What's the ONE THING you wish you knew before your first ride south of the border?

Dr. Benny · 11-28-2012, 11:28 AM

I'll start: I wish I knew that all the money I spent preparing my bike (except the corbin seat

) would have been better spent on tacos and cerveza.

Apertureguy · 11-28-2012, 11:40 AM

Don't drink the water or get drinks with ice in them. Get bottled water or just drink beer.

Also...the lettuce is rinsed with the same water.

There is a reason some of the stalls have 6 rolls of paper in them.

miguelito · 11-28-2012, 12:22 PM

It was back in the 90s, and I crossed at Agua Prieta. I didn't know where to check into the aduana. I just assumed someone would tell me where I had to go. I ended up having to talk the checkpoint guard down the road about 40 miles into letting me go to the aduana south of Nogales, rather than backtracking. So, even though it worked out, I guess I wish I knew more about bringing vehicles into Mexico.

Cal · 11-28-2012, 08:27 PM

I wish I knew that riding in Mexico would become an addiction that is very hard to break and tends to consume those of us who have this addiction.

GoinPostal · 11-29-2012, 01:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal

I wish I knew that riding in Mexico would become an addiction that is very hard to break and tends to consume those of us who have this addiction.

Ditto!!

Airhead Wrangler · 11-29-2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cal

I wish I knew that riding in Mexico would become an addiction that is very hard to break and tends to consume those of us who have this addiction.

Or just move here. Then ALL your riding is in Mexico. Solved.

Cal · 11-29-2012, 07:50 PM

Quote:

Or just move here. Then ALL your riding is in Mexico. Solved.

I have 1 little problem.... my wife is not addicted

please no marriage councilors need comment.

going south · 11-29-2012, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Airhead Wrangler

Or just move here. Then ALL your riding is in Mexico. Solved.

Ya Baby!!

crashmaster · 11-29-2012, 09:10 PM

I wish that I knew.............

well fuck, I wish I didnt know anything. I was happy about everything that happened to me that I did'nt know or could never anticipate. That is what makes it special, an adventure........JMHO, and I'm sticking to it.

Does that help?

Dr. Benny · 11-30-2012, 08:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by crashmaster

JMHO, and I'm sticking to it.

Does that help?

The excitement of the unknown!

High Country Herb · 11-30-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apertureguy

Don't drink the water or get drinks with ice in them. Get bottled water or just drink beer.

Also...the lettuce is rinsed with the same water.

There is a reason some of the stalls have 6 rolls of paper in them.

I made the mistake of drinking a blended margarita in Ensenada. For 12 hours my body did it's best to get rid of any fluid I had in me.

I bundled up in blankets, and sweated it out quickly to get it over with.

Since then, I have had good luck with food/drink by avoiding anything that touched water: ice, lettuce, salsa

, lemon/lime slices in beer

, etc. I also heard I should avoid Mexican cheese, since it is not pasteurized. I have ignored that advice, with no problems. Deep fried calamari is safe, but again I avoid the dipping sauce. Enough tequila will sanitize anything

.

aussie_explorer · 12-01-2012, 04:34 AM

I wish I had known how easy it would be to get help, no matter where I am - whenever I've had problems people have fallen over themselves to try and help get me back on track.

Also: the poorer or more 'dangerous' the area, the less tourists that are there, and the friendlier the locals are. My highlights have to be El Salvador, Nicaragua and Eastern Colombia.

Lone Rider · 12-01-2012, 03:04 PM

I think it's a matter of awareness, which you learn as you go.
Learning and determining personal borders for yourself - not talking land borders.
A zoom lens, if you may, and you control it, and it's a f'ing powerhouse.

Get your own zoom going...

rcroese · 12-01-2012, 09:39 PM

That lane-splitting is an easy and fun addiction, but the fear of not being able to break the addiction after getting back to Michigan is overwhelming!

quadman · 12-02-2012, 06:15 PM

In Mexico (and less so in Latin America) it is considered impolite to say "NO". So when speaking with a Mexican and asking for a negative or affirmative response...it will always be "YES". The three yes's are: Yes ....I will do it.....Yes ..I will think about it....Yes....I won't do it.... All you hear is "YES"...this leads to many misunderstandings.
I have lived here for 16 years and learn something new each day about the Mexican view of the world. Enjoy the ride!

11-28-2012, 11:28 AM	#1
Dr. Benny ^OP Enjoying the Journey Joined: Jun 2008 Location: Bay Area, California Oddometer: 651	What's the ONE THING you wish you knew before your first ride south of the border? I'll start: I wish I knew that all the money I spent preparing my bike (except the corbin seat ) would have been better spent on tacos and cerveza. __________________ Motorcycle Mexico DVD - The easy way to prepare for your first motorcycle ride south of the border. New Hampshire to Ushuaia 2009-2010

11-28-2012, 12:22 PM	#3
miguelito Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2009 Location: San Miguel de Allende, GTO, Mexico Oddometer: 477	It was back in the 90s, and I crossed at Agua Prieta. I didn't know where to check into the aduana. I just assumed someone would tell me where I had to go. I ended up having to talk the checkpoint guard down the road about 40 miles into letting me go to the aduana south of Nogales, rather than backtracking. So, even though it worked out, I guess I wish I knew more about bringing vehicles into Mexico. __________________ 3200 miles thru Mexico and SW US Mainland Mexico via Baja I ♥ La Sierra Gorda/Lost in the Fat Mountains The most fun I've ever had following a cop Essential Spanish Phrases

11-29-2012, 09:10 PM	#9
crashmaster ow, my balls! Joined: Mar 2007 Location: Girdweed, AK Oddometer: 4,603	I wish that I knew............. well fuck, I wish I didnt know anything. I was happy about everything that happened to me that I did'nt know or could never anticipate. That is what makes it special, an adventure........JMHO, and I'm sticking to it. Does that help? __________________ Riding the Americas: No Fumar Español - Terminado. _____________________________________________

12-02-2012, 06:15 PM	#15
quadman Adventurer Joined: Aug 2008 Location: Southern Baja Oddometer: 13	The three yes's In Mexico (and less so in Latin America) it is considered impolite to say "NO". So when speaking with a Mexican and asking for a negative or affirmative response...it will always be "YES". The three yes's are: Yes ....I will do it.....Yes ..I will think about it....Yes....I won't do it.... All you hear is "YES"...this leads to many misunderstandings. I have lived here for 16 years and learn something new each day about the Mexican view of the world. Enjoy the ride!

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11-28-2012, 11:40 AM	#2
Apertureguy Gnarly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2012 Location: Putnam County, NY Oddometer: 278	Don't drink the water or get drinks with ice in them. Get bottled water or just drink beer. Also...the lettuce is rinsed with the same water. There is a reason some of the stalls have 6 rolls of paper in them.

11-28-2012, 08:27 PM	#4
Cal Studly Adventurer Joined: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary Oddometer: 560	I wish I knew that riding in Mexico would become an addiction that is very hard to break and tends to consume those of us who have this addiction.

12-01-2012, 04:34 AM	#12
aussie_explorer Adventurer Joined: May 2012 Location: Perth, Western Australia Oddometer: 20	I wish I had known how easy it would be to get help, no matter where I am - whenever I've had problems people have fallen over themselves to try and help get me back on track. Also: the poorer or more 'dangerous' the area, the less tourists that are there, and the friendlier the locals are. My highlights have to be El Salvador, Nicaragua and Eastern Colombia.

12-01-2012, 03:04 PM	#13
Lone Rider Registered User Joined: Jan 2002 Location: out and about Oddometer: 25,004	I think it's a matter of awareness, which you learn as you go. Learning and determining personal borders for yourself - not talking land borders. A zoom lens, if you may, and you control it, and it's a f'ing powerhouse. Get your own zoom going...

12-01-2012, 09:39 PM	#14
rcroese Haarlem Globetrotter Joined: Apr 2009 Location: GR Michigan Oddometer: 22	That lane-splitting is an easy and fun addiction, but the fear of not being able to break the addiction after getting back to Michigan is overwhelming!