Riding from the TX, USA border to San Jose, Costa Rica or beyond

[Rudemouthsky]

   Probably my stupidest idea ever, but I just can't shake the desire. I don't own the right bike for it, I don't know the language enough for it, I don't look inconspicuous enough for it, but I don't think I'll be able to scratch that itch without doing it. Wanted to do it last year but chickened out. Now that it's midsummer again, it's on my mind again because I'd want to leave by October to beat the nasty weather up here. I'd love to document that trip on this forum. All the way up to where you never hear from me again, last post somewhere in Cartel-ville, Chiapas.  . Maybe it's a midlife crisis sorta thing, trying to recreate or even one-up the international trip I took in a Chevette when I was 18 and it's stupid but I'm about to be married with a shitload of bills and a house, and this may be my last chance to do it. I should probably join the ADVrider forums and ask around, I'm sure those cats would be all about a trip like this. The most important thing to do aside from getting a better grasp of Spanish would be using a different bike, but dammit I really want to use my Duc.

[Speeddog]

This guy went to the Arctic Circle on a Duc.
 http://www.ducatimonsterforum.org/index.php?topic=58981.0

He toured a lot of places.

[ducpainter]

This has more to do with bikes than not...

off to General. 

[DarkMonster620]

Only to Costa Rica? Make it one more country . . . Panama and come visit me

[Monsterlover]

I support this effort whole heartedly

[redxblack]

I've got nothing to add besides that I'm in Akron and it's great to see someone want to ride so widely.

 

[bob795]

  Can't wait to read the story.

As for joining the Advrider forum ... well... enter at your own risk  Those ride reports really poison my mind  make me dream of riding to far away places

[Slipstream]

Buck,
   Cheers from a former CLE west-sider (Elyria-Amherst). 

As encouragement, there was an enormously popular ride report on ADV written by a gentleman ('Antihero') who rode his new Ducati Panigale from LA to the east coast and back...so you can do this trip on your bike! 

I travel to Costa Rica fairly frequently.  It's packed with ex-pat 'Mericans, and most folks there speak English.

Ride safe,
--Slipstream

[Rudemouthsky]

Thanks SS!

I've been meaning to check out ADVrider some more. Seems like this sort of thing is what that site is all about.

Really the only thing that gives me white knuckles is the border crossings and dealings with authority. That's what I could use a really good primer on.

[weemonster]

Do it dude after what i've just done
906 miles in 24 hours  on a 600 monster i dont thing there  is a right bike Undoubtedly a gs1300 adventure would have been much comfier but waay too easy.
all in over  3 days riding i did 1900 miles. 250 the first day 906 ish the second and the rest on the 3rd and over the whole weekend i had about 12 hours sleep

[Rudemouthsky]

Do it dude after what i've just done
906 miles in 24 hours  on a 600 monster i dont thing there  is a right bike Undoubtedly a gs1300 adventure would have been much comfier but waay too easy.
all in over  3 days riding i did 1900 miles. 250 the first day 906 ish the second and the rest on the 3rd and over the whole weekend i had about 12 hours sleep

Most folks use a dual sport for this kind of trip for obvious reasons, roads can sometimes only vaguely resemble a road we're used to up here. I don't think it's impossible by any means tho to do it on my bike, I just need to plan and route carefully so that I stay on reasonably maintained concrete the entire way. It's not as if there's anything I would consider truly 3rd world between here and there. Underdeveloped yes but not 3rd world. A seasoned adventurer might scoff but to me, just cannonballing directly there with my eyes fixed directly in front of me will still be a constant adrenaline rush being that I've never done anything like this.

[Rob Hilding]

I support this effort whole heartedly

+1

Looking forward to daily updates

[Rudemouthsky]

I'm gonna do it. The most conservative method possible; Pan Am Hwy and an increased budget so I can be indoors more nights than not. Kind of pedestrian for a lot of the folks on ADV and Horizons Unlimited so I'll document here on the good ol' DMF. Already cleared it with the wifey.

[Rudemouthsky]

I'm reading that dude Antihero's trip report and I'm getting really inspired by his minimalist setup. Tailbag, backpack, done. I'm probably going to bring my soft saddlebags as well though.

[Speeddog]

IMHO, backpacks are teh suck on a moto.
They drive me crazy.
Put the cargo on the pack animal.

Dunno when you plan to go, but it's pretty hot and humid and rainy from now 'til ~November along your general route.

For example:
http://www.weather2travel.com/climate-guides/costa-rica/

Shows ~23 days with rain every month, and >10 inches of rain a month, now 'til end October.
Not so bad in a car if you're moteling it.
But if you're on a moto and camping, not so good.
I did many a late summer family trip in Mexico as a youngster.
Really sucks when all your gear is wet, and it's so humid that it won't dry out.