Pick which KTM will make it out of Mexico unscathed

Ladies and Gentlemen, place your bets, which KTM will make it out of Mexico without needing the services of a KTM medic.

Here is the intended route...



And the adventurers...
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BCRides (AKA: Pokey Gringo, Iron Butt)

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Riding the 525 “Adventure”

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Codys (AKA: Chef, Wallet)

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Riding the 950 Adventure

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Paochow (AKA: KTM Medic, Grumpy Chow)

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Riding the 990 Adventure

I'm counting on the '07 990.

Please vote before proceeding...



Spoilers ahead...

Prelude:
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Full last minute prep was underway the night before.
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Mounting some fresh tires&#8230;
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A little customization of codys nine fiddy..
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And even icepick came out to accessorize Pao&#8217;s 990.
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BCRides&#8217; 525 was also ready to go.... or was it??

Ok please vote if you haven't already, because one of the Katooms needs a Intravenous transfusion very early on.



















Now with that out of the way lets get going with day 1...

Day 1: Boring Slab day
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Off to a flying start the trio set forth from <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">El Paso</st1lace></st1:city> in the freezing cold at 0630. Destination: Creel, <st1:state w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Chihuahua</st1lace></st1:state>. Paochow was already regretting his glove choice as the 33 degree temps quickly overcame the handwarmers and thin leather gloves…
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BCRides to the rescue with the first mechanical failure of the ride. No more than 10 miles into Old Mexico, BCRides cleverly caused his hydraulic clutch to fail to disengage giving the trio a chance to warm their hands. A quick diagnosis by paochow revealed that the clutch reservoir was dry, pumping air into the line, which for reference is more compressible than fluid.

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An early wake up call was placed to Pao’s wife who graciously met him at the border with a syringe required for back bleeding the line, and some warmer gloves.
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As the trio pushed on, a pit stop several hundred miles into the monotonous pavement revealed another issue with the 525 as BCRides discovered his boot was coated in oil, along with the front tire rotor and engine cases. KTM Medic paochow went to work and diagnosed the problem as a leaky fork seal.

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Paochow asked BC when the last time was that he had bled air from the fork legs, whose bewildered look:huh suggested that he didn’t realize that this was required maintenance. Popping the top screw revealed about 30PSI of pressure prompting codys to reevaluate his earlier decision not to bleed his forks. Unfortunately one of the small bleeder screws leapt to freedom proclaiming “Viva <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Mexico</st1lace></st1:country-region>!” prompting partial bike disassembly before it was found in the gravel along side the bike.
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Paochow added some motor oil to BC’s fork with the syringe through the bleeder hole and used a beef jerky wrapper to clean out the leaking seal. Then the trio feasted on a yummy MRE (new style of course).
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While packing up, the trio encountered this farmer, who apparently had left the <st1:country-region w:st="on">US</st1:country-region> to seek employment in <st1:country-region w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Mexico</st1lace></st1:country-region>?
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The riding plan was fairly ambitious for the early legs, one day to <st1lacename w:st="on">Copper</st1lacename> <st1lacetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1lacetype>, one day to <st1:city w:st="on"><st1lace w:st="on">Los Mochis</st1lace></st1:city>, to allow sufficient time for Baja. BCRides made the best of limited downtime, by employing a lanyard mounted camera to take shots along the way…
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Here is the lookout south of Buena Ventura..
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Some more of BC’s handwork as the trio approached Creel at dark…

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The trio pushed on through Creel, relying on Paochow’s HID and PIAA’s to light the way, which due to an extra 100# of gear, caused them to be aimed ever so slightly high… Several hours after dark the trio ended up camping about 40 miles south, right as the route turned to dirt.
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Nighty night….
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Wait a second where is that damn barking noise coming from. Doesn’t the local constable enforce the noise regulations in the middle of nowhere?:jose

I'm betting the clutch in the 990 goes south. ​

<o></o>The trio awoke to the sound of barking dogs and the crisp 30-40 degree mountain air. <o> </o>

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After a tasty oatmeal breakfast by Chef cody the trio headed out towards the canyon. The first few miles of the road were under heavy construction, and it appeared that the road was going to be widened significantly (2+ lanes) and possibly paved If you are thinking of a <st1lace w:st="on"><st1lacename w:st="on">Copper</st1lacename> <st1lacetype w:st="on">Canyon</st1lacetype></st1lace> dual sport trip, you may want to do it soon&#8230;
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Paochow stopped to talk with this young man, who apparently was on a six mile trek to church&#8230;
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Codys was able to capture the slight size discrepancy..

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A few other photos along the way..
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Finally the canyon began to appear&#8230;
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Wow do we drive on those roads way, way down there??

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Some cool switchback shots&#8230;



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Codys heading down the rim..

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Holy switchbacks batman!


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KTM Adventures in action- one of pao&#8217;s favorites courtesy of BCRides..

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BC ripping it up and scaring himself in the process oo)

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Can you spot the motocycleta??


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Finally the bridge is in sight&#8230;

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Crossing the river Kwai&#8230;
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Hiding in the shade as the temps had risen 40+ degrees over their morning descent&#8230;

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Now a bit more speed along the lower portion of the route to Batopilas..




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Toro, toro!!!

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I wonder where that bridge goes ???

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Some more cool shots..



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Get out of the road Jackass!

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Another curious route&#8230;

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Nearing the city, the trio encountered this duo who apparently really wanted to race. Does a ball cap equal AGATT?

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A very nice hotel just outside of Batopilas..

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Finally crossing the bridge to Batopilas, amazingly the trio was less than 20% done with the day&#8217;s ride.



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Posing for the sign..


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An on through the narrow streets of Batopilas..





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Ask Fortheboy Fili?

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Finally a stop for abarrotes..

Mmmmm. That Coke looks good. Time for a break.

FUN pics!!!

nice!!! can't wait to see more!!

"Viva Mexico" - that was funny
Kickass, MORE!

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While at Batopilas conversing with the locals, the trio was advised that the route to Choix was not an easy one. Those that actually had been to Choix remarked that the route was very mountainous and dangerous and would take a long time. This contracted what the Zumo and Bicimaps stated as it showed a route that followed the river.
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As the trio reached the end of town it was apparent that Bicimaps was wrong, as the route made a steep climb up switchbacks and rocky terrain. Here is a view from the top, which fails to capture the bucking, slipping, and sliding that codys and paochow underwent trying to get their beasts up the hill.
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And just when the Katooms thought they had enough hill climbing, on and on it went…
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Codys rolled up on this young man who offered him a drink of magic elixir.

Codys bravely (foolishly) took a sip of the clear liquid which burned all the way down to his stomach like good moonshine should.
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The trio pressed on passing this fork. A unanimous decision was reached for the intended direction…

Codys voted to return back towards Batopilas to the moonshine vendor.
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Further up the mountain they proceeded..


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Finally the road began to proceed more down than up..


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And the terrain became desert like once again..


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KTM, Kant Take to Mexico. Especially with my GPS tracks.

Great pics and words Keep 'em coming!

I did that ride in 06 with my wife and old man. We did it the oposite direction. Great time, great food and ride!

Looks like they cleaned things up a little in Batopilas with some fresh paint.

My vote is for the tried and true, battle hardened 950. And Cody rides like a grandma so I'm sure he wouldn't damage it or anything.















(oh. no, wait, that's me that rides like a grandma...)

oser
oser
oser

BTW: For those of you keeping score, only the two Adventures remain, as the maintenance whore 525 has already consumed several hours of wrenching and repairs.