Has anyone made the ride to Mexico City

[bigdelta]

from San Antonio?I'd like to get there quickly,so taking the cuotas looks like the way to go.Any ideas?
Thx.
John

[Bucky1845]

I've gone from San Antonio to Laredo and then taken the cuota from Laredo=>Monterrey=>Matauala=>San Luis Potosi=>Queretaro, cuota costs about $100 US, and time from SA=>Queretaro is about 15 hours. I've also gone from SA to Pharr, much easier crossing, then =>Cuidad Victoria, take Corta around CV to San Luis Potosi, cuota => Queretaro. Cuota costs $5 US, time about 15 hours. Always go the Cuidad Victoria route to Pharr now. Entry into US is much easier than through Columbia, north of Laredo, too.

Highly recommend it. Plenty gas stations, several nice motels with secure parking. Get gas in Pharr, again just before starting loop around CV, again on Cuota corta around SLP, and then as necessary.

[Grover]

I've gone from San Antonio to Laredo and then taken the cuota from Laredo=>Monterrey=>Matauala=>San Luis Potosi=>Queretaro, cuota costs about $100 US, and time from SA=>Queretaro is about 15 hours. I've also gone from SA to Pharr, much easier crossing, then =>Cuidad Victoria, take Corta around CV to San Luis Potosi, cuota => Queretaro. Cuota costs $5 US, time about 15 hours. Always go the Cuidad Victoria route to Pharr now. Entry into US is much easier than through Columbia, north of Laredo, too.

Highly recommend it. Plenty gas stations, several nice motels with secure parking. Get gas in Pharr, again just before starting loop around CV, again on Cuota corta around SLP, and then as necessary.


Exactly what he said! Take 85 south out of Laredo, and let your bike eat real-estate for breakfast. You will stay on 85 south, then take 57 south all the way into Mexico City.

Most of it is cuotas (Toll roads) that are in better shape and have less construction than what we have here in the U.S.

The Columbia crossing in Laredo is nice, and fast, but the last few times I've passed through, I took the Old Bridge downtown Laredo. It was FAST. I didnt have to waste time by going out the way to Columbia, and looping back.

The roads (cuotas) once you get outside of Laredo are F-A-S-T.

How fast? As fast as your right hand and nerves will allow. Passing through Monterry is no issue at all either. You can flat out make incredible time in Mexico. Much faster in Mexico than in the States because the speed limit on the cuotas are virtually unenforced at all. gas stations are plentiful the entire way. Plenty of cervesa, restrooms, everything you need will be there the entire route down. If making time is your worry... then you should have no worry about it. As fast as you can travel here in the U.S. you can do it there even faster.

Road conditions are top notch... but the Toll's will cost you right at $100 to make it 1 way to Mexico City. They start off very high outside of Laredo/Monterry, but the more you head south, the cheaper they get. Once your there, you will get some good experience Lane splitting, and filtering. Its actually fun if you allow yourself not to worry.

P.S. Dont ride at night.


When are you going? If you have 1 day to kill... visit Real de Catorce. Good dual-sport ride, neat historic town.

[oscar zerrweck]

i guess the fast way is 57 road all down and you pass by my town monclova you cross the border at eagle pass and the road is nice no much curves but is a high way here is a super tool with cost and distances http://aplicaciones4.sct.gob.mx/sibuac_internet/ControllerUI?action=cmdEscogeRuta i hope work for you

[KenRocks]

Has anyone here made this ride before?

I've got a friend in Mexico City that would like me to visit, and I was considering taking the bus. I admit that I am a little wary of attempting to ride the bike down...heard too many horror stories.

Not to threadjack too terribly, but does anyone have any safety related advice as well? Anything to be wary of/avoid? Is motorcycle theft prevalent?

[Bucky1845]

I've lived in central Mexico for over 5 years and never found the Mexican people anything but helpful, interesting, and kind. Yes, I'm sure you can get in trouble if you drive in risky areas late at night or the wrong areas anytime. Most of the troubles are between the police and the smuggler. Kidnappings are not common but you hear of them. I have no qualms about riding my bike from Texas to Mex City. If you drive the libra (non-toll roads) it takes longer but is much more scenic. The toll roads are fast and straight.

We've crossed in Pharr/Reynosa, Laredo/Neuvo Laredo, and Columbus and all are OK. We now avoid Laredo due to the congestion and Columbus is so easy. We take toll roads that way. Pharr crossing is easy but we use the libra around Cuidad Victoria and it's more attractive but slower.

Once past the border we've never had a concern. Top off your gas tank every hundred miles or so for the rest and because Pemex (the Mexican gas company) stations are not as common as in the US. I've run low sometimes but never failed to find a station and I've only got a 3.5 gal tank.

I lock my wheels with locks, I lock the handle bar and I chain the bike to a pole if I can't take it inside. Never had a problem.

Have fun in Mx--don't drive at night, watch the libras for dirt or the road is crowned incorrectly when rounding a turn, etc. Have patience and enjoy.

[Wes]

It's Mexico...

1. Have a good sense of situational awareness.
2. Bring someone who speaks spanish.
3. Try to minimize how much you look like a rich tourist.
4. Never wait around for the Police.

[tricepilot]

Not to threadjack too terribly, but does anyone have any safety related advice as well? Anything to be wary of/avoid? Is motorcycle theft prevalent?



These are only my tips and are not in order of importance:

(1) Do not ride at night. Livestock on the roadways (including autopistas) at night is beyond common - virtually guaranteed.

(2) Leave your bike chains, disk locks, sentries, claymore mines, and barbed wire fencing at home. Your best tool for protection is a bike cover. If you can't believe it, PM me and I'll convince you.

(3) Don't let your blood pressure rise at Army check points. Be glad they are there and doing their jobs. Most of them are young kids. If you get pulled over while cars are waved on, it is only because they want to check out your bike.

(4) Do bring a spare key for you motorcycle. Don't ask me how I know. Tape it to the frame.

(5) In the odd instance you are stopped by the local police and asked for a mordida, forget any spanish you know and try to wait it out. It happens rarely and less and less all the time. If you whip out a bunch of money you are only making harder for those who come behind you.

(6) Always carry water on the bike.

(7) Always carry something like Clif bars on the bike.

(8) Do NOT bring guns, ammo, or drugs into Mexico. Don't buy them there, either.

(9) If the worst happens and you can't ride your bike out of Mexico, stash it safely and take the bus back to the U.S. You can come back with a truck and get it.

(10) The best tip for last: It is far easier to imagine trouble in Mexico than to find it. Common sense prevails. IMHO Mexicans are the nicest people in the world, who live in the most beautifully diverse land imaginable, and it's right at your backdoor. Go!

Bob :sun: