Jan 13th – Spectacular Riding

We got started too late this morning to be able to catch the Dakar circus but, as a result, we had an almost undisturbed day on one of the world’s most exciting motorbike roads; the Panamerican Highway from Arequipa, up the coast of southern Peru, and then inland to Nasca.

This is still in the Atacama Desert so for hundreds of miles the most arid place on earth is pushing up against the Pacific ocean. Extraordinary vista after vista after every turn and after every crest. Mountains and hills and plains of rock and sand but now with the blue colour contrast of the Pacific. Stunning beauty and an amazing road.

The 1200GS is the perfect bike for the road with power, torque, brakes and handling of a sport bike but tyres and suspension that absorb all but the most outrageous bumps. The Panam is generally very smooth and clean but some sections are in awful condition and really shake your fillings out after a while.