Touring Baja by Motorbike

KISS

This will be an interesting thread....until it goes off topic ...

My contribution is simple:

Get a map and look at it,
A GPS might be helpful but not at all necessary.
Use your imagination and sense of adventure...and explore.
Ride YOUR ride....not a copycat trip someone else did.

On/off-road riding is your choice of range and equipment.

It's that simple.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

If anyone has done the loop from La Paz through El Triunfo to Cabo, and back via Todos Santos with lots of pics I think a lot of people would find that one interesting. Comments on hazards and biker friendly spots to stay along the way too maybe? We have Riders Retreats very common up here where bikers can ride in with minimal gear and rent tents set up and stocked for over nites, anything similar down there? [Edited on 8-7-2021 by JDCanuck]

Agua Verde is a great day trip from Loreto. Hard packed, well graded dirt road. An incredible canyon ride. Beautiful bay with a little restaurant/store.





[Edited on 8-8-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

This will be an interesting thread....until it goes off topic ... My contribution is simple: Get a map and look at it, A GPS might be helpful but not at all necessary. Use your imagination and sense of adventure...and explore. Ride YOUR ride....not a copycat trip someone else did.

Quote: Originally posted by mtgoat666

Quote: Originally posted by motoged   This will be an interesting thread....until it goes off topic ... My contribution is simple: Get a map and look at it, A GPS might be helpful but not at all necessary. Use your imagination and sense of adventure...and explore. Ride YOUR ride....not a copycat trip someone else did. Most people today dont know how to navigate with paper map. They need gadget to tell them where they are, where to go. Most people want to follow a recommended trip/route, are uncomfortable with winging it or exploring.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

I had a hard time finding any paper maps when I was down there last. [Edited on 8-8-2021 by JDCanuck]

If you have internet access you have Google Earth for a map....map plus satellite ...

It gives you a sense of terrain and has any road you would want for a big bike.

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck   I had a hard time finding any paper maps when I was down there last. [Edited on 8-8-2021 by JDCanuck] If you have internet access you have Google Earth for a map....map plus satellite ... It gives you a sense of terrain and has any road you would want for a big bike.

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

What bike(s) are you referring to specifically?

Group i hang out with has everything from CBR125 (presently doing the most international touring) up to the larger BMW Adventure bikes, Harleys and everything in between. Pretty much all of them are more capable riders than myself and I prefer my BMW K75. Pretty wide grouping to plan for. Some would stick to pavement, and some would prefer off roading. Saw lots of threads here dealing with off road trips, but couldn't find any for touring in general.

[Edited on 8-8-2021 by JDCanuck]

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Group i hang out with has everything from CBR125 (presently doing the most international touring) up to the larger BMW Adventure bikes, Harleys and everything in between. Pretty much all of them are more capable riders than myself and I prefer my BMW K75. Pretty wide grouping to plan for. Some would stick to pavement, and some would prefer off roading. Saw lots of threads here dealing with off road trips, but couldn't find any for touring in general.

Gotcha. I don't ride on the road, so won't be too much help there. I will say, regarding the Loreto to Agua Verde ride, the highway part to the turn off takes you through arguably the most beautiful section of mountains in Baja.

Here is another very easy dirt road trip. You could probably even take a Harley, but maybe not the best idea.

La Paz to San Evarsito. I've done it as a day trip from La Paz a few times. It's about 2-3 hours one way (70 miles). San Evarsito is a large sized fishing village with several houses. I think they have some primitive rooms to rent there. There is a restaurant. You can also camp on the beach.

The ride itself is A+, but bay is just "okay." That said, for $100 you can get on a panga and they will take you out to some breath-taking spots at the nearby islands.





Last section before you reach the bay.



[Edited on 8-9-2021 by JZ]

Here is a trip to what I would argue are the most beautiful Pacific coast beaches in Baja.

The lower part of the Seven Sisters. Not far from the turn off to Bahia del Los Angeles. It's paved from MX 1 to Santa Rosalillita. Then very hard packed and well graded dirt up to Cono. You can drive a truck with a decent suspension 50mph no problem. The last couple miles from the main road to the beach is a bit more challenging.

North of there it gets harder the further you go.

There is a very small motel in Santa Rosalillita. It's a good sized town overall. No cell service or gas station. But you can definitely get gas there.





Starting at 4 mins of this video to about 6:45 you will get a glimpse of what the beaches look like.





[Edited on 8-8-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by BeemerDan

Thats a good looking Flyin Brick, Great bike. I don't know if I'd take that to Baja on anything less than pavement, and well packed dirt, and I sure wouldn't air down much with those rims in rocky areas. I don't use GPS, never had one. For Baja I use the National Geo Baja Norte/South maps, They're waterproof and tear resistent, At home I use my Baja atlas to plan with, and transfer routes I like to the maps. I know the used bike market is crazy right now with inventories so low, but I really think you'd be better off exploring with a more 50/50 oriented bike like an old KLR650/DR650 etc Are you planning on trucking the bike down and returning that way, or leaving it there?

My Baja Bound article (with road log and map):
https://www.bajabound.com/bajaadventures/bajatravel/the_dist...


My Seven Sisters 2017 trip report (photos, maps, mileages):

https://www.tacomaworld.com/threads/2017-baja-expedition-4-v...

My mileages on the Baja Almanac maps:






[Edited on 8-8-2021 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Dan: The flying brick has let me see a lot of BC Canada over the past few years without breaking the bank on costs. Up here we get our insurance at about 80 percent reduction if it's collectors eligible. This one has given me about 60,000 km problem free riding in 3 years, up the Cassiar to Hyder and Watson Lake, out to the west coast along the Nass Valley, down and over the "going to the sun" ride in Montana and back out here to the Island. Very little rocky mountain trails tho.

BC (Canada) has a lot to offer riders who want to stay on paved roads, even more for those interested in enjoying forest service roads that tend to be good two-laned maintained gravel roads manageable by experienced riders on big bikes, and even more for "dual-sport" riders as well as dirt et al riders.

Baja touring on big bikes (a term generally accepted to denote bikes larger than 500 - 650 cc ) is limited to paved roads. On some of my rides with folks in Baja some riders freaked out when leaving paved hiway to access a roadside tienda or a rest stop due to the presence of sand and their inexperience with such conditions.

So.... I think developing an ability to understand the dynamics of sand, loose road surfaces, and a heavy bike present an essential learning curve. I have ridden a BMW 1100GS, 800GS, KTM 690, and KTM 450 in Baja....and if I had one bike to do it all it would be the 450, then the 690 as long as I wasn't desert cross-countrying.... and the 1100 if I wanted to miss my favourite parts of Baja (rode the 1100 from Mulege to San Juanico and back once and wouldn't do that again....but at least I have cheap-seat bragging rights to that one).

The topic seems to be: "What should I ride; where should I ride, and what should I see ?"

We all have different ways of enjoying Baja on a bike. Not everyone enjoys the risky challenge of deep sand, whoops, and cactus. Some just want to do a Starbucks run so we can bench-ride with a latte. And others like a mix of riding conditions we feel comfortable with getting to a recommended or secret location with a view and maybe a place to have a taco and libation.

No one way to ride Baja.

DK and JZ's maps are very handy, the vids encouraging and visually informative, and GPS tracks for those into that are useful to some extent.

For some, the ride is about a destination, for others the ride is about the ride.

There are a few exploratory rides I have done where I have intentionally not proceeded to the ultimate destination, just stopping short enough to keep the destination as a surprise for the next time doing that track... kind of like a "ridus interruptus"
approach to exploration.

Baja advice on places to go will be geographical in nature but will include good places to eat, have a view, and good roads.....all of which will change with time.

El Triunfo has/had ? a bakery/restaurant, for instance, that is a gem....killer fire-brick oven baking and pizza place. Several years ago I was in Todos Santos for several weeks of south cape riding on my 690 and would do that ride partially off-road a few times a week just for a good coffee and a few of the best cinnamon buns I have ever had... and winding my way though easy pavement and marginal double tracks. Some of those rides were as much fun as any other....plus there was a bun reward.

Lots of ways to enjoy Baja riding...

But there are risks....



https://advrider.com/f/threads/she-slapped-me-with-little-provocation.666961/






[Edited on 8-8-2021 by motoged]

[Edited on 8-8-2021 by motoged]

[Edited on 8-8-2021 by motoged]

[Edited on 8-8-2021 by motoged]

You definitely want to ride into Bahia de los Angeles. It's about 38 miles from Hwy 1 to the town. Probably the smoothest road in all of Baja. A very nice drive and you'll be hard pressed to find a denser forest of cactus anywhere in the world.

There are like 16 islands in the bay and lots of pangas to take you out to see them. It is an easy 7 mile ride from town to La Gringa. Lots of spots there to stop and enjoy the ocean.

Several day trips in the area for ppl with smaller bikes that want to get them offroad. One is heading back out of town, then going North up through the dry lake bed, Agua Amaga, and connecting with a jeep trail that takes you to a big bay - Ensenada Alcatraz.

The lake bed can be ridden with any bike and is right off the highway. You can have some drag races out there. Maybe have a local with a pickup help you scrounge up an old dead tree/bushes and build a big ass bonfire for a small bike rally. The rest of the way to ocean has a lot of sand and whoops, fun ride if you have a bike that is capable.

Another day trip is heading South out of town and going about 35 miles to Bahia Las Animas. The main road is a little bumpy from small rocks, and the last section off the main road into the bay is sandy. So not for the non-adventure bikes.














[Edited on 8-8-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by JZ   ...going North up through the dry lake bed, Agua Amaga,... What's your source on that place name? Doesn't make sense.

It is Agua Amarga



The red line is the L.A. Bay highway (just west of the San Borja road).

My maps have the road (Km. 38) across the dry lake and on to the two coast locations (Bahía Guadalupe/ Ensenada Alcatraz and Punta Candelero):









[Edited on 8-9-2021 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

Thx.

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by JZ   Thx. Did you actually quote that strange spelling from some other source?

Quote: Originally posted by JZ

As DK's map shows, another day trip ride could be to the San Borja Mission. I've never been out to see it, so can't comment on difficulty on a bike.

Except for a couple of rocky surface miles, it is a fast, graded road (or was)!

Pic of La Ventana, which is in the bay. It's much bigger than it looks. You can pull right up to it and get off and walk inside it.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by JZ   As DK's map shows, another day trip ride could be to the San Borja Mission. I've never been out to see it, so can't comment on difficulty on a bike. Except for a couple of rocky surface miles, it is a fast, graded road (or was)! Roads like that seem pretty doable to bigger bikes to me, as long as there is no more than 2 or 3 inches of soft sand over hard surface. It's the tight downhill switchbacks with 3 inch boulders that get me worried. Most of DK's shots look reasonable for all but the Harley's and Gold Wings maybe.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Roads like that seem pretty doable to bigger bikes to me, as long as there is no more than 2 or 3 inches of soft sand over hard surface. It's the tight downhill switchbacks with 3 inch boulders that get me worried. Most of DK's shots look reasonable for all but the Harley's and Gold Wings maybe.

as the great Stephane Peterhansel would say run what you brung, I'll date myself, I offroaded the crap out of the big FJ12!

Here is another really special ride in BCS.

Start out in Los Barriles and ride up the coast about 25 miles. Los Barriles is very cool town. There is a nice bar with great craft beers on tap right on the main drag.

The 25 miles section to the North is a top 3 coastal ride in Baja. It's dirt, but super easy dirt.

Many spots to pull over and get out on some of the prettiest beaches you will see in Baja.

Los Barriles north along the coast photos:

Seeing the turtle nest was really cool... a couple of pics of the road smooth along the coast and rough going over the mountain at the north end. One shot is of the paved runway at Hotel Punta Pescadero. There is a paved road that parallels the dirt one part of the way. It says further inland and is longer.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Looks like another great side trip. Was that second to last pic the worst spot on the trip? [Edited on 8-9-2021 by JDCanuck]

This one shows the hard part through the canyon once you leave the coast. Up to Primeras Piedras it's easy going. The sand beach shots in DK's photos are below the access road. There isn't much sand you actually have to ride through (maybe none).





[Edited on 8-9-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Funny thing about that-- on one trip northbound on that road, carefully picking my way along in my tricked-out K5 Blazer, a Volkswagon Delivery Van (Bimbo bread, as I recall) came roaring up behind me and impatiently tailed me till I could pull over, then took off up that canyon in a cloud of dust on his way back to La Paz, as if it were a Sunday cruise. I never caught up with him again.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Looks like another great side trip. Was that second to last pic the worst spot on the trip? [Edited on 8-9-2021 by JDCanuck]

We were passengers in BajaTripper's 4 Runner that day. I took a couple photos from the back seat to show the rough area of the drive.
As JZ said, no sand driving... It is a graded roadbed. Smooth along the coast but rough going over the ridge to the San Juan de los Planes paved road back to La Paz.

Here is another view of the trail going North from Los Barriles. Towards the end it runs on a ridge above the coast. Very well graded, hard packed. No rocks or sand.






[Edited on 8-10-2021 by JZ]

Here's a whole other section of Baja for you to explore on the Pacific coast of Baja. You can make it one big loop. Paved roads going in and out of Bahia Asuncion and Punta Abreojos. Nomads like Shari have Inns there. World famous for whale tours in the lagoon.





[Edited on 8-10-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by motoged

The road from Bahia Asuncion to Abreojos is not suitable for big bikes....folks do it and they generally don't like it... Pavement from Vizcaino to Asuncion or Bahia Tortuga is good.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Quote: Originally posted by motoged   The road from Bahia Asuncion to Abreojos is not suitable for big bikes....folks do it and they generally don't like it... Pavement from Vizcaino to Asuncion or Bahia Tortuga is good. Deep soft sand or switchbacks with boulders?

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Quote: Originally posted by motoged   The road from Bahia Asuncion to Abreojos is not suitable for big bikes....folks do it and they generally don't like it... Pavement from Vizcaino to Asuncion or Bahia Tortuga is good. Deep soft sand or switchbacks with boulders?

Indeed it is one of the better graded-dirt roads, so I don't know why motorcycles should avoid unless the bike is just not suitable for any unpaved road? If that is the case, a different bike should be considered because in Baja the pavement ends before you get to where you want to go!

Photos showing then type of road and level terrain. Only a few big arroyo dips near Asuncion.

Washboard surface here, near San Hipolito (2016):


Entering Punta Prieta, BCS (2017):


New pipeline going in between La Bocana and San Hipolito (2012):


San Hipolito (2007)


La Bocana 2007 (now paved)




[Edited on 8-10-2021 by David K]

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Indeed it is one of the better graded-dirt roads, so I don't know why motorcycles should avoid unless the bike is just not suitable for any unpaved road? If that is the case, a different bike should be considered because in Baja the pavement ends before you get to where you want to go! [Edited on 8-10-2021 by David K]

David,
You are not a moto rider. If you have been reading posts on this thread you would know what type of riding the OP is looking for
and is comfortable with and prepared for.

Leave moto commentary as to what are suitable roads for those shy with sandy conditions to those with experience....

I thought that was clear, I was only offering photos of the road in question and made no assumptions that I had any motorbike riding experiences. Lord knows I have no gnarly x-rays of my foot to demonstrate such!

I just like to photograph dirt roads before some fool paves them!!! LOL

View of the road to San Evarsito.

Nice shot!

Here is a look a bit closer to the ground, south of San Evaristo:

Another trail. Naranjos Trail. I haven't done it before. We were going to run it in Jan 2020, but it started raining like crazy. We were in La Paz and the town was flooded.

This one is definitely harder. And not for a really big bike. Hopefully others (AkGringo?) with give you more specifics. It's roughly 30 miles.






[Edited on 8-11-2021 by JZ]

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Indeed it is one of the better graded-dirt roads, so I don't know why motorcycles should avoid unless the bike is just not suitable for any unpaved road? If that is the case, a different bike should be considered because in Baja the pavement ends before you get to where you want to go! Hi David: None of the pics you have posted yet indicated anything that would cause me to turn around, even with the K75. Keep them coming.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

I have a specific route question. Is there a back road route from Punta Marquez or Conquista Agraria down to Todos Santos? Seems a shame to have to run all the way into La Paz and back down the highways to get there. Google maps seem to go dead midway and only show a big inland detour to get across the one river.

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Thanks David: That benchmark 2021 map looks to be what I need.

Here is the 2009 folding map from the Baja Almanac creator that shows the roads:

The Naranjos road

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Thanks David: That benchmark 2021 map looks to be what I need. Unfortunately only lists shipping to US eh? Edited again: Found on Amazon, thanks David [Edited on 8-11-2021 by JDCanuck] [Edited on 8-11-2021 by JDCanuck]

Quote: Originally posted by AKgringo

I am not sure of the name or spelling of that route, but I drove it in November of 2020 from east, to west. It is a nice, scenic drive! I found a place to sleep up near the summit, and was serenaded by goats, and cows wearing bells for most of the night! The first half was excellent dirt that would be an easy drive in anything up to a motor home! The western, last quarter of the road was about the same. There were a couple of steep spots and water crossings on the west side of the divide that had been washed out and repaired, but nothing that I needed to use 4x4 or low range for. I would not want to drive a low clearance, or long wheel based rig over that section, but you probably could. All bets are off if there is a storm before you ride it! Edit; The water crossings were not deep, but a couple had steep approach or departure angles! [Edited on 8-11-2021 by AKgringo]

Los Naranjos rd, there is a sign beside the entrance to the Buddhist retreat on the east side .Great ride and seems to be graded once a year after the rains. The west side of the summit is definitely the most challenging if you’re on a big bike ,especially before any grading is done . Coming from west there are a few different ways in from the highway . Here’s a view point west of the summit.

Quote: Originally posted by David K

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck   Thanks David: That benchmark 2021 map looks to be what I need. Here is the 2009 folding map from the Baja Almanac creator that shows the roads:

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Apparently you didn't grow up Catholic.

Quote: Originally posted by lencho

Quote: Originally posted by Marty Mateo   Here’s a view point west of the summit. Is that guy in shorts and tennies... one of the riders?

Ha ha ha , wondered if anyone would notice that. First and last ride with that guy , shortly after that pic was taken he put his foot peg into his calf and I mean deep ugly hole in his calf. Then shortly after that got a flat and “surprisingly”had no spare tube or tools. You can see his blood soaked sock in this pic

Quote: Originally posted by JDCanuck

Looks to me like it should be easily doable, assuming the routes from Ley Federal Agria Uno to El Rosario and then from Los Innocentes to Meliton Albanez are not too destroyed in bad weather. I will have to check them out when i get down there. [Edited on 8-15-2021 by JDCanuck]