should i fix the motor or to try to find a new (used) one ? advice

[steventbarnett]

OK, here's the sad tale... and I need some advice and ideas from the group (sorry for the long post): I just got back from Brazil after riding my 2006 KLR 20,000 miles through South America. A month ago the piston broke (the raised ridge between the two piston rings). I got a new one shipped by Rod Morris at MultiSurface Motorcycling (by the way, I couldn't ask for better, more cooperative service. The guy was GREAT). After several weeks and much expense the mechanic in Fortaleza got it all put back together and I was on my way. The mechanic must have done something wrong, because I got 300 miles down the road and started having problems again. I was losing oil and felt like loss of power. I kept putting in oil, but after another 100 miles the bike just stopped dead. I pulled off the tank and found a 1" hole and a crack in the valve cover. Therefore no compression... therefore no motor! I ended up shipping the bike (in three crates) back from Brazil to Panama where I live. I haven't got the motor apart to see what caused the hole and crack, but probably a thrown valve plus some other damage. So here's the dilemma: I live in Panama. While I can do some stuff, rebuilding a motor is beyond me. I'm not too sure about finding someone really good here in Panama to do it. Am I better off making the attempt or trying to find a used motor that might be sitting in a wrecked bike somewhere? If the latter, any ideas how to go about finding such a motor? If I can find a motor in the US I can have it sent to my sister's in California where I can get it the next time I visit there in December. I really like the bike and have a lot of extra and new parts on it, which is why I didn't just leave it in Brazil. I had even just put on new tires, sprockets, and chain. If I can fix the thing for not too much it is worth it. It's a great bike... I just think it didn't want to leave Argentina! So any ideas will be greatly appreciated. Steve