Looking For Advise - Ride To Panama Canal

Greg Rice

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#1
I have been planning / wanting to make a ride to the Panama Canal from south Florida for years. I want to attempt this ride as a LD endurance ride and if successful creating a new IBA certified ride. So basically I plan to ride straight down and back attempting to do the ride in around 8 days. I am planning on starting in Panama City, FL and ride to Panama City, Panama and back. It is 3450 miles each way so 7500 total.

My current planned date to start the ride is December 28, 2018 as this is the dry season in central America. I am planning on riding my 2018 Gold Wing on this ride with a car tire and a belly pan for protection.

I have been doing some research and pretty much have my route planned with the help of IBA Mexico members who have also offered any and all support I may need during my ride. They have provided me phone numbers and offered to meet me at borders to help with the crossings.

I am going to try and ride as much of the Pan American highway as possible except I am going to by pass El Salvador as it seems that they are the most dangerous country right now.

The road is paved the whole way so there is no off road riding required.

There are lots of other riders who have made the ride south through Mexico and Central America with no issues so I know I can do the ride. One of my questions is can this be done as a LD endurance ride. I know IBA Mexico hosts IBA rides like SS1000 and BBG’s all the time with no issues so I know you can cover some miles in a short period of time.

Link to Google Maps route.
https://goo.gl/maps/4J2E4jnJe8J2

I need some input on a couple questions I have regarding my ride to Panama City.

1. Do you think I can ride through Mexico and Central America on the clock?

2. Should I use a run flat car tire? I am going to use a car tire so that question is answered but should I use a run flat or not. I have used run flats in the past like my ride to Alaska and two IBR’s I did not use a run flat in the last IBR and I am not using one now.

3. Am I crazy to attempt this ride alone. I do think doing this ride with 1 or 2 others is best case scenario but it is not easy to find someone who can be on my schedule and approach the ride the way I want to.

All I ask if you respond is to not blast me or my idea as we all have dreams and we should try and make them come true if we can.

If you want to attempt the ride with me let me know. Just so you know up front it will not be a sightseeing trip. ;)

Thanks in advance!
 

BigLew55

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#2
Greg, I'm just curious if you considered adding Montgomery and Dallas in an effort to round it out to an even 8K?

BTW, interesting ride for sure. I'll be watching, wishing I could volunteer to ride along...

edit...as usual, shortly after posting, I realized that 7,500 is also a nice round number that Mr. Rice is accustomed to...
 

Greg Rice

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#3
Greg, I'm just curious if you considered adding Montgomery and Dallas in an effort to round it out to an even 8K?

BTW, interesting ride for sure. I'll be watching, wishing I could volunteer to ride along...

edit...as usual, shortly after posting, I realized that 7,500 is also a nice round number that Mr. Rice is accustomed to...
I only have so much time for this ride so I have to have as short of ride as possible.
 

Scott Parish

Premier Member
#4
Greg - sounds like an awesome plan...wish I could go. All I can share are some lyrics below...sorry, couldn't resist.

Jump back, what's that sound
Here she comes, full blast and top down
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Model citizen zero discipline

Don't you know she's coming home with me?
You'l lose her in the turn
I'll get her!

Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama

Ain't nothin' like it, her shiny machine
Got the feel for the wheel, keep the moving parts clean
Hot shoe, burnin' down the avenue
Got an on-ramp comin' through my bedroom

Don't you know she's coming home with me?
You'll lose her in the turn
I'll get her!

Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama

Yeah, we're runnin' a little bit hot tonight
I can barely see the road from the heat comin' off of it
Ah, you reach down, between my legs
Ease the seat back

She's blinding, I'm flying
Right behind the rear-view mirror now
Got the feeling, power steering
Pistons popping, ain't no stopping now

Panama, Panama
Panama, Panama
 

kwthom

=o&o>
Premier Member
IBA Member
#5
Greg Rice said:
2. Should I use a run flat car tire? I am going to use a car tire so that question is answered but should I use a run flat or not. I have used run flats in the past like my ride to Alaska and two IBR’s I did not use a run flat in the last IBR and I am not using one now.
I would.

After all, with a run flat, you've got dozens of miles where you could keep moving even if you had a puncture.
 

Greg Rice

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#8
I decided on using a run flat car tire for the rear and I ordered this tire.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Yokohama&tireModel=AVID+ENVigor+ZPS&partnum=955VR6ENVZPS

Honduras requires a fire extinguisher so I ordered two of these just in case someone else is riding with me. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B002U0KGDY/

One of the countries requires Warning / Hazard Triangle so I ordered a three pack of these again just in case someone is going with me.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071RVR3J5/

I bought my Mexican insurance here. I bought a 30 day policy and I bought the full coverage instead of the minimum just in case.
https://www.mexpro.com/

I have MedJet medical evacuation insurance that also cover my motorcycle.
https://medjetassist.com/

I have a SPOT satellite tracking device that shows my position every 10 minutes and it also has a SOS feature and I am signed up with Global Rescue that is tied to the SPOT tracking device.
https://www.findmespot.com/en/

Spotwalla Tracking
https://spotwalla.com/tripViewer.php?id=5

I still need to get a Yellow Fever vaccine as Nicaragua requires one. I am going to do that after Thanksgiving.
 
#9
Greg,

You are definitely well into the planning. What feed back have you gotten on expected border crossing wait times? US to Mexico appears entry dependent. What about the Central America countries?

-Mark
 

Greg Rice

Premier Member
IBR Finisher
#10
Greg,

You are definitely well into the planning. What feed back have you gotten on expected border crossing wait times? US to Mexico appears entry dependent. What about the Central America countries?

-Mark
I am already registered for the Mexico border crossing so hopefully that will go quickly. I found a Mexican government website that allows you to preregister as long as you have your Mexico insurance which I do.
https://www.inm.gob.mx/sae/publico/en/pre-autorizacion.html

Mexico Insurance
https://www.mexpro.com/

The other borders are going to be more difficult. I am trying to get a Central America-4 Free Mobility Agreement ( C4 visa ) which allows me to pass through Guatemala, Honduras and Nicaragua for up to 90 days and I will not have to get a new tourist visa for each country.
 
#11
What a ride.

I've wanted to do that one for almost 50 years, even by car.

I would also prefer not to go solo but it lets you set your own pace. With your experience, in depth pre planning, and the support in Mexico it will be a good ride. I can't wait to read the report.

I wish you the best.