Rally Dakar 2010 (Trip from China to Argentina-Chile)

There is anyone interested in travelling to Argentina-Chile to follow the Rally DAKAR, in January 2010?

Planning to be a group of people travelling for 7-10 days around Argentina and Chile following the competition.

We did a similar trip following the previous competition early this year, riding 5,000km in about 14 days. But at this time we wanted to make it shorter, so more friends can join us.

Will ride some local friend bikes and rent others... mainly BMW GS 650, 800, 1200 and probably few Aprillias and Yamaha Enduro.

We are also open to ride some local Chinese bike if there is any manufacture really interested and committed. So far only one international dealer in China is joining, not any local brand yet.

Lots of people would be interested but actually making it happen is another matter! 7-10 days is not bad, however and it would be a fantastic photo op. What does the total cost look like with rentals n' such?

Also, which Chinese manuf is joining this year?

CC

Hi Alex,

Tell us more about your project... I'm now in Buenos Aires after 4 years in South China. I'll be off in January and expect to travel between Argentina and Chile at this period. Following the rally for few days is tempting.

Brice

Hi Carl, how are you? The idea is to have a very amateur trip, and we always try to enjoy and relax as much as possible.

There are many different routes we can follow, this will depend of the final group of people. Last year was a bit extreme, since we crossed the mountains (Andes) by the north, and spent 1 night up there (was crazy and risky).

Regarding the cost, I can send to your email the final detailed budget, but basically you spend 2K in flight tickets, 1K in renting the bike, 1,5K to 2K in hotels gas and others.

But again this will depend of the final group, we like to travel very light and stay in hotels... but the budget option is to stay in campings (you can even rent the equipment). We dont need to follow the exactly route of the RALLY, but meet the racers in some key locations.

I will try to upload some pics from the last trip, my father was photographer and he likes to take his equipment everywhere.

Cheers!

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Brice

Hi Alex,

Tell us more about your project... I'm now in Buenos Aires after 4 years in South China. I'll be off in January and expect to travel between Argentina and Chile at this period. Following the rally for few days is tempting.

Brice

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Hi Brice, do you have a bike there? You should contact my father, he should be riding a KTM 990 or BMW GS 800 now... he can introduce you to some local riders and dealers.

No bike yet. Just arrived 1 month ago.

I start to look at the landscape and basically there are 2 categories:

* the low cost chinese imports (QingQi as Beta brand, Lifan as Zanella/Motomel, ...) or locally/Mercosur made Japanese bikes (125/250 YBR, XR..) , all being under 250cc.

* the expensive (thanks to high import taxes) Japanese/Harley/BMW bikes. Even the very used ones have still outrageous tag price.

Don't know yet where I will go but money will certainly matters and I have fond souvenirs of my trip with the QingQi in Sichuan.

Hi Brice, im not sure for how long you will stay in Argentina, but BMW are a VERY safe investment... you will not loose any money if you buy one today and sell it in 1 year.

Try at: http://www.demotos.com

But just to have something to ride, go for the BETA (Qinqi) 200cc (not sure if they already got the 250cc). Qinqi is well known as the BEST chinese bike in Argentina. And if similar with the brazilian version, wont have any limitation on RPMs.

Just my advice. And if you still want to follow the Dakar, try to decide soon, there is a lack of good bike for renting. Last year was very cheap and "easy" to get one, now there is a lot of people coming from europe, and daily price for a decent BMW is going up to USD 150 a day.

Cheers,
Alex.-

More info at:
http://www.dakar.com/2010/DAK/presen...-parcours.html

Quote:

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Originally Posted by CrazyCarl

it would be a fantastic photo op.
CC

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Hi Carl, im attaching some pics from Jan 2009. Including 1 teaching how to get off your bike in the mountains. ;)

Sorry, I can only upload 5 in this thread.

Alex,

Great pics! Looks like a good time... wish I could follow the race this year.

You can upload more than 5 in a thread, just not in a post. :icon10:

Paz,
CC

Its almost that time again! :clap:

Anybody got updates on the Chinese Dakar team for 2010. I ran some searches and got stonewalled.

I tried to smell around too but only found some news on a Chinese 4WD team driver who finished 19th last year. Nothing on the bikes. :confused1:

Wish I was there to cover it though. Oh the people and pictures one could meet! :goodtime:

CC