Storing my bike in Peru when I return to Brazil

 I have made a separate page about "My Bikes" (link here My bikes) but the only way I could "add" posts to that page was by commenting (there may be another way, but that is beyond my skillset). I added a comment last year about how Oli, my Ronco Demolition, had been abused in my absence and how it had cost a lot to get repaired. I had tried to get to Trujillo to a mechanic there, but the logistics of that proved difficult, and a local motorcycle spares shop recommended a Venezuelan mechanic, who had set up shop at a street corner. Eventually he rebuilt the engine for me, and all appeared well.

I didn't use Oli much last year, mainly to get me back and forth to Trujillo for medical appointments as Chip was occupying most of my time, so never gave him a decent run, but he did appear to be running fine, and I had no real concerns. Towards the end of my stay I was considering where to leave him this time, as I was rather reluctant to go through the same drama again, and happened to notice that a mechanic's premises was open again. I had used this young man extensively in the past, but thought he had given up as I never saw any activity at his workshop, but stopped off for a chat. He had opened a second premises a short distance away, and had been working from there, but was running out of space so had returned. He offered to store Oli for me, and then prepare him for my return the following March.

Three weeks before I was due back I contacted him and asked him to give Oli the once over and prepare him for collection when I got back. However when I arrived he said there was a "noise" in the engine which concerned him, and though it was running he would like to investigate further. 4 days later the pandemic hit, everything shut down, and work ground to a halt!

I was under complete lockdown, due to my age, and for the next three months only "essential" workers were allowed to go to work, and people were only allowed out for food purchases, or medical reasons - and the mechanic was unable to work as most motor spares shops were also closed.

Early June some restrictions were lifted and he said he would be able to continue the repairs, but was till finding sourcing parts to be difficult as inter-provincial transport was still restricted to "essential services" only, predominantly food supplies. I did manage to see him at the end of June, and he told me that when he opened the engine he found some damage, and some issues that had not been resolved the previous year, specifically that the counterbalance was missing! It had clearly broken, and caused some "non-fatal" damage inside the crankcase, and never been replaced - apparently the engine will still run without it, but just runs a little rougher, with more vibration.

Crankcase, showing damage right of centre

These pieces were sitting at the bottom of the crankcase, but fortunately had not done any further damage

Oli, stripped and looking sad

Despite being told the engine had been rebuilt the previous year the mechanic said that many of the damaged parts implied this hadn't been the case, and Oli needed a new crankshaft, piston, connecting rod, clutch and, of course, the missing counterbalance! The damage to the crankcase was not severe enough to require replacement. I gave him a substantial advance to cover parts he needed to buy and left it with him - he also offered to re-paint Oli as corrosion was bad in places.

He contacted me a couple of weeks later and said he was having difficulty sourcing the counterbalance, but that the engine would run fine without it - it would just run a little rough due to increased vibration without the counterbalance - and he should have the bike ready soon, once he managed to get the paintwork done.

I was given a series of collection dates, each which came and went with no sign of completion - paint wasn't dry, there were some missing bolts, a new bearing was needed, gaskets couldn't be sourced, and so on - "nothing major"! Eventually I went round and found him there - he had been ill, but was now getting close, but had had to repaint everything as the varnish he had used had not dried, and caused the new paint to run, and was now waiting for everything to dry!

I was given a new collection date, but when I went round the pieces were still hanging like in the pictures. Now there was a new problem, or rather two - the tank had been sandblasted (all the frame had been) and because of corrosion this had revealed some pinhole leaks, and he was unable to find anyone who could repair it, so I would need a new tank, and also the wiring loom was a mess and needed replacing. This last one threw me as the Venezuelan mechanic had told me he had to replace the loom last year as it had burnt out, but clearly had done nothing of the sort! I was beginning to realise I had been well and truly had the previous year! More money for parts changed hands, and I was given a new collection date.

That, too, came and went, and I was given another - "Guaranteed, I give you my word, I need 7 - 10 more days!" On the tenth day, last Saturday, I went round, and was told it would be ready later that day, but I could collect it on the Monday. I tried contacting him before going round, just to make sure, but received no response, so walked round anyway - only to find out that he was closed until Tuesday (turned out it was his daughter's first birthday and was a big deal), but he did message me that evening apologising, and told me that today, Tuesday, he was going to Trujillo for the final part he needed - a bearing for the handlebars - and would message me as soon as Oli was ready!

It is now 9 months since I first made contact informing him about my return to Peru, and 5 months since I was so confident of getting Oli back that I renewed my SOAT (compulsory insurance). I am currently 2 months past the expiry of my tourist visa (but due to the pandemic and state of emergency here Immigration has allowed all over-stayers to remain until we can leave once the borders re-open), and have spent goodness knows how much on taxi fares into Trujillo for medical appointments, and still, as of this moment, do not know exactly when Oli and I will be reunited!