Riding in Baja

[carraway]

Hi,

Looking for some info.  I may have an opportunity to go for 6 day ride from San Jose del Cabo to San Diego at the end of Feb.  This will require endless concessions to my wife.  I was wondering if the concessions will be worth the ride. 

Has anybody done this ride?  What are the roads like?  Weather? Ammenities?

Any info would be much appreciated.

Thanks

[NvrSummer]

I drove my car from LA to Rosarito once.  I would not recommend riding a moto on that same road.  The folks around that area aren't exactly safe drivers.  Might be OK once you get around TJ though.

[ScottRNelson]

Here's a thread on this very subject: http://www.bayarearidersforum.com/forums/showthread.php?t=282598

The guy did it a year ago and is just now publishing details about his experience.

I would do it if I had the chance.

[silvy1200]

dude, baja hasn't been too safe lately  . there isn't much on the american news, but there is a cartel war going on with almost daily killings/shootouts. i live in san diego and i am mexican with tons of family south of the border and i am staying here until shit settles down. if you do go, be careful. most bodies are dumped on the road. not uncommon to run into them, not something you want to report either.

[angler]

dude, baja hasn't been too safe lately  . there isn't much on the american news, but there is a cartel war going on with almost daily killings/shootouts. i live in san diego and i am mexican with tons of family south of the border and i am staying here until shit settles down. if you do go, be careful. most bodies are dumped on the road. not uncommon to run into them, not something you want to report either.

+11ty billion

I am not saying  don't go, just  evaluate your risk first.  Make sure to check state department's web site.  Mexico is cracking down on drugs and these cartels are turning to kidnappings and hi-jacking to keep revenues up.  Not to mention the possibility of getting caught in the cross fire.  Most of the violence is directed at people in the drug trade or people fighting the drug trade, but in October the state dept issued a tourist hijacking warning for a road I travel at least once a year.  I've been going down there every year since I was a kid and am no stranger to security issues down there and this is the first year we bailed on our trip due to the hijacking warning.  I've got an invite to help crew a Baja 500 bike team (official beer drinker) and we are all wondering if it will be safe enough to justify the risk by the end of May.  I've never ridden a bike down there, but I highly recommend the area and the people.

[OT_Ducati]

ride from Fort Kent to Kittery, if you want a challenge.

[Clickjack]

Ok, 28 and not married, so I'm always fascinated by these comments.   Why would you wife not want you out of the house for six days?

[OT_Ducati]

roads in the Baja suck all coered in sand and scopions. (never been there)
roads in Maine covered in bloody ice from, moose, deer, cyotes, and chickadees.

[DanTheMan]

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip for late March or April. Ive been hearing only the boarder towns have potential for danger. After that there is not much in between the border and cabo. Not sure about the roads but i plan to do mostly dirt roads. check out advrider.com for lots of info on baja.

[Blake]

Haven't been in a while, but drove from S.D. to San Quintin (central Baja) a few years ago and once you're past the border and Ensenada it's REALLY desolate.  Not a lot of populace down there.  Not sure about the current hostage/kidnapping goings on, but it's a great place and where we stayed, the people were awesome.  Very hospitable despite the poverty.  The road blocks w/ the machine gun nests are always a great place to relax while the Chevy van in front of you gets it's interior door panels removed looking for hidden "goodies".  Good times. 
Do the ride, you only live once.

Later

[NvrSummer]

I'm in the beginning stages of planning a trip for late March or April. Ive been hearing only the boarder towns have potential for danger. After that there is not much in between the border and cabo. Not sure about the roads but i plan to do mostly dirt roads. check out advrider.com for lots of info on baja.

Love those threads on ADV!  I dream about some day riding to Costa Rica or somewhere similar.  Alaska too of course.  I need me a GS.   

[zenjim]

I just read about this guy called the "stew maker". He would take rival gang members, kidnapped Americans, whoever, and put them in a barrel with a bunch of lye until it formed a pink, liquid stew. Then he'd pour it out, light it on fire and bury the ashes. He did over 100 people. Got paid about $600/ week. Didn't mention if there was a medicalplan or 401k, though.

Have fun!

[swilly]

People without personal experience will naturally suggest opinions based on what they have heard.  And the news is full of death and gloom stories about "Mexico".

Whomever suggested getting info from the State Dept. had a good idea, I think, if you want info like murder/kidnap/hijack statistics for given areas.

Sure, the news is scary, but reality is often different from the news.

[silentbob]

People without personal experience will naturally suggest opinions based on what they have heard.  And the news is full of death and gloom stories about "Mexico".

Whomever suggested getting info from the State Dept. had a good idea, I think, if you want info like murder/kidnap/hijack statistics for given areas.

Sure, the news is scary, but reality is often different from the news.

Actually the news has been playing it down.  It's pretty bad right now.  A few guys from work went down there to run the Baja route on there bikes and one of them got shot and barely survived.

[Bun-bun]

I was in Cabo/San Jose del Cabo in mid december. We flew down, so no road report(Sorry) but well worth the trip IMO. Beautiful weather/beaches/fishing/restaurants etc.
Post up if you go.