BajaNomad

MOTORCYCLE trip to La Paz

lloydsteve - 8-1-2016 at 12:32 PM

Hello, everyone
What would be the best month for a touring motorcycle ride to La Paz from San Diego. I'm concern about the detours my bike wont go well on dirt. i might dropped


My goal is to make it in 2 days.

David K - 8-1-2016 at 01:12 PM

Why the rush, almost 900 miles and much of it on very narrow road with no shoulder you share with trucks, buses, and motorhomes?

There are so m any fantastic sites to see along the way, as well!



DSCF0034 copy.jpg - 26kB

mtgoat666 - 8-1-2016 at 01:16 PM

If you want to do in 2 days, go when days are longest, so june.

TMW - 8-1-2016 at 01:51 PM

Weather is best in Fall and Spring. Summers are hot on the east side and middle. Winter can be cold in many places but often is nice. We use to drive from San Diego to San Ignacio on day 1 and from there to La Paz on day two. We did that for several years around Christmas and New Years. Sometimes the weather was great and other times it was raining and windy.

BigBearRider - 8-1-2016 at 02:49 PM

I rode from Ensenada to La Paz in two days in December a few years ago. The Transpeninsular (Mex 1) is all pavement, except for where there is road construction. I stopped in San Ignacio for the first night, and then in La Paz. Because it was December, both days ended in darkness. I prefer winter weather over summer, because the summers tend to be really hot.

Are you trying to get to the ferry?


Btw, it is not a good idea to ride in the dark. Primarily because of animals (cows, horses, donkeys, goats, sheep, dogs, etc.), but also because of the road and other drivers.

[Edited on 8-1-2016 by BigBearRider]

El Jefe - 8-2-2016 at 08:12 AM

Great advise above.
It will be 20 hours in the saddle no matter how you split it up. You might want to consider two nights on the road. That way you can stop and smell the roses a little more. Lots to see along the way. Have you driven to La Paz before? Is your intent just to get there as quickly as possible? If so you can do it in two days, but you will be pushing up against darkness if you go in the winter.

I'd do it in November. The southern peninsula will still be green and beautiful from the summer rains, but the heat will be down. And you might avoid all those bugs that hatch right after the rains and fly across the road and stick to your teeth. Also you will be beating the winter storms that come from the north.

Yes, there can be stretches of construction where you have to take a detour along side the highway. It will be well traveled dirt. You will just have to be careful and take it slowly. I've seen a couple of times when I would not want to be on a big bike like when they had us go on the new road bed that was deep gravel. But that is rare. Usually you would just have to go a mile or so along side the road with all kinds of vehicles traversing the stretch along with you. You can do it!

Tell us more about what you are riding. What are your plans? Have a great trip and keep two wheels down!

23S52N - 8-2-2016 at 12:18 PM

Personally I have been riding for 50 years and recently hung it up. I've done long treks through all the western states and Canada and having driven two different routes by truck down the peninsula, I will say that taking it on a bike can be a crap shoot. There are times when the highway was in such good shape that i wished I was on a bike, and conversely there are times where I am glad I'm in my truck. It's not the weather, that is usually a gimme;. It is the fact you can never depend on the road being in good shape or that there won't be long stretches of construction that require you riding on goat trail detours.

Riding a big touring bike is different from riding an Enduro, as you know. I've passed electraglides only to wonder how they would manoeuvre some bad portions of road ahead. I don't think the same about folks on the enduros. Judging from your comments and concerns, I thought you might like to know the worst case scenario. If you do decide to go, then you have your eyes wide open.

Best of luck for a great trip.

BigBearRider - 8-2-2016 at 01:22 PM

All good points. I have only ridden my BMW 1200 GS Adventure in Baja. I wouldn't have the skills to ride a Harley on the dirt if there's road construction somewhere.

lloydsteve - 8-2-2016 at 01:29 PM

Thank you all, for all your comments.

It has always been my dream to ride down the Baja. It is one of those things that won’t go away until you do it. And this is what I am picking up from you guys; I should be more concern about road condition than weather all alone.

http://www.worldweatheronline.com/catavina-weather-averages/...
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Paz,_Baja_California_Sur

Therefore my thoughts so far;
With a media of 71.6 F, 0.8 days of rain. November looks to be Ok in terms of weather but it is also right after summer rain falls. Theoretically, I could be better in March with 67.5 F, 0.4 rainy days, allowing a little more time for the road construction and repairs to happen.

KurtG - 8-2-2016 at 01:55 PM

Over the past 40+ years I have done 60-70 round trips on two wheels to Mulege/Loreto and another 10-12 to La Paz and Cabo San Lucas. Bikes have ranged from CB750, GS850g, XS1100, R80gs Dakar, XL350, GSX1100g, KLR650, DL 650, V65 Sabre and probably one or two others that I have forgotten or want to forget like the Husky that tried to kill me. All have been good rides. Use common sense and ride with a higher level of alertness than normal. Expect the unexpected, trucks encroaching on your lane, a vehicle blocking the road as you round a corner, various critters appearing from nowhere and black cows sleeping on asphalt after dark. I would certainly suggest taking more than two days for a more relaxed ride and the ability to explore a bit. It can be done in two and I have done so but usually when I am headed home and on a tight schedule because I have lingered too long in my favorite haunts. It is an absolutely wonderful and sometimes terrifying road.

Avoid riding after dark but if you must then get behind a truck and let him clear the road for you.

[Edited on 8-2-2016 by KurtG] Edited to add more bikes as I remember them. obviously I have little brand loyalty.

[Edited on 8-2-2016 by KurtG]

[Edited on 8-3-2016 by KurtG]

AKgringo - 8-2-2016 at 02:06 PM

I have not driven a motorcycle down Baja, but I second El Jefe's November recommendation! You have a better chance of seeing the dessert in bloom.

I also spent the night camped near San Ignacio in late March once in clear weather, and woke up to pea soup fog!

I didn't expect that in the dessert! I drove out of it, or it burned off in about an hour.

If you like a lot of company on the road, mid April Easter season packs the roads, beaches, motels, and restaurants!

BigBearRider - 8-2-2016 at 02:08 PM

lloydsteve, please tell us what bike you are thinking of riding.

I just had a memory from riding to BOLA almost two years ago. I had gotten a flat going from Coco's toward Laguna Chapala. Because of the flat, day turned to night before we got going again. I had disconnected my fog lights, my headlight had burned out, but the high beams were still working. I was following another bike towards BOLA, guided by his lights. At one point close to BOLA, I noticed that he slowed down considerably and then turned around on the pavement. I did the same, but didn't know why. As it turns out, we had narrowly missed a deviation where the road had washed out following Hurricane Odile. The next day, we saw the huge gap into oblivion carved by the rushing water where the road had once been.

Don't ride at night.

lloydsteve - 8-2-2016 at 02:53 PM

It's a 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low.

BigBearRider - 8-2-2016 at 03:21 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lloydsteve  
It's a 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low.


I have ridden Harleys for 20+ years, and have a Sportster and a Road King that I never ride anymore. A Harley would obviously be fine for Mex 1, but I wouldn't be able to handle one on dirt deviation when there's road construction. Hopefully, there will be little of it.

[Edit for missing word.]

[Edited on 8-2-2016 by BigBearRider]

El Jefe - 8-2-2016 at 03:54 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lloydsteve  
It's a 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low.

Did ya buy it to look at and worry about it, or to ride it? Get on it and point her south. It will be a great ride, one you will never forget. I say that all tongue in cheek. You don't want to drop the bike, but odds are very much in your favor that you will just have a lot of fun. Maybe take it out and practice on a graded dirt road somewhere to get your confidence up. I've seen many, many Harleys on the road down there. You can do it!

KurtG - 8-2-2016 at 04:07 PM

Quote: Originally posted by lloydsteve  
It's a 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low.


There are large groups of Harleys that I see on most Baja trips these days. Many riders from Europe, especially Germany, on rental bikes and escorted by a van or two. They seem to do just fine. Personally, on a HD I would ride a more relaxed pace and enjoy it more. I have met many HD riders in Baja over the years riding solo with no problems. I think the dependability and overall quality of Harleys in recent years is superb.

ljprusko - 9-17-2016 at 07:37 PM

April 2016 a few of us rode from Yuma AZ to Cabo on a 2016 Harley Road Glide Ultra, a 2016 Harley FatBoy S, and a later model Honda Goldwing. Doing the trip again in 4 weeks (Oct 2016). I had no problem riding my Road Glide Ultra, I'm 52, in good shape, rode with my girlfriend on the back. About 80 % of the time doing 55-65, the other 20% taking it slower to dodge potholes. Due to construction detoured twice about a mile or so on hard packed dirt but was no problem. I also have an Enduro bike but I'd prefer to ride the Harley any day down to Cabo for comfort, unless a person planned to go offload. Buddy on the Goldwing hit a pot hole pretty bad and bent the side of his rim, we had to stop in the Suzuki dealer in La Paz to get it heated, welded, and straightened, they did a great job at a reasonable price. Same thing happened to a group of KTM Enduro riders we met. Overall, if you're planning on riding Hwy 1 from TJ down to Cabo you won't have any problems doing it on a big cruiser road bike.

wessongroup - 9-17-2016 at 08:01 PM

One picture is ..... :):)

ehall - 9-17-2016 at 09:00 PM

Quote: Originally posted by El Jefe  
Quote: Originally posted by lloydsteve  
It's a 2015 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Low.

Did ya buy it to look at and worry about it, or to ride it? Get on it and point her south. It will be a great ride, one you will never forget. I say that all tongue in cheek. You don't want to drop the bike, but odds are very much in your favor that you will just have a lot of fun. Maybe take it out and practice on a graded dirt road somewhere to get your confidence up. I've seen many, many Harleys on the road down there. You can do it!



Awesome advice. Just do it. It will all work itself out.

pacificobob - 9-18-2016 at 07:09 AM

i have ridden the peninsula a ton of times on a variety of bikes over the last 40 years. the one observation i will make here is the narrow lanes look a LOT wider on a motorbike than in an RV. have a great time.

[Edited on 9-18-2016 by pacificobob]

ehall - 9-18-2016 at 08:20 AM

Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
i have ridden the peninsula a ton of times on a variety of bikes over the last 40 years. the one observation i will make here is the narrow lanes look a LOT wider on a motorbike than in an RV. have a great time.

[Edited on 9-18-2016 by pacificobob]



First time I drove hwy 1 was in a narrow jeep. Couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. Haha.

AKgringo - 9-18-2016 at 08:41 AM

Quote: Originally posted by ehall  
Quote: Originally posted by pacificobob  
i have ridden the peninsula a ton of times on a variety of bikes over the last 40 years. the one observation i will make here is the narrow lanes look a LOT wider on a motorbike than in an RV. have a great time.

[Edited on 9-18-2016 by pacificobob]



First time I drove hwy 1 was in a narrow jeep. Couldn't figure out what all the fuss was about. Haha.


My Kia doesn't need as much space as many Baja travelers do. Oncoming trucks seem to agree, and tend to help themselves to some of my lane!

durrelllrobert - 9-18-2016 at 08:59 AM

Quote: Originally posted by wessongroup  
One picture is ..... :):)


Be sure you carry enough bricks to fill in the bigger pot holes.

Gulliver - 9-19-2016 at 09:25 PM

I still don't get why you want to rush down so fast. There is so much to see.

Whale watching. Side trip to BOLA. Side trip to San Javier.

Good food at lots of places.

Maybe keep moving along until El Rosario but then stop for everything.

At the speed you are planning on, you might as well be on an interstate racking up the miles. You won't see a thing.

Dunno . . . .

wessongroup - 9-19-2016 at 09:35 PM

^^ what he said :):) ... enjoy the ride

[Edited on 9-20-2016 by wessongroup]

Ride

BajaBean - 9-24-2016 at 01:09 PM

Harley and Wing riders I am interested in going on your trip with you.
I am retired fit 6'1" 175 lbs. Non smoker, drinker. My steed will be a
2000 Honda Valkyrie Interstate. I am a long time rider and ride every week with a group. However, none of them will consider riding Baja (chicken). I have been down Baja many times but never on a bike.
On my bucket list. Prefer to motel it and take my time and smell the cactus flowers on the way. Two to four hundred miles a day. Cross at TJ, do the paper work and over night in Ensenada then play it by ear the rest of the way. I am easy going, semi-fluent in spanish and have a good sense of humor.
Call me at 760 445-6697 George

lloydsteve - 5-21-2019 at 10:15 PM

I wanted to come back to this post to let everyone know that I had a great time on my adventure riding the Baja. I did it in 2017 and planning for a second run.

A dream come true. Thank you, all for the great tips and comments. They all serve me well. Especially about the long stretch without gas stations. Catavina, Mulege and more, thanks.


[Edited on 5-22-2019 by lloydsteve]

KasloKid - 7-17-2019 at 04:45 PM

Yup, another Baja addict is born !!