Mex 5 is paved for 170km south of SAN FELIPE and then there is a 48km section of still unpaved gravel and crushed rock forming a fairly wide hard packed road. I rode it three months ago on my KLR and found it to be an easy pleasurable ride . There are a number of hills and dales to cross,several winding sections, a few big rocks poking out and here and there some small ridges eroded diagonally across the travel lanes . The mountain crossing segment is being re-engineered and rebuilt prior to paving so there are several active construction zones with changing conditions.
Traffic is very light but will include some semi- trucks hauling construction material to worksites..If you see one of these trucks coming- they move very slowly- you can easily stop to let it pass until dust settles .
If your companion rider is intimidated by deep loose dirt, sand and mud as on a motocross or enduro test track that fear is misplaced here -- unless there was a heavy rainstorm within hours before your passage. There is no deep sand, no river to ford.
I am assuming that he/she does have a motorcycle riders license and has at some point traveled a gravel road or laneway or a highway construction zone in the home range? Then this unpaved gravel section should not be an obstacle. Take it slow and easy and treat it as a good learning experience.
Fill up the fuel tanks at San Felipe , then again at the Pemex on the highway at the exit to Bahia Gonzaga and you should have enough to get you to Pemex at GUERRERO NEGRO Stop for a cola a Coco's . If you think to get gas on Mex 1 at the Mex 5 junction because the map shows a name of Chapala you will come up dry-- there is nothing . You can get barrel gas sometimes at the cross road to B.de Los Angeles and for sure if you ask in the town Punta Prieta 12 km south of that junction.

__________________
http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93