Mexico Safer Than You Might Think
 

Interesting info about Mexico. NOw you can feel safe knowing some of the info.
Home - How Safe Is Mexico

Ssssh, don't tell every one, they will all want to go :-)

It never ceases to amaze me how sensationalist not only the press, but also first world government agencies can be.
Garry, like myself, is a long time permanent resident and rider here in Mexico.
In my case, I have been here for two decades, riding on and off road and the great majority of the time solo.
It is ludicrous to think that someone cannot ride a bike in Mexico because of safety concerns. The whole "You're gonna ride Mexico on a motorcycle"? surprise of border agents and general public in the first world is incomprehensible. Nobody ever stops to ask the question, "What do Mexican motorcyclists do"? Are we expected to stay at home out of fear? Are our numbers dwindling due to evil narco roadblocks, killer cops, cannibals, and general bad ass people at every turn?
Nonsense.
Try riding your bike through some neighborhoods in say, Chicago, for example.
Ahh, but astute Chicago residents will say, "Oh, come and visit, it is not like the news reports it, the violence is limited to certain people and certain areas".
Bingo!
But do you see the US State Department issuing a travel advisory for people heading to Chicago? No. What you do see is hypocrisy. Massive amounts of it and it is pathetic, boring, poorly thought out, and serves very little purpose other than to further a warped view of life in a neighboring country. And it isn't just the US that is guilty of this, other nations do the same thing.
Yes, there is narco violence in Mexico. To deny what has been happening for some time in Michoacan, for example, would be irresponsible. But Mexico is a fairly big country. It is like having violence in south-central LA and being told not to travel to Wisconsin.
It is also interesting that some people blame only certain news agencies for fear mongering about Mexico. Nonsense. All the major news outlets do the same thing.
Every rider that has come through here that I have had the chance to meet up with has remarked the same thing. They have all stated how different Mexico really is from how it is portrayed in the government bulletins and the news. They have all had zero problems and they have all traveled through areas that were supposedly hot zones of violence.
One of the greatest disservices is done by those motorcyclists who like to inflate their egos with tales of daring exploits south of the border, the kind of BS that impresses the cousins at the dinner table at family gatherings.
People believe the BS and spread it around, soon enough it becomes an urban legend and the cycle continues. Even some motorcycle magazines have been guilty of this warped view.
Whew! Boy do I feel better for the above little rant.:palm:

:clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::clap::c lap::clap::clap::clap::clap:

In nearly 4 months of travelling Mexico the hardest part was leaving and the most dangerous part was when I nearly spilt my rum one night while really enjoying myself.

I must get that drinking disorder sorted out jeiger

Someone really need to sensationalise crime in the US so they know how it feels!!!!!

Yeh, well, as much as we enjoyed our recent three months constant travel around Mexico, most of it being on the minor roads, I must confess to a lingering hatred for those who insist on building their own DIY topes every 100 yards. Hitting them at speed on a bike must be quite exciting.

They build topes to slow you down so you don't kill their chickens, children, and grandparents. You don't like that?

It's a rare tope which can't be taken at fair speed on a bike if you weight the pegs (thus unweight the seat). The ones with the broad, flat tops and steep sides can definitely pose problems for the attention-impaired. The home-made ones are seldom difficult. I much prefer topes to the alternative: deep trenches perpendicular to the road.

In a car, truck or bus: pure torture.

Mark

.... and the ones in Mexico city are nearly RedBull stunt ramps :thumbup:

Shoulda tried a double back flip while we were there :cool4:

+1 MikeMike
Only 2weeks ago or so , I could not resist the pull of Mexico after watching the MOTO GP at Laguna Seca,and that was after a ride to Bella Coola.
Had to make it into a three-flags trip!
So headed into Tijuana via Otay Mesa and enjoyed touring the city center
And not a hair on my balding head was harmed.Then to Ensenada for the night,
Back north to Tecate for the night- yes that took me all day!, And east on Mex 2 along.... GASP! .... the " dangerous border" , through downtown Mexicali and a third night in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora .All the time friendly folks....:D. until
I got to the USA entrance and the customs agent had a bunch of snarky questions as to what I was doing""over there"
Now it is off back to Ontario and I may have to avoid the gun violence of Detroit

I will chime in and agree with Mike, Sjoerd, and Garry. I have spent a total of 15 weeks riding Mexico on 5 different occasions and have never had a problem. It has been said many times, if you are looking for problems, you can find them. If you stay away from the "night life" and behave yourself, you can enjoy the great roads, good food, and friendly people. I have never felt threatened or in any danger while riding in Mexico.


:thumbup1:

It´s good to hear positive comments. We will be touring around Mexico at the end of the year and I´m sure we will love it as we have loved every trip we´ve taken over the last 35 years of living here.
It is not as safe as it used to be if you look for trouble you will find plenty of it. we won't look for any and hopefully won't find any.

garry

Oh Yes!
 

I completely agree with the messages above this. I'm a boring middle aged fat bastard that recently travelled Mexico (4 weeks) on a KLR, enroute to Guate. The only time I was scared was 4pm every afternoon when I skyped the wife back home.

Mexico is a hospitable, safe, cheap and dignified country. :funmeteryes:

I agree with you guys as Mexico is a great place and yes you can find trouble anywhere. I road raced motorcycles for ten years (1985 to 1994) and we traveld to mexico to race 3 - 4 times a year traveling to Monterrey, San Luis Potosi and even raced in Mexico City once at Autodrome Hermanos. We were driving all over the country in a nice truck with race trailer full of bikes, tools and gear and didnt ever have anything but pleasant experiences and have some life long friends from those trips. I will be retiring within a year and an extended trip which will include Mexico is coming up soon and I cant wait !

Cheers

Steve

Steve, if you are coming through here in Veracruz, let me know.
KahlarhiG, next time stop by on your way north or south.

Nice Message
 

It is so nice to hear that the news about Mexico not being safe is not true.

I'm flying into Mexico City on Wednesday Night from Victoria BC Canada and have no idea what I will do once I arrive!!

I have a budget of $2500 or 30,000MX to find a dual sport motorcycle in the DF. Been looking on the popular online classifieds and have narrowed it down to the

1) Honda XR250 Tornado
2) Italika DM 200 *** Have they stopped making this bike? Also cannot find the price of this bike new.
3) Honda XR125L *** Little concerned that It will be under powered.