Hate to go solo.....
 

The KLR is preppped and ready to head south.. still riding to Cabo and over to the mainland via ferry into Los Michos...the trip will extend through jan and feb..Mom is freaking out since i may travel alone through Mex. I tell her no worries. The folk are really hopitable..I am right, aren't I? I could still use a partner for the trip. Going through the Copper Caynon solo could be daunting to say the least.....David aka ratman http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/cool.gif

[This message has been edited by DWright (edited 28 September 2004).]

[This message has been edited by DWright (edited 28 September 2004).]

You don't need to worry about going alone. Just bone up on Spanish numbers and simple phrases. Check the rooms at the hotels before commiting to them. Use secure parking. No es uno problemo. Enjoy!

hey kcfire...you speak of experience?? There are times when i wake up in the AM and wonder if i should do the thing that i wanna do and other times, im stoked and ready...solo no problem? If that be the case, thanks for the encouragment...later...remember...rubbberdown

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It's not bad traveling solo. People are interested and since you're alone, they talk. Of course, I only know about riding in the States and Australia.

Of course, riding an old bike helps. Everyone has a story about it. And Australians are the friendliest bunch of folks I've met.

--Dave

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Trying to ride (and work) my way round the world on a 1965 Ducati 250cc. Australia, New Zealand and Japan are first. http://nokilli.com/rtw/

hey,

I am heading down next week solo. Drop me an email, maybe we can meet up for a cervaza somewhere along the way....

James

Be careful down there -- unfortunately, im not leaving until the first week of the new year.. no partucular reason for the time...i had to pick sometime otherwise id be on the bike by now....if we meet up, we'll do beer.....ratman

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DWright, I tempted to join you. I am planning a very similar trip only leaving mid jan. I might be able to join you if you want company.

One crucial question. You planning any off road work? I am touring with an FZ1 so road choices are limited.

Pete

I'm in Atlanta on a lightly loaded KLR 650, heading south for Colombia. I'll be leaving Atlanta the day after Thanksgiving.

Iv'e got a couple of guys outa the bay area that are set in the time frame..it'll either the first of the year or within the first week....we'll know as the time draws nigh...d

Paul.....you going with some one? if not, saty safe...I wish i could leave earlier but leaving the girl before the holidays would be akin to not getting any for awhile...

[This message has been edited by Grant Johnson (edited 24 November 2004).]

Isn't the FZ1 a cafe racer? im not sure but it sounds fast....

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The FZ1 by Yamaha is a fast bike I guess you can call a modern cafe racer but Yamaha called it an R1 for the real world.

So are you doing any dirt?

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So far i gotta a guy outa San Jose CA that will also be riding the KLR, I'm riding the KLR and Dave Rose outa Portland OR will be on a KTM..I gotta say that most articles that refer to the roads of Mexico are not beaming with joy over the conditions..do some research on this website before you take a cafe racer down into Mexico...not saying you can't but you may not want to..it's your call..also, I think that the trip down into Copper Canyon will be dirt only - or so I've heard...the ratman

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I went from North Carolina into Mexico through Presidio, Texas this past spring. I rode through Chihuahua and to the Copper Canyon and Creel. Then I went down to Botapilas at the bottom of the canyon. Road conditions were excellent, even the 40 or so miles of dirt into the canyon was good, just watch for burros and I hope your not afraid of heights. This trip was done solo and I was on an old Harley with 130,000 miles, street tires, and a suicide shift (foot chutch, hand shift). Don't worry about the people OR the roads. I wouldn't take the FZ1 off the pavement, but all the main roads will be fine.

Hey Ratman,
Im in Antigua heading for Honduras and just traveled through Central Mexico and all the way down the coast to Guatamala alone; chicasolomente! The Mexican people are very nice..just make sure to safely park your bike for the night. The Topes (speed bumps) and animals on the road will be difficult to avoid if you decide to travel at night, I didnt. Stay safe and have a ball! I didnt study spanish until I got to Antigua and sometimes suffered, study ahead if you can with basic phrases.

Torria

You should be ok. Just don't travel at night unless you know the route. I have done all my trips alone and as I have read here people come and talk to you. Never crossed Mexico but I am leaving this january from California to Argentina in a bmw... not too sure if a 650 Dakar or an Adventure. Looks like plenty of people will be traveling.... plus, you are never alone!

I have gotten stuck in the middle of really nowhere in a tough road in Brazil with water upto my knees and the exhause bearly over the water too, because I was driving in a sandy roady and I decided to take a wild jump and little I knew that I would land in the middle of a stream!!! waited for two hours and a truck with 8 men drove buy and when they saw me stuck, they all came down and picked up the bike as if it was a feather and pushed started me and I was back on the road. I must confess that on those two hours I was kind of concerned since the sun was coming down and I didn't have a tent nor food or anything. The tenere is a heavy lady to pick by myself from a 2 feet tall wall stream.

I think, it's what makes it more challenging and exiting to travel part if not all of it alone. If not, what is the point on doing something that is 100% safe?. might as well stay home and watch tv.

p.

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So I might leave as early as Christmas day from Vancouver with bike on truck. Prolly gonna make to San Diego in 2 days of driving and cross the border on day 3...

When are you guys crossing the border approx?
Which border?

I believe there will be a total of three - two on KLR's and one on a KTM - it looks like TJ for sure...but ill know more as we get closer to that actual leave day...It looks like we're leaving the first or the second of jan and maybe it'll take one day to the border or more....ratman [This message has been edited by DWright (edited 05 December 2004).]

[This message has been edited by DWright (edited 16 December 2004).]

Hello.
Rode my "89gs to mexico and back the month of October. 7000 miles later and only good stories to tell.I crossed in Nogales, Az. no problem, faster than everyone else, just have all your paperwork ready. From there was Guymas, Mazatlan, Durango, Paral, Creel (and surrounding areas) and Hermosilo.Everyones is as curious as you are and i never felt threatened. Just make a point to be polite and you won't have any problems. All hotels i went to cost less than $20 and they all let me park my bike in the loby or securely out back. I never removed my panniers! I even broke down in a small town called Tomochic. Found a mechanic who was very accomidating and refused any payment for charging my batterie. I found 2 bottles of beer and a bag of cookies which i shared with my new friend http://www.horizonsunlimited.com/ubb/smile.gif I speak only enough spanish to barely get a hotel or order food, and all i can think about is going back. Just don't be afraid, people pick up on that.
Good luck!

This is fri, the 7th of jan...my happy trails boxes are loaded up, tomorrow i leave the bay area for santa cruz, picking up my partner and heading south to san diego and then south through baja and over to the mainland --- the weather here couldn't be worse but we're going...see ya on the road...ratman