..... riding in Mexico??

[Brook]

.....any thoughts??

http://www.policeone.com/police-products/investigation/video-surveillance/articles/2868157-Video-Mexican-cops-bribe-American-biker/

[Firehawk068]

I lived in Arizona for 10 years.............and never once had any desire to venture into Mexico.
Some of my friends travelled in Mexico on occasion, and I heard plenty of stories of run-ins with the Police down there.
One of them was tied up, had his quad, money, and other belongings stolen,at gunpoint......by a group dressed, and acting as "Police".
He was certain he was about to be killed.
He was left there, and luckily made it back to the US.
He never went back.

[93fj1200]

Hi there, sorry to hear about your friend having such difficulties driving in Mexico. I have heard some horror stories myself but have not really had any truly bad experiences while spending four months travelling in Mexico.  I had an accident and some great people who helped me out (David Martinez, Mexicano, Presidente of the Santa Muertes and Capi Amayo, Capitan in the Santa Muertes).  I travelled with them just about everywhere in Mexico during my stay there.  After buying my FJ1200 in Canada in November/2011, I drove down to Mexico City in 3.5 days and then I drove with the Santa Muertes and a few others (almost all Harleys) around the borders and beaches of Mexico for a total of 23 days and 16,500 kms. The only problems I had was a flat in the Sonoran desert but was lucky enough to get it in front of the only tire place for many kilometers and then a bad front wheel bearing in Mazatlan.  My only really bad experiencies were the high cost of the toll booths and not being able to cross the ferry from La Paz to Mazatlan and having to redo Baja California.  I would suggest going there, there is a hell of a lot to see and experience.  The bikers in Mexico are absolutely fantastic.  With Mexicano, I had the privilege of fighting for biker rights with the government and getting the costs of the toll booths cut by half for motorcycles.  I have also been in some great parades with over 5,000 bikers of every sort and style imaginable.  Contrary to what you may hear, the people are very friendly and outgoing and seem to be in love with motorcycles.  Get on your bike and get down there, you will have a great experience.  Do the Cabo a Rabo, it is a tour starting in September and is about 3 or 4 weeks straight on the bike touring all of Mexico.

[93fj1200]

After having seen the video and read most of the comments by police, it shows some strange thinking and defending of the Mexican police which is hard to believe.  It is obvious that he was being coerced and scared into making a roadside payment.  It is commonplace in latin countries and probably many others.  In Ecuador, I ran through un unseen stop sign??? hidden by trees and they told me the same things and I handed him my international license with a $10 bill under it and he gave it back to me.  I then put a $20 and gave it back to him and he accepted it and sent me on my way.  In Mexico, I will tell you the police are one of the biggest problems and the corruption will not stop until they have a major overhaul in the way things are done.  I know everybody thinks they are overly zealous with foreigners but it is the opposite.  They treat their own citizens as only an opportunity to extort money.  When someone becomes a policeman, they have just earned a license to steal.  Every Mexican I met while there has a special loathing for the police. A word of advice is to play stupid sometimes, just continue it until they are tired of talking to you.  It works a lot of times.

[Pat Conlon]

.....any thoughts??

Yea, a couple...

This weenie needs to stop his sniveling.
He's lucky they did not impound his bike and left him by the side of the road. Lot's of goodies displayed on that thing.

I mean, come on....A foreigner, with no language skills, riding solo in Mexico is a disaster waiting to happen. So much can go wrong.

In '87 I rode my FJ down to Puertecitos (south of San Felipe) and was subject to a army checkpoint. No problem. However judging by the predatory looks, they did want my bike, for sure. With all the narco shit going on I would dare not make that trip today.

No thanks... Mexico has no allure for me....There are so many places left of me to discover here in the good 'ole USA.....

[93fj1200]

Different strokes for different folks. I watched a couple who rode their bikes to Alaska in the snow with studs on their tires.  And I have seen guys and girls who have driven through some nasty rivers and mud.  It is not something I am interested in but you have to respect people when they have the balls to get out and see the world and not just ride the straight, perfect roads like we are lucky enough to have in North America. 

[Firehawk068]

I hate straight roads