR, though that's still a heavy bike. I'm not loaded up like some people either, though I did bring more than I needed. First trip like this though. Felt like I was leaving quite a bit behind compared to what I have seen, but still more than I need perhaps.

It's funny how the preparation gets you bogged down. Finalizing all those last minute details. Finally I said F~it man, I gotta go or I'm not getting out of here. I'm your neighbor the west, Colorado. I'll keep an eye out for you so we can share a beer or two . I'm not sure if I'm going to be able to make it to SA this time or not. There are some time slots that already have been filled in December for Nicaragua and possibly back in Guate for the first of the year, she is a wonderful gal though!

I love my bike and do take it places I wonder about sometimes. I guess when picking it up more than 6 times in a day might convince me that a mini bike would be better .... Keep in touch and let's have a beer!

what car??
aka Juan