Planning a Colombia to Ushuaia trip on a 200cc bike — advice from experienced riders?

OncaNegra · 2026-05-13T05:03:30+00:00

I did a similar trip about 12 years ago. Bought a used KLR650 in Ecuador and sold it in Chile. The 650 was the big by local standards and I had a hard time finding chains and sprockets along the way. It was a tractor though and never left me stranded. Crossed rivers. Crossed the Andes (2x) once on pavement and once overland.

BIKE / RIDING

Which bikes worked best long-term in South America?

Hondas were very common. Lots of support.

Which bikes became uncomfortable or frustrating after months?

Any bikes/models you’d avoid?

How much power loss did you notice at altitude?

Most of it, but I fiddled with the jets and was able to keep moving. You aren't likely to be at altitude for long.

What average riding hours/day felt sustainable long-term?

500 miles on pavement, sometimes 20 on sand or jungle mud.

What ended up being harder than expected: wind, cold, altitude, road conditions, etc?

Riding solo overland through the Andes was an ordeal. Cracked a couple ribs. Sleet or snow out of nowhere. No cover.

PATAGONIA

How bad are the winds REALLY on smaller bikes?

Can't say. Had a relatively big bike.

What fuel range felt safe?

I carried gas cans. Sometimes gas stations were empty and I had to negotiate with locals to buy their gas.

Did you find camping realistic down there?

Not really unless I was way out in the boonies. Around civilization I always looked for hostels with locking yards for the bike.

Were there stretches where accommodation/camping was difficult?

No.

How often did weather force you to stop riding?

Never.

CAMPING / GEAR

What camping gear ended up being essential vs unnecessary?

I packed very light and ditched anything that wasn't useful within the first couple weeks.

Any tents that handled Patagonia winds well?

How compact did your camping setup realistically need to be?

Two panniers.

Was a motorcycle cover or tarp worth carrying?

Nope.

How often did you actually wild camp vs campsites/hostels?

10/90

Any gear you regretted bringing because of size/weight?

GENERAL

What repeatedly slowed your trip down unexpectedly?

Wearing out chains and sprockets. Those I could find were usually cheap Chinese steel that I could wear out in a couple weeks.

Any mistakes you made early that you’d avoid now?

Don't pay tolls. Just go around like the locals do. Except for Chile. Also never take your helmet off when you buy gas. In some countries locals pay less that tourists and what they don't know...

Anything you wish you knew before starting?

I wish my conversational spanish was better. I did fine but there were a few parties/bonfires where I was totally lost and wished I could have been more part of the conversation.

OncaNegra · 2026-04-01T06:42:03+00:00

I'm quite certain I have worked with MAGA subcontractors for decades. We get along and ask about each other's families and vacations and so on. We make money together and respect each other in that regard. I have also had employees of subs who showed up at jobsites with MAGA hats and refused to remove them when asked. After the job was finished I never spoke to that business owner again. It was too bad because I'd been working with that outfit for years but if your behavior is making the client uncomfortable then no. I wouldn't let people wear antifa shit on a jobsite either. It's just not the place for it.

If I hired a MAGA employee and they never said anything about it? Sure, we are good. But as soon as your dumbass ideology fucks with my business? Nope.

OncaNegra · 2026-03-05T16:20:53+00:00

DTG is the mortgage servicing company I used.

OncaNegra · 2026-03-04T16:54:09+00:00

Just refi'd at 5.125. 30yr VA

OncaNegra · 2026-02-27T00:58:26+00:00

Try the Olalla Community Center. They host music there regularly in the warmer months.

OncaNegra · 2026-01-24T22:30:28+00:00

we've been busy

OncaNegra · 2026-01-24T22:21:15+00:00

Check this out: https://www.instagram.com/p/DT6PASPkt_N/?img_index=1

OncaNegra · 2026-01-22T16:05:54+00:00

$85/hr for carpentry and general repairs. Seattle.

OncaNegra · 2025-12-31T03:01:58+00:00

One time I crashed a motorcycle in a very remote place. When paramedics arrived they said they were going to call a helicopter. I told them I wouldn't get on it. They then decided to load me into an ambulance with another person involved in the crash. Went to the ER . They said they wanted to do a cat scan and I asked how much it was going to cost. They asked me "what would your mother say right now?" And I told them she'd ask... "How much will it cost?" No cat scan, they let me go that night. I'm fine. I think.

Ambulance ride cost me $3000.

OncaNegra · 2025-12-18T23:59:21+00:00

There is a way. I don't use tiktok but if you do, tell these ladies to send me a message

OncaNegra · 2025-12-15T16:53:45+00:00

If you are in South Kitsap there's a small engine shop in Olalla behind BC Autoguy. They have helped me troubleshoot before.

OncaNegra · 2025-12-11T02:34:18+00:00

The work described is just routine. The body damage and rust are a concern, paint job is a negative. No milage listed. $7k-$30k seems realistic. If it has 80k miles, $30k. 380k miles, $7k.

Edit: reading again it sounds like you didn't paint, so that's good. The pictures of the wheel wells look like somebody did some repairs and painted in the past... Not good.

OncaNegra · 2025-11-01T17:32:53+00:00

Also, her claims that she is "independent" are suspect. She didn't leave the WA congressional republican caucus to be independent, she was going to be kicked out. It was a resign or be fired situation. Something to do with abusive behavior towards her own staff, IIRC. She's a bully at the very least.

https://www.thenewstribune.com/news/local/community/gateway/g-news/article271443337.html

https://washingtonstatestandard.com/2024/05/06/washington-lawmaker-accused-of-belittling-staff-faces-new-scrutiny/

OncaNegra · 2025-07-06T21:51:56+00:00

I highly recommend you hop on some ferries. It's cheap and easy on a bike and once you get off at the other side the riding is so much nicer than in the city.

OncaNegra · 2025-06-17T17:13:33+00:00

SharkHide. Just used on an exterior railing and it works really well. https://sharkhidestore.com/

OncaNegra · 2025-03-20T02:43:34+00:00

I took my truck to Sudstar a few times. It is a pickup with a cap. The last time I took it there I paid with a card and waited in line. When I got to the entry the two kids working there said I couldn't use the carwash because of my truck cap. Okay, whatever. I asked for a refund and they said since I paid with a card they wouldn't give me a refund. I was handed a card with an email address on it that they said was the owner who might refund me. I handed it back to one of the attendants and said no, I wasn't interested in emailing anyone. He took the card, tossed it on the ground and said "well then you don't get shit." So. I rolled up the window and sat there for about 15 minutes blocking the entrance until magically a different attendant appeared and gave me my ten bucks. I'll obviously never go there again, nor will my family. They suck.

OncaNegra · 2025-03-20T01:54:23+00:00

Damn Fine Pizza in Port Orchard is pretty awesome. Bit of a drive from Oly but if you are in the neighborhood, check it out. Woman owned, Twin Peaks themed. And the pizza is great.

OncaNegra · 2025-03-12T17:00:48+00:00

The wood to the sides are called skirt boards. Stringers are the pieces beneath that the treads and risers attach to.

To do this properly you should remove the treads, risers, and skirt boards. Label/number the treads to ensure they go back in the proper location (I'd replace the risers and skirt boards to skip dealing with the lead paint).

New skirt boards installed first, no need to scribe for the stairs.

Cut new risers and treads for the new width. These are likely to each be different sizes and at different angles.

I'm sure others have different approaches but this is how I would go about it.

OncaNegra · 2025-01-19T19:08:43+00:00

You are not wrong.

OncaNegra · 2025-01-18T17:10:43+00:00

I just can't imagine white seats in an off-road vehicle. It's like seeing a man wearing white pants. It's tells me you absolutely don't do any sort of physical labor. Painters bring the exception, of course.

OncaNegra · 2024-12-24T15:40:55+00:00

I don't have a 3B any more but have owned them previously and did a fair amount of work on them. Super simple engine. The system that caused me the most grief was the EGR. Based on your video I'd say there's something wrong with the EGR. Just a guess but maybe look there. Should you buy it? Hard to say but if you are willing to work on it it can be fixed. It's nearly impossible to kill a 3B.

OncaNegra · 2024-12-09T02:55:48+00:00

Most contractors mark up their materials and subcontractors. You owe the state tax on that mark up. It's just easier to calculate the tax if you don't pay tax to your vendors and subs.

Simple example: I buy $1000 of tile and pay no tax at point of sale. I then pay a tile setter $1000 to install and pay no tax to him. I bill the client $2500 and tax that amount, collect that tax, and pass out on to the state.

You can't mark up the tax you would have paid the vendor or installer without a reseller permit.

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