Cold weather get aways

[bubba zanetti]

Not sure about our annual trip to Mexico this year. But if we do go in February, I am going to rent a motorcycle in Playa del Carmen which is in the Yucatan. We have been going there for 4 years now and I feel I know the area well enough to ride a bike. ATGATT will be a problem  but I can take my mesh jacket and old helmet.

I have ridden a scooter there and the biggest challenge, apart from the maniac drivers, is the Topes or giant speedbumps. They are not marked and if you are not paying attention you could go down.  I actually got airborn with both wheels on a scooter a few years ago. By fluke I managaed to save it but on a heavy bike ... no way.

Ever ridden in urban Mexico??

They rent mostly Harleys of course but apparently they have a few Buells.

Just looking at the beach cam of Playa del Carmen has me all wistful this morning. Have a look. Oh ... beware it is occaisionally NSFW as this is frequently a topless beach. It is a bit of a fuzzy image, and not a pron cam for sure, but if it concerns you  - don't go there. But it is a nice way to start the day looking at the beach and water .... sigh.  !!!

http://media.playa.info/beachcam_container.swf

[Snowbird]

the Topes or giant speedbumps.

Got a picture or a better description?  

[bubba zanetti]

Got a picture or a better description?  

Well, if you imagine the typical speedbump that you would see in a parking lot. Increase the height and width fairly dramatically. These are everywhere in Yucatan and serve to slow traffic down they even have them on the main highway though they are well marked. They can be nearly 10 inches tall and are not always painted or made of a contrasting material so you do not always see them. Hitting them at speed must cost many a tourist their deductable when they rent a car.

I don't have a photo.

[Snowbird]

Thanks. Another reason to avoid Mexico.

[birdrunner]

Well, if you imagine the typical speedbump that you would see in a parking lot. Increase the height and width fairly dramatically. These are everywhere in Yucatan and serve to slow traffic down they even have them on the main highway though they are well marked. They can be nearly 10 inches tall and are not always painted or made of a contrasting material so you do not always see them. Hitting them at speed must cost many a tourist their deductable when they rent a car.

I don't have a photo.

My Dad didn't slow down enough,  cost him a bent subframe in his motorhome .

[Baz]

I have rode in a few Central & South American countries and would advise you ditch Harley for KLR.

By the way, tourists riding harley Davidson motorcycles are probably the #2 target for corrupt police. The #1 target is drunken tourists.

Here for example is one of the better maintained roads in Costa Rica.