Dirk is a gringo living in El Salvador, and his brother lives in Texas. They want to ride through South America. Dirk asks:
… would it be better for [my brother] to pick up a bike in the states and ride with American plates through the south, or for me to get a bike here in El Salvador and maybe be less obvious with Salvadoran plates? Also if you could recommend any books on the subject of south American motor travel that would be great.
Dirk, that’s a great question. In my experience, the farther away your vehicle is from home, the more interested people are in you and your journey. However, in some areas, we know that U.S. plates can be a liability. Well . . . from what I hear, just going through Columbia is a journey to be carefully considered. (If you want to know how not to go through Columbia, read Two Wheels Through Terror. It’s a story by a man who thought he could ignore facts and his instincts and use his skills as a warrior-martial artist to push through any situation, and so unnecessarily put himself in very dangerous situations, from not wearing a helmet to riding through a known terrorist area after dark.)
I’d recommend asking this same question on Adventure Rider forum and especially Horizons Unlimited. I’m sure you’ll get good advice from people who have been there, donethat.
As for books, here are three that will definitely get you revved up for South American motorcycle travel:
