Bike observations in California

[tomo]

My wife Dawn and me are on vacation again in sunny southern California. Great to get away from the s....y British weather and Brexit !. Started in La and drove to San Diego then across to Annza Borrego desert then across to the coast, now in Santa Barbara. Noticed most bikes we saw in SD & desert were big Harleys. Over in SB though, seems to be a lot more Jap bikes about. Saw a GS750 today and a couple of Honda 4/4s. Only seen a couple of Harleys. Interesting, well, sort of !.

[Rob S.]

Great to hear from our friends across the pond. Just four wheeling it here, no two-wheeled rentals?

Just a tad warmer in southern Cal, eh? Enjoy your stay.

[tomo]

Thanks Rob, it is a tad warmer here than north east England that is for sure, at Anza Borrego it hit 98 deg !. Bit more bearable in Santa B, love this place, would move here in an instant, just need to win the lottery first. Dawn saw a place she liked in a real estate magazine, a bargain at $31,500,000 !. On the way for dinner tonight, saw a guy on an old Triumph, and a Honda CB750, still no Harleys.

[Rob S.]

31 and a half million and she just liked it. So you haven't settled on it and will look at other places. Wise decision. Wait until you really fall in love with a place.

[tomo]

I know, no pleasing some people, kitchen too small apparently. Might be some structural problems too as it is so cheap !.

[salty_monk]

all the building here are constructed like sheds... You must have been in my neighbourhood, I could have put you on the skunk for a spin round the hill

[GS1150Pilot]

California is in so many ways the best of all states-if you set aside horrid traffic, pollution and the price of real estate. I do mean that: I love the state. If I were a millionaire, I'd have a house in Santa Barbara.

[earlfor]

California is in so many ways the best of all states-if you set aside horrid traffic, pollution and the price of real estate. I do mean that: I love the state. If I were a millionaire, I'd have a house in Santa Barbara.

Yeah. traffic, pollution, population density, ridiculous taxes, earthquakes, fires and mudslides, floods, and sits on a fault that if it ever opens you'll wake up in Beijing. (figuratively speaking, the actual opposite of California is the middle of the Indian ocean) LOL. Most land points have opposites located in oceans. Nah, Colorado would be my choice.

[GS1150Pilot]

Yeah. traffic, pollution, population density, ridiculous taxes, earthquakes, fires and mudslides, floods, and sits on a fault that if it ever opens you'll wake up in Beijing. LOL. Nah, Colorado would be my choice.

Colorado is my second choice, probably. Mountains galore, the best mountain biking and hiking state most likely. But ... the ocean is amazing and to live near it again would be wonderful.

[earlfor]

Colorado is my second choice, probably. Mountains galore, the best mountain biking and hiking state most likely. But ... the ocean is amazing and to live near it again would be wonderful.

For ocean and geography, population, traffic etc, probably Vancouver Island or N.Z.

[fbody_mike]

You guys forgot about the crazy taxes and laws in California, but..... the Motorcycle riding is great! I do it 365 days a year, unless I am out of state.

As for the bike observation, in Los Angeles and Orange counties you will see everything on a daily basis. For Santa Barbara just wait for the weekend, there will be some dude out on State Street with his Harley crusing up and down with an open exhaust.

[GSXR7ED]

I rode in SoCal while I was working for Boeing at Holloman AFB, Alamogordo NM...trailed my bike to Mom's house/Inland Empire and rode all the way to Santa Monica & Dodger's Stadium. Then my clutch cable broke returning to Rancho.

We may consider moving back west...Mom is getting up in age...adopted dad takes good care of her but they can get lonely out there!

Lots of interesting bikes on the road in SoCal.

Ed

[tomo]

Been speaking to a few locals, biggest gripe they have is the taxes. Forest fires and earthquakes don,t seem to worry them too much, but guess if you grow up here you learn to live with it ?. Was told you can take out insurance, but very expensive. Out and about today, saw a couple of nice Ducati, couple of BMWs, a few Jap crotch rockets and a few big Jap cruisers, but still no Harleys !. Dawn wants to look up State Street on Saturday, so will keep an eye out for posers on the big Harleys with open pipes !.

[Big T]

If you're still in SB, look up Bill aka Chef1366

[tomo]

We are staying in Santa Barbara until Sunday, then going down to Ventura. One day there then back to La then, unfortunately back home to the dull weather and work !. Wondered whether we had any members in SB, did see a GS750 down near Stearns Wharfe.