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Chucho
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Mulege to San Miguel de Comondú
Searched thru forum but couldn't find the right answer.
We are planning a trip from Mulege to Comondú on "street" or "touring" motorcycles for last week of October (non-off road or adventure motorcycles)
Is the road paved all the way? Is it trip suitable for these type of motorcycles?
Thanks,
Chucho
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AKgringo
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I am not a biker, but I have driven those roads. You can stay on pavement if you take highway 1 south to Ciudad Insurgentes, then head north on
highway 53.
I don't think I would try any of the other routes on a street bike, so a round trip on the same road is probably in order.
Another trip you might consider is from Mulege to Loreto, then up to San Javier. It is all good road up to S.J., but the dirt road from there west to
hwy 53 has many river crossings.
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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mjs
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As AK says the ride to San Javier is fine for street bikes. Just be careful if there is water flowing across the road. There's a couple of water
crossings that can be slick if wet. Stay in the tire tracks of the 4-wheeled vehicles and you'll be fine.
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David K
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Depends on what route you are taking... there are at least three or four choices to get from Mulegé to San Miguel Comondú.
Here are three of my maps to show some of the possibilities. I have logged the many of the roads if not all that are on my maps. I have lots of
photos, too. See my Trip #2 report for photos. The only all paved way is the long way around using Hwy. 1 to Hwy. 53 and back north.
2017 Trip #2 Report (for Comondú): https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-baja-expedition-2-c...
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mjs
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David, other than hwy 1 to Ciudad Insurgentes and 53 north, none of those routes are suitable for the OP's ride. OP didn't say what bike they were
riding other than "street" or "touring". Depending on a rider's abilities some of those other routes can be challenging for big adventure bikes. A
modern street bike with low ground clearance and expensive body panels is going to be extra challenging on anything but pavement or smooth hard pack.
For an analogy, cosider what it would be like if you were to trade your toyota in for a corvette and then drive those same back country roads. It
might be doable but probably not much fun.
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David K
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Quote: Originally posted by mjs  | David, other than hwy 1 to Ciudad Insurgentes and 53 north, none of those routes are suitable for the OP's ride. OP didn't say what bike they were
riding other than "street" or "touring". Depending on a rider's abilities some of those other routes can be challenging for big adventure bikes. A
modern street bike with low ground clearance and expensive body panels is going to be extra challenging on anything but pavement or smooth hard pack.
For an analogy, cosider what it would be like if you were to trade your toyota in for a corvette and then drive those same back country roads. It
might be doable but probably not much fun. |
Oh, I understood, thanks... that is why I posted all the maps I made to show the one and only paved road between Mulegé and San Miguel Comondú. It
is a long way around... so given that info, the OP may want to consider other options... like a vehicle that is actually good for Baja travel!  
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motoged
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The question begs for an analysis of riding skills. If you are uncomfortable riding bigger bikes on loose surfaces (gravel, dirt, compacted moist
sand) , I would suggest the southern route through Ciudad Insurgentes as the road north from there has less chance of encountering such conditions (
although parallel "detours" skirting highway damage can be very loose/silty).
I have taken a BMW GS1100 into Commondu via the Mulege-Ballenas route.....once.....and wouldn't recommend it to anyone wondering if they should do
something like that..... I prefer my 450 or 690 for anywhere in Baja (450 is best).
"Ride wut you brung" until the road's not fun....
Don't believe everything you think....
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SFandH
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I've seen lots of people cruising the highway with heavy touring bikes. I think highway 1 is a great "country" highway for those types of motorcycles.
I saw a couple of groups from the mainland (ferried to La Paz) last year pull up to a restaurant I was at on different days. Fully tricked out, BIG,
new motorcycles. Those guys were on tour!
Anyway is it completely paved to Comondu coming north from Insurgentes? If so, I may visit in my highway cruiser SUV.
[Edited on 9-28-2021 by SFandH]
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David K
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Yes, see my map above or the new Baja California Atlas from Benchmark.
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Chucho
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Thanks all for the great info.
From what I gather, it seems like the only reasonable route is 1 South/53 North.
Yes, on this trip, several of us are riding cruising/touring motorcycles.
I do have an adventure-type of motorcycle that have ridden to places like Mike's Sky Ranch, Laguna Hanson, and others. So, I am ok with gravel, sand,
dirt roads as long as I am riding the right motorbike.
And also have a 4x4 Toyota Tundra truck that I take to some other Baja places.
So, yes, I am in full understanding of the limitations of my "street" bike, hence my question. I don't want to ride half the route to Comondú and
then make a U-turn because the road turns ugly.
Thanks again!
Chucho
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motoged
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Hope you have a great ride.... 
Don't believe everything you think....
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David K
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Yes, have a great ride and please report back at the end (with photos)!
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1Bajalover
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ROAD TO SAN MIGUEL FROM HWY 53
CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE ROAD LEADING TO SAN MIGUEL DE COMMONDU IS LIKE (AFTER TURNING RIGHT OFF OF CAMINO 53 TO SAN JUANICO? WE ARE DRIVING A
TOYOTA 4X4 THERE NEXT WEEK BUT HOPE TO NOT BE USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE THOUGH
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David K
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It is all paved. See my map, above.
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by 1Bajalover | CAN ANYONE TELL ME WHAT THE ROAD LEADING TO SAN MIGUEL DE COMMONDU IS LIKE (AFTER TURNING RIGHT OFF OF CAMINO 53 TO SAN JUANICO? WE ARE DRIVING A
TOYOTA 4X4 THERE NEXT WEEK BUT HOPE TO NOT BE USING 4 WHEEL DRIVE THOUGH
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This is the paved road north into San Miguel Comondú from Francisco Villa.
All the photos and details from this trip: https://vivabaja.com/p817/
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advrider
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The water crossings talked about above, on the way to the mission are the slickest things I have ever seen. We watched guys crash and not be able to
pick up their bikes because it was so slimy! Use cation.
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David K
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| Quote: Originally posted by advrider | | The water crossings talked about above, on the way to the mission are the slickest things I have ever seen. We watched guys crash and not be able to
pick up their bikes because it was so slimy! Use cation. |
Since this thread was split into two different road questions, to be clear, the original mention of a water crossing is the road from Loreto to San
Javier and not the road to San Miguel Comondú (from Hwy. 53) that 1Bajalover was asking about. There is no water crossing on that road.
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elfbrewery
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Side question: Is the new Baja Atlas basically the same as the older Almanac?
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AKgringo
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I can't answer that question, since I never had a copy of the Almanac, but I can testify to the Altlas being very current. The Baja Divide bicycle
route is even shown on it!
I found it to be very useful in scouting out roads I had never driven before when i did a drive-about last November. I know that many people do those
things with their phones now, but I am old school!
If you are not living on the edge, you are taking up too much space!
"Could do better if he tried!" Report card comments from most of my grade school teachers. Sadly, still true!
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David K
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Other than the dimensions, not at all. Look at the samples on the Benchmark website.
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