Moto is ready to go...

To refresh everyone, after I left Peru to fly back to Colombia, I got a call from Leo, who was the guy I left my bike with in Peru.  He told me that the lower shock bolt had sheared on the bike.  This would be weird if it hadn't happened to me just before I left on the trip, so I knew what to expect.

So while I was in Colombia, I ordered a new shock bolt, which I was told would take 2 weeks to arrive.  This was no problem, as I wasn't going to be back in Peru for a while anyway.

After 45 days back and forth between Colombia and Peru, I finally had the super special, BMW lower shock bolt in my hands.

I hadn't seen my bike in a month and a half, the last time being when I left Cusco and it in the hands of a guy (Leo) I had met 3 hours before.

:)

I met Leo in the main square of Cusco, and we walked the 3 blocks to a small Hostel, went through the door and there she was:

My girl is still with me.

The battery was dead, and we had to jury rig it bit to keep the back end up, since the shock was just hanging.

We pushed it 6 blocks through the streets of Cusco to a local Mechanic who Leo recommended.  His shop didn't inspire confidence, but I have come to expect great things from the mechanics in poorer countries, as they are required by circumstance to be very ingenious and creative with the tools they have available.

We got the battery on a charger, and pushed the bike another couple blocks to a welding/machine shop.    The floor was dirt, and the equipment old and tattered, but there was no mistaking the expertise of the owner.  We quickly had the bike backed up to the doorway, and removed the back tire.  

While he was setting up, Leo and I went across the street to a parts store, where they matched my 2 weeks to get from Germany BMW lower shock bolt, and I bought two more for spares, in the off chance this happens again.  Total cost for the bolts was about $2.00

By the time we got back, the welder had extracted the remains of the bolt that was stuck in my final drive housing, and we quickly installed the new bolt and the bike was fixed.  :)  It was a happy moment.

While we were setting up, I also had Leo grab the rear luggage rack on my bike to see if we could somehow get some kind of seat fashioned for Vanessa to sit on.  

About 20 steps away from the Welders shop we found a guy who does upholstery.  He looked at the rack we provided, and said he could make me a seat in 1 hour, cost 25 Sols.  About $8.00.

By the time we had the bike fixed, got a quick lunch, and went back, the seat was done.

The welder charged me 50 soles, which is about $16.00.

So the repairs to the shock and the new seat, including parts came to about $25.00, and took about 1.5 hours.

My mechanic and Leo outside the welders shop.

One Official BMW 7129905247 ISA Screw - M10X80MK

The Welders shop.  Nice Lathe, mud floor.

The guys working on the bike.

I am always surprised at the talents of the people that work in conditions like this.

The remains of the bolt that was removed from the housing.

This nice old guy built me a seat in 1 hour, for $8.00.