Thanks for the bike feedback, Pat, and again for the fantastic photos.

For those interested, I'll update my overlanding CRF450 thread soon because things are moving along...

Re: the damper. I absolutely agree they are worth the money if you're going to spend a lot of time riding in soft or rutted sand. I had a Scott damper on my XR400 and my CRF has a GPR.
Stephan

I think it is safe to say to ride with others as much as possible in Baja for safety sakes. Especially in the remote parts. It is awfully dry, and can get hot out there during the late spring and summer, into fall. Not a place to get stranded on your own.

Good advice Simon. The buddy system is best. Even in a larger group. Pick a buddy. Stay together. A SAT phone is not a bad idea either. Believe or not its not that hard to get help in Baja. If you can get word to Ensenada they WILL send an Ambulance. Not expensive either. There are other methods for rescue as well.

Thankfully it was not hot on this ride. But in November it was 100F. I was alone on my over loaded DR650. But the Baja 1000 guys were pre-running, so I knew every five or ten minutes somebody would likely come by.

Still, riding alone is not a great idea. Shit can and does happen. Best advice is to get a guide, a good one.

Stephan,
I'd love to see your CRF! Post some pics or start a thread somewhere.
Where are you planning to go?

I've heard a lot of good things about the GPR damper too. I'm looking for a used damper at the moment. Trying save a few bucks!

Good luck with the CRF and keep us posted!

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Hey Patrick,

Great shots and glad to see you are rolling along still. I can't wait to get a new bike,
stay well
Josh

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The Road To Rio - Locokiwi

Hey Josh,
Good to hear from you! Remember when you told us of the terrifying night with the Crank smugglers? In Baja we heard stories about kids jacked up on Crank doing petty crime. Turns out speed has now found its way into more than a few areas of Mexico. VERY BAD ju ju.

On the photos, I should extend credit to my riding buddies who took quite a few of the pics shown here. So thanks to Bob, Roberto, Kai, Marty and Chas, thanks for the pics and the great riding.

What are you up to Josh?
Married and settled down yet?

Cheers,

Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

More Baja pics here. Some are dups but some new stuff too.

Enjoy

Baja AYU 2008

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

The AYU link above has been updated with some new pics and captions.
Any questions, comments welcome as always.

Patrick


Going over bars one too many times. It was even better a couple days before!



Famous Coco's Corner. Coco now in recovery in Ensenada after his leg amputation. (Diabetes). So now Coco has NO legs:confused1:


Turtle project in Bahia de Los Angeles.




Peace and quiet at Alphonsinas ....just south of Puertocitos. Hell of a road to get there. It is now worse than I've seen it in 20 years. Pavement is promised .... trust me ....this is NOT a good thing for riders and Baja.
Can you Say Costa Del Sol?
But corruption are slowing down the process .... but its coming. GO NOW!


Amazing tide pooling in Baja. Pacific side is the best.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Did you happen to take the back way out of Mike's? Me and a buddy did that on really loaded down KLR's in February and it was a lot tougher than we planned on.

I assume you mean the back way out to the west? There are a couple routes
to the west, one is really tough, so I've heard. We took the route over to Valle de Trinidad, over to the east and the highway. No problem that way.

From Valle de Trinidad we rode the dirt road over to Mex. 1 then out to the Beach to ride some dunes.


Patrick

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Yes, the way to the west. We went to Mike's that way and it was pretty tough. We came close to turning around just before we crested a hill and saw the ranch.

Just bumping this thread up so it comes up sooner in a search.
New info as to why I had so much trouble riding deep sand. BENT FORKS!!!
Yes, its true. My little XR250 had bent forks and a bent steering stem.
A friend suggested I check for his and sure enough, BENT!

My XR250 is now sold! Happy to say I've just been down to Baja again in October with my DR650 and had NO problems in the sand .... in fact had a blast!

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Patrick,

Thanks for the bump, I missed this the first time around. Great report and pics.

Tom

just a couple more pics from Baja last Spring. (5/08)


Miles of and miles of sandy tracks. Got Knobbies?

Patrick slogging along on the bent XR

Randy Bradesckui memorial

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!

Among other places, I try to get to Baja once or twice a year, and explore. There's more than enough there that I'll never tire of it. I do work hard to avoid pavement or wide graded roads (and people).

The north parts are definitely getting more and more paved, and much more expensive.





This past December, the biggest thing I notices was no one was there. All the usual haunts for tourists were empty. I've never been to Alfonsina's in Gonzaga Bay on a Friday night where it wasn't fairly busy. I got there at 2130 on a Friday night, and had to wake the owner up to get a room and a few s.

Down near Vizcaino:



Out near Malarrimo:



Bahia de Tortugas:



La Laguna - if you ever go near San Ignacio, take the run out here and see the whales!



Traveling the Fangos south towards San Juanico:



One of the less improved roads near the Comondus:



In the middle of nowhere, just the way I like it.



Mision San Javier:



The road south from San Javier to Constitucion:



The un-named trails near the failed Federal Water Projects close to San Luis Gonzaga:



The descent into San Evaristo:



Heading south to LaPaz:





Crossing from west to east across the peninsula about 40 miles north of Cabo:



Sunrise at Los Barriles:



Picking up the tires I shipped to myself in La Paz:



Camping on a deserted beach 50+ miles from anywhere....



It's nice to wake up, out in the open air, and see this in the morning:



I have lots more.

The point is Baja can be ugly and unsafe in the border cities, just like anywhere else. get away from the big population centers, and it's a beautiful place full of friendly folks.

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gaspipe
[the original]

KTM 540 EXC
R1100GS Rallye
KTM 950 Super Enduro

Thanks for posting your great Baja pics! I recognize some of those tracks!
Here's a couple from another ride. Some of this will get paved in the next year or two, as I'm sure you know.

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Patrick passed Dec 2018. RIP Patrick!