N. Mexico
 

I was hoping to cross the border at Matamoros and head down the East coast in the next day or so, does anyone know if it is safe to do so?

The simple answer is YES. Let's put things into perspective- you may be worried about drug related violence but drug dealers are not interested in motorcycle travellers. You would have to be pretty unlucky to get caught in any violence unless you went looking for it. The big danger is riding a motorcycle which you must have already thought about, Ride cautiously, avoid riding at night and look out for stray animals.
Enjoy Mexico there is a lot to see and the people are wonderful. Never believe what you hear from the people in the country next door. Americans will tell you to avoid Mexico, Mexicans to avoid Guatemala etc If you believe that you will never get out of your house.

Millions of people go to Mexico every year, all most all make it back. Most that do not stay there and live, after that there are a few that get drunk and end up killing them self, fewer still get in some accident, a tiny tiny bit get shot. What the press will not tell us is how many that get shot are running drugs or guns.
Sells a better story if you can blame it "them". Like 2 poor good nice Americans shot dead near the border by bad nasty Mexican drug dealers! Sells much better than. 2 death dealing American gun runners shot dead in Mexico in a guns for drugs trade gone bad. Same story gust left some info out of one. No one cares if gun runners and drug dealers get shot it is part of the job.
Happens all over the world the Press needs there story to sell. Lie, make it up, add or take away "facts", or gust tell it the way it is matters far far less than selling the story.
Best to go there and see for your self. If it feels safe to you go for it, if you hear gun shots try the next day.

And...
 

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