Mexico-Illegal checkpoints
 

I have done several motorcycle trips through Mexico until 2006 and am fairly familiar with the military checkpoints.

I am now planning a trip crossing Mexico to Chichen Itza and Guatemala, and I am actually a little concerned by reports of ILLEGAL (narcotico carteles) checkpoints along my route. Any comments from riders in Mexico or who have done a similar trip recently? (Maybe a little bit more specific than the usual: 'Don't worry, all is fine, its just the fear-mongering US media.')
Thanks.

I'm in Mexico now and haven't come across any such illegal checkpoints. I'm traveling north to south. However, I usually ride between 10am and 4pm and never at night. In the north I tried to follow other cars and trucks. I'd look at the oncoming traffic for any signals. I've noticed that the legit police patrols start heading back into the towns at 4pm, so that is what I do as well.

I heard it's not impossible, but it also doesn't sound too likely.

This last spring in Baja we came across a few stops. All military, even the ones at night which for a few seconds were a bit unerving, but once talking with the military guys they were all friendly, even when they were supposed to be serious. They called us Loco.. haha.

I was reading a thread and it was discussed that you can sometimes determine the likelyhood of it being "the other guys" by looking at guns and the vehicles they drive. Ie, AK's and pick up trucks, VS the hummers, unimogs, and trucks the Fed's drive.

That being said, nothing is a fair bet, but if you see something suspicious it might not be a bad idea to think it through before pulling up.

Also, cop cars are not always a safe bet.

we crossed Mexico north to south from the 11th of june 2011 until ... (don't remember, but it took us 72 days ;-))

We loved the country and the people! We didn't feel unsafe for a second! (also see the last HU-newsletter!)

The checkpoints: in the north they didn't stop us, but halfway down sometimes we were stopped. Mostly friendly smiles, some soldiers wanted to sit on the bike etc, all fun.
I assume you can bump into a55h0les, but we didn't encounter any.
One was grumpy, as he wanted us to stop after his colleague waves us on... when we stopped, they started to argue with each oter but let us drive on.
Sometimes we needed to show paperwork etc.
A lot of checkpoints were only for narcotrafficing, so they only stop trucks and pickups I guess...