Is Mexico Safe?

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by Bato

Now I get it need to check it out ...BTW what are you doing in Cuernavaca? Do you like it there ? got a cousin that lives there., Jacarandas?
Dad build a frcionamento there back in the day, LAS BRISAS we use to go a lot

I live here now. Wife dragged me down here after our 10 year adventure in the US.

I like it a lot. I have a penchant for topes and AK-47 fire. (JK)

[Bato]

Originally Posted by MikeMike

It's Jim Carrey, dammit!

I have saved luggage space by consolidating my little Chinese stripped down tire pump and can git an extra Euro speedo in the tankbag for the Yucatan adventure.

SR, beat me to the punch. If the kid was at fault for drunk driving he should be punished to the full extent of the law. I've seen dozens of local juniors and fresas here who've gotten away with murder amongst other crimes. They simply are out of jail and free to repeat their crime. I highly doubt the kid learned anything like responsibility or remorse for his actions, the message he likely got was how dumb the gringo was to spring him from jail and save his family a pot full of pesos in legal fees so he can get a new expensive car and hit someone else while drinking and driving. How good would the gringo feel basking in his glory of being so understanding, kind, and compassionate, if the kid kills someone or hurts someone else while he should be doing time? Yeah, I know, speculation, like "if the queen had balls, she'd be king".
But, "Let no good deed go unpunished?"
Wow! I feel better! I quit smoking 4 years ago today and was having a real bad day up to now.

Calm down MikeMike in Mexico as long as you dont kill some one with your turck you are good to go
That's the way the cookie crumbles now you can smoke pot in Washington stae legally

[magallanas]

Not where I live!!

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

Mexicans die so that Gringos can get high.

[MikeMike]

I sold the truck, so watch out!

Craneguy, you have got to add the cat as air pump line to that air pump powwow! Classic.
Shake out the cushions from the sofa and come over and get the new tires.Or hold off and wait and see what the Mystery Rider and some other visitors have planned. I tell you, with that new beige leisure suit of yours, all you need is to dye your hair jet black, get a little pencil moustache, swagger like you mean it and in a style that looks like you were born to do it, and they'll be thinking you're a Federale.

[Bato]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

I live here now. Wife dragged me down here after our 10 year adventure in the US.

I like it a lot. I have a penchant for topes and AK-47 fire. (JK)

good for you !

Originally Posted by MikeMike

I sold the truck, so watch out!

Craneguy, you have got to add the cat as air pump line to that air pump powwow! Classic.
Shake out the cushions from the sofa and come over and get the new tires.Or hold off and wait and see what the Mystery Rider and some other visitors have planned. I tell you, with that new beige leisure suit of yours, all you need is to dye your hair jet black, get a little pencil moustache, swagger like you mean it and in a style that looks like you were born to do it, and they'll be thinking you're a Federale.

What do you mean? you sold the truck... I better go ride now that the weather is kind

PCF Policia Federl de caminos (BC) Before Calderon

[MikeMike]

Yes, Bato, "Enrique the red rocket" truck is now happily at work on job sites and belongs to a friend of mine.

I think that Federale needs a kick in the balls.

[BobLoblaw]

Originally Posted by Bato

Calm down MikeMike in Mexico as long as you dont kill some one with your turck you are good to go
That's the way the cookie crumbles now you can smoke pot in Washington stae legally

I know but Mike and I have been smoking it illegally for so long, who cares

[airdale7]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

I know but Mike and I have been smoking it illegally for so long, who cares

It was more fun when it was ILLEGAL

[airdale7]

And the very best we called it 'Maui Wowi' , if you could find it.
But there was plenty of Oaxacan. Harsh, burns the throat, but good and half the price.

[Bato]

[tricepilot]

This is Mx 175 south of Oaxaca, on the way to Puerto Escondido, in February of this year. I found the missing clips.

The GoPro (first version) was mounted on the windscreen of the GSA. I recommend a helmet mount, but that will mean additional editing.

Mx 175 isn't in the greatest condition, but it is good in most stretches. I have video of the aftermath of Bob C's crash I'll put up later.

The "fisheye" effect of the GoPro means that even tucked in tight, the final product makes it look like you're not as close to the rider ahead as you really are. For most of these shots, I was right on Bob C's tail - but it doesn't appear that close in any of the shots. Schizzman and Jimmex can attest I was riding way over my limits trying to keep up to Bob and each of them. Shots of those guys coming up.

Note: I really like the CD the soundtrack came from. I picked it up in Peru last year.

[tricepilot]

You can see Schizzman and Jimmex at about the one minute mark into the video.

"Go Full Screen"

[Bato]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

You can see Schizzman and Jimmex at about the one minute mark into the video.

"Go Full Screen"

Where is.....

[MikeMike]

Trice, interesting video. There is a lesson right around the 1:38 to about 1:45 mark that I think is worth noting for anyone who might have missed it. You had to back off because of the reddish/brown pickup truck, and within a short distance the truck then moves left to avoid a patch of earth on the roadway, and coming at you is another vehicle. If someone had been in a hurry to stick to the first rider for whatever reason and tried to get by the pickup, they would have likely been squeezed.
Luckily, right at that stretch, the oncoming vehicle had some shoulder on their right and could have moved over, but a rider forcing the squeeze play would be leaving a dinner plate sized hickey on their bike seat.
The reason I mention this is that, more often than not, in the sierra people drive at a their pace and they know the roads and have driven them for a long period of time in different vehicles. These are the locals in cars and trucks and buses. They will swerve to avoid you but likely will try to brake first which can complicate things as they might not reach the little runoff area on the shoulder they might have. This is where things get complicated real fast and they will take you out rather than doing any kind of a dangerous swerve that would put them over the edge. They know what will happen. They are protected for the most part but you are looking at a head on collision or getting clipped on the front or side of your bike and you will be on the losing end. I know this because I have gotten lucky before and don't want to roll the dice, again. I just thought I would share it because when I was watching the video, I was watching it as if I was riding that particular bike and trying to pick up what was happening on the sides and as far ahead as possible.
Expect the unexpected at all times from locals, they will swerve for potholes etc... and do so at the worst time and right into your lane. If you are riding on your personal edge, and need to make a correction mid-corner, it is not always going to work out according to your Plan A it will only work out according to what the oncoming vehicle is doing. Mid-corner corrections on mountain roads with an irregular surface, or a little sand or gravel or donkey/goat/cow/sheep shit on them, are difficult at the best of times, it gets worse when you are over the "pace" and outside your limits.
Trice's risk management applies here just like in any other situation.
Thanks for the ride, Trice!

[Turkeycreek]

This is my calculation: About 98% of people driving are not paying attention to anything other than staying on the road - tunnel vision - and therefore can kill you. Another 1% isn't paying attention at all and can kill you. The last 1% is actively paying attention and is trying to kill you. Dispute the numbers if you like, adjust them for different locales but this is the math I use. The other calculation is the number of risk factors. Like traffic, road surface, speed, weather, fatigue, and the deep shadow versus bright sun in the road cuts, night riding, etc. Risks are not additive, they are multiplied. I can manage a few at a time but more than that , it is time to take a break. Bad roads; bad vehicles and bad drivers kill more people in Mexico every year than narco violence. Get there safe.

Saludos!