Riding Mexico?

[lonesoldier84]

Just curious if anyone has ever ridden into Mexico. I have some riding buddies in California and B.C. that I meet up with, and we are discussing a riding trip into Mexico. There has been a bunch of backlash from people telling us doing a Mexico trip on anything other than a dual sport will be a waste of time better spent riding elsewhere.

I would love to hear some accounts of how much fun/not fun riding south of the border is. That video someone posted about Mexico was awesome btw, not sure who posted it though.

(Sorry if this should be posted elsewhere, it isn't really a regional post and the other subforums didn't seem to be a good fit)

 

[canyonman]

here you go. fjr's in mexico

 

[101stpathfinder]

here you go. fjr's in mexico

Here is a VERY informative thread also done by the resident expert:

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?showtopic=128062

 

[gregory]

As stated above, Get with Don El burrito bandito "Papa Chuy" Stanley.

 

[lonesoldier84]

Wow.

Great info there.

Cheers.

Edit: still don't see too much about paved vs non-paved roads and whether a road bike is really going to be "fun" or not for the places worth going (i.e. away from all the touristy places)

 

[rickcorwn]

Don must be napping.

I haven't traveled extensively in Mexico I did take a big trip there last winter. It was primarily a dual sport trip but we did ride a fair amount of pave roads when forced to. I remember thinking to myself that the FJR would occasionally be fun because there were some really fun paved roads but... there were enough paved roads in poor shape I was glade to have the dual sport. One thing the Mexico veterans in the group said was they're paving more and more roads down there (that was a bad thing in their minds) so things are improving as far as pavement goes. We met a group of riders from Colorado in Batopilis who had ridden all paved roads until the last 25 miles into Bato. They were on a couple of GSs an 800 and 1200, a new KLR and a KTM Super Duke (naked sport bike) so it could be done on a street bike, if you wanted to. I'd rather have something with a bit more suspension that the FJR.

For reference our trip started in Persidieo TX we rode across the border to Chihuahua City then on to Creel and into Copper Canyon. Don may/probably will have good info on a good street bike route in Mexico. Our ride report is here. What ever you ride I'd encourage you to go, Mexico was great.

 

[lonesoldier84]

Don must be napping.
I haven't traveled extensively in Mexico I did take a big trip there last winter. It was primarily a dual sport trip but we did ride a fair amount of pave roads when forced to. I remember thinking to myself that the FJR would occasionally be fun because there were some really fun paved roads but... there were enough paved roads in poor shape I was glade to have the dual sport. One thing the Mexico veterans in the group said was they're paving more and more roads down there (that was a bad thing in their minds) so things are improving as far as pavement goes. We met a group of riders from Colorado in Batopilis who had ridden all paved roads until the last 25 miles into Bato. They were on a couple of GSs an 800 and 1200, a new KLR and a KTM Super Duke (naked sport bike) so it could be done on a street bike, if you wanted to. I'd rather have something with a bit more suspension that the FJR.

For reference our trip started in Persidieo TX we rode across the border to Chihuahua City then on to Creel and into Copper Canyon. Don may/probably will have good info on a good street bike route in Mexico. Our ride report is here. What ever you ride I'd encourage you to go, Mexico was great.

I am not worried about the "safety" stuff people say about Mexico. It was primarily just the road conditions thing. On my last trip I tried to do the adventure thing on road tires and had a nasty little spill for my efforts, as well as having to change routes multiple times because the bike simply wouldn't move unless pushed by foot essentially which wasn't fun.

So I will read your RR as well quite avidly. The more info the better and besides, riding vicariously through Ride Reports beats the hell out of mindless TV programs on a day off.

I guess I will have to figure out exactly where I want to ride and figure out if there are paved roads there on a road by road basis. I don't want to just ride from hotel to hotel. I want to see the great Mayan and other historical stuff and just in general experience rural Mexican splendour and people. I don't mind riding on some gravel and packed dirt (but nothing rougher than that), but would like to be able to get TO those fire roads on a paved road. So I'm just not sure how much of the secondary roads are paved, if any.

I've been reading about great paved highways in Mexico, but it seems to me these are all the primary highways only. The general route I am thinking of is something like this:

So how much of that route would be roads like this:

https://contour.com/node/72276

And (this is my offroad newbiness I guess), if it were to rain, that would become impassable wouldnt it? It would probably become viciously slick on road tires? Bah!

And how could I plan my route so I don't hit anything WORSE than this sort of stuff? There look to be some big rocks in there. I woudn't mind that as a worst case scenario, but any worse would be too bad.

As long as I can be reasonably sure I wont have to spend hours picking my way through rocks and know that where there is significant amounts of water there will be bridges, and can be somewhat confident that a rainstorm won't trap me where I am, I think that'll be fine. But after going through those vids and images I think sticking to the paved and packed gravel stuff would be wise.

That aside, I picked up a copy of Rosetta Stone for Spanish. I highly recommend it to anyone wanting to learn Spanish. It's awesome.

El niño core! Las niñas beben! LO SIENTO!!!!!

 

[Bugnatr]

"Pour some more senior" The only Spanish you need!

Lone quit screwing around with Sport touring bikes and get a GS800 with some big old bags. It will handle all your Mexico needs. If you don't like it I'll buy it from you at a reduced price- it will be used by then

 

[lonesoldier84]

"Pour some more senior" The only Spanish you need!
Lone quit screwing around with Sport touring bikes and get a GS800 with some big old bags. It will handle all your Mexico needs. If you don't like it I'll buy it from you at a reduced price- it will be used by then

I live in northern Alberta......getting to mexico there are a LOT of great roads between here and there both on the way there and the way back. But in a couple more years if I can afford another machine then a KLR might be in the cards.

Until then I don't mind smashing up some plastic dropping the road bikes in places they shouldn't be in the first place, haha. IMO if you just watch your pace, any machine can go almost anywhere.

But how about we go 50/50 on a 1200GS. I'll let you ride on the back.

 

[SkooterG]

I've been to Cabo San Lucas and back strictly on paved roads. Had a great time. Best m/c trip I've ever taken.

For some piccies from one of mi bastard ste-pappy's 'unusual' ride reports and also plan for an upcoming trip: Clicky.

Here are some other piccies:

 

[MCML]

Napping or out riding.

 

[beemerdons]

Napping or out riding.

Buenas Tardes, Jose y Ricardo! I went riding this morning and then I took a nap. Yo Muy Sueno! I'm muy Viejo, Hombres; riding in this damn 110F Phoenix heat is kicking my old ass!

Saludos y Suerte lonesoldier84, Que paso? Mi Amigo, feel free to call or post me at anytime (I am retired!) at either [email protected] or Cell: 480-440-4666 for Mexico Ride Info.

I have three major Mexico Road Trips planned, I will be leading for 2011. The major Off Road Mexico expedition is this coming November 7 through 20 of 2010, when thirteen of us from our FJR Forum are riding Mexico's Copper Canyon from Chihuahua to Los Mochis; West by way of Batopilas (southern route) and then East by way of Urique (northern route). You will recognize many familiar names on this ride such as ShinyPartsUp, Chris_D, rushes, Tucson Joe, fjrrider, Yamafitter, Back Road Bob, BeemerDonS, etceteras!

1) March 16-25, 2011: Easy ride to the tip of the Baja California Peninsula, approximately two dozen members of AZ Beemers and our FJR Forum are already committed to this ride. These dates were selected in the hopes that two of my very best friends on our FJR Forum can make this ride: Khunajawdge and dcarver. George and Don both work for my old Alma Mater, Cal-Poly State University San Luis Obispo, and these are the dates that mis Amigos can ride South with Papa Chuy! SkooterG, BB, MO, Frenchy y Enrique are co-ride leaders!

2) April 21-24, 2011. Easy ride to Banamichi in Eastern Sonora Estado. Only complication for this ride is we will need to obtain Banjercitos for this ride; Mexico Vehicle Import Permits. This will be good training in this process. Any riding via Motocicleta outside of Baja and the Border Zones will require a valid Banjercito/MVIP; no exceptions. Plus Tourist Permit.

3) There is a 3rd ride to Guatemala I'm leading, but it is by exclusive invitation only, and the group size is limited to 7 riders by your muy Viejo Papa Chuy; Magnificent Seven Only.

https://www.fjrforum.com/forum//index.php?s...=111837&hl= Here is the first leg of the Guatemala ride, a recap of my attendance at the BMW Mexico Moto Clubs Rally 2008 in both Guadalajara and Puerto Vallarta, Jalisco Estado. Right now the invitees are HotRodZilla-AJ, Patch308-Alex and my Best Mexican Friend, Senor Martin Osete, a long time Amigo and a Resident of Hermosillo, Sonora Estado; "El Gobernador" is a Mexican National. Of course, if he asks to go, I am forced to add my illegitimate Bastard Hijo (Son) SkooterG; not much you can do when your own flesh and blood wants to ride along to Mexico. Though, he may be on "Dancing With The Stars" at that time. This trip is three weeks and 7,500 miles. Peligro!

 

[beemerdons]

Jesu Cristo, that's Magnifico Azul y Plata FJR en El Fotografia! Fantastico, Ai!!

 

[Hawkerplt]

"I am not worried about the "safety" stuff people say about Mexico."

When we fly to Mexico the transportation provided from the airport(s) to hotel(s) is with armed security. Doesn't matter where we go in Mexico either.

Security issues are huge!! Do your homework carefully....

Just my two bits...

 

[lonesoldier84]

"I am not worried about the "safety" stuff people say about Mexico."
When we fly to Mexico the transportation provided from the airport(s) to hotel(s) is with armed security. Doesn't matter where we go in Mexico either.

Security issues are huge!! Do your homework carefully....

Just my two bits...

Well I'm not going to be running through the streets at night naked save for the 24-karat gold leaf and glitter adorning my body. I will exercise common sense and good sense in general taking into account I will be very far from home.

And I won't be traveling with armed escort, either. That's just silly.

Come on now, it's not THAT bad. And if it is.....then it will be good exercise for my mental fitness in dangerous situations. This Mexico trip is a training run for a longer dual sport south america trip the year after.

Also, I have been told I look Spanish/Latin. If I grow a swanky moustache and wear a sombrero I'm sure everyone will just take me for a local.



American tourists will see me and shiver, thinking to themselves, "Oh no! A bandito!"

 

[beemerdons]

lonesoldier84, I like your attitude on life; you are welcome to ride to Mexico with me anytime. Oh, and thank you for the portrait of me above, but I usually wear my bandolero over my right soldier.

Traveling worldwide on a motorcycle is all about being prepared and good common sense as you stated so well. These days I choose my border crossings very carefully: I absolutely will not cross at Tijuana, Ciudad Juarez or Nuevo Laredo, I will ride up to 50 miles out of my way to cross at alternate locations. I also limit my alcohol consumption to a dull roar! And, in forty+ years of riding in Mexico I've only violated my Cardinal Rule of never riding at night once; the one time we AZ Beemers broke that rule, we found ourselves riding along in a herd of horses on Mexico Ruta Uno at Catavina, BC.

There are certain cities I now avoid, due to past experiences showing me they are big Cartel Country: Caborca and Culiacan are two prime examples; Los Culiacan Cowboys are Narcotraficantes Grande!

I usually find my evening lodgings at a place that has an attached restaurant and bar, rather than going out into town; unless it is a small village such as Todos Santos, San Blas, San Carlos, etceteras.

As a motorcyclist that loves riding Mexico and loves the Mexican people, it does sadden me observing Mexico's current problems. But, I will not stop riding there as long as I can still twist the M/C throttle!

 

[lonesoldier84]

Thanks man. Anything worth doing is always going to have some challenges and risks involved. Mitigate them, and you've done all you can so you might as well enjoy it and stop hand-wringing.

LOL, herd of horses? You have to give more info on that one. Was it just a bunch of ranchers or something more sinister? That would be pretty nerve wracking though, especially in the dark on rough-ish roads.

That aside, I really do have to thank you for the info here and in your other threads. They will form the backbone of my trip/ride planning. Same goes for everyone else too.

 

[beemerdons]

Thanks man. Anything worth doing is always going to have some challenges and risks involved. Mitigate them, and you've done all you can so you might as well enjoy it and stop hand-wringing.
LOL, herd of horses? You have to give more info on that one. Was it just a bunch of ranchers or something more sinister? That would be pretty nerve wracking though, especially in the dark on rough-ish roads.

That aside, I really do have to thank you for the info here and in your other threads. They will form the backbone of my trip/ride planning. Same goes for everyone else too.

No lonesoldier84, All the Baja Peninsula, both Norte y Sur, are free range Rancheros. Mexicanos don't waste time/money on fences of any kind, just brand livestock!!