Now that I live in Texas, I've been thinking about riding to Monterrey, Mexico (Mexico's third largest city.) From Dallas, it's I-35 all the way to Laredo. Once you cross the border, it's a 150 mile drive to Monterrey. I've heard if you take the toll road, it doesn't take long at all to get there.
Any of you ever done this? How much $$ was the insurance you had to buy? Progressive certainly wouldn't cover me there.
As a life long Texan and having lived in South Texas for the past 30+ years, there's no way I ride in Mexico. And if I did "risk" it, it wouldn't be for a boring highway toll road. Having said that, I know a few adv. riders who hit Copper Canyon quite often. I've been tempted to do that with one of them.
FotoMoto, Sep 14 2009, 11:56 AMAs a life long Texan and having lived in South Texas for the past 30+ years, there's no way I ride in Mexico. And if I did "risk" it, it wouldn't be for a boring highway toll road. Having said that, I know a few adv. riders who hit Copper Canyon quite often. I've been tempted to do that with one of them.
It's funny you mention that because that's what got me to thinking about a trip to Mexico. Since I moved back to Texas I've read about enduro riders going to Mexico to do the Copper Canyon run. If I hadn't read that I doubt I would have considered going down there. It's a little riskier than Canada.
I went once > 20 years ago. It was a good time, in part.
I'll just say don't drink the Tekillya, and don't get in line to cross the border back to the USA with a full bladder. If the first agent you talk to thinks you look nervous, you will have to pull over there please, for a closer search. You would rather not go there. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/goofy.gif) I can laugh now. At the time, I really had to go! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/laugh.gif)
I had a cop pull a gun on me in Mexico for peeing in an alley at 3 o'clock in the morning.He told me the fine for this offence was $100 and the preferred method of payment was cash.I told him I'd be happy to pay cash at the police station,he finally let me off with a warning.Don't think I'll ever go back there again.I read a book a few years ago about a fellow Canadian who rode a KLR650 through Mexico and said it was a huge hassel not only to get the bike into Mexico but also to get it back out.He said he had to stand in line at some government agency for 4 hours to get the paperwork to get the bike into Mexico and do the same to get it back out.The name of the book escapes me.
There is a mighty big desert to cross before you get to Monterrey. Or at least the last time I crossed it, it seemed like it was. It was HOT! The truck started to over heat and we had to turn the air off. Top it off there was nothing wrong with the truck it was just HOT! No way I'd be in for that trip, but if you decide to go I'll pray for Ya. Did I mention it was HOT! Flip side of that coin. There are some amazing Mountains on the other side of Monterrey.
Last time I rode to Mexico was in 1970, on a used (but new to me) Honda 350. Went from Dallas to Mexico City. Travelled around a bit, lived in several places, and returned less than a year later.
One of the top two or three things I've ever done in my life, and I'm very fortunate to be here to say so. To say it was an adventure would be a gross understatement. I've often thought I should write a book about my time there (though I've been there before and since the m/c trip).
Some things to remember: stay out of jail (I speak from experience) learn to speak Spanish before you go (I did, and it proved life-saving) if possible, have someone very influential in Mexico as a contact enjoy the senoritas
Word of warning or something else for you to think about:
Check with your health insurance company and make sure your health insurance is valid when you are outside the US. My business manager's daughter just left to study for a year at the University of Dublin someplace in Ireland. She is the type that makes lists of lists, double/triple checks everything (just the kind you want in charge of your finances). To be on the safe side, she checked with Humana to make sure her daughter was covered when she was out of the US.
Guess what? She isn't. It was a mad scramble at the last minute for my business manager to find a health insurance policy to cover her daughter. She canceled her company deduction for the next year for her daughter.
I dont think I would go into mexico at this time, not with all the recent abductions/ransom events going on, now way would I deliver myself into that situation! Just does not seem worth it. Canada sure done that. For the first 3 years vfrd was open the Canadians were busting my chops about this and about that I had to go up there and see for myself who these people were, not much different than Amerians really - they just say stuff like GEE and EH alot, and dont eat as much fried food. Mexico thats a whole different ball game.
First time I went to Mexico we crossed the boarder at Juarez, a real s&&Thole if you ask me - a seedy cab driver came up to me and said "hey my friend, my friend, do you need a cab" I said "Well if your my friend than whats my name"? he did not stop till I told him to get the F away from me and pushed him off me, grabbing me and stuff! NOT COOL! Then I stepped off the 2 foot curb and tried to cross the street, a woman in a car swerved her car right into me and I jumped back up on the curb. I yelled at my sister who had already crossed the street with her husband "wtf that b^&*TCH just tried to kill me", then I crossed the street, she pulled a U turn down the block and tried to hit me again when I stepped off the median (also 2 foot high) and she scrapped the curb on the median? Jebus what a crazy place! I saw her make another U turn so I grabbed a rock and tossed it at her window and smashed it real good when the dumb ass came back around for a third time! After that she dissapeared! Never go to Jarez unless you are looking for trouble! NOBODY even blinked at what I had done! It was like it never even happned! Strangest damn thing I had ever seen!
Well, I was in the bank today and on the video screen the news was doing a story about all the Mexican drug cartel violence - in British Columbia!! Stay away from Canada!! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smile.gif)
Older friend of mine had a heart attack in Mexico about 5 years ago. The hospital was brand new & the care was first rate, as good as anything he had in the US. No, he didn't have insurance and got screwed over financially so get insurance.
I'm planning tentatively to ride down through Baja next March with another group. Other than going through Tijuana I'm not worried about it.
Interesting comments. Some sound like all these "I'd never ride a bike" people lol.
I lived in Canada for 22 years and been back in Mexico for 4. the sweet canyons and sierras around GDL are my playground now and wouldn't change it for anything. 4 hours of twisties and I'm in PV or Manzanillo, from cool and sunny GDL's at 7000ft ASL.
I've driven Laredo-Monterrey, it's boring. Not worth the risk or insurance and border hassles. Better do the Devil's back in Durango ese. Or if you venture further south, you get away from all that border hysteria and may even stay for good, like all these d*mn Canadian, American, French, and German inmigrants now in Ajijic and Vallarta. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/rolleyes.gif)
My bro is driving to San Antonio through Monterrey next weekend, (he rides). In case you get in trouble just give him/me a shout.
Pictures say it best, (flickr) Back in April we covered a 1thou mile weekend, riding to Mazatlan for their huge bike fest. Pages 4-6.
I have never ridden there (except on the farm my friends family owned), But i traveled all the way down the coast "highway" to mexico city (circa 1987) and it was an interesting trip and I really enjoyed it, But I went with a Guy from school and his sister who were from a very wealthy family( they had a cattle ranch, about a bazillion acres and about a bazillion cows, and owned a leather factory (they tanned hides and made just about everything wallets, saddles, you name it). And if you are going I highly recommend going local and traveling with locals, they know how to keep you out of trouble.
even very small insignificant things can get you in trouble, stupid stuff like scratching your ear in a public place could start a fight if a macho type thought you were looking at him while you did it. (you just called him a homosexual)
and sitting down in public can show you as a mark if you do not tug your pants legs up right before you sit. It just makes you stand out ( as not from around here), going with locals really help, when you follow their leads. He also introduced us as Canadian if any one asked. (they had less issues with Canada, and did not assume you had as much money I even wore a hat with a maple leaf on it).
We actually had almost no trouble on the trip, and in the small towns and villages we had zero problems (wonderful nice folks), Mexico city was a different story (it was nuts then I can't imaging it is better now), also by the time we were about 100miles down from the border we were past the border "zone" which was really horrible.
Seems like I have hiked though a different Mexico than the Mexico a lot of you guys have been to. Had great fun, nice people and good food.
bobo, Sep 15 2009, 03:51 AMbook a few years ago about a fellow Canadian who rode a KLR650 through Mexico and said it was a huge hassel not only to get the bike into Mexico but also to get it back out.He said he had to stand in line at some government agency for 4 hours to get the paperwork to get the bike into Mexico and do the same to get it back out.
That is still a couple of weeks quicker than to get a euro bike into the US. A guy I know send his bike by plane two weeks before he himself flew over and still had to wait a whole week before the bike cleared customs. One week of his vacation down the drain.
C'mon people - Mexico isn't at all that scary - ever been to Compton? As someone who was born and raised there I can tell you this - just use common sense. Plan ahead. Have a backup plan. Don't look or act flashy or rich (leave rings and watches at home). Make an attempt to speak Spanish (you'll be surprised how many Mexicans speak English). Don't drink the water. Stay the hell out of Juarez after sunset and order up a big platefull of birria with some cold Tecate to chase it down when you get to Monterrey. Then keep going south because that's when the riding gets better! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
If you decide to go, send me a PM. I have a very good friend who's from Mexico and has spent a bit of time riding down there. Another friend organizes and leads tours of Mexico for one of the adventure vacation outfits. I'll try to hook you with one of them, they (particularly the second) are down there all the time.
No question, the border towns are hell on quicksand. But south of the tropic of Cancer is sweet, fantastic food, great people, huge commerce and interesting cities. It's Monaco without the cops. Casinos and cuties and all. Love it!.
melvis, Sep 15 2009, 09:33 AMC'mon people - Mexico isn't at all that scary - ever been to Compton? As someone who was born and raised there I can tell you this - just use common sense. Plan ahead. Have a backup plan. Don't look or act flashy or rich (leave rings and watches at home). Make an attempt to speak Spanish (you'll be surprised how many Mexicans speak English). Don't drink the water. Stay the hell out of Juarez after sunset and order up a big platefull of birria with some cold Tecate to chase it down when you get to Monterrey. Then keep going south because that's when the riding gets better! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)