Adventure touring from US to Oaxaca, Mexico

[Roadtripper]

I'm new to the forum and it seems to have great information. I am looking for advice on best current routes and conditions through Mexico from the US to Oaxaca. I live in Colorado and would be riding a BMW 800 with a few buddies (riding 1200's and 800's) from CO to Oaxaca, Mexico in November of this year. We are all experienced riders and I speak Spanish so we are interested in adventurous travel through Mexico. We are willing to cross at any border since they're all relatively accessible from CO. We have about two weeks to get to Oaxaca and don't mind riding dirt in some areas.

Last year I rode from CO to Cabo San Lucas so I'm pretty familiar with the style of riding and reasonable distances, obstacles, etc.

Any information on routes, current conditions, best roads to see/ride, previous trip reports, etc. would be greatly appreciated.

Also, I don't mind riding back to Colorado but does anyone have any information about shipping/transporting motorcycles back to the US from Mexico?

Thanks in advance for any information.

[thepinproject]

I dont know if you are aware but early November (30/10 until 2/11) in Oaxaca, the Dia de los Muertos takes place.

(Actually, it takes place in all the country but San Miguel de Allende & Oaxaca apparently, it is the place to be. San Miguel is more in the north, so if you miss Oaxaca, then you can catch up in San Miguel.)

If you are going for this (experience the festival in Oaxaca), then one thing is for sure: you will enjoy 100%.

Dont miss the Jojocotlan cemetery (just confirm which date is the actual event). It is about 15-20 min ride and better leave your bikes in the hotel & get a taxi.

If not, then plan to be there in time, because it is one of the biggest festivals in México. That means more expensive accommodation and of course expect a busy busy Oaxaca packed with Mexicanos & Gringos!!

Have a great ride. Its totally safe ;-)

By the way, are you planning to drive through Baja or cut through El Paso?

[Sjoerd Bakker]

You say that you have" about two weeks to get to Oaxaca" but make no mention of how much time you might have available for the return to Colorado. Has that been figured out or is this meant to be a one way ride with the afterthought of riding back as being a chore you would rather avoid ? It is as if you are saying - we have two weeks , entertain us .
Shipping back from Oaxaca a number of bikes that run flawlessly seems a shocking ,silly and expensive concept when there are so many great roads in Mexico that can be put together into a complete loop. You are not in Baja this time .Save the shipping idea as an emergency measure for the USA if you run into a winter storm in the last stint .

Really , it is time to pore over a bigger fold out map of Mexico . Study up on which highways you could put together into a route that does not retreat the same way as you went in . The highways running south from the border tend to be major arteries in the flatter regions , fast travel .
For fun and " adventure" ( a personal judgement) look at any of the roads that run off those major routes.
Any highway that runs between he coast and the interior of the country is guaranteed to have a lot of curves and mountain scenery .

If two weeks-ish is all you can manage then better restrict yourself to the northern portion of Mexico no further down than the Bajio . Maybe ride down through Copper Canyon country ,the Mex 40 LIBRE from Durango to MAZATLÁN ( que aventura!) south along the Mex 15 then at Estacion Ruiz pick up the highway east into the mountains, some gravel road involved easily handled by your bikes to Jesus Maria and onward to Zacatecas , then south to Guanajuato, San Miguel ,Bernal , and then through the Sierra Gorda where you can find some more gravel adventures IF you desire.
You could cross over eastward by way of Mex 120 through Jalpan and Xilitla to Mex 85
or from Bernal east to Zimapan then Mex 85 north to Tamazunchale
You could visit the Sotano de las Golondrinas for a peek - but no bungee jumping into it .
There. More than 2 weeks worth of " adventure"i

[Roadtripper]

Great information, thank you!! I would not go in through Baja since I've done that already. Going in through Texas seems to make the most sense.
I have about a month total for the trip but wanted to spend around two weeks at my place down there. So, I think I'll take Sjoerd's advice and stick to the northern section of mexico and then return to the US and fly to my place in Huatulco, Oaxaca after the motorcycle trip.

I like the idea of visiting for the day of the dead and going through Copper Canyon. I think I'll incorporate that into the trip. I'm sure I can find some great trip reports for that area and it sounds like incredible riding.

If I were to take my time all the way into Oaxaca I would take about two weeks to get there which would only leave me about a week of vacation time with my family before I'd have to leave to ride back to Colorado. Seems like too much.

I think, since I really want to ride in mexico it makes sense to take two separate trips: one motorcycle trip and one family/surf trip.

So, now I have to find the best roads in Northern Mexico to ride and I can search the site for that I'm sure and the information Sjoerd gave me is great. But,any other great roads to ride or information on Copper Canyon would be greatly appreciated? I'm looking for beautiful, hard or adventurous rides and cool towns or sights to see. Thank you.

[Roadtripper]

Sjoerd Bakker, you have provided some great information around the site and some great information to me. I would like to private message you, if possible, and run a final route by you--now that I have had time to really figure out the best trip. Would it be ok to send a message? Also, I have seen mention of your guide/lodging book that I would like to purchase and was wondering the best way to get that from you?
I'm new to the site so it wouldn't let me just send you a private message.
Thanks

[Sjoerd Bakker]

Roadtripper , the information you seek about my book et etc has been in front of you in each of my posts here all the time -- read the sig-line along the bottom and click on it .