BajaNomad

bringing a Dirt bike into Mexico

willyAirstream - 8-5-2010 at 08:07 PM

I've read that in order to bring a motorcycle into Mexico, you must have a title. Is there a way around this? I have a Trails bike - '73 Honda TL125 that never had a title and the process in Colorado to obtain said title takes 6 weeks and I'm leaving for Los Barriles in 3-4 weeks.

monoloco - 8-5-2010 at 08:58 PM

I've brought dirt bikes to Mexico numerous times and have never been asked for any paperwork. Doesn't mean it couldn't happen, worst case scenario is that they would turn you around and you'd have to try again at a different crossing or wait until a shift change.

[Edited on 8-6-2010 by monoloco]

torch - 8-5-2010 at 09:00 PM

It's the luck of the draw.

BajaWarrior - 8-5-2010 at 09:31 PM

When crossing the border south last Friday at TJ we got the secondary because of two quads in the bed of the truck. Sure enough one of the guards climbed into the bed of the truck and checked the Vin. #'s on both. Have current registration on every vehicle you cross into Baja with these days.

Wish I had a photo of them climbing onto the truck to check the Vin's which were facing up at this point but we know that is a photo which could never be taken...

tunaeater - 8-5-2010 at 09:49 PM

My paper work is checked every time I get a red light at the border. Green light I go right through. It's probably 50 50 for me.

motoged - 8-5-2010 at 10:37 PM

I have crossed at Tecate and Mexicali over a dozen times w/ bike on trailer or in pick-up and never asked for papers.


Good luck and have fun:saint:

Tbone - 8-6-2010 at 06:54 AM

I tried crossing in TJ on my way to BOLA in April and got turned around. I had pink slips not the registrations and they said "no way". I dropped them off in a storage locker in San Diego and went to BOLA without them.

ncampion - 8-6-2010 at 07:17 AM

I often get checked for registration for my dirt bikes and my boat and trailer. They don't want the title and actually you shouldn't take that with you. It's the registration they want and, yes they do sometimes check the VIN numbers (not always).


.

oldjack - 8-6-2010 at 07:17 AM

Los Barriles has(within the past couple of months) a new Police Chief.... they are checking motorcycles for mufflers, registration and driver's license....

LB has been very quiet and the cops are just looking for things to do.... and nobody like noisy bikes running around....

willyAirstream - 8-6-2010 at 07:24 AM

Thanks Everyone. I think I will sell this one and buy a bike I can register and not take any chances as I will be using it for quick trips to the store and casual putting around. ( btw, a small 4 stroke trails bike - very quiet, not a screaming motocross)

TMW - 8-6-2010 at 07:42 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by willyAirstream
I've read that in order to bring a motorcycle into Mexico, you must have a title. Is there a way around this? I have a Trails bike - '73 Honda TL125 that never had a title and the process in Colorado to obtain said title takes 6 weeks and I'm leaving for Los Barriles in 3-4 weeks.


Check with the Colorado Parks Dept. about an off road sticker. They may be able to help you get a registration for it and bypass any title requirements. Here is the web site.

http://www.blm.gov/co/st/en/BLM_Programs/recreation/atvreg.h...

willyAirstream - 8-6-2010 at 08:02 AM

TW - Good idea. That should get me across the border. Would that be all I need to drive on Mex back roads?

msteve1014 - 8-6-2010 at 08:08 AM

I had one of the Colorado stickers on a quad I brought in at T.J. On that day, they let it in. It is not a very impressive looking tag. I felt lucky, and will not be bringing it back and forth.

monoloco - 8-6-2010 at 08:15 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by willyAirstream
TW - Good idea. That should get me across the border. Would that be all I need to drive on Mex back roads?
I've never had a problem riding a plateless dirtbike on backroads in Mexico, for that matter no problems riding on the highway or around town either.

Woooosh - 8-6-2010 at 09:51 AM

I rented a plain white cargo van in Chula Vista and drove my dirt bike across the San Ysidro POE in that. We had the title and current registration but got the green light and kept moving through. Since then we let the registration and insurance lapse. The police force here (some 30 short) is a little too busy to worry about a dirt bike plate I hope. I do keep an expired drivers license and 200 pesos duct-taped to the bottom of the seat just in case though...

(BTW- I didn't put the bike in the van to hide it. I just think you have to be nuts to be on a dirtbike competing with cars in that place and there is no way I would ride it across. Mine is a 1976 and I don't trust is that much- I walk it home as much as I ride it)

[Edited on 8-6-2010 by Woooosh]

TMW - 8-6-2010 at 05:02 PM

Quote:
Originally posted by willyAirstream
TW - Good idea. That should get me across the border. Would that be all I need to drive on Mex back roads?


Most of the time nobody will ever check you in Baja. But sometimes the military checkpoints may ask for your registration. It's better to be prepared. I've riden all over Baja on a dirt bike and only once was I asked for papers. Coming into Baja I've been asked and had the VIN number checked only a couple of times. If you only have one bike it's usually pretty easy but more than one can be a problem in that they may check the VIN numbers against the registration. I kept my son ATV while he was overseas and dealing with the CO. people to keep the registartion renewed was pretty easy. Also it wouldn't hurt to have a bill of sale from who you purchased it from. Simple to type one up with all the names to and from and the price and model and VIN numbers etc and have the seller or his heirs sign it.

Pescador - 8-7-2010 at 07:20 AM

The Aduana, at the border, will check to see that the bike is registered . The Colorado off road registration works fine and the paper (not so much the sticker) will take care of your needs once you are in Mexico. Their major concern is that you will not be bringing the bike to Mexico to sell.