Fortunately I don't own a SUV or other gas guzzler, but still, with gas expected to hit $3 this summer, I am seriously considering getting a motorcycle for my work commute and TJ runs. Can anyone help me with the following questions?

1. How much should I expect to pay for one, don't need anything fancy, just functional. And where?
2. Are there classes for driving them?
3. Any thing I should know about driving a motorcycle in TJ?

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

1. I just payed $5000 for a Honda Shadow Spirit 750.

2. Sure - the cops actually give 'em. Never took one myself. BTW, most motorcycle fatalities occur during the first six months of a rider's career. Be careful.

3. Yes. I would say that you would be insane to ride alone down there. And where are you going to leave your nice, new bike in TJ? Other than going in groups, I suggest you leave your bike on the US side.

Remember, you've got to think; "Mexico is evil", "Mexico is evil"... then you will begin to understand.

Hey SV,

When you say you need a helment in Mexico, do you mean there's a helmet law...or it's just a good idea?

Shit man, I'm jealous.

Getting insurance has never been my bag.
But maybe I've been going about this all wrong.

Anyway, I like your idea of parking it in front of Chicago, where the guy can see it.

I go into Zacazaropan and drink Pacifico Caguamas a lot, and now that all the chicks now I ride a bike, they've started acting more friendly. I got this one chick in mind from that bar that I'd like to take on that Christmas ride where they take up the whole Revoluccion. I just hope the crazy guy who mops the floors doesn't knife me(he's been getting real jealous - and I've only just been smoking and drinking with the little chick).

I noticed that there are a LOT of bikes outside Bar Patudos(spelling?) - Barefoot Bar? Ever go over there?

Oh, about the "evil" thing - it is just a phase I'm going thru.

Bar Patudos is on the one way street one block East of Revoluccion(Madero?). It is down by the South end of Revoluccion, very near where it hooks into Agua Caliente. It is just to the North of the Ford(?) Dealer on Agua Caliente.

It seems that at night there are ALWAYS bikes parked out front.

I seem to recall that it is dressed up in the Tecate red and yellow, and has a bunch of red barefoot symbols on the sign. It is kind of a dump inside - but hey, this is Tijuana!

Bar Patudos Casa de Solo Angels de Tijuana. Good bunch with chapers here in the states also. Must've had a 100 prospects working for the toy run last year a week before Christmas.
........MuleLip

Hey guys a little off topic but still about bikes. Thurdays chicago tribune a story about a cops radar catching a guy on lake shore drive 45 mph zone doing 160 on his bike. Caught up with the guy he had no explantion.Later cop had his radar gun checked it was working fine. What do you tell the judge when your 115 mph over the limit? Didnt realize i was going so fast.

In California 99% of the time,the cops will take you to jail for going over 100 mph.

Back a few years ago I was doing 150+ on a ZX1100 rocket ship, just so happens that a cop was park on a side street while I whizzed by (he didn't have radar). A few miles down the road I had completely backed out of it down to a normal 60 mph turning down a side street I heard the screech of tires as this cop was just now catching me without my knowing, but it was to late for me to make a break for it. This cop wanted to throw the entire book at me. Since I flew by the cop so fast he didn't have time to catch me to get an actual speed so he had to estimate 100+ mph. Fortunately for me they had changed to law, 100+ mph is now considered "exhibition of speed" (not reckless driving), so he couldn't impound my bike nor take me in (this really pissed him off). In the end this incident set me back $1,000 and two points on my record.

Why stop? It is fun to ditch cops. I've got this one spot I've been using for ditching cops for 26 years... I usually do it at night... I get a little bit of a lead on 'em, and then I make this tight hairpin turn right after coming over a rise(they can't see my brakelights), then I shut down all my lights, and just watch 'em zoom past with their bubble machines going. Heh, heh! "Where'd he go?"

I bought a motorcycle this past weekend. A major factor motivating me to do it was reading Strikingviking's epic journey. I don't have the balls to do what he did, but I won't have a problem riding it to TJ. I may just head down to AB tonight on it. I have always driven my car into TJ and parked on Coahuila either right across the street from AB or a block west in front of of Amor Latino, whichever was available. I guess it will be easier to find a spot now. SV, do you only pay to park if you stay overnight? I have always heard of the police substation, but never actually seen it...where is it?

El Cochino, you said you have a Virago 750. That is what I bought. Have you had good luck with it?

I guess I better buy some life insurance.

So, you got a Yamaha "Viagra" 750, huh?

The police substation is on Constitucion at the East end of the Callejon Coahula(the end of the alley across from Hacienda Bar). That is smack-dab in the middle of the area that used to be known as "Ratero Central".

Let me know how it works out for you riding your bike down there. I'd be up for a bike cruise down to Rosarito or Playas on a Saturday afternoon, with a stopover in Zona Norte on the way back, if any of you lads are up for it.

...put me in Coach, I'm ready to play, today...

look at me, I can be... Centerfield!


I love that song. Riding a V-twin kind of brings back that old "Centerfield" feeling.

Adelito,
I bought my Virago 750 about six years ago and I only have 5000 miles on it. I love the bike even though I don't ride it that much.

I checked out Yamaha, Honda, Susuki, and Kawasaki cruise bikes and found them to be about the same.
I don't think you can go wrong with any of them - as a dealer told me it comes down some feature of the bike that impresses you. I liked the looks of the Susuki Intruder best, but it boiled down to the Virago having the most comfortable seat for my sorry ass.

El Cochino,

The seat is very comfortable. It was kinda torn so I took it to an upholstery(sp) shop to redo. I pick it up today after work and I was thinking of riding down Sunday.

Diego, I like your idea, let me know.

When you're coming back across the border on your motorcycle at the San Ysidro crossing, do we bikers get cut any breaks? For example, can we use the carpool lanes?

What I'm getting at, can we save some serious time in line by riding a motorcyle, and what is the best way to proceed when you hit all the traffic?

I once saw a biker cut up the left side, and then cut in at the last minute. Is this the only option? The fact is, with the border wait getting worse and worse, and it being summer and all, I'm really surprised I don't see more motorcycles. What is the deal?

I'm willing to do ANYTHING, except that fucking SENTRI bullshit, to save time waiting in line at the border.

BTW, I've found that Otay is actually worse these days, as far as the wait is concerned. At least with San Ysidro, I've got it dialed in as to which lanes to take at which time of the day/day of the week, so I can cut 30-45 minutes off the crossing when the traffic is really bad(which it usually is when I need to cross).

If you're riding a scooter go to the front of the line .. no waiting.
MuleLip

Diego,
If you can...always ride your motorcycle across. It is the only way to go. Sometimes I will spend the night with my novia and cross north at 7 or 8 in the morning. The line is horrible. I would never go at that time in a car, but with the bike, you just go between traffic right to the front of the line. I usually pull in right behind the next car in line to talk to the border guy. Never yet had a problem. Before, I was considering the Sentri pass, but now I just ride past the poor guys sitting in their cars.

Of course you could always cross in your car at 3:00am, but who wants to do that if you live in TJ?

MuleLip and Adelito;

Thanks a million for the info.

Even at 3:00am the wait can be bad and aggravating, as there are so few gates open, and people really have to FIGHT for position as the gates open up. Many just turn off their cars and go to sleep in the unopen lanes, waiting for the gates to open. At Otay EVERYONE does this. It is a really fucked up deal.

There was an article in the SD Union about how there are now 22 gates open at rush hour for the next month(instead of 18). I wondered why I was able to cross so quick on Monday.

I'm still gonna look into taking my cycle across. I think I will use my old bike, though. It is still reliable, but has basically no resale/ripoff value.

I don't know if you really have to worry that much about it getting ripped of. I park mine on Coahuila either right across from AB or right in front of Cafe Monte Carlo and I've never had a problem. One time I even left a big duffle bag strapped to it while I was inside for a couple hours and it was still there when I came out.

Ride the one you like to ride, otherwise, why have it? I bought my bike about 10 weeks ago and have already put 3500 miles on it. The highlight of my regular day is walking out of work, seeing it there in the parking lot, waiting for me, hopping on it and riding down the road.

It's summer man...ride your bike! Enjoy it while the weather is so great.

At the really bad traffic times, it can still be a pain in the ass to get between the cars, cause all the traffic gets jammed together. When I cross at bad times, I ride down the SENTRI lane. There is a gap near the front (about 25 meters from the front) where you can cut back into the normal lines. Then, I just ride all the way to the front. It normally takes me 10 minutes total (from leaving the hotel) to cross over at 7-8am in the morning.

Sunday at 2:00 I left Adelita's. The line at the border was HORR-I-FUCKING-BLE. The turn off of 2nd upto the border line was closed. I rode past and made the next right. Then followed the sign that said San Diego. That put me into the traffic for the border. I rode up between the traffic, negotiating around the vendors, and pulled up behind the car waiting next. The lady looked at me, said "citizenship?" United States "what are you bringing back?" Nothing.
At 2:10 I was merging onto the 805.
Ride your bike if you can.