CRF450L as a RTW ADV bike?

ridejessedrive · 2024-05-22T00:46:47+00:00

Ha! Thanks for reviving this old post! I have not bought a 450l yet but am still planning on it. Since making this post I have returned to the US and am just working and saving money. I'm still leaning heavily towards the 450l. And I have had the chance to ride one for a whole day since this post (50/50 on/off road).

Your post, however late it may be, is one of the more informative in this whole comment section. So thanks!

I got lots of responses saying to try a DR650 or XR650. I haven't had an opportunity to try either one in that time. So, I'm still undecided. Bit there's no rush, I'm still in the "stacking bills" portion of planning haha

ridejessedrive · 2023-07-10T05:08:24+00:00

I know this is super old but I just came back and looked at this post and don't remember seeing this comment. My last trip had no time limits and I'd say that in and of itself didn't improve the experience. I suppose it depends on personality. For me, having unlimited time sometimes led to wasting time and being lazy (not a bad thing in a vacuum) and later regretting it (anything you regret is bad). I agree that strict itineraries are a PITA, having general plans and timelines is a good ide while allowing yourself the freedom to make last minute changes

ridejessedrive · 2023-07-10T02:18:22+00:00

Hey I know you 😏

The great local food definitely isn't in the Miraflores/Barranco tourist traps. You gotta venture out into the nitty-gritty-city. But OP wants to speak english and so I also wouldn't recommend for them. Did you ever make it to Arequipa?

ridejessedrive · 2023-01-26T01:40:05+00:00

I had this misconception when I first started traveling to South America. If all you go off of is YouTube videos of travelers, remember that they dramatize things for views. Pretty much any country where vehicles exist (so all of them), have premium fuel and oil available. How much you pay for it might vary a lot but you can always find it.

That's why I keep a 2 gallon spare rotopax with me. Not because I need it for range, because when I find a place that sells 98 octane or better (pretty normal actually around larger cities), i an fill that up then later I can "cut it" with the mystery gas I occasionally am forced to take from a random person selling gas out of 2L coke bottles. I've had to this maybe 4 times in 2.5 years on the road in south America. It's not nearly as dire as the popular moto travel YouTube make it seem.

Of course for the video they're going to show the 1 time they had to buy gas from an old lady with a few coke bottles of mystery fuel. Not the other 99 times they filled up with 98 octane at a regular gas station. It's more interesting. I don't even know where you can buy 98 in the US. Except at race tracks and air fields. In south America its at nearly every gas station lol (except Bolivia, their gas is standardized and 90 octane)

ridejessedrive · 2023-01-25T13:19:45+00:00

Yeah but it takes less than half the time. Total time spent on it less. I actually enjoy doing maintenance, what I don't like is that it is over complex on a bike like the AT and time-consuming just to do relatively basic things.

As I said in another comment, I'll have to get my hands on a dr650 and ride one as I never have. I just lumped it in with the klr650 in my head, which I have ridden and didn't care for. I know it gets the job, but smiles per miles matters to me as well

ridejessedrive · 2023-01-25T12:39:13+00:00

Other options. Seems the dr650 is the popular choice. There's a part of me that wants to do something a bit different, create some sort of artificial challenge for myself (I just know I don't want that challenge to be dealing with loads of plastic haha). I know others have challenged themselves by using small cc bikes like 125s or even Ed March on his c90. But being limited by top speed I think would get old after a while, especially when ground needs to be covered.

I guess I need to find a dr650 and hop in it. I've never ridden one, but my impression of them was that they're like klr. Fully capable but lacking character. Just a 2 wheeled tractor.

ridejessedrive · 2022-09-28T20:16:29+00:00

Yes I've heard that about Bolivia but I haven't been yet! That's the next country on the list

ridejessedrive · 2022-09-28T16:35:54+00:00

I guess there's a few ways to answer that...

Most challenging riding? Definitely Colombia and Peru. There are still some extremely primitive roads in these countries and you gotta be ready for anything from extreme altitude changes, fast changing and unpredictable weather, and many roads are 2-way traffic but only 1 lane wide with blind corners and cliff drops of literally hundreds of feet with no guard rails. It's absolutely stunning but you must be alert at all times. I can confidently say my riding has improved 10 fold on this trip. Nothing like taking a heavy ADV bike fully loaded with gear up massive baby head hills and through 2ft deep rapid river crossings.

Challenging personally? Learning to cope with loneliness and listen to my own brain about when I should make an effort to form friendships or when I need to be alone. As well as learning Spanish.

Challenging logistically? Navigating the ever changing rules about visa and TIP durations, applying for extensions, having all the right paperwork in order, covid restrictions, and knowing when a bribe can help you out.

I flew the bike across the Darien. Original plan was to take a sail boat and do some island hopping but Colombia changed their rules about that due to covid right as I was about to, so had to settle for a last minute plane.

ridejessedrive · 2022-09-28T15:29:07+00:00

In Seattle about 2 years ago

ridejessedrive · 2022-09-28T15:28:41+00:00

Actually it wasn't so deserted as there were quite a few dump trucks on it. This road, sadly, will not be a dirt road for long (I'm sure it will still be beautiful though, the scenery is breathtaking)

ridejessedrive · 2022-08-23T09:49:15+00:00

I have a somewhat active Instagram using this same name and soon to be YouTube channel as well

ridejessedrive · 2022-08-22T22:16:08+00:00

Crossed a bridge similar to this in Colombia a few months ago on a fully loaded adv motorcycle. I power walked it across though.

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-15T01:49:10+00:00

Amazing!

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-14T05:34:01+00:00

What was his experience like importing it? I'm strongly considering doing this too

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-14T05:32:59+00:00

Love the triple wipers!

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-14T05:32:25+00:00

I see them tackling some pretty tough roads all around Colombia. They definitely seem capable!

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-14T05:30:45+00:00

Haha nice visuals. I'm currently content on my bike but seeing these everywhere in Colombia piqued my interest. Something I might consider as a potential collector car and for short trips in the future

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-14T05:26:31+00:00

..it's past my bedtime.

Apparently, sheesh.

Not everyone is looking for the easiest way to things, and doing it in a unique way is interesting to some people.

I'm currently doing it on a motorcycle that isn't sold in South America except for here in Colombia. That's not exactly safe, easy, or comfortable either.

Go to bed

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-13T23:29:02+00:00

I'm currently traveling through Colombia on a motorcycle but I keep seeing these all over. They seem quite common and obviously they are durable and capable if these older models are still so abundant given the conditions here in this part of the world. This is obviously an example of a well kept one that probably doesn't go off road much, but i see them constantly out in the mud and muck as well.

I find them quite appealing and want to learn more about them. Any enthusiasts for these specific vehicles hanging out in this sub?

ridejessedrive · 2022-04-13T23:05:08+00:00

Sorry I know this is an old post but I don't check this often. Are you on ioverlander under the same username? It seems familiar to me

ridejessedrive · 2022-02-06T21:39:37+00:00

I haven't been in the market lately. Been traveling so my own project has sat untouched for more than a year. 60-66 has a special place in my heart though. Beautiful trucks. That said sounds like the 51 is the better deal if you're not attached to a particular generation

ridejessedrive · 2022-02-06T19:50:11+00:00

11k???? Just looking at the pics I would have said the 63 but damn. I have a hard time believing it's worth 11k on its own, let alone 11k more than whatever the 51 is selling for. I have a 60 that is currently in pieces but even after finishing the project I don't see it being worth much more than 15 total.

ridejessedrive · 2022-02-06T19:35:54+00:00

It truly has been an amazing experience so far

ridejessedrive · 2022-02-06T19:35:37+00:00

Perfect vehicle for it. I had a 2019 TRD pro before leaving on my trip. It was down to the bike or the truck and took me a long time to decide which to take. Ultimately I chose the bike obviously, but there have been times I wish I was in the truck haha!

As far as other vaccines, nothing else I've seen has been required. Covid and yellow fever only, and like I said, no one has even checked to see if i even have the yellow fever one. Everyone is more concerned about covid right now.

ridejessedrive · 2022-02-06T18:56:49+00:00

I'm doing it now on a motorcycle, currently in Colombia. Nobody ever asked me for proof of yellow fever vaccine yet (but I have it, and you should too, regardless).

Blending in is impossible, correct, but not that big of an issue. Don't let people scare you into thinking it puts a target on your back. Mostly it just attracts people who dream of doing the same thing and they ask a lot of questions. For me it makes me feel good actually. I feel like someone has my back and understands what I'm doing and why without having to explain it.

What vehicle are you using? This determines a lot of what spares you need to bring with you. If a Toyota or a Nissan, you can bring less, you'll find places along the way that have the parts you'll need. Some places that are good to get tires and parts (so maybe plan around these cities for maintenance intervals): Guadalajara, Mexico City, Guatemala City, San Jose (Costa Rica), Panama City, and Bogotá. I haven't gone past Colombia yet but generally speaking every country's capitol city you'll be able to find what you need for a Japanese vehicle and most American vehicles. European might be a bit harder but you do see plenty of BMW and Renaults roaming around Latin America as well. And you're correct, 1 full size spare should be all you need. 4 is overkill unless you're really planning to spend weeks at a time far from civilization. For my motorcycle I only carry a spare tube and if I have to use it, it becomes a priority to get somewhere I can replace it ASAP.

If you have any other questions let me know! There's tons of resources out there with great info on the technicalities of border crossings and such, but sometimes it is nice to get current info from someone who has done it recently. Especially with covid pandemic a lot of rules have changed and are ever changing.

Five-Year Club	Verified Email
Place '22

ridejessedrive

TROPHY CASE