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Motorcycle hire L.A.. talk to me (done write up included)

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natefz6
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: 17:00 - 13 Jul 2017    Post subject: Motorcycle hire L.A.. talk to me (done write up included) Reply with quote

I am going on a work jolly next week to L.A and have a few days free time at the end thurs/fri/sat and was thinking of hiring a bike to get me round.

I looked at the Harley places and they come out at about $300 but then saw these guys that look a bit cheaper;

https://www.ride2rideagain.com/rentals#prettyPhoto


I dont need anything fancy really it was more to get around as the last few times I have been I have had a car as the family were in tow. This time I hope to explore my free spirit Rolling Eyes

Anyone have experience in renting or riding in L.A? IIRC you can filter over there right?
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"no I didn't steal it that's just the way I ride"


Last edited by natefz6 on 13:34 - 24 Jul 2017; edited 1 time in total
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stinkwheel
Bovine Proctologist



Joined: 12 Jul 2004
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PostPosted: 17:10 - 13 Jul 2017    Post subject: Re: Motorcycle hire L.A.. talk to me Reply with quote

natefz6 wrote:

Anyone have experience in renting or riding in L.A? IIRC you can filter over there right?


I believe you can "lane split" in California as a whole but a friend living over there says people can still get self-riteous or even enraged about it. Most Americans still see it as "cutting in line" and some WILL block you or even drive at you.

In many states, if you knocked a filtering mororcyclist off, the police might even shake your hand and congratulate you for stopping them.

Attitudes are changing but remember drivers aren't necessarily expecting you to be there and that some of them will get unreasonably angry about it to the point of overt attempts to stop you.

Best ask at the rental shop about local attitudes.

I'd add that most of the drivers when I rode in the US were slow off the mark, inattentive and unobservant. Coupled with shit tyres, shit cars, concrete road surface, auto transmissions and multi-lane roads where passing on either side is the norm. There's probably enough to be worrying about without adding filtering to the mix. Get something big and loud. Make yourself seen.
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“Rule one: Always stick around for one more drink. That's when things happen. That's when you find out everything you want to know.
I did the 2010 Round Britain Rally on my 350 Bullet. 89 landmarks, 3 months, 9,500 miles.
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natefz6
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Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: 17:02 - 21 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

so this happen today Smile

https://i.imgur.com/CLAplve.jpg
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natefz6
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PostPosted: 13:33 - 24 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am now back in the land of the rain but had an awesome time both at the conference and out on the bike.

I will leave out the bit about the conference as I am sure you would all be board to death hearing about VoIP/UC switches even more than the following write up.

The 1st day (Thursday) I picked a bike up up from a local Easyrider place. I just walked in they showed me the stock they had which was about 50-60 bikes of varying sizes. As I have never been a big Harley fan I went for the sportster as the size appealed a bit more. Just needed my UK driving license and a CC to book. The process was a bit long winded but I only had to sign about 3 forms. The bike was brand spanking new with only 5 miles on the clock, and nice new shiny tyres.

After getting the bike I was starving and as it was the first time riding in the US and the first time on a Harley I thought it best to start with a small trip so nipped down to Hermosa Beach to get some lunch at Scottys on the strand. Turns out I needn't have worried as riding a bike is errr like riding a bike and as I have driven a fair bit over there I settled in quick. Going through reds on right turns is something I always like doing and seems to have good logic. Lunch done I went for a nice coastal drive a bit further up to Venice beach and then Santa Monica getting off at each for a leg stretch and a wonder around. That was it for day one so I headed back to my friends house in Redondo Beach for grub and to continue working off the hangover from the conference.

On getting back my friend tells me one of his mates is interested in going for a ride on Friday if I fancied it, as I was tootling around on my jack Jones this sounded like a great plan. I spoke to mates mate and we arranged to head out at 10:30 the next day.

Day 2 started out with some freeway riding and a lot of "lane splitting". I am used to cutting traffic so it was pretty normal, one thing I did like was the car pool lanes as it stops cars (for the most part) moving between lanes 3 and 4 and almost makes a tiny dedicated lane between for bikes to make progress in. We dropped back on to the pacific coast highway at Santa Monica and followed it up past Malibu and then took a right to find some mountain roads. Here things got pretty twisty and quite enjoyable. The thing that did take me some time to get the hand of was the weight of the bike going down hill through the twistys. It was pretty hard to take in all the scenery and concentrate on the road at the same time but beautiful and good fun. The route continued through a couple of small towns and a bit more mountain twists until we got to Ojai Deer lodge at about 14:15.

Food from the lodge was awesome it is one of those places you get in the states with a big BBQ outside slow cooking some serious meats. We had tri tip sandwich which was huge but delicious. After coming back round from my meat comma we got back in the saddle and took a more direct route home through Oxnard as we had people to meet for dinner. Mates mate nearly got taken out by some old biddy on the way back but kept it upright and we both survived.

Route:
https://i.imgur.com/bdO1qKK.png

Day 3 the bike had to be back for 12 but they give you an hours grace so you can drop up to 13:00 before you get charged. With just a couple of hours to kill I thought I would head south and check out Palos Verdes. If you go at the right time of year you can see loads of whales swimming past but July is a bit late. Its still really pretty there but once you get past the light house the roads turn to absolute gash for a couple of miles. They are literally falling off the coast.

Route:
https://i.imgur.com/695HL1j.png

All in all I had a great experience and I will definitely be looking at doing something longer like San Fran to San Diego down the PCH. Easy rider do a deal where for $129- $179 a day you get the bike and a hotel room in something equivalent to a travel lodge. Riding in LA was easier than riding in London and the Harleys most definitely fit in well there, much of the time it was like it was riding itself. Twistys were fun but I was more at home on the coast roads.

One thing for next time is I would hire a full face helmet, you get the half helmet for free but god it gets noisy quick and I took some flies in the face which did start to get tedious pretty quick.
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Tracer1234
World Chat Champion



Joined: 13 Sep 2014
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PostPosted: 17:45 - 24 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Sounds great. Nice little write up! Any pictures Smile
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Riding: Yamaha MT-09 Tracer Occasionally Riding: 08 Suzuki SV650, Potato: 2011 Yamaha YBR Custom.
Used to ride: 2015 Yamaha MT-09 Tracer (smidsy) 09 Triumph Street Triple (P/X'd) 08 Yamaha YBR (Sold)
CBT 04/14. A: Mod 1 & 2 13/04/15
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natefz6
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: 11:24 - 25 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

I got a few but not as many as normal as I was too busy enjoying riding Smile

Venice beach
https://i.imgur.com/7B9E4FN.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/qDNkMJF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/trVIFqs.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/pvyAz2H.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/VCVPUVS.jpg

I only got a one on the ride up to Ojai :/
https://i.imgur.com/crAcX8C.jpg


Palos Verdes
https://i.imgur.com/zJUgYvl.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/BR4F3xF.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/duL0mv6.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1NVHrLm.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/1tndLQV.jpg
https://i.imgur.com/5nfuMUB.jpg
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spnorm
Crazy Courier



Joined: 18 Aug 2007
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PostPosted: 22:13 - 25 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

Can't believe you missed the LA Crest Highway Shocked One of the best biking roads I've ridden anywhere in the World
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natefz6
Brolly Dolly



Joined: 06 Apr 2005
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PostPosted: 11:33 - 26 Jul 2017    Post subject: Reply with quote

spnorm wrote:
Can't believe you missed the LA Crest Highway Shocked One of the best biking roads I've ridden anywhere in the World


Well if you had told me about it before..... Smile

Its ok I'm back nearly every year, I just normally have the family in tow, I'm sure I can take a couple of days out though.
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