It never ceases to amaze me how sensationalist not only the press, but also first world government agencies can be.
Garry, like myself, is a long time permanent resident and rider here in Mexico.
In my case, I have been here for two decades, riding on and off road and the great majority of the time solo.
It is ludicrous to think that someone cannot ride a bike in Mexico because of safety concerns. The whole "You're gonna ride Mexico on a motorcycle"? surprise of border agents and general public in the first world is incomprehensible. Nobody ever stops to ask the question, "What do Mexican motorcyclists do"? Are we expected to stay at home out of fear? Are our numbers dwindling due to evil narco roadblocks, killer cops, cannibals, and general bad ass people at every turn?
Nonsense.
Try riding your bike through some neighborhoods in say, Chicago, for example.
Ahh, but astute Chicago residents will say, "Oh, come and visit, it is not like the news reports it, the violence is limited to certain people and certain areas".
Bingo!
But do you see the US State Department issuing a travel advisory for people heading to Chicago? No. What you do see is hypocrisy. Massive amounts of it and it is pathetic, boring, poorly thought out, and serves very little purpose other than to further a warped view of life in a neighboring country. And it isn't just the US that is guilty of this, other nations do the same thing.
Yes, there is narco violence in Mexico. To deny what has been happening for some time in Michoacan, for example, would be irresponsible. But Mexico is a fairly big country. It is like having violence in south-central LA and being told not to travel to Wisconsin.
It is also interesting that some people blame only certain news agencies for fear mongering about Mexico. Nonsense. All the major news outlets do the same thing.
Every rider that has come through here that I have had the chance to meet up with has remarked the same thing. They have all stated how different Mexico really is from how it is portrayed in the government bulletins and the news. They have all had zero problems and they have all traveled through areas that were supposedly hot zones of violence.
One of the greatest disservices is done by those motorcyclists who like to inflate their egos with tales of daring exploits south of the border, the kind of BS that impresses the cousins at the dinner table at family gatherings.
People believe the BS and spread it around, soon enough it becomes an urban legend and the cycle continues. Even some motorcycle magazines have been guilty of this warped view.
Whew! Boy do I feel better for the above little rant.

:c lap:

In nearly 4 months of travelling Mexico the hardest part was leaving and the most dangerous part was when I nearly spilt my rum one night while really enjoying myself.

I must get that drinking disorder sorted out

Someone really need to sensationalise crime in the US so they know how it feels!!!!!

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

Yeh, well, as much as we enjoyed our recent three months constant travel around Mexico, most of it being on the minor roads, I must confess to a lingering hatred for those who insist on building their own DIY topes every 100 yards. Hitting them at speed on a bike must be quite exciting.

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Tony
Click here for Travel Photos & Travel Map

They build topes to slow you down so you don't kill their chickens, children, and grandparents. You don't like that?

It's a rare tope which can't be taken at fair speed on a bike if you weight the pegs (thus unweight the seat). The ones with the broad, flat tops and steep sides can definitely pose problems for the attention-impaired. The home-made ones are seldom difficult. I much prefer topes to the alternative: deep trenches perpendicular to the road.

In a car, truck or bus: pure torture.

Mark

.... and the ones in Mexico city are nearly RedBull stunt ramps

Shoulda tried a double back flip while we were there

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Cheers Andi & Ellen .... https://twomotokiwis.blogspot.com/ Two Moto Kiwis Alaska - Argentina - April 2012 -> Somewhere

+1 MikeMike
Only 2weeks ago or so , I could not resist the pull of Mexico after watching the MOTO GP at Laguna Seca,and that was after a ride to Bella Coola.
Had to make it into a three-flags trip!
So headed into Tijuana via Otay Mesa and enjoyed touring the city center
And not a hair on my balding head was harmed.Then to Ensenada for the night,
Back north to Tecate for the night- yes that took me all day!, And east on Mex 2 along.... GASP! .... the " dangerous border" , through downtown Mexicali and a third night in San Luis Rio Colorado, Sonora .All the time friendly folks..... until
I got to the USA entrance and the customs agent had a bunch of snarky questions as to what I was doing""over there"
Now it is off back to Ontario and I may have to avoid the gun violence of Detroit

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http://advrider.com/index.php?thread....207964/page-5 then scroll down to post #93