It's a great ride. Beautiful mountain road through some nice low Sierra. (3 to 6K ft.) Very mellow, fun. You end up in Durango, a lovely Mexican city. From Mazatlan to Durango ? IIRC, about 4 hours, mas o menos. I just did this last November, probably BEST time of year to be there. Perfect weather everywhere.

Remember ... there are TWO roads ... the new "Cuota" road and the "Old" free road. Both are in great shape and most ALL the trucks/buses go Cuota road. In the AM I found very little traffic riding the "old" Espina rd. It IS remote, but did not seem like a place where you'd be robbed.

Cartels are around ... but it's not like they hang out on the road hijacking motorbikes, they're in the cities. Don't even give it a thought. Ain't gonna happen.

Cartels are much more active up around Culiacan. If you go inland there, into the Sierra Tarahumaru ... it's even more remote but new roads are being built. If you want "real" adventure, that's the area to go explore around in.
Don't stop at the many Meth labs up there! (no joke)

I rode Mex. 24 in '06, from Guadalupe de Calvo to the Coast ... took 2 days ... we were lost on knarly dirt roads, creek beds and open country with NO roads for one whole day.

I'd guess it's better now with many new roads, more construction crews ... so probably much easier to find you way across, no longer dangerous. We were coming from Copper Canyon ... and really got lost. That was back in 2007.
Most Motoqueros have never even heard of this area ... most remote in all of Mexico. (look at the map)


Espinia del Diablo ... old road. Mostly mountainous, fun riding.

Ah! A Paved road at last (after lost for 2 days)

Sierra Tarahumaru

Lost in the mountains at night, these kindly locals took us in. They'd just butchered a Pig ... we slept on the dirt floor under the bloody meat! (no camping gear) Serious!
In the morning they made Chicaronnes. Yummm.