Harley Davidson motorcycles in Colombia

mrgizmo says on Dec 2, 2005, 08:31:

Yes, there are Harleys in Colombia I've seen a few Harleys in Armenia and Pereira. I know there are Harley riders because I corresponded with a Harley rider who sent me pictures from his club, that was a while ago so I don't even know their club's name or how to get in touch. Another guy I know went to a Harley-Davidson event and he said it was kind of stupid and childish, nothing compare to the events in the U.S. I do work for a well-known motorcycle magazine in the states and wanted to do an article about Harley riders in Colombia but lost touch with them. By the way, don't take it personal but Harley-Davidson has a hyphen in between since they are two last names: Harley and Davidson. If you ever get to the H-D dealer post it here I'd love to get in touch with them.

Behind every successful man, there's a nagging woman

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poco says on Dec 2, 2005, 08:54:

Not many I’ve seen two in Cali. I’d imagine they would sell for more than a car, a high CC motor means taxes will be higher and the biggest problem will be the RICH GRINGO or just plain rich image.

I’d bet the import fees run 50% of the value or higher,, maybe not. Insurance,,, ha, ha,, I’d bet you can’t get theft,, but maybe so. Leave a 70 million Harley,, where? Actually,, they couldn’t sell it,, to obvious,, most high dollar items are stripped and sold for parts,, would be hard to find a buyer,,,, then again, maybe the motor could be used for an irrigation pump?

Most motos are 125cc and below,, the police have 650 cc’s on the freeway and that would be largest common motor size. I’ve yet to see a Dodge Viper.

Colombia would be a nice place to ride,, that is if the countryside was safe for a HARLEY RIDER,, you would stickout like rotten platano on a stalk.

Why don’t you check it out at the dealer and post some prices.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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michaelz says on Dec 2, 2005, 10:01:

Cali Harleys In Cali, there is a Harley shop on Ave 6A Norte near clle 24. I passed by it 2 days ago, and there were 5 or more harleys in front of it, along with other bikes of different makes. They sell harley gear, but it is expensive. I was going to buy a "Harley Davidson - Cali, Colombia" t-shirt one time, but it was outrageously expensive.

There are also motorcycle clubs of some sort in Cali. Aout 2 years ago, I saw a group of about 25 or 30 bikes leaving that same store all at one time. The group looked more like rich kids trying to act cool though, than like real bikers.

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DanielPaisa says on Dec 2, 2005, 10:17:

In medellin... There are about 80-100 Harleys. Most of them are from rich people, they get together once a month and make trips. The rest them are in hands of a few collectors.

Wheen they meetup, they wear all the harley clothing, and the blonde babes. Even when there's only one official Harley dealer in colombia (In bogota, near Zona T) most of them are directly imported by the owners. A cheap harley is about 50 million pesos.

Apart from harleys, most motorcicle fans have BMW's GS1150, Suzuki Freewinds 650 or Vstorms 1000. I've seen a few Duccati, and once i saw a Aprillia. There are enougn bikers here and good places to ride so you can see another face of colombia. come and ride

Cheers

Daniel, el Paisa

"You can't fight in here... this is the war room!"

Daniel, el Paisa

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Tom says on Dec 2, 2005, 13:29:

MCC & Vikingos in Medellin are the two Clubs which member are mostly riding Haley about 20 no more, the rest has Honda Shadow, Yahamas we have in those 2 clubs only 3 BMW 1200cc,
we also have regula meetings once a week and we go each saturday or sunday for a few hous ride,
once a month we take a long trip over the weekend.
yesterday all Biker came togeter for alumbrado navideño en el municipio de Itagüí
all together we had about 90 Bikes.
Daniel, you are a bit wrong if you say that a cheap Harley is about 50ml you can get a nice used one for about 30

if anyone need Club infos or is interested to join or buy a bike in Medellin, sent me a PM



ciao
Tom

hasta la vista

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Mr. Hollywood says on Dec 2, 2005, 13:34:

Zona T The official dealer is on Carrera 13 right around the corner from the Zona T. Frequently there are dozens of Harleys gathered in that area.

I was told that most of the Harleys in Colombia were brought here during the Escobar days as a way of repatriating and laundering drug profits from the US to Colombia. I have no idea if that's true or just BS.

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Tinto (Moderator) (Trustee board) says on Dec 2, 2005, 13:36:

FWIW the last time I looked, a "Harley Bogota" T-shirt was valued a lot higher on eBay than a "Hard Rock Bogota"

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ws244 says on Dec 2, 2005, 14:29:

t shirt A Harley T shirt is about 30 U.S. now and baseball caps around 25.
These are great gifts from Colombia. My anglo and even my "nationalistic mexican" friends think they are the best, for 3 reasons. They say Harley, Bogota,and Colombia on them.

Hard Rock Bogota is at the Atlantica Mall and overpriced for food besides the T shirts.

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DanielPaisa says on Dec 2, 2005, 15:10:

i have a T-shirt I have a T-shirt that reads "HARD ROCK CAFE - TITIRIBÍ ANTIOQUIA COLOMBIA"... i'm not sure about a hard rock cafe in titiribi, a small town in the antioquian mountains, but the shirt's cool. Maybe i could sell those on eBay... "HARD ROCK - ANGELOPOLIS ANTIOQUIA" or any other small town.

Cheers

Daniel, el Paisa

"You can't fight in here... this is the war room!"

Daniel, el Paisa

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haji says on Dec 2, 2005, 16:19:

THERE aRE PLENTY OF HARLEYS I see them everywhere Here in Armenia,but also in Bogota,cali.We sell motorcycles here so I always look for bikes,Just bought a 1956 bsa 500cc there are all kinds here.
haji

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kernow62 says on Dec 2, 2005, 17:13:

Ah the good ol' BSA, better known in the UK as a Bloody Sore Ass !!

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poco says on Dec 2, 2005, 18:03:

Harleys in Armenia Lots,,, you see lots ? I'm in Armenia a LOT and have yet to see a Harley. What part of town is the bike shop located ? Think I'll have a look at the prices.

Ah,, Armenia,,, need to get a 10x on the camera.

"When you men get home and face an anti-war protester, look him in the eyes and shake his hand. Then, wink at his girlfriend, because she knows she's dating a pussy." Quote - General Tommy Franks

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kernow62 says on Dec 2, 2005, 18:23:

Well dressed gents.

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jcspider says on Dec 2, 2005, 21:19:

thats funny you have to hook me up with one of those t-shirts.

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aaronfromus says on Dec 3, 2005, 07:55:

Buying your own death??? Even people in the states will talk about how dangerous it is to ride a motorcycle. But, I don't see that really discouraging riders from continuing to ride and new people from learning to ride.

But, I have to admit, the roads in Colombia seem a "tad bit" more dangerous than the roads here in the States. For example, I might be walking down the side of a street then here an innocent, and unassuming "beep" from a taxi. But, in reality, that "beep" is perhaps a signal of my imminent death. Hahahaha... The taxis I've seen are always swerving from one side of the road to the other trying to avoid pot holes and speed bumps, and why have stop signs anyway? What a waste of perfectly good metal Hahahaha... Anyway, I've heard some people saying that to buy a motorcycle there is to buy your own death. Maybe that's an exaggeration like it would be here in the states, or maybe, it's closer to Colombian reality. A reality that also says, it's probably a bad idea for a gringo to ride the bus from town to town at night. I saw a Colombian Harley-Davidson (remembered the hyphen mrgizmo) t-shirt the other day. It said "We live dangerously." Hahaha... Very cool shirt, but it seems all the more cool given that the statement is probably true.

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haji says on Dec 3, 2005, 17:18:

yes poco Yes ,I see quite a few but,I have lived here for a year, and also in the motorcycle buisness.and there is no shop the only dealer per-say is in Bogota.And there is a large club in Colombia Ill try to find the addy.

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TACTICAL says on Dec 4, 2005, 08:27:

Agree with ones own death As in the states, more than 95% of the time, the accident is NOT the fault of the motorcycle rider but 99.9% of the time, the guy on the motorcycle looses.

Now take this fact and multiply the risk factor by about 10. Compare the conduct (observation of traffic laws) of the drivers in the states to that of colombia and I think you get the picture.

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haji says on Dec 7, 2005, 13:55:

clubs name Hog colombia--presidents name chucho

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Colombian Services says on Dec 7, 2005, 14:49:

Bogota Harley shop Should be on the tourist attraction list. It's the only Harley shop in Colombia and they sell about 100 bikes a year.

Best Wishes,
Bob

*********************
Miami Phone: 1-305-433-2299
Colombian Services Group:
www.Colombian-Services.com
www.FlowersToColombia.com
www.BogotaColombiaLodging.com
www.ColombiaFianceVisaService.com
www.GoLatinNow.com

Bob - www.BogotaColombiaLodging.com - www.FlowersToColombia.com - www.Colombian-Services.com

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dwmte says on Dec 8, 2005, 07:17:

harleys in colombia... this goes back to the late 80's when wearing a helmet was illegal as the sicarios used motos to do their 'deeds'.

it was my first stay in medellin and like the 'wild west' is to understate the situation drastically.

being there alone, for the first time, i was about as lonely as i've ever felt in my travels. i had come from the innaugural cerimonies in bogota for caesar gaviria and couldn't leave colombia without seeing medellin. i couldn't have known that i would end up spending the next 2 1/2 years there. in all the mehem and murder, bombings and chaos that covered the city, there was something seductive, something that i couldn't put my finger on yet was strong enough to keep me there and ultimately make the decision to move our manufacturing from mexico to colombia.

i was spending the night in laureles and it was about three in the morning and being quite high and slightly depressed, i sat there and in the quiet of the early morning hours, what do i hear, the 'chuck a thud' of a harley, coming down the street (san juan) it completely changed my mood. both for the moment and for the future as well. with that wonderful sound, i was convinced that there was hope for some lone gringo, living in medellin (poblado) who all but never saw another foreigner...except for the long haired flyboys that would pass through, waiting for their next run with dope back to the states.

about a year later, i was in san diego and walking about, i went into one of the botiques (across from diesel) and in the back of this very hip shop, there sat a late 20's early thirtys harley with an inline six engine. it was in showroom condition. i couldn't believe it. all original and in mint condition.

i returned to my condo and called my business partner who was in london at the time and told him that we could sell that on the phone in the u.s. for $30--$40 thousand dollars, easy. we decided to make the owner an offer for it. i returned the following day and asked the girl in the shop who owned the bike and she told me it belonged to the owner of the boutique. i told her that i was interested in it and would pay $12,500.00 for it and asked her to convey that to the owner.

i returned a few days later and asked the gal what the response was. she said the owner was a very rich man and only smiled and said to tell me thanks, but no. she also conveyed to me that he had a collection of period bikes, many of them.

well, it was about another year later when i and a friend of mine were in the commercial section of san diego, south of the mall where the shops and warehouses are and there in one of the showrooms were 18 period bikes...early harleys, triumphs and countless others that i couldn't identify. each and everyone was immmaculate. these surely had to be the bikes that the gal had talked about.

so, i assure you there are bike lovers there and many fantastic bikes are around.

my last couple of years in colombia, when i had my bar and restaurant in llano grande, i would often see harley riders around the valley especially on the weekends. they would hang out at gualanday and a few of the estaderos in the llanos. although i wouldn't say there are 'lots' of them, there are quite a few. and it goes without saying, all of them are in the hands of the rich. there's a few in tablaso (a small pueblo in the north end of llano grande where pablo escobar was born. it's a small but very cool little place where a number of 'capos' live)

viva harleys. with or without a hyphen.

dw

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aaronfromus says on Dec 8, 2005, 08:09:

Damn dwmte..... what a cool narrative. I really enjoyed it. And ya, viva harleys with or without the hyphen Hahahah...

Aaron

P.S. It was actually "illegal" to wear a helmet?? With all of the laws here in the states requiring grown adults to wear helmets, it's almost inconceivable that there could be a law forbidding them.

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madison833 says on Dec 8, 2005, 09:57:

Harleys in Bucaramanga In the 70's La Policia De Transito used them in Bucaramanga. I don't know the age of the bikes but they had a shifter by the tank. They where white or off white. I wonder what became of these bikes. I suppose that other cities used them also. Would be neat to own one of those.

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Colombian Services says on Dec 9, 2005, 14:33:

Aaron, dwmte is the man! Aaron,

dwmte defiantly knows what he is talking about.

A little dwmte history: lived in Colombia for serveral years, owned a large business in Colombia, married to a Colombian, and the list goes on. Everything he has ever told me over the years has been right on.

Being modest (until he's asked) and talking about Harleys, he failed to mention he lives in Daytona Beach FL the home of bike week.

I once told him, "Daytona Beach" what a great place to live, he replied, hell, there is nothing here but cars, motorcycles and tattoos, I just replied, like I said "Great place to live".

Best Wishes,
Bob

*********************
Miami Phone: 1-305-433-2299
Colombian Services Group:
www.Colombian-Services.com
www.FlowersToColombia.com
www.BogotaColombiaLodging.com

Bob - www.BogotaColombiaLodging.com - www.FlowersToColombia.com - www.Colombian-Services.com

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dwmte says on Dec 10, 2005, 06:35:

bob, you're the best... just goes to show everyone/anyone that a friend is worth so much more than an enemy...

hope the families well and business is thriving. are you coming stateside for the christmas holidays? now that my passport problems are resolved, i can't afford to travel...murphy's law.

all the best.

douglas

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treeshark2 says on Dec 11, 2005, 19:05:

Medellin had some real nice Harleys Actually I thought the Harleys were much better looking then the chicas. There was a internet cafe net to the entrance of my hotel over by the stadium and I would see Harleys there all the time. Really great bikes.
I was there during the Medellin Bike Week. Did not find out about it until the end. So only went to the party at Mangos. Fantastic looking bikes there that night.
Wonder what a Medellin Bike Week t-shirt would go for on e-bay??

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Gator says on Dec 12, 2005, 07:20:

You Can... find the dealer, HDC, on Carrera 13 No. 82 – 36. It's behind the Andino Centro Comercial (big mall, one of the primer malls in Bogotá) off Carrera 11. Look for, what I think, is a very ugly building with a large HD logo sign on the roof. Very, very expensive to buy I have been told.

The tee shirts are $25 USD

"Credidi pretio parvo emere et magno vendere tibi in animo fuisse!" .

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aaronfromus says on Dec 13, 2005, 09:18:

I found the Harley-Davidson Bogota website http://www.harley-davidson.com.co/

Very cool.... Gator, you couldn't have been more correct.

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aaronfromus says on Dec 13, 2005, 09:27:

Hotels near the Harley dealership? Does anyone know what hotels are near the Harley dealership?
I'm planning on arriving in El Dorado around 8 or 9, then going straight to a hotel near the dealership and the Andino Centro Comercial.

It would be nice if there was hot water, although I haven't found true hot water in Colombia yet. It would also be nice if it was not too pricey, I'm not interested in 5 star type places, just a place where I can feel reasonably secure with my luggage in the room while I go to get something to eat or to look in the shops of the Andino Centro Comercial. Also, I'll be getting into town on the 23rd. What are the odds the places will still be open that night, or even on Christmas Eve, as opposed to Christmas Day? Any suggestions?

Thanks,
Aaron

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treeshark2 says on Jan 17, 2006, 16:11:

For some reason there are NO Harley t shirts from Colombia for sale on ebay now. Wonder who bought them ??? :-)

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Lostgringo says on Jan 17, 2006, 16:42:

Great Story DWMTE what a great story.

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Keely Arenas says on Jun 10, 2006, 17:06:

HARLEY FOR SELL IN BOGOTA...PLEASE HELP!!!! I REALLY NEED TO SELL A Completely re-built 82 shovelhead(96 softail frame)!!! NOW IS GOOD...10,000 USD...or maybe a little less....Please call +57 313 232 2316 ask for luis...Tell him Keely Sent you... English or spanish...if you are in bogota or near...and want a bike PLEASE...I NEED TO SELL IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE!!!!!

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miamimike says on Jun 11, 2006, 01:59:

Keely, Why Don't you list your Harley on Mercadolibre.com? Colombia's equal of eBay; That is about the cheapest way to advertise it across Colombia and sell it fast! Attach at least 5 photos. I just eBayed my Cycle(a restored 1980 BMW 100RT)In the first two days of the auction I had over 1600 hits on the auction counter and sold it it with "Buy Now" by the end of the 2nd day. The buyer came from Texas 3 days ago to pick it up and trailer it back to Austin. I have NO doubt you could do the same with your Shovelhead-that Bike, Rebuilt, in Colombia I would think, is worth a minimum of $12-13K USD. The alternative (a new Harley) in Col would sell for at Least twice that; hold out for a Minimum 12-13K!!!! Good Luck! Another idea, talk to the dealer in Bogota and ask him if he would take it on Consigment! You may came out OK that way also but he probably would want to see papers documenting your parts and Rebuild work to get top dollar(or peso).

Avatar Legend: Bush "If any of you Reporters are wondering, it was a Size 10"

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Boatygringo says on Jun 11, 2006, 14:22:

Harley-Davidson I have not seen any Harley,s here in Cartagenta but I do ride a Suzuki GS500E there are lots of moto taxies here so every one is aware of moto,s, and I can out run just about any thing on the road and stay out of trouble. The danger is the potholes. Boatygringo

Boatygringo

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