| Author | Message | ||
     Dueller |
Need some advice from you left coasters. Anybody ever ridden all the way down and back up the Baja peninsula? Thinking of a fall trip and have always wanted to do this---go down the east coast and up the west or vice versa. My S1 would kill me but how 'bout my '97 M2? Could the deuce handle the roads?....suggested mods?...or should I look at picking up a dual purpose ride and not trash the Buell? Thanks for your input in advance. | ||
| Court |
Two words..... 1) KLR 2) Chris Haines | ||
| FB |
Court can be SO cryptic... KLR means "killer", as in this will be a killer ride (which, in Court-speak, is a GOOD thing! :-) Chris Haines means, well, go to www.motorcycleadventurecompany.com. Dueller, i am SO frikkin' envious!  read to lean (and you damn well better post a post-ride account here IMMEDIATELY upon return!!!) Ferris | ||
| Dueller |
Court, Thanks for the reply. I've emailed Chris and looked at his website...I'm not really interested in an organized tour but sounds like his organization would be a good source for info. Perhaps I can contract with him for a loose itinerary or lodging arrangements. Ferris seems to think KLR is cryptic but I read it as a Kagasaki....either way is encouraging tho I'd like solitary time on the Buell. I'm not interested in off roading unless absolutely necessary. Seems Chris is renting Goldwings fer chrissakes so the roads down there must be OK for da deuce. Ferris, KLR=Killer or Kagasaki? You guys straighten out the crypticism. Thanks for the easy link. Thinking about late October early November(but this is around the time for the Baja 1000)....about 2 weeks for a lazy ride-a-bout on the peninsula. 3-4 days devoted to Cabo. Anyone made this run? How're the roads, fuel supplies, safety issues, basic lodging for a lone rider?....all input appreciated. jim | ||
| Jmartz |
Dueller: I would love to do this ride providing there is no helmet law. Let me know if it materializes. I could serve as cultural attache. Jose | ||
| Dueller |
Jose you've got mail jim | ||
| Gotbuell |
Chris Haines is a very successful Racer and business man. I have one of his Baja Products seats on my Suzi DR. I used to build all the frame gussets for his DR's used in his tours and I know that he rode hard during his tours. He won (again) the last Baja race as an over 40 racer! As for doing the penninsula on your Buell here are my thoughts. 1. There are still real live Banditos in that region, and many carry a badge! I have personnaly had good trips with no hassles and I have been "Held Up" by the so called Federales. Keep lots of cash and hide it in numerous places so you can give up "ALL the money I have". 2. In the event of a breakdown most of the locals are very willing to help. Some of the nicest and most ingenuitive folks you'll ever meet. 3. Pemex - The national gas sucks! Lousy octane, but at least you'll pay too much. I always carry packets of "Rocket Fuel" octane booster. Convenient way to bring it up to acceptable levels. 3. Take the Buell! Although I think Court meant KLR as in Kawadonkey. Your M-2 will do fine if you stay on the so called highways and feel good about its reliability. I have ridden my Softail down there with great success but only with a group on the main roads. I have done the secondary type adventure roads on DR's and other Dual Sports and would not venture this way on a Buell. I will probably go again on either a KTM or Husky Thumper or maybe even a BMW "Rally" type bike. Good Luck and write about your adventure. By the way, I have made it all the way to LaPaz in 2 days going flat out so 3 weeks is plenty. | ||
| Dueller |
Don... Thank you, thank you, thank you for the information. I may have another Bueller up for the trek...at least on the trip down. As far as the shake down situation, how much cash do you keep on hand?...obviously I wouldn't be in the middle of nowhere with $17.23 in my pocket. I've heard of these informal "tarriffs" but never ran across it in many treks all over the (third) world. What about little guest houses in the out of the way villages? I'm really looking for local color....the last thing I want to see is an accountant from topeka by a resort pool  jim | ||
| Court |
Hey WAIT ! ! | ||
| Dueller |
You resemble that remark, Court?  | ||
| Anonymous |
 Court would be the one with the umbrella in his pink drink and the farmer tan. | ||
| Libnosis |
Court  It was the first day of school and the teacher thought she'd get to know the kids by asking them their names and what their fathers did for a living. The first little girl said, "My name is Mary and my daddy is a postman." The next little boy said, "I'm Andy and my Dad is a mechanic." It was then little Johnny's turn and he said "My name is Johnny and my father is a striptease dancer in a cabaret for gay men." The teacher gasped and quickly moved on, but later, in the school yard, the teacher approaches Johnny privately and asks if it was really true that his Dad dances nude in a gay bar. Little Johnny blushed and said, "Nah, he's really an auditor for Arthur Andersen but I was just too embarrassed to say so."  lib | ||
| Anonymous |
What is the weather like in Baja California? | ||
| Gotbuell |
I would usually keep any change and about $60-80.00 in my pocket. This was almost always enough to "pay my fines". I did have a situation once when riding on the beach in Rosarita where the Federales took us back to the condo we had rented and got us for about $180.00 and 2 bottles of Jose Cuervo. Don't get me wrong though, I have made many trips with nothing but warm treatment from the locals. This region is not a resort area until you get into the major ports like Cabo or where ever you end up. Many locals are willing to take in travellers for a couple of bucks, If you can map it out to work for you San Felipe on the Gulf is a great town with beach "campos" that you can stay at. Great Lobster. Check into Mikes Sky Ranch as a very motorcycle freindly place to stay. American run, you'll want to call them and find out road conditions as it seems to vary over the years. Weather down there is awesome. A bit hot in the middle of summer, but great around September to November as long as you don't get any tropical storms. Good luck, Have fun, and discover as I have that Tecate with a lime is the best beer in the world. | ||
| Dueller |
Don... Thanks again for the additional info. I've located some specialty publications on the roads/ridin' a scoot in the peninsula. I'm thinking of trailering the bike from Mississippi to San Diego area in the interest of saving some time/my butt....are there any Buellers that might let me park a cage and trailer while on my trek? jim |
