Going to Brazil

[rockabill]

I am heading to Rio for work, and I was hoping to get some riding in. Anyone have some experience with this. I am looking for some good day rides from Rio, or possibly an overnighter if possible. I am also looking for a good rental company. Any help or information would be appreciated.

 

[flying junior]

My experience in Rio a few years ago is that you just don't see many big motorcycles except for some Harleys that are made in Brazil. I was told that import duties make it impractical to bring in big displacement bikes. An FJR would cost something like $40,000. Lots of little Brazilian-made 125's racing around the city streets -- and on sidewalks -- with HUGE cargo boxes on the back, delivering everything from fast food to medicine and office supplies. They call those riders "motoboys" and they have to take classes and pass rigorous tests to be allowed to ride. I stopped one day at a school out by the soccer stadium and watched the training. Makes our MSF classes look like kindergarten.

I hope things have changed and you can get some action down there, because that would be wonderful motorcycle country.

Those country roads cry for some FJR action. I visited some of the coastal country between São Paulo and Rio and was enchanted. Neat little towns, narrow, twisty roads, friendly and happy people, pretty women. My, My! I longed to come back on two wheels, but I'm still to find out what it would take.

Be sure and report back to us what you find.

 

[zip]

You know, I was in Rio four times on business in about 1997. I loved it. It's an amazing city for topography, beauty and culture. And Junior is right - I'm sure some of the riding would be amazing. (And about the women there. I saw very few "10's" but tons of "6-7's". Pretty girls are everywhere, especially if you're partial to exotic, Coke-bottle-shaped women.)

But I will almost certainly never go again - especially with wife & kids, or even without them along. The city has too much potential for danger.

Especially if you're a Caucasian, I wouldn't spend much time outside of the relatively "protected" areas of town, especially on a motorcycle. While I was there, I personally had nothing unfortunate happen. Every other American I know, though, had something go wrong: being robbed at knife-point on Ipanema Beach in broad daylight; having a band of thieves - like 40 of them - "sweep" the beach for 100 yards straight taking every single thing of value; having girls pick a guy up, take him to a "friendly" bar to get him to buy them drinks, and recognizing it to be a scam where he's actually bought everyone in the bar drinks - for like $1,000; someone having everything in their hotel room ripped off - in a nice hotel; etc. Not to mention the kidnappings, killings, that one hears of, etc.

You may suspect that I'm simply some wimpy, unadventurous American, but you'd be wrong. I've traveled to 35 countries, more than 600 cities around the world, including Mexico City many times and other dangerous places, and I've never felt the kind of impending danger that I have in Brasil, after going down there with a very open mind. I loved the place and drank and partied all night on occasion with local colleagues. But the whole scene is still super sketchy. I'm 6'4", 240. That doesn't help with faced with a band of teenagers or worse, with or without weapons.

Besides all that, people drive like idiots and the traffic can be maddening.

For some reference, watch a couple of movies that you may enjoy: City of God, City of Men or Elite Squad - all life-based films about the "favelas" outside of Rio.

Be careful. And let me know if you enjoy riding there and if I've been completely wrong.

 

[hecpilot]

Do a search on www.advrider.com. There are tons of folks there that ride South America and they can give you the scoop.

 

[happyPuppy]

I agree, go to advriders, a lot of riders have gone down to SA on bikes, and Brazil is popular. +1 about check your area there are a lot of areas to avoid, and leave your bike unattended and it will often get picked over. A big country with a lot to offer, but hooking up with some locals is the best way IMO, that is what i did when I rode there, and they do like bikes , from Cruisers to SB's. I was working for a large bank on the east coast and had to go for a couple months , it was nice I like to meet new people and cultures. I was able to borrow a bike from a connection I made. I do not know about renting them.

 

[Murph]

Three years ago, I spent a week in Sao Paolo, Brazil. Observations:

(1) The city was HUGE and had a skyline that seemed to go on forever. Official population count was 18 million but it was believed that 32 million was a more accurate figure. Traffic was brutal and displays of poverty (ie. shantytowns) within the city were prevalent.

(2) The food was great. (Granted, we tended to eat at more upscale places...but I don't think that alone was the reason the food was so good.)

(3) The women ... of all ages ... were all beautiful. If you appreciate beautiful women, Brazil is the place to "window shop."

Unfortunately, the trip was work-related and we didn't venture too far out of the city so I cannot provide riding advice. Have a great time!

(Did I mention that Brazilian women are extraordinarily beautiful?)

 

[bramfrank]

I've ridden borrowed machines in Mexico, but never south of that country - If I managed to rent a bike in Brazil I'd get out of Sao Paulo and Rio as quickly as possible.

While I've never rented a bike there, I echo the observations about the density and size of the bikes you'll find in-country - I would never rent a car in the city, let alone spend any significant amount of time in them riding a bike.

Sao Paulo and Rio are not exactly laid out on a grid and getting around can be very confusing - I have a business partner in Brazil who meets me at the airport and we visit clients together. I've also no problem taking cabs there (I hate cabs in Hong Kong, mind you. I use the subway there).

I've been to Brazil about 15 times over the years (last time 2 years ago) and I've driven (friends' cars - with them riding shotgun, so to speak) from Rio to Sao Paulo and to places like Belo Horizante - they have some unbelievable roads - just amazing. They tend to be in excellent condition because it never freezes and the scenery is spectacular. Drive from Rio to Juiz de Fora for an amazing road that winds up the side of mountains, for example. The drive from Sao Paulo to Guaruja (on the coast) is also an experience, especially in the fog and during a heavy thunderstorm as you drive down from the plateau to sea level.

Danger? I've never felt threatened in Brazil or in Mexico City for that matter. Then again I don't go walking through the slums at night (though I do take long walks in the city in the evenings). The only place I've ever come close to getting in trouble was in Johannesburg (South Africa) about 10 years ago when I went out for a walk one evening and came back to my downtown hotel to find it chained shut for the night from the inside and had no way to get in (I eventually found an unlocked service entrance - so much for security).

My next significant trip is my annual swing through Australia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Hong Kong starting at the end of February. Two weeks of fun-filled meetings and a trade show. How exotic!!