Friends:

Me and one of my friends are leaving Fort Worth for desinations unknown in Mexico. I'd like to spend about 5 days in Mexico and then return to Texas. We both have to go back to work. I'm worried about the guy that's going with me. He has a brand new BMW 1200 GS and only about 40 miles experience on a motorcycle. I've been teaching him to ride and plan on spending all day with him tomorrow riding. He is progressing but still nervous about hitting the interstate highways. We'll have lots of long straight Texas roads between Fort Worth and the Mexican border for him to gain confidence.

I'm giving him my copy of "Proficient Motorcyling" and will help him through the book, adding some of my war stories. I realize this has the potential to be a disasterous trip but I am trying to keep a positive attitude. If I don't have a good feeling about his riding skills by the end of tomorrow, I'll probably wave the red flag a politely ask him to wait until he has more experience. Of course, it would be nice to have someone to travel with me but I have to use common sense. I don't want to see my buddy get hurt or destroy his shiny new Beemer.

I'm riding a Truimph Trophy so I can't ride the really rough roads. However, I've logged many miles on dirt roads. Some of them pretty rough. I DO want to bring my English gal home with all of her parts intact.

My questions:

1. Where should I go? I love natural and cultural beauty such as mountains, oceans, ruins, canyons.

2. Are there any areas I should not go, because of security concerns?

3. Are there good roads to Copper Canyon for a street bike?

I appreciate everyones advice. Merry Christmas to all of you enjoying your holiday's on the road.

Godspeed,

Wayne

I am more concerned about the new rider than political unrest. Do you realy want to take a brand new rider with you all the way down Copper Canyon with 40 miles of experience? I think a bit easer trip for him may be better mabe on black top. The dirt roads and gravel 2 up on a Truimph Trophy and some one with 1000 miles black top only experience on a pig that 1200GS is sounds like an expensive painful ride. Copper Canyon is big bigger than the Grand Canyon so is the area around Creel. Get a Moon or a Lonely Planet gide book and some good maps. Not the advencher you may be looking for but safer and easer. Stay in Creel and book tours from there. There are hot springs, train, horses and the like to keep you happy when your there. MEX 23 runs to Creel. I lost my Mexico map so I cant help more than that.



If you want to save a bit of time and miles you may want to go to Big Bend TX. Or a road trip along the gulf of Mexico or a trip to some of the Nation Parks National Park Service - Experience Your America near you. Or gust find some food you like and try and find the best. (no joke I did 5,000 miles eating tacos and biscuits and gravy looking for the ones I liked)

Your buddy is dam green for a ride like this and is probably fearing it more than hes letting on. Shorter trips to help him get some miles on will help a lot. No offence but not having a map of a area your going to or any real idea of the roads there a bike set up that riding or reading any road trips to answer your questions the trip may be a bit poorley planed. (not that any of that has ever slowed me down)

Thanks DLbiten:

I agree. My friends experience is very worrisome to me. Yes, I admit also that this trip hasn't been planned out as well as I would have liked. The idea popped in my head three days ago. I was worried about not having anything fun to do over my holiday vacation. Too many of my vacations have been wasted sitting at home doing nothing. My friend was a last minute add on, yesteday in fact. His wife just left him and I offered him this as a way to get his mind off of things at home.

On a positive note, I have all of my paperwork in order and I have very good maps of Mexico. I just haven't been there, so I don't know all of the scenic places to go. I'm not dead set on Copper Canyon. The end of the day today will be my decision. If I feel like my friend is not psycologically prepared or isn't progressing with his riding skills, then I'll ask him to wait for another opportunity. As for me, I'm going to Mexico with or without my friend. This trip has been long over due.

Your last post is "re-assuring": you have it figured out and it all sounds realistic - ditch your mate, tell him to ride locally over the holidays and get some experience in riding that big bike. You can't afford to be sentimental about these things, riding a bike is a solitary activity and you don't need your friend to be distracting you with his recent personal problems; no Christmas spirit in this message but............

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Dave

Taking a brand new rider on a trip to Mexico where the rules of the road are sometimes different than in the milld-mannered, well-controlled US....is not a good idea.

Let your buddy get some experience and the take a trip.Take 20 west to the Tecate crossong and head south for a day or 2.Don't forget insurance-it's expensive for a week-not much more for a full year.

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I spent most of my money on fast cars,fast women and liquor.The rest I squandered.

Before you assume responsibility for " teaching you bud to ride" have him take the MSF Basic Rider Course. It will save you both a lot of heartburn.

Bob

See link attached. 6 guys from S. Texas do the Sierra Madre - ADVrider We travel Mexico alot since we live on the border. Great riding, nice people and beautiful scenery. Places to avoid, the border and big cities ( Monterrey etc). Copper Canyon is definetly not a trip for a newbee or a street bike really. We may be taking another 4 day ride down south 12/26 thru 12/30. The Sierra madre is very nice on the east side of Mexico.