Route Planning for 1 month trip through Mexico!
 

Hi guys!

I'm taking my Yamaha TW200 through Mexico this fall for a 1-2 month tour and could use some help planning a fun route that incorporates my main stops on the way.

My big destinations along the way are Mexico City to see a few friends, the Yucatan peninsula, the Copper Canyon, Baja, and last but not least Los Angeles where I will be moving and staying last.

There's a lot of riding and a lot to see in between and I was hoping some of the more experienced riders or travelers of Mexico can help me compile a list of cities and fun routes to ride. I've been living in NYC these past five years and am looking to stay away from urban hot spots and get some open road and dirt under my tires (although I am not a very experienced dirt rider)!

Any advice, tips or guidance will be greatly appreciated!

P.S.

Also any advice on safe crossings across the border? I will be coming from NYC, then San Antonio most likely, but will gladly travel an extra day if it means a much more secure crossing. All the best!

You will probably start by Copper Canyon, since it's the northernmost of the locations you mention. I would then suggest that you cross at Presidio, TX, into Ojinaga, MX. Presidio is a point of crossing fairly frequented by motorcyclists. You may want to wait and ride with others a little bit until you're away from the border. There is a checkpoint at the 50 kilometers mark, and also a military checkpoint. I strongly suggest that in Ojinaga you get a Mexican insurance. Traffic accidents in Mexico are treated by the criminal justice branch of the judiciary. From there you can go on to Chihuahua, Cuauhtemoc and Creel, which is a gateway to Copper Canyon. From Creel you can go down to Batopilas, at the bottom of the canyon. There I would suggest you ask about places to avoid if you plan on riding around the canyon. Back to Creel (it's a fun dirt road that may be tricky in some places when a truck or ? is coming the other way) and on south. What I would do (I know you're not asking me...) is go through Zacatecas, Gunajuato (two historic cities with a lot to see) and on toward Mexico City, that I would avoid, and toward Yucatan. Then back through Oaxaca then the west cost up to Mazatlan where you can get a ferry to La Paz and be on your way north. I am sure others will suggest also according to their experiences and tastes.

L.

Your time allotment is a bit vague is it ONE month or is it up to TWO MONTHS . ?
It would make a big difference for your travel .

If you are starting from NewYork and finishing in California it would make sense to set up a route in a big loop which begins nearest New York and ends nearest LA , don't you think?

Therefor I would suggest you make a plan to enter Mexico in the lower Rio Grande area , LAREDO would be a great start point . That way you can meander down to MEXICO CITY
easily and continue down and east into the Yucatan . After wandering and visiting the peninsula you can go back into Chiapas , do Palenque, San Cristobal etcetera and begin working your way north to OAXACA the city and state ,
. Now bypass the DF and head through the BAJIO to Morelia , Guadalajara, and whatever strikes your fancy then head up through Zacatecas , Durango and Hidalgo del Parral and so the loop through Copper Canyon Country- Creel, Divisadero
And carry on to Basaseachoc and west out of the mountains to Hermosillo.
You should expect some crisp weather in the high country there but you will still be out before winter starts ( that is in November. )
With a two mont span you could still fit in a run down to Mazatlan and ride the ferry over to Baja and ride north to the U.S. BORDER
This is a more efficient use of your time than travelling all the way west first to begin with Copper Canyon
Your choice of bike can do it . Keep the daily distance to cover in reason and do not travel at night

Sundance, you worry too much about " safe crossings" of the border . Just head for Laredo or Piedras Negras , open 24/7
and nothing unsafe.
Laredo has easy to find border processing facility right near the bridge and riding out of the city is easy enough if you can read a few direction signs for Mex 85 to Monterrey
Piedras Negras is a small city and you don't need to bother with border formalities and papers , that is all done at the customs terminal / checkpoint at Allende 53km south at the side of Mex 57. Mex 57 is a fast route south onto the desert interior and to Real De Catorce which is a side trip west from
Matehuala

Have a backup plan in case you need a rear tire for that TW200. Most likely you will need to import one and that may take 2 to 6 weeks.

dont' listen to naysaying bitches
 

One month... two months the better! shweet trip. It's hard to say where to go man, get a book and do some reading, check out forum postings, as there are many on copper canyon and the baja. But some of the lesser known areas are yours to find. I like to look at a topography maps and decide sometimes, which sometimes gets you into the right kind of trouble. Ive been to copper canyon multiple times on my own and yes, it is definately rad, and can be safe if you use obvious rules of caution and obey the rules of riding. I've also been on the ultimate creme dream trip to south america, putting my bike on a sail boat for a 2 week sail from hell to get past the darien. You should definately do the devils backbone highway amigo. buenas suerte!
:palm:

Mexico small bike (hire)
 

hello friends! I am looking for a bike rental in Mexico DF (as there will be my route starts to Yucatan and sadly only 3 weeks of time).

is there reliable rental point or some private persons to rent some smaller bikes (not more that 300, ideally - 250)?

would appreciate you information. Traveling time is january 2016.
thanks from south spain! Vlad