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Los Angeles SF visitor..

1027 Views 17 Replies 9 Participants Last post by GP1152, Dec 9, 2012

preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · Dec 3, 2012

Howdy forum.

Well I got restless with my bike being tucked away up in Victoria so I have shipped it down to LA.

So it shows up on Tuesday and I'm wondering what any of you down in this area might suggest as must do rides?

I plan on riding up to SanFran as long as the weather looks dependable enough to visit GP up there and ride up the coast!

I'm sown here till next Monday morning!

PJ

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CHIEFBATLAX

· #2 · Dec 3, 2012

Angels crest if there isn't any snow, the snake in Malibu, GMR Glendora mountain "race" roadway. If there isn't any snow. Ortega in south oc are a few that pop in my head.

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CHIEFBATLAX

· #3 · Dec 3, 2012

I don't think there snow it's been warm so far.

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proheli

· #4 · Dec 3, 2012

The Snake is part of Mullhand hwy on the 30mi or so stretch from where it starts on the 101 side and heads over to the 1 in Malibu. Just before the Snake is The Rock Store, a super well know biker place with good food and lots of bikes on the weekend. There will be some good curves at different places as you head over to the 1. At the 1 Turn north and after a few miles you will get to Neptunes, a fun fish restaurant, where there should also be some bikes.

The trick here is to figure out on your map Encinal Canyon, which runs in the same direction as Mulholland Hwy. Its really got the best sport bike roads in the area. You'll definately thank me when you do Encinal.

As far as the 2 goes, it pretty self explanatory from Pro Italia all the way up to Newcombs Ranch. Newcombs is the destination restaurant about 35 mi up the 2. If you want you can take it another 35 miles after that back to Wrightwood, but the last 15 mi have jus been redone and there are little tar balls on the road. The fast road in the area is Upper Big Tujunga. On the left about 10mi before you get to Newcombs. Its 9 miles of new smooth, with medium to fast sweepers. The kind of place the fast guys go through at 6 am before any leos show up for work.

Anyway, thats a start on the North End.

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freighttriain

· #5 · Dec 3, 2012

This time of year you will need to be on the cautious side... Especially on the North sides of the Mountains... less Sun this time of year..
Personally, being from the Bay Area, I would spend more time up there then down here on the roads.

Southern Cal. Roads have some good ones to have fun on...
But most are short bursts.. Ranging from 3-12 mile average...
GMR is good if you like tight stuff.. As are some of the little one's in Santa Monica mountains as well...

For a bit more speed, Angeles Crest and Upper Tujunga are fun... The Crest is about 27 miles to Newcomb's... And like mentioned... Upper T is 9miles... Brief, but fun.

I personally prefer... The 33... Cerra Noroeste.. Hwy. 25 .. Hwy. 58.. And I really like the roads up North in Napa.. Around Lake Berryessa.

The ride from the Golden Gate on the 1 up through Mendicino County? Nice...

Depends on your plan. Your headed to The Bay Area... Are you staying there?
Or continuing up North from there?

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EagleRider

· #6 · Dec 3, 2012

As you can tell if you're down here, it's been raining and generally soggy of late, continuing today.

It's not been cold enough for this rain to turn to snow on Angeles Crest (Highway 2), but it makes the road somewhat treacherous. If this doesn't let up during your stay, consider riding up to Harley's Rock Inn, through some of the more northern canyons. Nice mix of corners, and no elevations high enough to risk ice if it's been wet. Like Malibu, these roads have their share of residences along them, so watch out for cars pulling out from driveways. That's one of the nicer points of the Crest - that it is a national forest and there are no residences.

North of the LA area, there is Ojai and Highway 33 going north. Fantastic road, but will be affected by weather at its highest points.

Lots of good roads to try on your way to SF. Enjoy!

b3nn

· #7 · Dec 3, 2012

Hi there, can I ask... when is the best time to ride a bike in USA? I am really interested of the prospect of shipping my bike from where I live to USA to sample some of the tracks and roads there!

CHIEFBATLAX

· #8 · Dec 3, 2012

Big country with different climates. Southern California is all year. So anything that is along the same latitude I would guess would be the same. The closer you get Canada the more likely you'll have snow. Around the end of November till march. That was my experience from my time in North Dakota. And anywhere in the mountains would be about the sameness that.

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jdurward

· #9 · Dec 3, 2012

Start at Winthrop, WA and take the 20 west to the coast. It's a long ride with full speed sweepers - definitely a SF road. I saw no police and it's the only ride I've ever been on where my tires (the original Pirellis) were actually smoking when I stopped. Exceptional high-speed road....

preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · #10 · Dec 3, 2012

jdurward said:
Start at Winthrop, WA and take the 20 west to the coast. It's a long ride with full speed sweepers - definitely a SF road. I saw no police and it's the only ride I've ever been on where my tires (the original Pirellis) were actually smoking when I stopped. Exceptional high-speed road....

I ride this route all of the time in the summer. This highway is closed int he winter.
It's amazing, one friend said its the best road he has ever ridden.

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preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · #11 · Dec 3, 2012

Tanks a ton for the input you guys!
I do need to find somewhere to store it and leave it down here.
Anyone know of a dealer that stores Ducs near Hermosa?

I am definitely going to hit these suggestions.
Weather again this morning is terrible so it's lucky that the shipper hasn't arrived with my bike.
It doesn't get here now till Wednesday or Thursday.

Probably going to go south and inland now though after hitting these routes though.
Before heading back to cold Vancouver and starting my ski vacation I need some heat!

So desert and Palm Springs look out.
If you guys have must ride spots south now I would be thankful?

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lax01

· #12 · Dec 3, 2012

Yeah weather sucks...couldn't/wouldn't ride all weekend.

Definitely hit up the Crest or Snake...two of my favorite roads in the area.

If you get desperate, I have a private garage in Hollywood where you can store your bike (it not a solo garage but there are lots of Ducs in there)...

preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · #13 · Dec 3, 2012

lax01 said:
Yeah weather sucks...couldn't/wouldn't ride all weekend.

Definitely hit up the Crest or Snake...two of my favorite roads in the area.

If you get desperate, I have a private garage in Hollywood where you can store your bike (it not a solo garage but there are lots of Ducs in there)...

Thanks for the offer. I will continue the search. A friend has a garage in Palm Springs he offered, just a bit out of the way.

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preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · #14 · Dec 5, 2012

Btw any one feel like riding over the weekend?

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lax01

· #15 · Dec 5, 2012

Might be riding down to Long Beach for the Motorcycle show...

GP1152

· #16 · Dec 8, 2012

preppyjoel said:
...... one friend said its the best road he has ever ridden.

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This might have been me I guess. DEFINITELY the best road we ever rode on.

Shame you weren't able to make it up here to stay with us my friend. Hopefully next time.

preppyjoel

Discussion Starter · #17 · Dec 9, 2012

Bike only arrived today

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GP1152

· #18 · Dec 9, 2012

preppyjoel said:
Bike only arrived today

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That sucks man. Maybe you get some riding in tomorrow before you leave?

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