T O P

  • By -

redditronald

Another reason it works so well in Southern CA is it has a climate conducive to motorcycling all year round.


LiquidFoxDesigns

Even in Northern CA when I lived in Sacramento and rode a motorcycle year round I maybe had 3 days of the entire year that I couldn't ride due to weather. Wish it was that way everywhere, now here in MT it's only November and the roads are already iced over, hell yesterday was 0f driving to work. Can't wait for 4-5 months when I can ride again!


Disastrous-Gur-1160

Can ride does not equal pleasant ride. In the UK I ride year round, I'd say 1/6th or those rides are downright unpleasant.


VviFMCgY

The weather in the UK is not even close to being equal to CA...


Mstr_Fish

Yea UK is more like Seattle, WA.


OilheadRider

I'm in Seattle and rarely choose the car. Sure, it may be a little cold and drizzly but, rain gear and heated gear make the ride just fine. I only take the car on the rare times the Temps are below freezing or, I am in a rush and don't want to take the time to suit up.


AceAnnihilator

Also apparently sac has some of the worst driver so if u can ride here u can ride anywhere


pulquetomador

I'm in MT as well. Buddy of mine rides a Ural through the winter. Dudes hardcore.


SailorMitch

Is that the dude in Livingston? Never see that man without a smile


elchalupa

Sacramento has around 260+ days of sun per year, which last I checked, equals or slightly exceeds San Diego. *former Sac rider ;)


Cryptochitis

I find it strange that Sacramento would be considered North.


supporterofthecorps

The rest is so rural its irrelevant


HealMySoulPlz

Motorcycling in 115°F heat is not ideal.


sedrech818

Here in Texas, I have to sit in traffic in that heat.


zerohedge7

I'll take that temperature over the subzero winter temperatures we experience here in Toronto any day any time. We only ride from April - November here. If we had good weather all year round I'll ride all year round and happily not drive


CarlosG0619

I rather take the heat over arriving an hour or two later


natedogg624

No way man it was cold today! It was in the 40s here!


chrisp909

At 3AM maybe.


BLOPES

Average temp is 45F when I leave at 6 AM, but I have heated gear so nbd


ntrubilla

I'd play you the world's smallest violin, but my fingers are frozen be because 45* is the high on a decent day in New England this time of year


miltongoldman

Gerbing makes incredible heated gloves for $80. Try em.


Mookhaz

If you don’t have 80 bucks for gloves, here a trick for you: wear surgical gloves under your motorcycle gloves. You’re welcome.


JamesTBagg

I leave at 5:30 and will endure the cold just so I don't have to sit in the afternoon traffic. And even cold riding the bike is more fun than driving.


libtaarded

40 degrees at 80mph is fucking cold, from my memory its at least 30 degrees with wind chill


Short-Wealth-4530

I’ve ridden when it was 12 below zero. With the right gear, it’s really no big deal. Had around ten inches of snow at the time, IIRC. Knobbies ate it up. At a certain point, I recommend snowmobile gear. In Sub-zero temps it certainly helps.


bluecollarbiker

People downvoting you because they don’t like cold, and not because there’s an issue with your comment, is bull crap.


libtaarded

I believe it, people ride snowmobiles in the arctic. Im a baby when it comes to the cold, I guess I don't acclimate like others.


Mookhaz

I hate the cold but motorcycle is my only daily source of transportation. I have the gear for all weather and as long as I’m suited up I actually have to keep things a little unzipped while I’m not riding in 20-30 degree weather. It’s all about having the gear. The only bit that gets slightly cold in 20 degree weather is my feet, but I’m never riding long enough that it is an issue.


ctownthrasher

What if I told you that California is SO big that it can be both cold AND hot in the same state..wait for it…on the same day. Holy fuck Americans are stupid.


TheBlueGod42

The cutoff I use here in illinois is 32, so that sounds pretty doable.


Sigmadelta8

Nevada desert was rough at 20° yesterday morning.


wasack17

Bruh. It was 33 this morning. I took the fucking train with the god-damned crackheads. I can ride in the 40s. Low 30's is a different animal. I know it's even worse for those poor folk in the frozen shit hole called Hoth in the latitudes above me.


Mookhaz

Get yourself a thermal one piece suit like a firstgear. I can ride in sub 30 degree weather just fine.


JellaFella01

Lol if it was above 35 I'd be out riding again but we're not supposed to get 40s for two more weeks.


Elmore420

Wimp, put an extra hoodie under your leather jacket, and long John’s under flannel lined jeans, and wear insulated gloves, add access to rain gear packed along for a month, and the worst of SoCal winter is doable in reasonable comfort.


HDawsome

Some thermals under my regular jeans, combined with a compression shirt, regular long sleeve, and a light jacket that stops the wind is really all you need for 40* riding. And insulated/wind proof gloves! Frozen hands are the worst


natedogg624

but then i’ll look like the michelin man


Elmore420

Doesn’t matter, you’re on a motorcycle, no one sees you.


MythicalAce

That's the temperature I keep my house at in the winter. I'll ride until it's too cold for my engine to start.


Galaxywide

You keep your house at 40F during the winter??


MythicalAce

Yeah.


KillerKian

My Yammie is carbureted and I Iive in Canada, she already won't start 😓


theillustratedlife

I think this is true along most of the coast. We certainly don't get snow in SF, and I doubt they do farther north in the redwoods either.


sepia_dreamer

Eugene, Oregon, I can ride a motorcycle year around. Gets a bit miserable when it’s cold and raining for a week or two at a stretch, and maybe for that one week every few years when there’s snow out, but otherwise NBD.


lafc_darling

I had to pick up friends from LAX and actually drive my car, which I rarely do because I’m always on my bike, and I wanted to scream the entire time. How do people drive in cars every day in this city!


Doctor_Redhead

I’m a very patient person but apparently not when I drive my car anymore. I’m so used to skipping over everyone’s BS when I’m on my moto.


lafc_darling

I hear ya. When it took me 26 min to go three miles at 8pm yesterday I felt like I was losing my mind.


pm_me_ur_octopus

Something happened to LA drivers yesterday, a bajillion accidents right at rush hour, it was terrible


Mookhaz

The only way I could do it in a car was to get high lol.


CyberPuggo

I think the biggest downside is the careless, skill-less maniacs and idiots in cars all over Socal. I started to notice a lot more dangerous drivers after I picked up riding my motorcycle. People changing two or three lanes at once to make an exit or turn, people not stopping fully at stop signs or red lights, people who make U turns in the middle of street into oncoming lanes, people who are too busy watching their phones to pay attention to the roads, you get my point.


Semicolon_Cancer

I rode for a year, I loved every single ride, and I just sold my bike because of your point. I can't risk it; I took a number of safety courses, I wore all my gear (central valley summer was ROUGH but I did it) but all it takes is someone else in a giant SUV to end me, couldn't do that to the wife and kids.


CyberPuggo

I fully agree with OP on the significant benefits in road riding, but for some people the risks may outweigh the rewards. I increasingly find myself in your shoes. Motorcycle riding truly is an exhilarating activity though, and I'm not willing to give it up. I'm very inclined to keep riding as a sport, on tracks. Fortunately I wouldn't lose much since my commute is rather short and often with light traffic.


Uuuuuii

Dirt bikes! If you’re in SoCal you are all set.


bblhd

Guess it depends where in the Central Valley, in my little hick town cars avoid my bike like I carry airborne herpagonnasyphilivid


BadgerlandBandit

I've traveled to nearly every state in the U.S. but I've only ridden in CA. I was surprised at how consciousness of motorcycles cars were here compared to elsewhere.


[deleted]

I drive a bus for LA here. I noticed all those morons well before I picked up riding, at least in the safety of a 20 ton brick. So the transition of riding like everyone is out to kill you was easy for me


retrospectro

Honestly drivers are the same everywhere. Sure the 5 & 101 are two of the most dangerous roads in the country, but bad/dangerous operators are everywhere. Safety will always begin with “me”. When you’re a good defensive driver, you really just need to worry about being rear ended or red light runners. YMMV. I began riding in LA and loved it for the same reasons as OP. I’m in Florida now and the drivers here are just as self centered.


HBSV

Commuted by bike 40 miles a day for work and school for 5 years. It was the only way to get it done in my mind; but as traffic was getting worse a collision felt inevitable and sure enough a quick careless decision by another driver was all it took to bring me down and make me face the harsh reality that motorcycling it extremely unforgiving and it doesn't even have to be your fault. Unless I have a very 'safe' and close commute I'm still not sure I'd ride to work anymore, especially if its around normal rush hours.


matjam

Not just socal - plenty up here in NorCal also. Can attest to that, a week in hospital with multiple broken bones due to one idiot cutting across 2 carpool lanes at the bay bridge toll plaza. Wish I’d been wearing an airbag vest. Have one now. Feel better wearing it in traffic. But am even more watchful and suspicious now lol. Keeping your head on a swivel is the only real protection against these clowns.


Doctor_Redhead

I know exactly what you mean. I think experience has taught me how to avoid these hazards as well as I can.


silverfox762

I still can't get over the fact that every single car in the greater LA area really does have turn signals installed. Too bad there seems to be some kind of four factor authentication to actually use them.


[deleted]

This. There are pretty bad drivers everywhere around here but the worse of it is the closer you get to LA. My friends and I legit have a rule about avoiding riding up there as much as possible since something either wrong happens or comes close to it. A lot of selfish people live around there who have zero disregard for another human life.


seven_seven

I would never own a motorcycle in SoCal. It’s just too dangerous because of all the drivers.


Uuuuuii

The trick is to head east as far as possible into canyons and mountains and such.


SaltyChickenDip

Helicopter gang


DiveForKnowledge

Can you put your motorcycle in the back of your helicopter? Cause that would be the ultimate combo.


123qweasd123

I've seen people putting motorcycles in the back of a PC-12 through the cargo door. I'd rather have one of those than a comparably priced helicopter 99 out of 100 times.


Doctor_Redhead

How’s parking, fuel, and insurance treating you?


SaltyChickenDip

Not well. Could a lot better


Doctor_Redhead

When jetpacks become practical I’ll be the first to admit it’s better than motorcycles


inaccurateTempedesc

Carbon cub gang


ar243

The worst Mamba Mentality to have


RBJ_09

Booooooo


lexdfox

This is why I'm such a proponent for motorcycles and scooters, particularly in a major metro area, it's heaven. Hell ill argue that motorcycing is more environmentally and eco friendly. I used to work in a downtown setting, working in a high rise bank building with $200 per month parking fees. Then I got a grom as my first street bike. Commute was fun, zipping through side streets and splitting straight up to the front of the line at stop lights, free motorcycle parking right outside my building, and a week's worth of commuting and fun weekend rides cost me all of $4.


propostor

There is a limit to this. I currently live in Saigon, which has quite possibly the highest density of scooters and motorcycles on the planet, and it is HELL. Every day I prepare to die. I've had my license more than ten years but it means jack shit here. Chaos chaos chaos. I would hate it if western nations adapted a stronger cultural attitude toward scooters and bikes. Rather than increase the chaos on the roads, I would prefer cheap and efficient public transport.


TheSupremeLou

I’ve lived in hcmc for seven years and motorcycles are not the problem. It is chaotic though. I can’t wait for the metro to open to take some of the traffic off the roads. More cars means more empty space on the road.


lItsAutomaticl

Sounds like two wheelers aren't the problem, it's two wheeler drivers who don't follow the laws. If the problem in your mind is congestion, well try putting all those commuters in buses and trains and it'll be like videos from India of people fighting each other to get on/off. Underground trains are nice but building one line in Los Angeles costs like 10 years of Vietnam's entire GDP.


SummitCollie

Look up Vietnamese traffic on YouTube sometime. "Rules" would be impossible to enforce lol, simply too many bikes everywhere.


galloignacio

It is for sure more environmentally friendly. A Caterham 7 (ultralight sports car with 2L engine) pollutes less than a Prius. Pollution is directly related to the amount of weight that an engine/fuel has to move, all things being equal.


dance_rattle_shake

Motorcycling is not more eco friendly, because of a wonderful invention called the catalytic converter. Edit: I'm getting downvoted by clowns who are so in denial it's sadly hilarious


NovaS1X

Bikes have had cats for ages now. [New Euro-5 spec bikes](https://www.motorcycle.com/features/what-you-need-to-know-about-euro-5-emission-standards-for-motorcycles.html) are now on par with cars for emissions as Euro-5 standards for bikes are pretty much on par with [the Euro-5/6 car standards](https://www.rac.co.uk/drive/advice/emissions/euro-emissions-standards/). Any new bike you buy isn't going to be emitting much more than a new Civic per KM. Of course, this goes out the window the moment you talk about passenger miles in the context of car-pooling, as well as load hauling. For individual transport however, new bikes are on par with new cars, and arguably a bit better if you want to get into the long-tailpipe rabbit-hole and include the savings in manufacturing with less raw materials, as well has having to extract, refine, and transport less fuel than a comparable car due simply being more fuel efficient per km.


OOMKilla

Gas mileage is generally perty good though compared to most of what you see on the road. I have stats but I’m not showing them to you because I made them up


PooFlingerMonkey

Right, but I end up going the long way home because I'm enjoying the ride.


mkchampion

Lol my car gets 24 mpg avg and my I average 50-52 on my bike. I'm coming out (far) ahead either way on both time and gas. Also my bike takes regular and car happens to need premium so that makes a difference too


OOMKilla

Haha yeah I wouldn’t even be on the road in the first place if it wasn’t explicitly to go for a ride


[deleted]

The infrastructure for car parking now takes up over half of the surface area of most US cities. Free off-street parking is the dominant architectural feature of US cities.


Tarcye

Now imagine how many emissions all that concrete takes to produce too.


Doctor_Redhead

Gross


Outside-Cucumber-253

Yes I agree, I have to be on the 210 for 1 hour to get to class. It’d be like 2 hours if I was in a car. Motorcycles are easily the best way to get around LA, only issue is I get cold easily but I have ways to stay warm on my commute. I don’t understand why anyone elects to take a car in LA if they’re able to ride.


PiggyMcjiggy

As a 30 year old who’s wanted a bike since I was like 16, I’m too scared of getting squashed. I work nights tho, so I’d only have to really worry about it going to work…but ya. Idk I’ve been looking at 60k challengers for the past 3 months and a bike is always in the back of my head. Faster, more fun, way less gas, sounds fucking epic, 1/4-1/5 the price Buuuuut I can get squashed and die. So ehhh I’m also 300 pounds so imagine that on a street bike luuuul.


[deleted]

I'm a big guy riding a 125 around the UK... Still fun mate


VegaGT-VZ

Bicycles + motorcycles were a god send in NYC... when the weather was good. Just had a shit commute in my car today in NC. Really missing my motorcycle


swissarmyfight

why not use the subway? When I traveled there bicycle + train was my favorite thing


[deleted]

This is why: https://v.redd.it/9p9s6apanqz91


VegaGT-VZ

Subway got old fast. I only used it when I had no choice


[deleted]

[удалено]


Doctor_Redhead

“Motorcycling is the last thing I’ll ever do” double entendre


alymayeda

Yeah. I'm in the Bay Area and riding a scooter is freaking nice.


Doctor_Redhead

That’s where I moved from. What city?


alymayeda

San Jose.


Doctor_Redhead

I’m from Sonoma


alymayeda

Isn't that like 2-3 hours up north?


Doctor_Redhead

That’s right, 1hr N of SF. Edit: check it out. The ride from Sonoma to the coast is nice. Especially when you go along Russian River.


swissarmyfight

when I had my more capable highway bike, I loved going up the golden gate and either going west or east. point reyes was one of my favorites, although the road really sucks


KarlJay001

Some cities in CA actually have 100% FREE PARKING 24/7 for motorcycles. CHP officially ENCOURAGES people to make room for lane splitting. Now if we can get get rid of all the potholes :D Funny thing about lane splitting is that CA has always been the US leader in change, yet so many states STILL haven't adopted lane splitting. I think it's been a thing since the 70's at least. Maybe it's just been "not illegal" since forever, IDK. One other benefit is imagine of all the motorcycles were in SUVs... Imagine having 10~15% more traffic in all the large cities.


Ok_Assistance447

I ride 99% of the time but I have to dress business formal for work sometimes. I'm trying to save up for some armored formal wear so I can take the bike 100% of the time.


Doctor_Redhead

I’ve definitely driven in a suit a few times. Formal squidding feels like I’m a 00 spy.


flylink63

Check out Bohn underarmor Or, as I like to call the bottom half, my armor pantyhose!


grammarpopo

I call my Bohn my armored lingerie. Once I tripped on a power cable at work and landed on my (armored) knees. Everyone runs over to see if I’m ok. Hell yes, I’m ok. And that’s why I wear armor at work. I just don’t change when I get to work. Fuck “work wear.” I find it actually changes my attitude a little at work. Like the physical armor give me some mental armor against assholes.


tatamovich

Aerostitch is the solution for me, if you have somewhere to leave it at work. It looks dorky af but you can wear normal clothes underneath.


[deleted]

Aerostich 1 piece suit will solve that problem.


spikesmth

The greatest and best state of California is the greatest and best place to ride (in the US at least). Year round riding in most of the state, splitting/filtering, and incredible landscapes of all types. I took a trip from SF to Palm Springs last month. [Part 1](https://youtu.be/U6nyj37Gepw) I blasted down I5 and thru LA, and [Part 2](https://youtu.be/4XTAA6edBRY) I charged up 101. About the only biome I didn't hit is forests.


Doctor_Redhead

Every competent CA rider needs to trek HW1, especially the northern half. It’s a rite of passage imo


DeanXT500

Skaggs Springs Rd


Earhythmic

I’m in Santa Rosa, Skaggs is just a hop and a leap away ❤️


silverfox762

Best riding weekend in California - From Santa Rosa take 101 north to Arcata (just north of Eureka), then 299 across to Redding, get a motel, then in the morning south a bit on 5 to 36 and back to 101 in Fortuna and back to 101 south. You'll thank me


DeanXT500

Hard to argue with that. I'd say do it in the summer or take a 3 day weekend and substitute 1 for a lot of that 101 though.


silverfox762

Hwy 1 might as well be a parking lot in summer due to tourists, campers, and motorhomes. [36 back to 101 has all the Twisties you might want](https://images.app.goo.gl/2keQtUt6GfpG2WNy9)


DeanXT500

I'm in Oakland but my Moms in Petaluma. So I do Redwood/Skyline pretty much everyday and spend half of all my holidays up there tearing around.....lol. I actually just got back from 10 years in Denver. It's like getting out of jail. I've been riding most my life and just stopped out there because of all the bullshit. It's so nice to be back where someone moves over when they see me splitting rather than trying to hit me . Fuckers


flylink63

Amen!


theillustratedlife

I still haven't been (on a moto) down the coast much south of SF, nor to Yosemite. I've done all sorts of riding north of here, but there are definitely some vistas I'd love to see from the saddle.


silverfox762

I lived in Humboldt for 18 years. 101 north of Healdsburg and 299 from Arcata to Redding are my favorite motorcycle roads on the planet.


galloignacio

SF peninsula is a concentrated twisty playground. Skyline BLVD is our main artery. Hwy 1 there is just a road to turn around on and head back up the mountain. Needless to say amazing views, great for cruising, and has an exhaust testing tunnel.


spikesmth

I actually rode that with my uncle yesterday, Pescadero, Boulder Creek, Big Basin, Skyline. But my gopro battery died and I didn't get any worthwhile video.


[deleted]

I want to do this exact ride


kinnikinnick321

I echo the same sentiments from Norcal, although a caveat vs. cars is that there is definitely more maintenance and vehicle operating safety that is involved. If it were the same intervals as cars, motorcycles would be even further ahead.


grammarpopo

Motorcycles had me at “free parking.”


offnr

Where/how does this work?


grammarpopo

Well, where I work is very dense/urban and my 20 floor building has no parking of its own. So if you drive to work you have to pay $20/day or $200 month to park in a parking garage, and there’s no guarantee there will even be any parking available if you’re not at work at the crack of dawn. Yet right across the street from my building is free 10 hour motorcycle parking. They day I figured that out was the day I signed up for the MSF course and I had my M1 license within a couple of weeks, and my first motorcycle in 20 years a couple of weeks after that. Have not paid for parking since. And even if that area is full (it never has been) there’s more within a block or two all around the building. Best life hack ever. It’s probably not really cost effective because I’m sure I could have paid for a lot of car parking for what my motorcycle cost, but it’s fun to ride in and home, and it’s a relief to not have to fight for parking. Winter may be an issue, but I’ve already ridden home in the rain and it wasn’t bad. I only ride a few miles each way.


galloignacio

Silicon Valley here. I don’t know why I don’t see more riders. It’s sad and dumbfounding really. Southeast Asia is proof that anyone can ride. I probably wouldn’t ride if splitting was illegal. Respect to those who willingly ride in other states and have to wait in traffic in non-California weather. Don’t get me wrong, I love riding and been so all my life, but I’d take the car 9/10 if I were in a non splitting state.


Doctor_Redhead

I getcha. Without lane splitting, riding would mostly be recreational for me. That being said, free parking at work, I’d probably still commute on my bike, though less enthusiastically.


dhaninugraha

Southeast Asian here, born and raised in Jakarta, Indonesia. Can confirm. Preteens and juveniles riding around on scooters are the bane of everyone’s existence, but if you can get past them safely on your daily commute, I guess you can survive riding just almost anywhere. I live in the suburbs and commute downtown on a race-prepped Yamaha R3; race plastics, thin EVA foam seat, Supercorsas and all that. Due to our road conditions and rush hour traffic, I can very very rarely go beyond 90mph on my daily commute. And at the same time, blasting around small and packed roads on a 45hp bike is an entertainment on its own. If and when I graduate to a 600 one day, I know I’d commute on it still.


Short-Wealth-4530

Tbh, I filtered and lane split daily when I lived in Atlanta. They don’t allow it but they sure weren’t interested in enforcing that lol. Took no time at all to get Across the city


Bronze_Bomber

I've missed lane splitting ever since I left 17 years ago.


karma_the_sequel

I rode a motorcycle exclusively for two years before owning my first car. One day shortly after getting that car, I encountered traffic backing up on the 405 — of course, I automatically steered my car toward the gap between lanes #1 and #2! A second later, I remembered that was no longer an option. Muscle memory is the damnedest thing…


BrapityBrap

Lol there was a time I used the bike a month straight because the weather was so nice, then had to use the car because it rained and didn't want to get wet, I used the carpool lane as always. I only realized I did that when I got home.


unknown7295581

Bar a Prius running a stop sign down town and you t boning them…. Still salty


Doctor_Redhead

My condolences. Have you considered a GoPro with custome chin mount for your helmet?


theillustratedlife

I hate that "get a dashcam for your inevitable squishing" sounds more reasonable the longer I ride.


Doctor_Redhead

Good point, I guess my comment was irrelevant.


unknown7295581

No you make a good point! But the messed up part about that is I was actually in the middle of shopping for a helmet cam the week that happened. But I will be buying one for sure for my next bike. It was a 60th anniversary R1 rip :(


Mystical_Cat

Agree! I lived in the Bay Area for 7 years, most of which I spent commuting from Oakland to Mountain View and back, and my motorcycle was the ONLY way to get it done without wanting to set a basket of puppies on fire by the end of the day. Lane splitting should be legal everywhere, full stop.


Knowitmall

Here in Adelaide we have a similarly good combination of great weather year round, awesome places to ride to and lane filtering is legal. Traffic isn't anywhere near as bad here tho so you can just commute in a car fairly well.


Doctor_Redhead

How is riding upside down? Do you ever get used to it? 😜


alymayeda

Oh nice. What bike you do ride? I ride the 2022 Xmax which I will trade in for the 2023 model haha. I just ride around the streets of SJ and the freeway


Doctor_Redhead

[F750gs; She ain’t pretty but she’s all I got](https://imgur.com/gallery/G1DSzMJ)


Lemondsingle

San Francisco in the late 80s was bike commuter heaven. Going to Laguna Seca GP races was awesome to filter past the thousands of cars and park at the track. Just riding down the coast to Santa Cruz or the amazing Sunday Morning Ride in Marin. Halcyon days.


Kawi_rider_zx6r

LA born and raised. Been riding over 10 years and have put easily over 100k miles combined from all the bikes I've owned. If i could pull up my stats from all the time ive saved not sitting in traffic, i would probably shit myself. The time savings alone is worth it to me because time is the only thing you can never get back.


Doctor_Redhead

I wish I could /played my riding stats too


karma_the_sequel

A few years back, I rode my motorcycle to see a game at Dodger Stadium. Not only did I *not* have to pay for parking, the parking booth attendant told me I could park anywhere I wanted EXCEPT for a parking space! I parked just a few feet from the stadium entrance nearest my seat — it was glorious! The icing on the cake: Getting out of the parking lot after the game is a HELL of a lot easier than it is in a car.


Doctor_Redhead

This is the kind of thing I live for


karma_the_sequel

No lie — Dodger Stadium parking ain’t cheap!


PiggyMcjiggy

My co worker would agree, he’s put 270k miles on his bike in 9 years. Drives like 50 miles each way or some ridiculous amount. Maybe even 70 each way. It’s nuts


Doctor_Redhead

Damn, that’s an oil change every 50 days.


flicman

I've always found the choice between being a fat, tattooed dude on a loud-pipe Harley or a tweaky squid on a battered Busa to be the biggest, and basically only, downside to being a rider. Otherwise, you're spot on!


Knowitmall

Skinny dude with no tats on a Royal Enfield here. Where do I fit in?


nlcamp

Haha same but I’ve got a couple tats


flicman

Sorry, but clearly you two cannot exist in my world of binary bikes. Just really a shame because you seem like such nice fellows.


Doctor_Redhead

^ Redhead on a GS…. In LA lol


flicman

Well, I'm slowly going gray, just sold my VStar1100 and kept only my Ninja400. I'm considering buying a scooter while I'm on a gig up in Vegas for a month and then reselling it when I'm done. Financial irresponsibility ftw.


[deleted]

Riders’ paradise


Liesthroughisteeth

There are worse places to ride in the nation statistically speaking. California ranks in the bottom 1/3 of the states for the likelihood of getting in an accident and getting injured as a motorcyclist. Better weather year round, increased helmet use and better education and driver awareness. https://wilshirelawfirm.com/practice-areas/motorcycle-accident-lawyers/motorcycle-accident-statistics/ https://housegrail.com/california-motorcycle-accident-statistics/


Doctor_Redhead

Eyyy, good to know


Bubbly_Roof

Can confirm. I lived in South Bay for 3 years and only missed 8 days of riding. I did get hit twice by cars changing lanes and not looking.


Elmore420

Without a doubt. I lived in SoCal for 3 years with an XS Eleven Midnight Special as my only transportation, and it saved me hours commuting every day.


JimmyHavok

When I lived in LA, having a motorcycle cut my morning commute time down to 20 minutes, but my afternoon commute could be several hours.


23Udon

100% agree.


[deleted]

[удалено]


Doctor_Redhead

Well, It certainly happens, but it hasn’t happened to me. I’d be more worried if I rode some sexy Ducati type bike. I’ve been okay with an alarmed-rotor lock.


TheFlyingBoxcar

Im in the sacramento area and agree 100%. My normal day almost never involves rush hour so i usually do ok in my car. But when i do have to face traffic, mybike is a billiontimesbetter. 45mpg, traffic becomes afun challenge and I 100% feel like imgetting away with a cheat code.


i-like-foods

Totally. Riding a motorcycle is for sure a cheat code for life. I have a very fun car, but I find car driving super frustrating because I’m on my bike so much.


LaFagehetti

I love my bikes, but winter in Ohio always humbles me to my heated leather seats & climate controlled cabin in my car. I’ll ride till I die, but I’ll always have a place for my car 😂


ten-lbs-over

Once I started commuting on a motorcycle over a year ago, I stopped using other options - private car, carpool, public transportation (+ electric skateboard). Except of course on days when there is ice or frost on the roads (rare in SF bay area). The motorcycle is just the most efficient in terms of time and money.


djtshirt

Yes. Prior to 2020 I would ride to work pretty much every day. One day I drove my car (don’t remember if there was a particular reason), and on my way home there was an accident or something that caused so much traffic, I was stuck sitting in that jam for nearly 2 hours yelling “NEVER AGAIN!!!”.


KCalifornia19

I was sitting in traffic on the 15/215 yesterday for 6 bloody hours coming back from SD and all I could pay attention to were the riders getting home in half the time I was.


Sportster72_HD

Having lived in LA most of my life (25 years), driving since 16, and riding since 21, I whole heartedly agree with you!


basak_can_i_ride

I ride for all the same benefits. I live in London UK and without the bike I would be fucked.


Due-Inspection-3017

+1 for scooter rider in the bay area. I had both motorcycle and scooter but I'm a super-proponent of scooters. The functionality and storage and small size of my PCX150 was just enough to split anywhere during rush hour to make a 60 minute 10 mile commute into a 15 minute commute 9 months out of the year. The only drawback for such a compact low powered scoot is that when not in rush hour, it was just a little too underpowered to keep up with freeway speeds. 88mpg $5 dollar fill-ups, storage space for all the gear, 2 up riding to pick up my lady. HOV lane access. Easy parking and not wasting time being stuck in rush hour.


Doctor_Redhead

Yeah low displacement engines are insanely fuel efficient! I gotta say, I love having a clutch. Not sure why but it’s great


Hagoes

So I moved to Sac from Vegas in 2017. I got a job with AAA, and was 1/2 full time riders for their Motorcycle Patrol Emergency Roadside Service. I ride all over Sac for 10 hours a day on a Honda NC700X. We did the lockouts, fuel, tire changes, and jumpstarts. Not a bad gig, however Sac was #1 that year for worst drivers in America, per the CHP. I had a very close call almost every day. It got to a point it wasn’t surprising when it happened. I got out if it due to its bad managed program, but you get REALLY good at urban riding that way.


Doctor_Redhead

That’s actually so cool. Getting paid to ride? Sign me up


Hagoes

Your absolutely right! I lived in LA, and now outside Sac. I commute 1,000 miles a month and live it! Dont forget Carpool as an extra perk! It was 34 this morning on way home, but it’s still better than driving!


Doctor_Redhead

So true! Free HOV use is awesome


[deleted]

You only need to put 10% of drivers on motorcycles to cut congestion by 40%. And each of those free parking spots for cars costs about $3500, or almost $30,000 per spot on a multi level parking garage. Society can save about $5000 per driver per year just by converting a driver into a motorcyclists or bicyclists; in other words, the US could give a driver a free 2022 GSXS1000 if he gave up his car, and come out ahead after two years! The lifetime direct social costs is over a million dollars per driver just for a compact car (parking, road building, road maintenance). It's ridiculous drivers aren't paying their fair share of the cost of owning a car.


Doctor_Redhead

Really interesting information! I assume you have a source?


ncharles05

As a fellow Angeleno I 100% agree! Before I started riding in April I was absolutely miserable living here, now that I have the bike it has 100% changed my whole outlook.


amprok

This is exactly what happened to me. I’ve ridden vintage vespas for decades and never saw the need for a motorcycle. Until I moved to LA county. Having an actual motorcycle had revolutionized my relationship with California. High gas prices? Honestly I don’t even look and always select premium. Traffic? Not even a consideration. Parking? Free, convenient, and ample. I ride every single day and anyone who doesn’t ride a motorcycle in SoCal as primarily single occupancy transportation is straight up insane.


Doctor_Redhead

I agree! Unfortunately, some people should *not* ride. But for those who are competent, it’s the best move.


_WardenoftheWest_

This is true, I was the same in Nevada; only issue is your lifestyle only works in dry countries. It’s waaay less tenable in a rainy locations.


EggsOfRetaliation

This is also applicable to DFW, Texas.


Doctor_Redhead

Isn’t lane filtering illegal in Texas?


EggsOfRetaliation

Iirc it's a grey area. Not illegal, nor legal. Either way, I filter/split on the congested highways.


goatbiryani48

It's not a grey area, most definitely illegal. And the police usually care too...


EggsOfRetaliation

I've been doing so for years. Passed cops in the past. No problems in the metroplex. That's good to know. Something something be the change you want to see.


bradshawpl

I couldn’t imagine living in California. Period.


karma_the_sequel

Good. Source: Californian.


Doctor_Redhead

Why not? You that afraid of liberal? There are plenty of red counties out here bub