BajaNomad

motorcycle trip to cabo in September

Ragnar1959 - 6-22-2015 at 04:54 PM

I am thinking about taking a solo trip down to Cabo in later September. Any thoughts/suggestions/advice pro and con? Thanks

Bob and Susan - 6-22-2015 at 04:59 PM

just gas her up and go...have fun

David K - 6-22-2015 at 05:03 PM

Yes, have a blast... no hurry, no worry!

Have you driven or ridden down Baja's Highway 1 before... how far south?

Have you driven or ridden in Mexico before?

Those answers will help us tailor the correct advice or info for you!

ehall - 6-22-2015 at 05:05 PM

What bike?

BigBearRider - 6-22-2015 at 05:44 PM

On or off road? Or some of both?

Ragnar1959 - 6-22-2015 at 07:11 PM

About 15 years ago I drove down to Mulege. Thinking about heading down on a Friday, get there some time on Monday, return starting Thursday or Friday. Taking a KLR 650. Wondering about weather in later September (hot???) and recommended over night stops, and? Thanks!

BigBearRider - 6-22-2015 at 09:00 PM

The KLR is a versatile bike. For both on and off-road. I'd cross at Tecate, head to Laguna Hanson on dirt, then to Mike's Sky Rancho for the night. Then to San Felipe, down to Gonzaga Bay, and to Coco's Corner, and spend the night in Bahia de Los Angeles. Next day check out Bahia Asuncion, La Bocana, San Ignacio, then Santa Rosalia. Consider heading out to Punta Chivato for the night. Then on to Mulege, and Loreto. I've never been to Comondu, so I'd head there next. I'd also want to check out Puerto Lopez Mateos, and Puerto San Carlos. Then to La Paz, Todos Santos and Cabo. Or, I'd do something completely different.

All of these places offer something interesting and unique. Of course the ride itself is part of the fun.

Weather? Be ready for anything, including hurricanes!


[Edited on 6-23-2015 by BigBearRider]

AKgringo - 6-22-2015 at 09:40 PM

Ragnar, Big bear rider pretty much touched on many of the places and roads I plan to visit on my next trip, about half of them I have been before. I don't have a schedule yet, but I was shooting for early October.

I am on four wheels and pull a small trailer (off road capable) so if the timing works out, I could shadow you for at least the part of the trip with fuel and other supplies that you would rather not ride with.

There are a lot of old trip reports and other interesting forums that you should check out to get ideas, but I like bigbear's plan.

MulegeAL - 6-23-2015 at 07:03 AM

You camping or moteling?

That time of year I'd look for motel with AC for heat relief at end of days ride. Gulf side hot, interior hot, Pacific side not so hot, often with low clouds/fog that burns off by 1030AM, then hot.

Start with new/near new tires and new tubes with no patches on them, carry new front/rear tubes and know how to change them in the field (desert.) Doohickey fixed (if an older KLR) and chain/sprockets in good shape.

Hwy 1 is better than ever, the rancho roads crossing the penninsula are generally pretty rough from hurricane damage (lots of baby head rocks) but passable if you take it easy. Some of the roads in the Comondus area are really rough, inquire locally!

Check the hurricane forecast the morning you cross over, that is a hazard you cannot control but easy to avoid.

Plan for siesta in the shade during the heat of the day, no reason to cook your head in a helmet. Heat prostration is a serious deal.

Have fun, baja is still riding on another planet in the pacific time zone!

Bob and Susan - 6-23-2015 at 07:37 AM

put a "go pro" on your helmet...you'll be happy you did later

edit: oh yea before you go look at this...Any rain...stay north of the border...rain is much different here
http://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/?index_region=ep


[Edited on 6-23-2015 by Bob and Susan]

BajaUtah - 6-23-2015 at 08:04 AM




Odile hit September 14th last year and made a mess of the entire southern peninsula for weeks. Just know that it can get sporty that time of year. Just keep an eye to the sky and forecast and have a bug out plan.

El Jefe - 6-23-2015 at 08:36 AM

Full face protection. Post summer rains there will be bugs.

Sweetwater - 6-23-2015 at 08:45 AM

Quote: Originally posted by BigBearRider  
The KLR is a versatile bike. For both on and off-road. I'd cross at Tecate, head to Laguna Hanson on dirt, then to Mike's Sky Rancho for the night. Then to San Felipe, down to Gonzaga Bay, and to Coco's Corner, and spend the night in Bahia de Los Angeles. Next day check out Bahia Asuncion, La Bocana, San Ignacio, then Santa Rosalia. Consider heading out to Punta Chivato for the night. Then on to Mulege, and Loreto. I've never been to Comondu, so I'd head there next. I'd also want to check out Puerto Lopez Mateos, and Puerto San Carlos. Then to La Paz, Todos Santos and Cabo. Or, I'd do something completely different.

All of these places offer something interesting and unique. Of course the ride itself is part of the fun.

Weather? Be ready for anything, including hurricanes!


[Edited on 6-23-2015 by BigBearRider]


These are some of my favorite moto areas and your KLR will have the ability to visit all of them. However, seeing that you have 3-4 days budgeted to ride south, they won't fit your schedule. What is your comfort level offroad and how many miles a day do you plan to ride? It sounds like you're looking at more of a direct route to me. And the weather? It's already one of the earliest seasons on record for hurricanes/tropical storms so even the highways can become impassable for a day or two. Several of the suggestions will be out and back without continuity to head south. BOLA, Comandu, Puerto San Carlos seem to fit that unless the roads east of Comandu have been visited by angels....c'mon ged, kick in here.....

motoged - 6-23-2015 at 09:40 AM

Quote: Originally posted by Sweetwater  
....c'mon ged, kick in here.....


Like when I ride, I stay out of everyone's dust.....so I am way out front or riding sweep.

Now that the dust is clearing....if this guy only has 4 days or up to a week in Baja, I suggest he head down to Catavina/BoLA as directly as possible and figure out from there where he might want to do a few days of "exploring".

With that time limit, I would not even consider the south cape unless he wants to "rip to the tip". I think that if it was me.....I would hang around the Santa Rosalia-to-Ciudad Insurgentes area for several days ....great paved riding as well as good gravel roads (e.g. La Purisma, Agua Verde, San Javier)

But chillaxing in Bahia Asuncion for a few sleeps would be a nice break from riding in the heat.




[Edited on 7-7-2015 by motoged]

805gregg - 6-30-2015 at 06:36 PM

Skip Mikes Sky Ranch, not relevant anymore, stop at Coyote Cals in Erendira much easier to get to and more fun. Maybe go as far south as Bay Of LA then turn around and repeat

bajadogs - 6-30-2015 at 08:09 PM

Quote: Originally posted by El Jefe  
Full face protection. Post summer rains there will be bugs.


YES!!! Cover your face!

You probably already know... check your oil often, don't push yourself too hard. Slow down and smell whatever smells. Be safe and smile.

PPDBJA - 7-2-2015 at 09:39 AM

Well, just make sure to check the weather every other day!!, the most active month for HURRICANES ITS September!!, last Year a Friend and Myself did a ride from San Juanico to la Bocana, La Bocana to Gro. Negro, Gro Negro to El Rosario (only Cataviņa to el Rosario on HWY1, the rest on fireroads, trails, and no trails too!!, We turn around to San Igancio and crash with Hurricane Odile (left El Rosario at noon and arrived to S.I. at 6 pm,) heavy rain and wind just passing Guerrero Negro, stayed at Rice and Beans for 3 nights!! lots of Water, Our ride whats really hot!! al the time on the Pacific side, I had my goretex jacket atached to the rear bag over the seat, off course no room for it!!, I was upset!!, because was useless, untill whe pass Gro. Negro, I was so happy to have it!!,

PPDBJA.

laventana - 7-7-2015 at 10:56 AM

a tip from a guy from vegas, have rain gear full set. I use to live in Boulder City on Lake Mead. You do not know hot till you been there. I use to leave my trailer on the lake when my swamp cooler and or ac could not keep the trailer inside under 100 degrees, about 2pm. yes a dry heat but wet heat when swamp cooler on. Even the ride in 115 degrees in the shade temperature just 5 miles up to the city could exhaust you. I really could cook an egg on the sidewalk.

It was like clockwork up there, people from europe would rent motorcycles in the summer in Vegas, drive to the dam in the morning when cool 90 degrees and I would see them parked in BC town for lunch not knowing if they could do their planned western summer trip after 1 day.

Here is what I told them as I do, Have long sleve shirts on, and long pants, bring extra socks and own a bandana that you put on your head soaked. wear your jacket specially rain gear over your clothes. Soak yourself down inside the jacket from head to toe. And repeat this at every gas station, do not pass up a gas station if remote driving. And carry extra water to do this again and again if need be. This works in humid as well as dry areas.

I would stop at a gas station on the way to LA or Phoenix when it was 110 out with rain gear on and people would wonder what the heck you are doing till they see you also do a fill up of hosing yourself internally. I could do a few hundred miles a day like that easily. If you do not, as I mentioned those tourists were returning and could only get 7 miles from the dam to the town and exhausted ready to call it quits..

I have done this in baja drive a few times on the sea side. I even have to do this in the summer here to get to LaPaz and back. If I drive to Barriles I stop in San Bartolo and go down to the water hole and soak myself down again.

David K - 7-7-2015 at 11:09 AM

Quote: Originally posted by laventana  
...
If I drive to Barriles I stop in San Bartolo and go down to the water hole and soak myself down again.


That place is really cool!

KurtG - 7-7-2015 at 12:24 PM

Quote: Originally posted by Ragnar1959  
I am thinking about taking a solo trip down to Cabo in later September. Any thoughts/suggestions/advice pro and con? Thanks


Here's what worked for me 41 years ago. I aimed my '71 CB750 south with a small amount of luggage and guided only by an Auto Club map, no fixed schedule and a great sense of curiosity. I'm glad I didn't have a lot of advice about what to see and where to go since it added to the sense of discovery. I have continued to ride Baja (and sometimes stay there for months at a time) on a variety of bikes including my well broke in '91 KLR. I love the back country but sometimes like last fall still enjoy taking a large fast highway bike (92 GSX1100g) and just do the highway. After all these years and miles I still find something new on almost every trip which keeps drawing me back. I'm 71 now but will continue this routine until I can't. Ride safe.
Kurt