Rider Census- How Many Ride Ushuai-Prudhoe Bay?

[bananaman]

I'm planning a ride to Ushuia. People ask me- WHO DOES THIS? I'm wondering how many riders actually do this each year?

Also, how many riders go part way- to Panama, or from the US to Argentina, or form Argentina to the US, etc.?

As a related question,by comparison, how many people drive it- cars/trucks/RVs? When I was a kid (1972) my parents drove the whole family from Wisconsin to Panama- in an International Travelall, pulling a trailer. It was me (7) my brother (6) my sister (3), my mom and dad (26 and 29), two uncles (18 and 21), and my grandfather (50). I've been wanting to repeat that trip, on a motorcyle, ever since.

[97Octane]

Originally Posted by bananaman

I'm planning a ride to Ushuia. People ask me- WHO DOES THIS? I'm wondering how many riders actually do this each year?

Also, how many riders go part way- to Panama, or from the US to Argentina, or form Argentina to the US, etc.?

As a related question,by comparison, how many people drive it- cars/trucks/RVs? When I was a kid (1972) my parents drove the whole family from Wisconsin to Panama- in an International Travelall, pulling a trailer. It was me (7) my brother (6) my sister (3), my mom and dad (26 and 29), two uncles (18 and 21), and my grandfather (50). I've been wanting to repeat that trip, on a motorcyle, ever since.

Quien Sabe?

My friend and I are going next year....

[Jammin]

I'm thinking definitely further south for next year...

I know what you're saying, people at work and even my family keep asking, "Why're you riding your motorcycle all the way to Mexico?" Answer "Why not." :grinner Cause it's there and I havent seen it and life's too short.

[panamerican]

Hi,

I'm new to this forum. After being bound to a desk in a BMW dealership in Ireland for a few years I decided to take the plunge and ride this route. You can take a look at my girlfiends website www.maevesbigadventure.com Today we're in Guatemala, tomorrrow El Salvador. The people are wonderful, the food is great and the hotels are cheap! This is the best thing I've ever done for myself.

Pablo.

[AndyT]

Originally Posted by bananaman

I'm planning a ride to Ushuia. People ask me- WHO DOES THIS? I'm wondering how many riders actually do this each year?

No scientific evidence, but I probably met 30 other riders on my trip from Texas to Ushuaia last year. I would guess a couple hundred at least do that general route yearly.

[Django Loco]

Originally Posted by bananaman

I'm planning a ride to Ushuia. People ask me- WHO DOES THIS? I'm wondering how many riders actually do this each year?

Also, how many riders go part way- to Panama, or from the US to Argentina, or form Argentina to the US, etc.?

?Que importa el numero? Planning on starting up a touring company? Testing the waters?

Hundreds of bikes on the road right now....and that number is growing by leaps and bounds....prices are being driven up fast, mostly by Adventure Hero Americans on new BMW's who pay double price everywhere and never know, never quibble. This makes it impossible for budget travelers to survive.

For a clue to numbers...just check out any guest book from Coco's Corners to
Javier's shop in B.A. to see just how many riders pass through. More importantly, look at the marked increase in numbers in the last two to three years. Talk to the guys in Usuhaia at the hostals, or Ricardo in Quito or the Kiwi in Colombia. More and more are taking to the road. Bring money.

The Gringo Trail is strewn with bikers, backpackers and bicylists.

[bananaman]

From my experiences on the road there are a lot of Germans, Dutch, and other Europeans. Not just Americans.

I'm just wondering, not starting a company.

I just got back from an 1800 mile practice ride. in Thunder Bay, Ontario, Sunday night, I met a group on a round-the-world tour. None were American. They were spending Big Money.

[Django Loco]

Your quite right, as an American you will be in the minority everywhere except Mexico and perhaps Panama', if you count the School of the Americas and other US Military intervention.

And I'm afraid most of the Dutch and Germans you refer too will be on a tighter budget than the typical American rider.

Euro group rides may be a different story...Never seen one.

Was this an organized tour or just a big independent group? How many riders in the group. I don't know of any Pay Tours to have gone RTW. Mostly its one area at a time.

I've followed a few idiots online in the last few years trying to set Guiness records on this. They are the worst. Blast through borders throwing money, ride like mad the whole way...never saying even Buenos Dias to anyone. Very sad. Ruins it for everyone who follows.

We are all embassadors for our riding community...and really for our country....which really needs some honest PR at the moment. These folks are interlopers, exploiters who are just doing the lastest fad to get off. In a year they'll be into something else.

[bananaman]

Originally Posted by Django Loco

Your quite right, as an American you will be in the minority everywhere except Mexico and perhaps Panama', if you count the School of the Americas and other US Military intervention.

And I'm afraid most of the Dutch and Germans you refer too will be on a tighter budget than the typical American rider.

Euro group rides may be a different story...Never seen one.

Was this an organized tour or just a big independent group? How many riders in the group. I don't know of any Pay Tours to have gone RTW. Mostly its one area at a time.

I've followed a few idiots online in the last few years trying to set Guiness records on this. They are the worst. Blast through borders throwing money, ride like mad the whole way...never saying even Buenos Dias to anyone. Very sad. Ruins it for everyone who follows.

We are all embassadors for our riding community...and really for our country....which really needs some honest PR at the moment. These folks are interlopers, exploiters who are just doing the lastest fad to get off. In a year they'll be into something else.

When you say "idiots," you mean that as a compliment, right?

These are the guys I ran into.

http://www.ride-onmotortours.com/
http://www.motorkaravaan.nl/

Their website says EU$15,950 for 100 days around the world.

Almost all of them were wearing black t-shirts with the website and a list of places they would ride to.

I don't know how I keep running into people like this. It makes me worry about myself because when I see these guys, I think they're NUTS!! But there I am, in the same place, with the same goals, on the same kind of bike.

This ride I did last week was mainly a test-run. I'm not going to be a newbee just buying a bunch of expensive gadgets, hopping on, and riding. Personally, I've done enough travelling to know that things need to be tested in real conditions.

Not to change the thread too much, but as a note: the bikes ranged from brand-new 1200GS Adventures totally farkeled, to a kawasaki cruiser sporting a 3 gallon tank. (The kawasaki has been to Siberia and Kazakstan.) Also a few KTMs, BMW F650s, etc. I'll post some photos of their bike later.

We stayed in the same hotel- a Travelodge in Thunder Bay. $95 Canadian a night. It was a splurge for me (I camped the night before, and I planned on camping the rest of the way but ended up getting hotels because it kept raining and thunder-storming), but for these guys it seemed normal. They said they were not camping in North America.

[Django Loco]

Originally Posted by bananaman

When you say "idiots," you mean that as a compliment, right?

As clearly stated in my post, the idiots reffered to are the guys going for the Guiness Book of Records for AK to Ushuaia. I think the record is something like 28 days or something? No matter. It's just stupid.

I don't really mind these high end touring groups....mostly older rich guys I expect? In S.A. you won't see many of these groups. You'll see mostly solo Euro riders or maybe pairs. No big groups usually....cept maybe Pancho Villa who go once a year or so, along with a couple others. Americans were only maybe 10% a few years ago....I'd boost that figure up to 25% now.

Now that you did your test loop, where are you headed?

[bananaman]

Headed to Ushuia! But since I'm a dual citizen I don't mind the gringo-bashing.

[Django Loco]

No me entiendes muy bien amigo, no?
No hay "bashing" de los gringos, solamente de los idiotas que son muy macho and quieren ser "heroes". Estes boludos hacen ruinadas estes viajes and el region para todos motoqueros. Si no, entiende, pues, pronto, muy pronto.

Desculpame mi Espanol horrible. Tu eres Panameno, no?
Nacio en Panama?

!Suerte, que le vaya bien!

[bananaman]

I was born in Wisconsin and lived in Panama and half the family is in Panama. I speak and read but I can't write for shit. For example:

Intiendo que la opinion-

I can't do it. What I'd like to say is that I totally understand the feelings about people who think they can buy a vacation.

I used to ride dirt bikes in Panama. Nothing bigger than 250.

[GsGrins]

I'm in for 2008. South to North, leaving Ushuaia in early April, Deadhorse when I get there. The bike is a very well farkled 12GS...
Here's the link to my site;

www.motoamericas.com

comments are certainly welcomed !

Eric

[bananaman]

I like your website better than mine. I hope you don't mind but I think I'm going to change mine to be more like yours. Did you use a template that I could find? I'm going the simple route (web-design-wise, using yahoo sitebuilder.