twisties around nyc....?

[BISON]

...do they exist? how far out of the city does one have to ride to get to them?

on a more philosophical level....
...is it possible to achieve motorcycle happiness riding in the big apple after living in the bay area???

[Krooklyn]

Originally Posted by CBRider

...do they exist? how far out of the city does one have to ride to get to them?

on a more philosophical level....
...is it possible to achieve motorcycle happiness riding in the big apple after living in the bay area???

Yes, they exist. Not on the same level as out West, but they exist in a much smaller capacity. To be honest if you're coming from the Bay Area to NYC and hope to have some sort of happiness...well, it's probably not going to happen. After 3 years of riding >450 miles every Sunday during the spring-fall trying to find good twisties, I gave up and have focused on the track. It's frustrating having to ride 125 miles from BK to the middle of nowhere, PA or up to the Catskills just to find decent roads and after you do they're nowhere near what the canyon roads are like out in CA.

If you're in NY PM me and I'll help you get in contact with some guys who know good roads and can lead you around or I can give you a few hints.

If you can't tell, I'm a bit down on the NY area (in regards to riding) and actually plan to move to CA next spring.

[BISON]

thanks krooklyn
...i guess you are exactly who i needed to hear from. i have been contemplating a move out there for a while now...for work, family, and friends...i grew up outside of DC and all my closest friends from out east live in brooklyn now.
...it makes sense for me to be there for every reason except motorcycles. my friends just flew out here and road (old honda cb's that i fixed up for them) back to brooklyn. they knew i was thinking about moving out there, and while on the road we talked about it often. they know how important riding is to me and my mental health... and now that they have heard the call of the motorcycle and are addicts too, THEY are seriously worried that I would be unhappy in brooklyn. i was already worried...when i realized how worried they were for me, my worry grew exponentially. i felt i needed to do some investigation.
I would like to explore some maps of the area with some further information if possible...what are some of the roads that you are thinking of? realistically, how far are they out of town? do i really have to sit in ny traffic? how far are the tracks? how do they compare with thunderhill, infineon, etc...
I have a million questions really...sorry to hit you with my life story/a bunch of questions...
any thoughts, advice, information on the matter is much appreciated....

[Krooklyn]

Originally Posted by CBRider

I would like to explore some maps of the area with some further information if possible...what are some of the roads that you are thinking of? realistically, how far are they out of town? do i really have to sit in ny traffic? how far are the tracks? how do they compare with thunderhill, infineon, etc...
I have a million questions really...sorry to hit you with my life story/a bunch of questions...
any thoughts, advice, information on the matter is much appreciated....

I'll try to answer these as objectively as I can, but keep in mind that I am jaded and just ride the track now. Part of that was due to visiting my bro-in-law in LA, so you can blame SoCal for that.

what are some of the roads that you are thinking of?

I don't want to get into specific road names over the interwebs, but I can PM you some routes if you'd like. Judging by what I've seen you guys have in NorCal, only a few that are up in the Catskills, one in Northern NJ, one in upstate close to the Adirondacks, a few over in PA are what I'd consider remotely close to good. Sure, there are some in the Harriman/Bear Mtn. area, but they're no comparison to proper CA canyon roads IMO.

realistically, how far are they out of town?

The good roads in PA are ~125-150 away from my place in BK. The few 'ok' roads in N. NJ are ~60 miles away. Harriman/Bear Mtn. is ~60 miles away and the road that's the closest thing to a CA canyon road is about ~235 miles from my place. Yes, you read that right, 235 miles away on the slab, just to ride a 'good' road by CA area standards and a great road by NY standards.

do i really have to sit in ny traffic?

No, you can split, but in NY it's not legal and the cops will ticket you b/c NYC needs the money.

how far are the tracks? how do they compare with thunderhill, infineon, etc...

MMC (Monticello Motor Club) is ~120 miles from BK and NJMP (New Jersey Motorsports Park) is ~140 away. I've not been to MMC b/c the armco and the lack of run-off scare me and most TD clubs. NJMP I go to frequently and have ridden Lightning and Thunderbolt a lot. I prefer Thunderbolt to Lightning. The facilities are nicer than WSMC (haven't been to any other CA tracks), but there's a lack of elevation change, so it's a give/take.

If you have any other questions just let me know.

[BISON]

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

I don't want to get into specific road names over the interwebs, but I can PM you some routes if you'd like.

...please PM me...

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

The good roads in PA are ~125-150 away from my place in BK. The few 'ok' roads in N. NJ are ~60 miles away. Harriman/Bear Mtn. is ~60 miles away and the road that's the closest thing to a CA canyon road is about ~235 miles from my place. Yes, you read that right, 235 miles away on the slab, just to ride a 'good' road by CA area standards and a great road by NY standards.

...this sir, is not close...at all. i have been spoiled by the bay area. i may never be able to leave....

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

No, you can split, but in NY it's not legal and the cops will ticket you b/c NYC needs the money.

...thats what i was hoping to hear.

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

If you have any other questions just let me know.

...i am sure i will come up with many more. thanks for your help.

[larry kahn]

I'm sitting home here in San Luis Obispo area where I have lived since 1988. Before that (32years) was a native New Jersey boy. After 22 years out here I still every day ( and am an agnostic at best) PRAISE GOD that I live in California now. With regards to moving to NYC area, DON'T FUCKIN DO IT!!!! Look at the USA map and notice that LA to SF is roughly equal distance as Washington DC to Boston. Now notice that i[In between[/I] those two east coast points is Baltimore-Philly-NJ (most densely populated state)-NYC-Hartford and a non-stop flow of smaller cities in between all those major cities. So take the LA sprawl and run it non-stop to SF and out to Vegas. Now mix in hot/humid/rainy for much of June to September and cold/damp/slushy for November to March. Then watch "Jersey Shore" and imagine millions of those assholes driving all around you. Then throw in pissed-off cops and Donald Trump wanna-bes. Riding consist of waiting for a gap in the flow of cars and pulling out of your driveway and getting in line and staying there. I'm still in glory of being able to put my motorcycle in top gear and leaving it there for many miles. NEVER happen back there. I could go on but I'll just say again DON'T DO IT!! Go have a fun visit and eat some fuckin good-ass pizza (ONLY thing I miss) and call it good. As a motorcyclist it's Hell. For the others, it just sucks. This is all coming from a place of fellow-rider love. If you're friends see that your mental health is tied into riding, believe them about that's not the place to be. Califuckinfornia baby!!!

[Krooklyn]

Yeah, Larry put it pretty well. NYC is great for a lot of things, but motorcycle riding is definitely not one of them.

[MizCoop]

Aww... I disagree to some degree. There are some nice roads out here... Larry seems to fall into the bucket of people who move to the West coast and never want to leave (I know a lot of people like that). I'll give you the other side if that's OK, someone who loves the East Coast and enjoyed my time in Cali but could never live there.

So, for East Coast riding...

Long Island has some great twisties, especially as you get further out East. I am waiting for my friend Tommy to join the forum, he will be able to give you more specifics on which roads (I am a group rider follower, so never know where I am).

Sussex county NJ also has some good riding. Again, my friend Jason will have to pipe in here. I'll shoot him an email to join up shortly.

While you're not going to find roads that are exactly like the Bay Area, I don't think it should completely discourage you from moving out here if that is your plan. You could also try racing Supermoto... we have some fun tracks out here for that.

[MizCoop]

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

Yeah, Larry put it pretty well. NYC is great for a lot of things, but motorcycle riding is definitely not one of them.

I agree with that. It's not a place to move to if you want to ride. That's what the Bay Area is for. It's a place to move to for all the other awesome things about it, and then you figure out the riding the best you can.

It really depends on your priorities. If riding is your main reason for living... NYC will chew you up and spit you out. If you want to be closer to family, friends, and work, then you can make the motorcycle thing happen if it's important to you.

Good luck and let us know if you do decide to move out here!

[Krooklyn]

Originally Posted by MizCoop

Aww... I disagree to some degree. There are some nice roads out here... Larry seems to fall into the bucket of people who move to the West coast and never want to leave (I know a lot of people like that). I'll give you the other side if that's OK, someone who loves the East Coast and enjoyed my time in Cali but could never live there.

So, for East Coast riding...

Long Island has some great twisties, especially as you get further out East. I am waiting for my friend Tommy to join the forum, he will be able to give you more specifics on which roads (I am a group rider follower, so never know where I am).

Sussex county NJ also has some good riding. Again, my friend Jason will have to pipe in here. I'll shoot him an email to join up shortly.

While you're not going to find roads that are exactly like the Bay Area, I don't think it should completely discourage you from moving out here if that is your plan. You could also try racing Supermoto... we have some fun tracks out here for that.

I've ridden all those and know them very well and they can't compare to Cali canyon roads. Anyone who says they can either hasn't ridden enough roads in Cali or is in denial.

CBRider, I'd suggest you take a trip over borrow a friends bike and then you'll see what I'm talking about.

[MizCoop]

Originally Posted by Krooklyn

I've ridden all those and know them very well and they can't compare to Cali canyon roads. Anyone who says they can either hasn't ridden enough roads in Cali or is in denial.

CBRider, I'd suggest you take a trip over borrow a friends bike and then you'll see what I'm talking about.

I wasn't trying to say they compare to them... just that we have some decent roads in case he does decide to move here. If he's looking for Hwy 9, I agreed that he won't be happy.

[larry kahn]

Hey, yous guys send me some pizza and I'll send yous some weed!

Meanwhile, put this tiny little bit of my neighborhood ride on full screen and enjoy. Speakers on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHBbS...eature=related

Check any other vids on the page too. Blue skys, no cops. AKA Heaven.

[MizCoop]

Originally Posted by larry kahn

Hey, yous guys send me some pizza and I'll send yous some weed!

Meanwhile, put this tiny little bit of my neighborhood ride on full screen and enjoy. Speakers on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHBbS...eature=related

Check any other vids on the page too. Blue skys, no cops. AKA Heaven.

OK deal!

Our pizza DOES rock.

And yes, your riding is heaven. I moved to the Bay Area to go to grad school... dropped out after a month... and stayed a year and a half for the riding.

I am just an East Coast girl at heart... that and family health issues and here I am back in NYC, watching your videos and being jealous of your roads.

[MizCoop]

Originally Posted by larry kahn

Check any other vids on the page too. Blue skys, no cops. AKA Heaven.

Oh and that's the other thing about East Coast riding that is kinda annoying... shorter season, and the warm months are fricking hot and humid. So All the Gear All the Time gets a bit schweaty... but still, I do it.

[BISON]

...i am still on the fence. i have been riding everyday this week in gorgeous 70's-80's bay area weather asking myself if i could give all this up....
...some of the best roads in the country, year round riding season, legal 'lane-sharing,' twisties ten minutes from home, the Sunday Morning Ride, no-cal tracks, world class riders to ride with....
man...this is gonna be tough...
...thanks mizcoop for the encouragement that there may be some level of hope out there...
...thanks krooklyn and larrykahn for the honest answers.

it seems that, as i thought, if i were to move to brooklyn, i would be frustrated, at best. my hope, if i am to move, is to achieve an acceptable level of motorcycle happiness given what i have to work with...
the truth is motorcycles won't be the deciding factor in this decision for me...once again, the endless pursuit of the almighty dollar will more than likely be the pivotal factor...

...krooklyn...or anyone...please pm with the names of some of the twisties in the nyc area
thanks