Is Mexico Safe?

[tedder]

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

That's because you are a k-town fuck! I grew up there. Where are you at? I was around the corner from the Wiltern, vic St. Andrews Pl and 8th street. I also lived down in the hood vic Washington and Figueroa. The Army dropped me off in Texas in '85, so I stayed.

The neighborhood must have been delightful when you were here

I'm a few blocks from Wiltern, near 4th/Hobart. Just walked past Wiltern for groceries, then walked over to Kingsley/Wiltern for more errands.

It's awesome to have the subway here. We take it all the time.

[SR]

Last weekend I caught a screw on my tubed tire dirt bike. A few other guys were waiting on me, so to save time I just threw in a new spare tube that I carry in my fender bag. The new tube was so old that it got brittle and split right up the seam when I inflated it. So much for saving time.


Tube stem pullers are key for changing tubes fast! $10?

[Craneguy]

Originally Posted by Pedro Navaja

I first heard that story in Cuatrocienegas several years ago about Chapo Guzman. We need Snopes in Mexico

Yeah, snopes - rhymes with topes

[Craneguy]

Just learned that a Belgian businessman I know of (acquaintance of an acquaintance) was just shot and killed in Acapulco next to his car. He was in a huge (multi-million) and contentious legal battle with a local for the last 5 years, so even though it could have been a robbery gone bad, they also think he could have finally pissed off the wrong local. (opponent was looking at jail time)

Be careful who you cross down here.

[rockymountainoyster]

Originally Posted by BobLoblaw

I think I peed on Daves leg, not actally Dave s leg but on the road named after Daves leg

Yes, there is a little shrine there now with lots of plastic flowers and a diorama of Moses parting the Red Sea. It is becoming quite a tourist attraction and they plan on paving the road and putting in a parking lot with lots of vendor stalls. It is a "miracle".

[Pedro Navaja]

Originally Posted by tedder

The neighborhood must have been delightful when you were here

I'm a few blocks from Wiltern, near 4th/Hobart. Just walked past Wiltern for groceries, then walked over to Kingsley/Wiltern for more errands.

It's awesome to have the subway here. We take it all the time.

Yeah, I can't even imagiine L.A. with a subway. All we did was the bus. Some of the buses downtown even had these electrical trolley things on them. The Wiltern actually showed movies back then. Sneaked in the back and watched my first showing of Easy Rider there. So you are east of Western. Western used to be a dividing line, then Vermont was the next one. By the time one got to Alvarado/Hoover youz wuz in da hood.

Not to jack this thread (which we do all the time), Mexico is lot safer to ride in than L.A. Shit we lived down on a 101st for a while. With that neighborhood and the one down on a Washington and Figueroa, when one moved on up, one moved to Compton

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by Craneguy

Just learned that a Belgian businessman I know of (acquaintance of an acquaintance) was just shot and killed in Acapulco next to his car. He was in a huge (multi-million) and contentious legal battle with a local for the last 5 years, so even though it could have been a robbery gone bad, they also think he could have finally pissed off the wrong local. (opponent was looking at jail time)

Be careful who you cross down here.

I saw this regularly in my dealings in the RGV. For many that left Mexico and were now happily in the USA, I began to realize that there was a community that had bad debts and other issues and who feared returning to Mexico.

Such as my former business partner who combined with my former girlfriend to steal my interest in our business and my personal property in storage. I ran several errands for him and his friends in Reynosa because they were afraid to cross.

So some reading between the lines is necessary.

There was some Mayor in Mexico near the border who was "killed by the Zetas" and it came out that the people arrested actually had no involvement with the bad guys but were settling old debts.

So anyway ... be aware. All or most of us are adults here who have been bloodied in life at one time or another. It shouldn't diminish our interests in riding en Mexico.

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[rockymountainoyster]

"Could Mexico owe its "success" to the fact that it has outsourced most of its poverty to the US? The US taxpayer now subsidizes 25% of Mexico's population by educating, housing, and feeding them, etc. To add to this Mexican citizens in the US remit almost all of their tax-free earnings back to Mexico tax free."

Sources please... this sounds like more of the same old anti immigrant bullshit. Really? The US is subsidizing 30 million people... housing, feeding and educating them? What are all of those waiters, maids, busboys, cooks, dishwashers, parking lot attendants, sanitation workers, gardeners and on and on who are the backbone of the service industry, pay taxes including social security that they will never see a dime of doing? Certainly not being subsidized. They, in fact, support a service industry that would collapse if it were left to the lazy, self centered, "entitled" crop of youth who have no interest in rolling up their sleeves and dirtying their hands because they have a "right" to start a job at $25 an hour and show up when they feel like it... aargh!

Mexico has a quite surprising amount of "upward mobility". I am amazed at how prosperous it is in much of this country. They deserve it. They work hard and they make goods and grow produce that goes out to the world. Mexico also has a lot of very deep poverty but if you travel in parts of the good ol' USA you will find poverty just as intransigent and people without the means to care for their most basic needs... even the poorest here seem to be able to find food and shelter. Not so in our dear land. I could go on but this is not the place for it.

[rockymountainoyster]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

Hank just put on a new set of Tourances on my bike, but for next month's destination (Cabo), he'll be putting on a set of these Heidenaus:

It's what he wanted to put on in the first place, but I (foolishly) resisted.

I'm told these are not perfect when the road is wet, but will be (much) better for the dirt in Baja.

No, I will not be taking the GS anywhere near deep sand. Thanks for asking!

They actually work very well in sand, depending of course on how deep, from what Crashmaster has written there is a lot of sand to be had in Baja.

I did a lot of riding on dirt in Colorado on two sets of Tourance, and the DR650 I rode in SA had Tourance... a very satisfactory tire... I put on the K60's and satisfaction took on a whole new meaning... I got much farther up an icy, snowy county road before I fell down and had to turn back . The rear also does not tend to "weave" on the gravel roads the way the Tourance did. I had some very unpleasant times in the sand in NM in 2011, in 2012 the sand proved to be far less of a problem, even fully loaded. Dropping tire pressures has been very helpful. PM me Trice and I will let you know what has worked.

I have been very nervous about the K60's on the pavement or when it is a bit damp since rumors I have heard and Radioman's get off in CA (he never blamed it on the tire but he sure as hell took it off right away as I recall) I hope that we can meet up in Baja and do some comparing, or at least tale telling.

I feel much more comfortable on the K60's on the pavement after my day with MikeMike doing the Jimmy route. It was dry but it is very twisty so I got to work towards the edge more.

Off and on there has been some discussion here about riding cuotas and not riding cuotas. If you have a chance do not miss the new cuota that runs between Perote and Xalapa: nothing like being locked into the groove like you were on rails in an 80mph sweeper that lasts for... it seems like... minutes... smooth pavement, banked like a track and no, repeat no, traffic, get it while you can boys. No doubt you 500 mile boys could do it at 120.

I had a really nice 85 mile day last week, Tulcinango, Hidalgo to Papantla, Veracruz. Great lunch at Mi Ranchito in Xicotepec... a nice ride through the foothills and up to Papantla... left at noon got in around 5PM and stayed at a nice hotel. Of course I am a traveler who happens to be using a motorcycle on this particular trip, not a motorcyclist who likes to travel. There is a big difference. I am learning that every day. My hats off to those of you who can bank out 500 or more miles a day on your motos... I did a couple of 400 plus mile days in 40 degree temps back in Nov and nein danke... even with great electrics... for me it just becomes too damn dangerous that last 100 miles... chacun a son gout.

[rockymountainoyster]

Trice,
I would go with the boxes, gets all of that high stuff down lower, you want lower cg... when you are up on the pegs with all of that stuff up high it becomes like an inverse pendulum and you have to work to get it swing the other way when you really want all of the weight lower than your but not as high as your waist so it swings more with your foot weight on the pegs. Am I making sense. Take it out loaded each way and just foot steer like you were skiing or doing a fast downhill on your MTB. I think you will see what I mean. But I am not Ramey Stroud. Email him.

[PirateJohn]

Originally Posted by rockymountainoyster

"Could Mexico owe its "success" to the fact that it has outsourced most of its poverty to the US? The US taxpayer now subsidizes 25% of Mexico's population by educating, housing, and feeding them, etc. To add to this Mexican citizens in the US remit almost all of their tax-free earnings back to Mexico tax free."

I got that same email from a former club member en Florida. Honestly, I think it's just more Mexican hating nonsense tuned to fit the moment.

Tax free? What about payroll taxes withheld? Most people in that tax bracket get a refund because they overpaid.


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[rockymountainoyster]

Not a big fan of SealLine from rafting experience... and they are expensive. I have been using Ortlieb bags on the bike and am happy so far but have not been in torrential rains... may see some of those as I head out to Yucatan and over to Chiapas. I like the Ortliebs because they are top opening and easy to load/unload, have a good sealing and fastening system. Best dry bag I have ever used is the Bill's bag from NRS... it keeps stuff dry!

[slowoldguy]

Well, hard cases are...uhhh...hard. The bruise on terrapineck's calf will attest to just how hard his Jesse's are. I don't like hard cases off-pavement especially on anything above a class one road. But I agree that the weight should be carried as low as possible. Hence the GL Great Basin or maybe the bags connection wide bag that comes down on the sides.

Or maybe that high dollar Kriega side bag set up. I have a Kriega 20 and it is well made.


For a seat/tailrack bag I love the Motofizz bag I took to Mexico. I will be using that, my TT seat bag, and a set of tank panniers next trip.( Probably mount a Rollie to each side.)

[JThompson]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

Concept configuration.

Leaving the boxes home.

Huh? Back off the tequila. Put your side boxes back on. Always pack as low as possible. Leave the hard top case at home if you can fit it all in the side cases.

[rockymountainoyster]

Originally Posted by tricepilot

Full Disclosure: I am not a king of tire repair issues. There are a lot of riders better at it than I am.

That said, other than a sliced tire near Palenque, I've been able to handle all my own flats quickly and efficiently.

And that flat near Palenque? Well, I just hung around with Ester until I decided what to do.

Does Mrs. Tricepilot read this thread?