Hello Region 1: Moving to Orange County

[squeezer]

About to be empty nesters, so we've decided (not easily, but decisions have been made) on some new scenery and a fresh start. My wife has a killer offer in Orange County. I have an intriguing one and a couple of other irons in the fire. So, we're packing up and moving sometime midsummer to the Land of the 12 Month Riding Season.

We're dealing with a million things, but I need EOE advice from this crowd: What's the deal on bringing in a 49 state bike?

And what do you think about Corona or Norco? Looks like that's where we'll be focusing the house hunt.

[miles]

A 49 state vehicle is no problem, assuming it has over 2000 miles on it (I think that's the magic number.  It's something like that, anyway).  There will probably be higher registration fees than you're used to, but it still won't amount to much for a nine year old bike.

As to Norco or Corona, those aren't in OC.  They're in Riverside County, which is much lower rent than OC.

[Playinthestreet]

I've brought several 49 state bikes into CA over the last 6 years.  7500 miiles is the magic number.  DMV will verify frame/engine numbers to the title as part of the registration process.

[miles]

I've brought several 49 state bikes into CA over the last 6 years.  7500 miiles is the magic number.  DMV will verify frame/engine numbers to the title as part of the registration process.

Is it really 7500 miles now?  I guess things have changed since the '80s when I brought in a Japan-market FZR400...

[Rogue]

Welcome.  You will love the riding here!

Corona/Norco is in Riverside County, which is a mountain range away from Orange County.  It's within driving distance.  However, if you plan to live there and work in the OC, it's going to be a long tough slog every morning.  I take it you've been to this area and stayed for at least a week?  I highly recommend that you do so you can get a good idea of traffic patterns.  Rent in the OC for a 1-bedroom is about $1600-$1800/mo.  Riverside County is probably a couple of hundred less.  

[miles]

Rogue is right.  If you have to deal with Highway 91 every day you will kill yourself with a week.

[squeezer]

Yeah, starting to hear about that nightmare commute from several sources. I appreciate the heads up. Good thing we have several months to sort things out. We'll be taking a scouting trip in a couple of weeks.

Thanks for the reassurance on bringing in the bike.  

[Rogue]

I have a few co-workers who live in Murietta and Lake Elsinore (near Corona at the other side of that mountain range I spoke of).  They take Ortega Highway (twisty road) every day to get to the heart of Orange County.  They hate the commute but do it because they have to.  It takes them almost 2 hours to get home.  Longer if there's an accident.  They avoid the freeways because it takes way, way longer.  On a motorcycle that commute would improve slightly but when it rains it's not wise. It does rain in Southern California.

The best thing to do is to live near where you work.  Especially if you live in SoCal.  It makes a HUGE difference.  

Edited to add, SoCal is like Coruscant City (mythical capital of the republic in the Star Wars movie).  It is highly urbanized and you can ride for an hour in every direction without getting out of the urban jungle.  But once you're out the twisty road riding is awesome.  

[DogBoy]

There is no mileage restriction if you are brining in a bike that you previously owned before becoming a CA resident. The 7,500 mile rule only applies to CA residents buying 49 state bikes out of state. Registration fees are ridiculous. The riding (both on and offroad), scenery and access to race tracks is priceless. Njoy!





P.S. NorCal is better.

[miles]

P.S. NorCal is better.

Pssh.  NorCal is nice to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

[rgbeard]

There is no mileage restriction if you are brining in a bike that you previously owned before becoming a CA resident. The 7,500 mile rule only applies to CA residents buying 49 state bikes out of state. Registration fees are ridiculous. The riding (both on and offroad), scenery and access to race tracks is priceless. Njoy!





P.S. NorCal is better.

When we moved here from AZ, the 7500 mile rule applied to my Triumph Thunderbird that I'd bought prior to the move.  That was in 2002.  Great news if someone got some common-sense.

[rgbeard]

And what do you think about Corona or Norco? Looks like that's where we'll be focusing the house hunt.

Do you keep a suicide pill on your wrist?  Could come in handy.... once.

[DogBoy]

When we moved here from AZ, the 7500 mile rule applied to my Triumph Thunderbird that I'd bought prior to the move.  That was in 2002.  Great news if someone got some common-sense.

How soon did you buy it prior to the move? If it was just a matter of weeks, the rule would apply. Long term ownership is not restricted.

[AHCHIU]

Hot and lots of smog where your going, I grew up in Covina then lived in Newport Beach for over 10 yrs before moving to Seattle, I miss the nice beach weather and lane sharing but don't miss the traffic. I still have family there. good luck with your move.

[Penforhire]

If you move closer to Pasadena then you're just a hop, skip, and a jump away from Angeles Crest Highway.  I like Ortega Highway too but it is just a soundbite of a road compared to ACR and the surrounding area (Glendora Mountain Road, Angeles Forest Road, etcetera).

[Skee]

So, we're packing up and moving sometime midsummer to the Land of the 12 Month Riding Season.

  You lucky dog

[stew71]

.... Registration fees are ridiculous. The riding (both on and offroad), scenery and access to race tracks is priceless. Njoy!

P.S. NorCal is better.

   I just paid my renewal this week on the FJR...$123.  

[Playinthestreet]

Pssh.  NorCal is nice to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

Ffffffft.  So Cal is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

Go east... closer to Pines to Palms, Julian country, etc..

[Meemuh]

Good luck with the move.

Can't think of anything wise ass to say, but your not going for a while.
If I think of anything - I'll be sure to add it.

[Rogue]

Ffffffft.  So Cal is a nice place to visit, but you wouldn't want to live there.

Go east... closer to Pines to Palms, Julian country, etc..

There are no jobs anywhere near that area.  Most of the jobs in SoCal are in the Orange County/San Diego area.  

[SVTNate]

Live in Orange County, ride in LA County, never go to the 909.

We have no good riding in OC.  People will say Ortega, or maybe they'll say Live Oak Canyon.  Lies.  Ortega is a death trap that can be enjoying in 100 yard spurts before slamming on the brakes for traffic.  Live Oak Canyon is a cool little road that lasts about 2 minutes before the ride is over.

Ortega would be a pretty cool ride if you could figure out a time/day with no traffic and no cops.  These days that's pretty tough to do.

[DangerMoney]

There is no mileage restriction if you are brining in a bike that you previously owned before becoming a CA resident. The 7,500 mile rule only applies to CA residents buying 49 state bikes out of state. Registration fees are ridiculous. The riding (both on and offroad), scenery and access to race tracks is priceless. Njoy!

We moved to CA less than two years ago and I brought the three bikes I own with me. Dogboy has it right: If you had the bikes registered in another state, the 7500 mile rule does not apply. If someone else (the previous owner) had it registered in another state, the rule applies.


HEADS UP: They tried to charge me because one of my bikes had less than 7500 miles on it. I had to tell her the rule does not apply to me because I already had the bikes registered in my old home state.

[squeezer]

There are no jobs anywhere near that area.  Most of the jobs in SoCal are in the Orange County/San Diego area.  

Jobs we got, or we wouldn't be going, though I still have pending applications for a couple of higher paying positions. They're long shots, but we'll see how things work out. The jobs we have are  both in the city of Orange. We've been looking at Corona and Norco because the houses are significantly cheaper. Sounds like the commute isn't worth it, though.

I'm about 10x over the mileage thing on the feejer, so thankfully, that won't be an issue.

Keep the advice and wise ass comments coming! I appreciate both.  

[Rogue]

If you are going to be working in the city of Orange, then find a place around it or south of it.  Tustin, Costa Mesa, Irvine, Anaheim (nicer sections), Westminster, etc.  At least temporarily until you get a much clearer picture of what you are comfortable with.  It’s easy to look at a map and get an idea of distances and cities close by.  But that is should just be a very rough guide because traffic patterns, safety, schools, city zoning, etc., all come into play.  Only you and your wife can decide what’s right for you.  Do research on cities you wish to canvas, then visit in person to see for yourself.

Yes absolutely do NOT live in Riverside County if you work in Orange—the commute is going to be ugly due to rush hour traffic.

[rgbeard]

Yes absolutely do NOT live in Riverside County if you work in Orange—the commute is going to be ugly due to rush hour traffic.

I know it looks close on a map.  Believe us - you'd regret every moment of living in Corona/Norco.

[Flying W]

The best advise on where to live is find the best area as close as possible to work as possible to avoid the OC's insane almost round the clock traffic... My wife worked in Irvine by the airport and we lived in Anaheim hills and her primetime drive of 11 miles took at least an hour each way using the toll road...I grew up in the OC (long ago) and loved it but would never live there again because of how crowded it has become.

[Rogue]

I've lived in both LA County and OC County.  Lived in the OC for over 20 years now.

All of SoCal has become overpopulated and EVERYONE drives a car.  The traffic gets worse during the summer when tourists and students are off roaming the streets.  Orange County has become a tourist destination and transit point for people all over the area.  I have friends & relatives who live in LA who drive to the OC on weekends just to hang out and do things, and that certainly adds to the traffic congestion.  Then there are ton of people driving to San Diego and they have to transit through the OC freeways so this adds another level of congestion.  This is why I made the analogy of Coruscant City....it's like that.  Some people like it, some don't.  There is one good thing about this:  you will never be alone or on your own almost anywhere you go!  If you're the type that likes wide open country and longs for quiet solitude, SoCal is NOT the place for you.  Orange County and surrounding areas are the best places to commute on the motorcycle because the roads are wide, drivers are aware of lane splitting etiquette, and the weather is usually agreeable.

[Lawn Dart]

REPRESENT!

Squeezer, if you do Norco/Corona you'll be about 15 miles from me - It would be expected, of course, for you to join in on a weekend ride or a BBQ.

Peace!

[viffergyrl]

I've lived in both LA County and OC County.  Lived in the OC for over 20 years now.

All of SoCal has become overpopulated and EVERYONE drives a car.  The traffic gets worse during the summer when tourists and students are off roaming the streets.  Orange County has become a tourist destination and transit point for people all over the area.  I have friends & relatives who live in LA who drive to the OC on weekends just to hang out and do things, and that certainly adds to the traffic congestion.  Then there are ton of people driving to San Diego and they have to transit through the OC freeways so this adds another level of congestion.  This is why I made the analogy of Coruscant City....it's like that.  Some people like it, some don't.  There is one good thing about this:  you will never be alone or on your own almost anywhere you go!  If you're the type that likes wide open country and longs for quiet solitude, SoCal is NOT the place for you.  Orange County and surrounding areas are the best places to commute on the motorcycle because the roads are wide, drivers are aware of lane splitting etiquette, and the weather is usually agreeable.

I now live in Ventura County.... and commute twice a month to the mothership in San Diego County. So I'm part of this mess as well, but only on the weekday evenings or Sunday afternoons. The car has Nav + Traffic and XM radio has regular traffic updates for LA. I have done this commute on the bike as well and I prefer the BMW as I get confused with a motocop. People move over more readily.   Sigalert Los Angeles traffic is quite helpful as well.

If you can get a 'work from home' arrangement a couple days a week I'm sure that would help. It depends how progressive your employer is.

And Lawn Dart's BBQs are awesome and there is something known as 'Fast 400' ride.... You don't have to learn the secret handshake just search on this term.  

+1 on living close to where you work. I used to live in Oceanside (10 mile commute, no freeway) until my personal life changed (for the better), and I proposed to my manager this current arrangement. We tried it for a pilot period of three months and now it's a permanent arrangement (at least as long as I have her for a manager - I expect this will have to be re-negotiated periodically).

One last thing - I recommend renting until you get the 'lay of the land' if you can swing it.

Look forward to meeting you when you finally land here!

[squeezer]

REPRESENT!

Squeezer, if you do Norco/Corona you'll be about 15 miles from me - It would be expected, of course, for you to join in on a weekend ride or a BBQ.

Peace!

I'm looking forward to it regardless of where, exactly, we end up living.    

[Rogue]

There used to be a Central Coast tour every April organized by Bluepoof, then Lawn Dart's December ride to Monterey.

Those are really cool rides.  

[stew71]

I'm looking forward to it regardless of where, exactly, we end up living.    

You're gonna love lane-sharing/splitting.  

[DredheadV2.0]

You're gonna love lane-sharing/splitting.  

THIS.  

Never lived in SoCal, but did some time in NorCal (and loved).  Best thing ever.  Turned 1-hour commutes into 20 minutes.

[Meemuh]

Being from Mi where 2 lane roads with a little bit of traffic is the norm...the idea of splitting is a little unsettling.

[DredheadV2.0]

Being from Mi where 2 lane roads with a little bit of traffic is the norm...the idea of splitting is a little unsettling.

When I moved out in '95, I rode into the Bay Area on I-80 during morning rush on a completely overloaded KZ750.  Enjoyed the sights for a little while, but then got really sick of putt-putting along.  A bike whizzed by me as I sat in traffic.  I was thinking "man, that guy's brave/stupid/knows where the cops are..."   Then another.   A couple Harleys trundled by, with the second guy looking at me like I was stupid.  Then I noticed that the drivers in the cars around me had been looking at me curiously, and the car in front of me had sorta slid to one side in the late while the driver repeatedly looked at me in the rear view mirror.

At that point the "don't think we're in Kansas anymore" feeling hit me, I slid to the left, looked long and hard back up the road behind me, then eased out into the "bike lane."  And I was immediately hooked.

Lanesplitting anywhere else makes me nervous - the drivers get aggro really quick, and even the ones that aren't filled with rage still aren't in the habit of at least pretending to check for motorcycles in the shared part of the lane.  At least in California they seem to have gotten used to the idea and adapted to it as best as cagers can.  I still ride with caution and - with the notable exception of one time riding with Ken Sann (me on a lovely black-n-yellow BMW...) - have never vastly exceeded the posted speed/flow of traffic while doing it.

[miles]

I still ride with caution and have never vastly exceeded the posted speed/flow of traffic while doing it.

You're doing it wrong.

[DredheadV2.0]

You're doing it wrong.

Hey, I'm a lightweight.  It's like telling an occasional drinker he's doing it wrong coz he didn't take down the whole bottle of Jack.  

[miles]

If it's any consolation, Lawn Dart is an old hand at lane splitting, but he's still a slowpoke at it, too.

[rgbeard]

Hey, I'm a lightweight.  It's like telling an occasional drinker he's doing it wrong coz he didn't take down the whole bottle of Jack.  

That.

Go too slowly, and you're making lanesharing a problem.

15-20 over the traffic flow is about right for it, IMHO.

Posted speed limit???  WTF is that??  

[Lawn Dart]

If it's any consolation, Lawn Dart is an old hand at lane splitting, but he's still a slowpoke at it, too.

I like to think I'm being polite.  

[squeezer]

Just some updates:

We've sold our PA house (pending appraisal) and are beginning to look more seriously at housing out there. Looks like Orange County isn't going to work as a place to live. My wife's hobby has been rescuing dogs. We have four of them, they're part of the family, and it seems there is no place in OC where that's allowed. Unless our oldest guy passes on in the next couple of weeks, we'll be living with a nasty commute. The trade-off is that there are some mighty fine houses on the other side of the mountain.

What do you guys think of Chino or Chino Hills (other than having the Dead's "Friend of the Devil" stuck on my mind every day for the next couple of decades)?

[Meemuh]

Watching this with interest...we're a little ways from a move ourselves, hopefully.

[miles]

Just some updates:
What do you guys think of Chino or Chino Hills (other than having the Dead's "Friend of the Devil" stuck on my mind every day for the next couple of decades)?

Chino Hills is nice.  The actual hills themselves are an open space preserve and have great trails, if you're into hiking or mountain biking.

Commuting into OC on Highway 91 will destroy your soul.

[squeezer]

Commuting into OC on Highway 91 will destroy your soul.

*Sigh*  I know. But if the alternative is destroying the dogs, our souls are on the chopping block.

[miles]

There is no legal reason to not have fifty dogs in OC.  Here's the text from the OC gov website on the matter:

All dogs must be licensed
“Every person owning or having custody of any dog four (4) months of age or older shall procure for said dog an Orange County dog license. Such license shall be procured within fifteen (15) days” (OCCO 4-1-70). All dogs four (4) months of age and older must be licensed. A current rabies vaccination certificate is required to purchase a dog license, and your license will need to be renewed every year. Licenses at a reduced price are available for dogs that are spayed or neutered. “Each dog required to be licensed shall wear at all times the current license tag assigned to that dog” (OCCO 4-1-71). Upon purchase of a dog license, you will receive a county license tag that must be visible on your dog at all times.

http://egov.ocgov.com/ocgov/Info%20OC/Departments%20&%20Agencies/OC%20Animal%20Care/OC%20Pet%20Laws#Pets_are_private_property

[squeezer]

I guess it's local ordinances. Our realtor is checking into it for us. The City of Orange prohibits more than three no matter what. In Mission Viego, owning four dogs is okay. Laguna Niguel requires a kennel permit to have four.

This will take awhile to sort out...

[Rogue]

I live in Mission Viejo.  Lots of people with dogs but yeah, the city is strict with how dogs are treated and how owners control their dogs.  We even have our own Animal Patrol vehicles so, owners who let their pets lose in parks is a big no-no.  Of course there are those who do it.

Yeah the commute is going to be a killer unless you can arrange your work hours into the OC to be outside of the normal 8AM-5PM.  There is little public transportation options that is convenient or even close to convenient.  If your employer has a carpool program that's the next best option.

[DNA]

Yo Squeez!

Looks like there is a westward mass migration going on.

I can't speak about SoCal as I am only there on Tuesdays, but NorCal is working out well.

A few observations coming from the DC area:

Housing prices are 50% higher than DC (which is a high $ area as well).

Traffic is not as bad as DC and the majority of the big cities on the east coast.

Everyone her complains about how bad traffic is and their terrible 45+ minute commute.  I laugh and let them know that is 1/2 what mine was in DC.  LA is worse than the Bay area, but when I am in San Diego I laugh at the complaints.  That said - DC traffic is world class bad now so we were per-aclimated.

we are renting for a year until we find a place we really fit in - neighborhoods are pretty homogenious and are quite insular up here.  We found "our people" are a few towns away - close but far enough I am glad we did not buy where we are.

School regulation are insane - we will not likely use the public system here - not an issue for you.

Registering the GSA was not  big deal (once i found where the VIN number is on the frame AND motor) - DMV takes reservations (nice) and although I had to jump a few hoops and pay a bunch it was just a 3 hour headache.  The motorcycle test was not that easy but you get 2 chances to pass the written and no skills test.  I found out late there is a book - it would have helped to read it before I tried to pass.

Taxes, food, insurance, etc are significantly higher than DC - assume at least 25% - possibly more.

The weather is awesome - seriously it is that good.

Although the riding and lane splitting is great - I am so busy I have not been out more than 2-3 times for an hour each.  Life is way busy here.

My wife said "Sell the house-we are not going back" - it seems the ladies like it.

Good luck - keep us posted.

[squeezer]

Thanks, DNA. So, are we going to establish the California chapter of the Top of the Bell Curve Rally Team?

Okay, Socal people -- what about the commute on 60 & 57 coming from Chino Hills? That's starting to look like a real possibility.

I've got my fingers crossed that we'll have a contract on a house in the next week or two.

[Rogue]

The 60 is horrible.  The 57 is LESS horrible.  Both suck.

Many jobs are located in Orange County.  So thousands flock into the OC to go to work every day from all directions.  

All those freeways are going to suck during the rush hour.  The only practical way to eliminate having to slog it out along with thousands of cages is to live close to your work....say within a 10 mile radius.  The only one commute I can think of that is "okay" is Oceanside to Orange County.  It won't be pleasant but it won't be horrible like the two above.  

Sorry man.  Such is life in the urban jungles of SoCal.  

[rgbeard]

I live in Bonsall, (basically Oceanside) and do the commute to O.C. often.

Not NEAR like, 60, 91, 57.

Take a look.

[squeezer]

Huh. We'd been avoiding looking at Oceanside because it seemed too far away. I guess we'll put it back on the search list.

Has anyone ever used the train from down there? There's a station about a block from my new office.

We're still looking closer, but there's a dearth of housing in the area for non-billionaires -- at least housing that has a lot of reasonable size for the dogs to play. It's a shame my wife's hobby isn't bikes instead of pooches. Then all I'd need is a little extra garage space.  

[Rogue]

Amtrak runs along the coastline up to Irvine station from San Diego.  I'm sure it somehow passes by Oceanside.  The Irvine station is also right smach dab in the middle of the Irvine Spectrum, which is a big business center.  You can ride on the Amtrak all the way to Santa Barbara and it's a nice ride IF you have time and if you are willing to sit across strangers for hours on end.  

[rgbeard]

Huh. We'd been avoiding looking at Oceanside because it seemed too far away. I guess we'll put it back on the search list.

Has anyone ever used the train from down there? There's a station about a block from my new office.

We're still looking closer, but there's a dearth of housing in the area for non-billionaires -- at least housing that has a lot of reasonable size for the dogs to play. It's a shame my wife's hobby isn't bikes instead of pooches. Then all I'd need is a little extra garage space.  

The train from Oceanside ROCKS!

I've used it before on a few occasions, and have a few co workers/friends that are fortunate enough to use it regularly and save the drive.

The station is located here:

http://maps.google.com/maps?q=Oceanside,+CA&hl=en&ll=33.193593,-117.379357&spn=0.004507,0.009645&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=34.945679,79.013672&oq=ocean&t=h&hnear=Oceanside,+San+Diego,+California&z=17

BIG quality of life difference between San Diego county and the "Inland Empire" as well.

[rgbeard]

Maybe you're putting things together too fast to try and purchase a home before living out here and having some basic understanding of what works/doesn't and how traffic flows.

Consider renting a home in the "sticks" so that the dog issue is acceptable, and take 6 months to grasp the potpourri that is SoCal.

[squeezer]

Yeah, we're kicking the rental idea around as well. Not our preference, but it's a possibility. We'll see. As time grows shorter, that becomes more likely.

Double checking Oceanside again, I guess I should be more specific -- we're actually commuting to City of Orange. From Oceanside, that's a poke. Something like Yorba Linda would work out pretty well. Anaheim/Anaheim Hills/Tustin would all be close in. Orange itself if we catch the house the day it goes on the market (dang, those things go fast). Thinking about places like Brea to be closer to elder son (he's in Santa Monica). Chino Hills is on the edge of where we're looking to the east and we'd go there only if we absolutely love the house.

Corona and Norco are out.

We actually made an offer on a house in Yorba Linda a couple of weeks ago that looked perfect, checked out with our realtor, and seemed like a steal. There was some sweat equity involved, but that's okay. We offered 10K OVER the list price which brought us pretty close to our limit. The seller came back with a counter that was 40K over that. Jeebus. It wasn't a steal anymore. This socal market really is nuts.  

[Rogue]

Squeezer, go for Anaheim.  My daughter and her BF just got a rental home there ($2100/mo) and it's in a nice, middle class neighborhood.  The city is multi-ethnic but it's not a war zone--the signs are still in English and I never saw any nasty Graffiti on every billboard, concrete wall, or abandoned buildings.  Plus, the city has tons of shopping centers filled with recognizable names.  Disneyland is there and so is the Angel's Baseball stadium so the city has money.  Anaheim Hills is even nicer.  Tustin as well.  Santa Ana is not bad per se, but unless you are Hispanic, you may not feel comfortable there.  Some people will refer to Santa Ana as "Ghetto" and compared to most everything else in Orange County, it is.  But I will take Santa Ana over Los Angeles ANY DAY 365 days a year!

The rental market is very competitive but not impossible.  A lot of people want to live the Orange County.  A lot of jobs are there and it is Utopia to many.  You will understand once you live here.  

Living in Riverside County and commuting to the OC is horrible any way you cut it.  Unless you can fly over those Saddleback Mountains everyday, which you can't, it sucks.  I've known many co-workers who have done this commute daily and it wears on them.  One co-worker lived in Perris and commuted to Orange County everyday via Ortega Highway--2.5 hours ONE WAY every day!  She could not get enough sleep.  She finally moved back to the OC with a 20-minute commute.  

[DNA]

We moved out here - rented a house for a year that I though we could buy and quickly realized I was about 5 miles off my ideal.

Until we had lived here for a few months we could not really know the commute, micro population specifics, and regional issues.  I recommend renting for 6-12 and buy something you really like while rates are still low and prices are "reasonable".

I find it difficult to make a snap decision on a $1,000,000+ purchase without some more research...

[squeezer]

Well, it's done! We found a small house with everything we wanted in a great part of Placentia just under 10 miles from the office. We close and move at the end of June. I'll pop back out here in July to wrap a few things up and do some riding with younger son, then I'll point the feejer west and ride it out to stay. The new job starts in August, though I've already started getting up to speed on that.

Thanks, all, for the advice on staying away from the east side of the mountain. The McMansions over there are awfully tempting, but this should be a better lifestyle.

[viffergyrl]

That's great! It's truly best to be as close to your job in SoCal.  

[Rogue]

Congrats.  Good choice.  

You will love the weather and the roads (but not the traffic).  Luckily, the urban sprawl does relax outside of the big cities.

[squeezer]

I will deeply miss the roads around here. Even my backroad commute to work is on roads most riders only dream of. Really looking forward to a 12 month riding season, though. And at heart, I'm a city kid, so I won't mind the trade-offs that come with that. I'm stoked now for the new start. 

[DNA]

Bring your shirt - team bell curve is going to mediocritize the west.  

Think we can get Scott over from Texas as well?

[rgbeard]

Just to reaffirm your choice.


We were in Fullerton for a Jaguar show today.  The warmest part of the afternoon was 81 degrees according to our car thermo.

By the time we made it on 91 to 15 it was 98.  (Very near Norco)
Lake Elsinore was 100.
Fallbook/Bonsall was 76.

This is all within the same hour.

[nnjhawk02]

Squeezer  Congrats & good luck

Thats a big leap from Pa (not sure where U R now)

I've only been to La La Land a while back & rented a HD, loved the splitting, but I did it illegally into NYC daily for 4 years, so I was used to tight spots.   Cali at least has something right

Again Good Luck & Be Safe

[Rogue]

Agree.  We also have the Speed Trap Law going for us, and the higher defacto speeds out in the open Interstates.  The twisty roads are also relatively well maintained and there are plenty of them.  It's a great place to ride motorcycles and fast cars.  But the price of enjoying all that is high.