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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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Dirt or gravel detours in Mex 1
Hello, there
I'm riding down Baja from san diego to la paz in my motorcycle in March.
Does anybody know what locations may have dirt or gravel detours? And the severity of them? I need to prepare mentally for them.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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Long stretch out of San Vincent, one north of Constitucion, and pretty bad long, long one north of La Paz.
And potholes everywhere.
But things can change by March. Except the potholes. Sorry...
[Edited on 1-23-2017 by rhintransit]
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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ehall
Super Nomad
Posts: 1906
Registered: 3-29-2014
Location: Buckeye, Az
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Mood: It's 5 o'clock somewhere
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There were several between Ensenada and Santo Tomas in november. Doubt the road work is finished yet.
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ljprusko
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 9-17-2016
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I was just gonna post the same question. We're leaving on Harley road bikes March 3 for 2 weeks, gonna do Hwy 1 TJ to Loreto or Cabo return. Did this
trip April 2016 and the road construction wasn't bad, then did the trip again October 2016 and the detours were really bad on a road Harley. Worst
detour was north of La Paz, it was about 3 miles, really rough, rocky, hilly, at times soft sand. Second worst was south of Ensenada, about 2 miles of
a rough rocky detour road. Coming back took Hwy 3 from Ensenada to Tecate, and again ran into about a mile of detour, again rough and rocky. Lots of
big pot holes for a few hours around Catavina, but what I was most concerned about was cattle on the side of the road. You can come around a hilly
corner doing 55 and one will be right on the side of the road and you don't have much time to react. I ride a 2016 Road Glide Ultra, and when I got
home I put new tires on it, and also had to replace a bearing in the transmission and put a new clutch in, am wondering if it was because of all these
detour roads. I love riding Baja though, we're still planning on going the first two weeks of March, hope some of the construction will be completed.
If the construction is still going on north of La Paz then we may only go as far as Loreto this time. Any updates on road construction would be
greatly appreciated. Thank you.
What are you riding Lloydsteve, what's your plans?
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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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Thank you all for the incoming replies.
I'm riding an ultra limited and my final destination is all the way down to La Paz. Or Cabo.
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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As long as the cow's head is down it is safe to pass her. Once her head comes up, look out. She is going to move.
I'm driving the car down late February and will try to remember to update this post as to Harley-ability of Hwy 1 once I get home south.
My ride is a 650 Burgman scoot. Hey, its almost a Harley! What is a clutch?
[Edited on 1-23-2017 by El Jefe]
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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Sweetwater
Senior Nomad
Posts: 915
Registered: 11-26-2010
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Mood: chilly today hot tomale
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My Mexico bike is a KTM 690 Enduro for exactly these reasons. A bigger dual sport can also be used but one of the reasons I enjoy Mexico is that it
reminds me of my youth in Wyoming before pavement took over. Many smaller communities were only connected by dirt roads which are also weather
dependent. If conditions are not ideal, the right tool is a vehicle that can deal with those real world conditions. And cows are another of those
complications, my take is that yes, heads up is a warning but remember that calves and yearlings are another. Most of the cow strikes that I've been
around have been younger bovines and knocking the chite out of them is more than a figurative result.
Everbody\'s preachin\' at me that we all wanna git to heaven, trouble is, nobody wants to die to git there.-BB King
Reality is what does not go away when you stop believing in it. -Philip K Dick
Nothing is worse than active ignorance. Johann Wolfgang von Goethe(1749-1832, German writer, artist and politician)
When choosing between two evils, I always like to try the one I\'ve never tried before. - Mae West
Experience is what keeps a man who makes the same mistake twice from admitting it the third time around.
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Lee
Ultra Nomad
Posts: 3508
Registered: 10-2-2006
Location: High in the Colorado Rockies
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I wouldn't ride a street bike down here though I'm sure it's possible. Not much mention of the construction South of CC. Just dust and bumps but
it's a long stretch.
The stretch N. of La Paz was bad. The hilly section was slow going with big bumps. Traffic going N. in this area had some large trucks and
semi's. Extreme care is needed in this area. It looked like the construction would be going on and for a long time as there's lots of road to
widen. Take your time and go slow. I came through last month.
US Marines: providing enemies of America an opportunity to die for their country since 1775.
What I say before any important decision.
F*ck it.
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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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Hey, Lee
Thanks for your reply.
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ljprusko
Junior Nomad
Posts: 36
Registered: 9-17-2016
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Appreciate the updated feedback on road conditions. Thank you.
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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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Motorcycle friendly detours?
Hey guys, a big favor.
If you're doing Mex 1 and have spare time to upload some pics. I invite you to do do.
Thxs.
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David K
Honored Nomad
Posts: 64852
Registered: 8-30-2002
Location: San Diego County
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Mood: Have Baja Fever
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San Ignacio to Santa Rosalia Jan. 31, 2017:
Mulegé to Loreto (Feb. 1, 2017):
(Looking north, Feb. 5)
South of Laguna Chapala, Feb. 8, 2017:
Life is a Highway...
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MulegeAL
Nomad
Posts: 298
Registered: 8-25-2009
Location: PDX/Mulege
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Lloyd,
From riding pals last Sunday on big dual sports:
"We knew that there is some road construction going on south of Ciudad Constitucion, but we were not prepared for what was waiting for us. They are
rebuilding the existing Mex 1 into an elevated roadway and traffic is rerouted just below on the west side of the construction on a dirt road. The
rains from yesterday had turned that detour dirt road into a mud bog, some places almost a foot deep. It was utter chaos stuck RVs, stuck Cars, fallen
over Harleys, 4wd trucks dodging everybody, spraying mud everywhere. Awesome!
We chose the under construction roadway, sneaking by construction equipment and finally , with the help of some Harley riders that had commandeered a
huge roller to smoothen the torn up dirt for their bikes (it's the truth, you just can't make stuff up like that) , got back to the black top. "
What is a mud hole on Sunday will be moondust by Thursday. Just be sure you don't get caught behind a watering truck on the detours!
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bajalinda
Senior Nomad
Posts: 551
Registered: 6-7-2008
Location: Pacific Coast, BCS
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Ditto what MulegeAl says about south of C. Constitucion. We drove north through there on 2/16 and it was a deep sand pit - there was a group of
motorcycles having a very hard time getting through it. Driving back south the next day, the sand was gone and the detour wasn't too bad. But I can
imagine what a muddy mess it must have been after the storm on Saturday. Seems that section changes day to day.
As for north of La Paz, there is road construction going on between kms 38 and 55. We never have to drive that section, so I'm not sure how many
sections of detours there are - but have heard it's slow and tough going in parts.
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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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Thank you, for the info.
Because March is around the corner and I don't think the road will improve in such short time, I have decided to postpone my road trip. Thank you all,
again for the feedback.
I will try again passed summer.
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rhintransit
Super Nomad
Posts: 1588
Registered: 9-4-2006
Location: Loreto
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Loreto to La Paz report. As of two days ago...not too bad now. One fairly short one south of constitucion and the ones north of la paz are much
improved but individually fairly short, mostly around culvert construction.
[Edited on 2-23-2017 by rhintransit]
reality\'s never been of much use out here...
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El Jefe
Super Nomad
Posts: 1027
Registered: 10-27-2003
Location: South East Cape
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Go now! Don't delay. I just drove south in my car and I was so wishing I was on my bike. Passed many riders on all kinds of bikes, big cruisers
included. The dirt sections are relatively short and totally doable with a little care.
The wild flowers are in bloom, and the air temps are perfect for riding. If you don't go you are just a big chicken. So there!
Disclaimer: I went down the east side via Tecate and San Felipe. I wouldn't go that way on the big bike due to the 23 mile dirt section. And I don't
know what the current storm has done to northern Baja.
No b-tchin\' in the Baja.
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MMc
Super Nomad
Posts: 1679
Registered: 6-29-2011
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Mood: Current
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I was on the road yesterday, there were 2 large groups of road bikes on the road. This was right after the big rains, the road from SQ was doable but
a bit muddy.
"Never teach a pig to sing it frustrates you and annoys the pig" - W.C.Fields
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lloydsteve
Newbie
Posts: 19
Registered: 8-1-2016
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And how about water crossing.
Does anybody know, How many water crossings are there? And where?
https://youtu.be/aTisQxp19R8
Appreciated.
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TMW
Select Nomad
Posts: 10659
Registered: 9-1-2003
Location: Bakersfield, CA
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I doubt there are any water crossing on any of the highways at present. Near Catavina there is one north and one south but not much water unless it
rains. Only if it rains then the vados can be full.
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