Is Mexico Safe?

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by MikeMike

Don't forget, when riding on a Mexican toll road, keep your receipt. It acts as an insurance policy in case of damage to your vehicle due to a problem on the road. Yes, it is legit, they do pay, (like the CFE will if they damage your electrical goods through a power spike) you have to be patient but it is one of the few things here that actually works.

And who knows when the half price is beginning for bikes, it should have been this month when the tolls come down for two wheeled transportation.

Do you have any experience of that Mike? My Mexican friends tell me the insurance doesn't cover bikes, and even the mechanical assistance will pass on by. They tell me it's a lot of the reason why the tolls were halved (allegedly...no sign of a discount round my way yet. They probably don't have anyone to re-program the toll display boards)

Actually, when I ride with my buddy, we take turn paying for both bikes. They always are very particular about raising the barrier twice. I'm thinking the arm lifts are counted against income to prevent theft. That's probably why they can't simply take half until the registers are reprogrammed?

[pax maac]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

Do you have any experience of that Mike? My Mexican friends tell me the insurance doesn't cover bikes, and even the mechanical assistance will pass on by. They tell me it's a lot of the reason why the tolls were halved (allegedly...no sign of a discount round my way yet. They probably don't have anyone to re-program the toll display boards)

Actually, when I ride with my buddy, we take turn paying for both bikes. They always are very particular about raising the barrier twice. I'm thinking the arm lifts are counted against income to prevent theft. That's probably why they can't simply take half until the registers are reprogrammed?

I got a flat on a toll road last year and stupidly didn't have my repair kit with me. I put my blinkers on and waited on the shoulder. And waited. And waited. Finally a flat bed tow truck came by and stopped. We chatted a bit, he told me he was the guy for that stretch of road and his duty was to give me and the bike a lift to the next toll plaza. Cool. Except he didn't have anything to secure the bike with, had never towed a bike and his only offer to me was this-

We can roll the bike up onto the back of the flatbed, put it on the sidestand and let me sit on it to keep it steady. He promised he'd go slow.

I said no thanks. He left. My wife's cousin eventually showed up with a puncture kit and pump and was able to get it rolling to his house and the got tire repaired.

Also, that day happened to be the "day of the motorcyclist" down here, and there were hordes of bikes passing by. Not one stopped to see if I needed any help.

[MikeMike]

Pax, that is very common here. However, the Green Angels who provide the free highway service will usually pass by once a day. It isn't much but in the middle of nowhere it will be all you'll have.

Crane, the receipt as insurance thing does work. There was a case here a few years ago where it worked out (long process but that is bureaucracy) for a damaged wheel. When I suffered damage to both my wheels on a remote road I rode back (very carefully!) and called my insurance agent. They were at my place in half an hour and the first thing the guy asked was if it happened on a toll road and if I had the receipt. Generally, the toll roads (even here) are in not too bad a shape, though of course in rainy season it gets worse. I try to avoid them if I can, and only use them to make time if I need to or if I am tired.

The "pluma" gate at the toll plazas controls the flow and usually the operators are "on camera" and are very strict about a moto by moto flow through and they generate a receipt for each bike, by the way.

Many Mexican riders will never ride alone. There is a paranoia amongst the vast majority and they also know that it isn't likely that someone is going to stop. However, off the toll roads, things are usually a little better. I've stopped to help people (the campesino with the broken leg story is a good one, one tough guy) but I know riders who would never, ever do that in their car or on their bike.

I always thought the success in getting the tolls lowered was due to pressure by the Mexican Motorcycle Federation and not because of lack of services to bikes. Who knows?

Schizz, don't give away the secrets of how to descend the Las Cumbres de Maltrata! LOL!

When you've done them in fog like this (see link below), you know the old dirt road is safer because nobody will be on it. The Mystery Rider and I did it like that. Only time I have ridden in fog so thick I couldn't see the ground from my seat. The following video will give you an idea. Schizz knows what the "toll" road is like, unless of course you pay the other guys who shall remain nameless and who will drop the chain for you to pass. LOL!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zts41...eature=related

Famous enough there is now a song about them:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=huGjrTMsqhM

Watch carefully at 1:46 and you'll see something like this

[Bato]

Originally Posted by SchizzMan

You beat me to those two roads, hermano! Can't wait to see your pix.

[98tbird]

Mexico is as safe as a fully loaded AK-47 in a 6 yo hands...

[jimmex]

Thanks for that insightful comment.

[SchizzMan]

Originally Posted by 98tbird

Mexico is as safe as a fully loaded AK-47 in a 6 yo hands...

Maybe you have some first-hand riding experiences "Down South" that you could entertain/inform us with.

O posible puro pedo?

[SchizzMan]

Awesome pix, Bato. Looking forward to riding that route.

[Craneguy]

Mexican gang-related deaths fell by 15 percent and homicides by seven percent in the first half of the year, President Felipe Calderon said Thursday, according to local reports.
For the first time in several years the government has seen a reduction in homicide rates on a national level, Calderon told a national security meeting, newspaper El Universal (Link to Spanish-language site) reported.

Seems a bit too late for election rhetoric, so it may actually be good news for once!

Full article HERE

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by MikeMike

Crane, the receipt as insurance thing does work...

That's good to know Mike. I prefer to hear actual experience than "a friend of a friend" etc,

I keep the toll receipts, but like you, I only use the toll roads if in a hurry or it's raining. That said, some of them can be entertaining. After I had braved the Periferico on a Sunday afternoon, the long sweepers on the toll road between DF and Cuernavaca were both fun and relaxing. A good antidote to the madness of the ring road! The toll roads around Orizaba can be fun too, as long as you avoid becoming a hood ornament.

[Bato]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

Mexican gang-related deaths fell by 15 percent and homicides by seven percent in the first half of the year, President Felipe Calderon said Thursday, according to local reports.
For the first time in several years the government has seen a reduction in homicide rates on a national level, Calderon told a national security meeting, newspaper El Universal (Link to Spanish-language site) reported.

Seems a bit too late for election rhetoric, so it may actually be good news for once!

Full article HERE

Originally Posted by 98tbird

Mexico is as safe as a fully loaded AK-47 in a 6 y/o hands...

Mexico is ok
no 6y/o ith ak47 quitgiing shit on mexico i demand respect USA is no better or worst show me a 6y,o with a ak47
Mexico is no more unsafe than the USA there is just heaters

[Bato]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

Mexican gang-related deaths fell by 15 percent and homicides by seven percent in the first half of the year, President Felipe Calderon said Thursday, according to local reports.
For the first time in several years the government has seen a reduction in homicide rates on a national level, Calderon told a national security meeting, newspaper El Universal (Link to Spanish-language site) reported.

Seems a bit too late for election rhetoric, so it may actually be good news for once!

Full article HERE

This i beautifull country and you a wasting time analysing it insted of enjoy it
feel sorry for you guys

[acejones]

Originally Posted by bato

this i beautifull country and you a wasting time analysing it insted of enjoy it
feel sorry for you guys

well said !!

[MikeMike]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

The toll roads around Orizaba can be fun too, as long as you avoid becoming a hood ornament.

LOL! Yep, that's why I posted those videos about the Cumbres de Maltrata.
When you come over, I'll take you on the old road, it's a mind blower to think that it was actually used back in the day for the inter-state traffic. Puts the "chingao" in the "yee haw"! LOL!

[mark883]

Mexico Shmexico.

I rode to Detroit today, and it was even 96* and high humidity.

Double Remolques got nothing on Michigan Trains crammed onto a 'well maintained' Michigan interstate.

http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/08/02...ntcmp=trending