I've lived at the NM/MX border for years
currently in MX 4 months on cgl 125 I bought in Zacatecas
Last year was 1 month in Sinaloaense cartel territory in Batopiloas and beyond, riding back roads, being passed by trucks full of armed narcos....no problem.
No problems with gringos riding down here other than drunks or stupid drivers: the Mexicans are killing each other.
Contrary to most opinions it is safe enough here IF you aren't:
1. A Mexican
2. a Mexican involved in drugs
3. or a Mayan in Chiapas
Police are mostly courteous and helpful if you ask for help.
The unsaid rule from the narcos is hands off gringos, and no selling drugs to them...this is first hand info from a jefe of a certain group i happen to know near the NM border.
IMHO the best crossing is at Columbus, NM/Palomas, Chih.- easy, safe, fast and 2 day ride down to Creel...roads are safe and wide open,
Zig demoted to CGL 125

Excellent advice given , I Will add my two centavos.
Any of the Texas border crossings into Mexico will work fine.
Just this year I have used Reynosa,Aleman,Piedras Negras and
Juarez and encountered no problems of narco violence nor
did I see corpses piled roadside .
I would even go so far asto suggest that in order to a very early
start on your ride away from the border that you actually cross the
Rio Grande in mid to late afternoon at either Matamoros ,Reynosa or
Nvo Laredo and get the paperwork done at their clearly identified
border Aduana facilities , then with lots of daylight left pick one
of the many good hotels in the city enter area on your route and get
a room for the night. Really,they are very good ,cost less than on
the US side and are quite safe even for you as a woman traveling alone.
These city centers are not the shooting
galleries US media stories make them out to be.
If you chose to
cross at Piedras Negras you would not even have to worry about the
customs process since that is done at Allende 53km to the south.
Also before dark ride around a bit ,visit a Mexican restaurant,even McDonalds ,BK or whatever familiar US chain you see .Then back to the hotel
and securely park the bike, see theTV News for any thing which would
impact your ride and get a good longnight of rest.
Next morning you will be fresh to tackle the ride out of town
and notbe worried about running out of daylight before you.
feel far enough away from the perceived dangers of the border.
Send me a pm if you would like some directions to a good hotel in
the MEXICAN border town you select
And Mex 180 is not as boring as Mike makes it sound. wave:
You just need to appreciate the colours of the paint,it's texture and
variety of application techniques I.e. the subtle variety in the natural landscape

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

Thanks Sjoerd... Good advice. Ill see how things shape up in the next couple of weeks on the way to Texas.. thinking ill cross at Eagle Pass at the moment..Thanks again everyone !

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http://www.elizajmassey.blogspot.com/
http://www.elizamassey.com/

It's already been said, but here's the bullet version:

1) Any crossing will do
2) Get to the border by 8am with a full tank of gas
3) Ride 200km
4) Enjoy Mexico

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Motorcycle Mexico - The easiest way to prepare for your first ride south of the border.
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