Hi
I’m starting to make some plans for next summers ride.
I have a highly experienced, meaning a lot of miles on it, BMW F650 and am thinking of riding south through Mexico, and maybe as far south as Peru before doing a U turn and heading back towards southern Calif.
One thing that concerns me. If I were to develop some serious mechanical problems I could abandon the bike and continue on in a bus, but I think that this is illegal in Mexico, and probably other countries as well.
Is this likely to cause me any difficulty coming back? Or on future trips to Mexico?
I really don’t want to be a star in “ Mexicos Most Wanted”.
Another question. What is the typical daily budget down there?
I plan to stay in the cheapest places I can find and will probably bring some camping gear.
I am used to traveling on a low budget, I’ve spent the last three summers touring south east Asia on a bicycle.
I’ll post more questions as my plans progress.
Thanks
Bill

upon entering mexico you will receive an importacion sticker to be affixed to your windshield. they prefer it in the lower center of the windshield if you have a windshield. the sticker is good for multiple crossings for six months. if you don't plan on returning before the sticker expires, do yourself a favor and stop before crossing back into the U.S. and get the sticker removed by the ( modolo de vehicular)(the same place you got it). you can do this at any crossing. it dosen't have to be the one which issued you the sticker. they will check the bikes vin # and cancel you out of the system. an alternative is to go to any mexican consulate in the states and they will do the same thing there. i've done this in houston. then again, they will come out and check the vin# and remove the sticker. it will be eaiser for you if you don't take the sticker off the bike. let them. if you can't produce the bike you will have problems bringing another vehicle into mexico. if the bike is stolen down there, make sure you report it and get a copy of the police report. you may be able to work some angle on that but it will be a headache and you may find yourself back at square one.

i crossed into tijuana not too long ago. i want to emphasize that you need to make sure when you cross that you get your vehicle import permit. It is not offered at the border. You have to have this on your list of very important things not to forget. In Tijuana you need to cross the border then when in Mexico ride around asking directions to the Vehicle Import building. It is not evident when you cross the border where it is located. After riding around in circles for awhile i finally found it. You will want to research in the proper forum exactly what you will need to aquire the permit. If you do not have this permit you can ride the baja. But if you wish ot cross into the Mexican maninland and do not have the permit your bike can be confiscated. I was checked for this permit and proper documentation near Mazatlan, one of the only times i was really checked. ok, best wishes..erickson

The "permit" is the form that the "importacion" sticker is attached to. When you put the sticker on the bike, retain the form. Your permit was issued by the "Modulo de Vehicular". They are located "near" the border crossings on the Mexican side. At some border crossings they are the first thing you see upon crossing. At others,(Reynosa)for example,and apparently Tijuana, you've got to do some searching. When you cancel your "permit" and they remove you sticker at the border or at a consulate, They will check the vin # on the bike and issue you a "Comprobante de Retorno" Proof of Return of the vehicle. This is issued by Banjercito. Keep this form. If you go back to Mexico with another vehicle and there is any questions about the last vehicle you had (come on, computers don't screw up), it is your proof that the last vehicle you had in Mexico is not still in Mexico.

Don't worry about the paper work too much, just keep reading here on HU and
it will all become clear. When you exit Mexico hang onto your import permit, its good for six months. Last time I went though they did not put the TOURIST sticker on the bike. I just held onto it and
surrendered it upon exiting back to the US. Easy.

To learn daily costs why not check with some of your neighbors there in Azuza.
Place is loaded with Mexicans, good place to practise your Spanish.

If you've done Asia on a bicycle then your
way tougher than you need to be to go to Peru and back on a motorcycle. You guys
are nuts. BTW, I don't advise any wild camping in Mexico. Camp ground only.
Same for much of Latin America.
Think cheap motel/pension.

And if you take that BMW,
their is a good chance something on it
will fail. I'd ditch it and go Japanese.

Why screw around with some German
POS? At the last HU meeting in Copper
Canyon there were over 30 KLR's there
out of about 100 bikes total at the rally.

Now why is that?

I'm on a Vstrom, and would also say its
a totally bulletproof bike. The BMW F650 is nice but not that reliable. Still, it set up right and maintained along the way, should be OK. Good used KLR, $3500
tops.

BTW, don't stop in Peru, your just getting
to the interesting stuff. Chile and Argentina and the BEST!

__________________
Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

check out http://www.cemacsolutions.com/index.html

look under accommodations where you will find detailed info corncerning lodging/camping in mex/c.america(thanks Geoff and Nina).

add in what you think you will spend for food (plus petrol) you should arrive at an idea of what your expenses will entail.

as far as the bike, take the time between now and your departure to learn how the machine works and perform the required preventive maintenance. have fun with the plannig process

rambling, drunk on christmas and the festive spirit.

I just left mexico about 2 days ago, you don't need to put the sticker on your bike, I was worried about it falling off my dirty bike, after the first 5 checkpoints some military some police no-one asked why it wasn't affixed to the bike. Just something I was worried about. I kept it intact the same as they give it to you which seems a lot safer.

Other tips would be hand in your USA visa if you have one, before you cross into mexico as I had to pay $19 to cross the bridge back the usa, and give in my visa.

Be nice to the border guards , twice they have taken me to the front past a queue extending about 200 meters and got me a visa.

don't buy any food near the border and carry it with you as it's illegal to import any food although everyone tries to sell it to you.

The speed bump things are not as bad as people say, the worst are around the more offical places nothing that will kill you, just lift the rear wheel off the ground.

The driving is nothing bad like some say on the internet, infact slightly better than any country i've been to, funny seeing how people ignore the crossing guard people with the stop signs and just speed by though.

Give it some gas, if in doubt just speed up and blast through that 6 lane junction with 7 traffic lights chances are you'll make it.