Update: Rolled the bike without starting it down the steep hill to the mechanic a few blocks away.  He turned it on, revved it, asked me how often I drive it and then said that the bike’s engine was likely fine but that the engine valves needed to be replaced which is causing the ticking noise.  He also said I would be fine to continue for a while without doing it. So having the part(s) sent from the US or Canada seems to be required.  I’m going to take it for a ride over the mountain to buy an antimony soldering stick to repair the GPS mount and see how the bike behaves – I hope the mechanic’s right.

It makes a noise like this other person’s KLR: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hP5QbE6QDzU

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Update: I went back to the bike after waiting for an hour with the drunken street party outside the rental  for the drunk superintendant to find the keys.  Another liter of oil, waited five minutes and then it started.  It stalled again when put in first but then worked the second time. There is what I think is engine knocking and it backfires now and stalled again. However I made it up the hill to the hotel so I´m feeling much better that it´s not totally wrecked and may turn out OK.

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Feeling Ill in Puerto Vallarta

I had bought two litres of oil in San Blas and was going to change the oil on the bike as it’s been 6000km so is overdue. I thought I’d do it outside the rental apartment in Puerto Vallarta.

So I drove the 2 hours to P.V. today and got within four blocks of the hotel to check where I was and how to get to the rental apartment. When I left the bike just stalled in an unfamiliar way. So I got off and checked for spraying liquids, cracks, broken cables etc and found nothing. Then tipped the bike to look at the oil guage which looked normal. On closer inspection there was a permanent mark that I had thought was the oil level but was just something on the gauge window.  There was no oil in the bike at all. I’ve added a liter but the bike still wouldn’t turn over the engine at all.

I think I’ve seized it and feel quite sick and stupid about the whole thing.   When I can get into the apartment I’ll be looking for a mechanic but I’m not expecting this to work out very well.

Temporary Office

Trying to Enjoy Post Bike Failure

Jungle North of Puerto Vallarta

Jungle North of Puerto Vallarta

Temporary office

Trying to enjoy post-bike failure

San Blas to Puerto Vallarta, MX