Riding the XL200 'round western slope of the central Andes

[AmBraCol]

Last week I took a ride 'round town then around the town (on the SE to E side). Here's a youtube video I tossed together with clips from the GoPro.

https://youtu.be/wDhZ4dH7DMo

[Blaine]

Cool.....Is that your new one?

[Nath]

Great video Paul. Good bikes the xl range.
Change the oil regular though.

N.

[AmBraCol]

Cool.....Is that your new one?

Nope. The new one "is on the way", but hasn't been delivered yet. Went with a marine blue Rumbler 500 (Thunderbird 500 in India). There's no local dealer so am waiting for it to be delivered to the local AKT dealer (the same company owns both brands in Colombia) which should happen the middle of the week or so. In the meantime, decided to try out the GoPro we picked up this summer and play with videos. Once the Rumbler gets here I'll start a series of videos with it as I travel.

[AmBraCol]

Great video Paul. Good bikes the xl range.
Change the oil regular though.

N.

Yes, they are. I'd kind of like to get my hands on an older XL185, but parking space is VERY limited 'round here so "spare bikes" are not likely to be a part of my future. You're not joking about the oil. I picked this one up cheap because someone didn't... We rebuilt the top end and it's been going strong ever since. The oil gets changed every 2,000 km or so, depending on the use it gets. This one's been a good bike, but just too small for the longer trips I need to make.

[Griff]

Very cool. But, I was scared... Never bothers me as the rider, but as a passenger... different story altogether!!!

[AmBraCol]

Very cool. But, I was scared... Never bothers me as the rider, but as a passenger... different story altogether!!!

Yep, I don't do the passenger thing on motorcycles, thank you.

[FWiedner]

Nice ride.

Very relaxing.

[missionary5155]

Good morning
I live in Arequipa ... where are you ? I ride a 250 Kaw up and down all sorts of interesting trails.
Mike in Peru

[earlmck]

Oh, that was a fun ride. Thanks! And I noticed that stop lights are optional for motorcycles there? You opted to stop, but a couple other fellers didn't bother.

I occasionally opt to ignore one of the things myself, rather than be the first one stopped at a light when on the bike.

[AmBraCol]

Good morning
I live in Arequipa ... where are you ? I ride a 250 Kaw up and down all sorts of interesting trails.
Mike in Peru

Mike, I'm "North of the Equator, South of the Canal" - in Pereira, Colombia.

[AmBraCol]

Oh, that was a fun ride. Thanks! And I noticed that stop lights are optional for motorcycles there? You opted to stop, but a couple other fellers didn't bother.

I occasionally opt to ignore one of the things myself, rather than be the first one stopped at a light when on the bike.

Yep, as is typical of human nature, if you're not likely to pay the consequences, the option of obeying laws that seem to infringe on our personal liberty become "optional". There is no need for that light to go off unless someone were to punch the "let me cross the avenue" button, but it turns red regularly. Some folks who travel that way regularly have started to ignore it unless someone's in the crosswalk, and even then the person in the crosswalk had better walk confidently.

Traffic here can be "interesting". But after watching some Indian videos and their "anything goes" traffic customs, we're downright civilized here!

[M. M. Wright]

Loved the video. Looking forward to going over the mountains with you when the new bike arrives.