Welcome to the neighborhood, Scott! Now get a bike and come to Mexico with us!

The road to Satevo Mission wasn't, IIRC, any worse than the road down the canyon. Maybe it was graded more recently when we went. Now, that being said, no way would I take a street bike on the road to Rodeo/Tubares/Choix....but then again several of our GSs had "street" oriented tires on 'em (Michelin T66s)...so....

-H-

The road..
 

Lots of good advice above! I rode down to Batopilas last october with 2 other riders. Spectacular road. The day we rode down was only my 8th day back in the saddle after 15 years without riding. There were a few sections that were very "exciting." Several times me met vehicles and would have to move towards the edge of the road. There was no guard rail and the drop off was vertical. If you're afraid of heights, you won't be needing an espesso at the bottom! Like they said above, go slow and enjoy it. One of the fellows I rode with lost his bike over a cliff the next day on the ride out. The bike fell some 60 feet before crashing into some trees- which kept it from falling the rest of the way into the river. The rider managed to bail on the road and is lucky to be alive. The bike, of course, was hammered. The other rider had left earlier in the day. In the end, I stood alone at the bottom of the canyon looking up at the cliffs above- and wanting to anywhere but there! The road on to Parral is in great shape and beautiful...on to Durango too. Enjoy your trip to the canyon, it's worth the effort.

gulp, uh, yeah thanks that really, uh, helps...

Will that keep me from going to Mexico...no way...I'm more likely to get mugged in Phoenix! It's just a note to remember to keep your "radar" up wherever you are....and keep some extra funds elsewhere on the bike and your person....

-H-

yeah, i was just kidding. i live in east oakland and travel to get OUT of the kill zone. i think they passed 118 murders here this year. it's funny how everyone asks me if i'm afraid of bandidos in mexico and how they would never go "down there". "oh, but you speak spanish" they say as if an assailant cares more about what language you speak than what's in your wallet.

4-5 days ago:
The road to Batopilas is in very good shape. It's truly Gold Wing-able with some care.

Anyone at the HU rally do the back road to Tubares and Choix? If so...care to give a conditions report?

-H-

Back route from Batopilas to Urique via Tubares:

Steep and loose sections leaving Batopilas, able to ride across Rio Urique with one other person on each side of the bikes (6" deeper and would have been a no go), long haul from river to Urique with some steep and loose sectons, arriving at night sux...

Gracias!

This Feb/March we're looking at doing Batopilas from Choix...I've run it the other way, and have to say some of the sections kinda have me concerned.

-H-

Thrre guys on KLR's will be attempting it this January...I have lots of off road experience the others do not. Should we try it or not?

Thanks for any advice.

Dan

If you're just planning for Batopilas and back, sure, without question, go do it. It'll be a kickass time.

Juanita's, a hotel, is a nice place to stay. Huge rooms, clean, ride into the courtyard, etc. About $23 a room for one person. Right across from the SE end of the plaza, no sign. She's a gem. Ask for it. One of the 'bars' is just across the plaza.

No, I meant all the way through to Choix.

Dan

See if they're OK with the 1st 3-4 miles out of Batopilas. If so, go on.

Yup, you'll know in the first 30minutes if it's gonna be ok. You'll gain about 1500 vertical feet in the first 15 minutes! We did it last year on 3 R100GSs and 1 R1100GS. No one had any real issues, but those without TKC80s found the climb out interesting. There's little traffic, so the real x-factor is the Rio Fuerte...no bridge...If it's running too hight to cross...you gotta turn around.

-H-

Thanks for the help guys. hltoppr I will hit you with a PM, I would really like a copy of the Three Amigos Map.

Thanks... Dan