motorcycles, buy, rent or import?

Many people in Mexico have bikes, most are small, but I have seen some larger ones. Considering how many there are , I suspect you should be able to get a used, or new one even, fairly reasonably. The whole Moto ( bike thing)  here is sort of wild. Whole families may be going down the road on a  small bike. It's illegal, but it is done anyway.Traffic rules for bikes seem to be flexible also. Well unless they get in an accident, or get caught. Walmart has bikes, you might want to look at their Mexican sales on line.

I say that to let you know it is sort of the wild west of bikes, but if you keep your eyes open, and watch for the pot holes, other bikers, and speed bumps you should be ok.

after much thought i've decided to motorbike down from san diego, through la paz, PV, lake chapala, SMA, and on to the Yucatan. its a hell of a long road trip but i have 6 months so i think no problemo.

i'm planning to try get to know some of the places that seem to come up often on this forum with a view towards long term future there. in any case, it should be a great adventure.

i don't want to completely feel like a tourist, forever on the move, i want to get to know the local vibe, meet the locals and local expats, so if i feel like i'm moving too fast i can always turn around before i reach the end of the line and try again another year.

anyhow, here's my preliminary route
https://www.google.com/maps/dir/San+Die … 349149!3e0

A 250cc scooter is likely to be a good bet. You're protected from the elements, especially wet roads after heavy rain and the lump is about big enough for longer trips. Such animals are  also light enough to manhandle when needed.

http://www.extreme-scooters.com/index.htm#300cchttp://powersports.honda.com/scooter/scooters.aspx

Find out which brands are most popular in Mexico and buy one of them - makes servicing easier.

In many states an expat as a tourist can register a moto. In Guanajuato state I have helped many tourists register vehicles. Renting highly unlikely; importing almost impossible.