Split (Lanes) to Southern California?

[zipzit]

Work is getting rather weird here and I'm thinking seriously of moving to Southern California. I grew up in Glendora, spent time in military and ended up working for an automotive company in Metro Detroit Michigan. (Make your hobby your career.. path). Work stuff is bizzare with lots of downsizing and I'm thinking of moving on to do something different.

I've still got family there and I'm thinking of moving back. I'm not too worried about finding a job... I kept my professional engineer registration up to date, as well as recent grad degree (blah, blah...) One thing I have learned in life is I really don't like long commute to work. Unfortunately, so cal housing prices tend to force one into long commutes. One plus to moving to california is the ability to lane split and use the bike most of the time.

I am very afraid, that after a year or two of daily commuting I'll get tired of the motorcycle commute. Now its fun, but I don't get that many good days per year to do so, Michigan weather and all. I think I now commute maybe 4 or 5000 miles / year.

Whaddya think.. does the motorcycle commute justify a major job move to california? Will it get old after a while?

thanks,
zip

[racinteach]

the crazy prices of housing don't make it worth it..but I commute daily and yes I do find my self getting tired of the commute every so often...to the point I don't mind not riding durng the weekend...weather is nicer around here and yes you can split ..but not sure if it's totally worth it..I know I am facing a rather larger move next year ... my 2 cents ...good luck on your choice

[Darth Lefty]

Originally posted by zipzit
Whaddya think.. does the motorcycle commute justify a major job move to california?
No. But it's nice.

[SilverRider]

I used to commute 70 miles a day on my motorbike and it did get old. It is very stressful when you are splitting lanes for 45 minutes straight. I was so tired of riding my bike that weekend rides were out of the question. Now my commute is half of what it was and I go for a nice day ride on Saturday or Sunday. The riding here is pretty god. There is a lot of mountain roads and a few tracks to have fun at within a few hours drive. Stay warm.

[curley]

Go east young man! – Wifey and I are looking for a place to retire to – can’t afford the taxes in CA. and the life style we want when we retire. Just went to Deals Gap in October (we road the Dragon on a rented GW) and the surrounding area. Charlotte is a lot like San Diego – going through a rebuilding (I’m sure there are needs for a Licensed Engineer….) the roads are great although it does rain a heck of lot more there than here. Housing is reasonable and if you still want to follow your dream… most all the NASCAR teams are in Mooresville.

[sandie]

yeah, if i were in your situation, i'd go south or south/east. however, being in the automotive industry right now myself, i know you can make BANK as a fabricator or modeler in california...all of the design studios out here are pretty much always looking for people (as opposed to detroit, where it seems like everyone's looking for a job anymore...so sad)

[fast4d]

my commute is 100 miles a day. I take PCH just so I don't have to split lane on the 101/405. 405 is not as bad since there's a carpool lane. lane splitting just drains me.

[Burke]

I commute 35 + miles each way on the 14 and 405 and I gotta tell you it SUCKS! It's stressful and tiring but it cuts the time in half versus driving. In the winter I am more apt to split the time between driving and riding because of the weather but in the summer it's the bike everyday. As for housing, you can still get a fairly decent price in some of the outlying suburbs like Canyon Country etc. but Unless you are going to land a job making 6 figs it's going to be tough out here right now. I say go for it since you are a native. Come home and see what happens. The southwest or southeast isn't going anywhere and this IS the greatest place on earth to live...

[steveb]

Slaughter will likely be on here before long to give a view on the engineering opportunities in Antelope Valley, in socal.

Lancaster and Palmdale are 50 or so miles North of Los Angeles, and I gather, has many engineering opportunities available in aerospace.

The weather is more extreme than Los Angeles, but there is more space. You look out the window to see small mountains 20 miles away instead of the house across the street. Homes and rentals are not cheap, but much less than in the city. I pay $1000 rent for a small home on 2 1/2 acres 1 mile from Costco, and 5 miles from a mall.

To see your family, you make the run over AFH and ACH over the beautiful mountains, or take the freeways around.

It's not for everyone, but I like it here. And there is good riding and much less traffic than in the city.

[pAint]

We have beaches, great weather, hawt women, legal lane splitting, insane drivers, smog....

its great! Get the hell over here stat!

[Kyoseki]

Originally posted by pAint
its great! Get the hell over here stat!
What he said.

It sure as hell beats the living shit out of living in London I can tell you.

[Darth Lefty]

Originally posted by steveb
Slaughter will likely be on here before long to give a view on the engineering opportunities in Antelope Valley, in socal.
I'm sure supaPhatty J will as well.

I'm done with Socal. Will be heading to Sacramento as soon as possible.

[Rsimpson]

I just started commuting 40 miles one way on the 405. Lane splitting is NOT necessary all the time because of the diamond lane... Its not as stressful if you go with the flow. You will still get there faster than if you were in a car and you save gas $$ too. I love to drive/ride and I dont think my commute will keep me from riding on the weekends.

[Nighttrain]

I used to live in NY. Now that I am here, I would not think of moving to another state. Mainly because I like to ride and you can do so all year long.

The housing prices are high but it sounds like you have enough credentials to buy a decent house. Yes, most of us do commute.

I have a rather long commute but can't ride a bike to work on most occasions because of the type of work that I do.

However, at one point in my life, I only had a bike. It was a pain in the ass because it was during the "El Nino" winters and I was going to Grad school. I felt wet all the time. Fortunately, nothing bad happened during that time but I would not do it again.

I would always have a car. Besides, I much more enjoy the weekend rides with friends.

[summitsix]

Not worth it to move here for the moto commute where you can lanesplit. It does get old, real quick, if you have a long commute. So much so, that saturday morning rides are out of the question.

If you can afford to live within 25 miles of where you work, then you need to get here ASAP and get outta detroit.

I visited there and couldn't get out soon enough. It's a dump.

[ZenSandy]

You don't want to move here. It's all earthquakes and freeway shootings.

Paid for by the Committee to Keep More People Out of SoCal.

[zipzit]

Okay... a couple of yes's... a few no's ... When I add up the housing numbers it does get ugly. It be nice to have a job where you commute maybe one or two days a week, telecommute rest of the time. A couple of you have confirmed my worst fears... that the commute thing can eventually get old. (insert big sigh, here...)

I can afford a larger expensive house, but only if I have a high $$ job.. but I really hate being a mortgage slave. I don't have to do that now. I'd sure like to relax on the job stuff.. take jobs because they are fun, not because I have to make the mortgage.

One other question. I'm pretty anal about always wearing all the gear when riding. On hot days, I'm wearing Joe Rocket Phoenix mesh (pants and jacket). I've rarely been out in over 100 deg F. What's 30 days of extended heat wave over 105 deg F like stuck in full face helmet and mesh gear? Unfortunately, the jobs I've had required dress slacks and dress shirt... no problem normally, but under mesh that can get pretty warm. (I'd wear sidi boots and change shoes at work. Leave mesh pants, gloves, helmet locked to bike.)

Whaddya folks do for safety gear on really hot days?

thanx, zip

[cyclox]

Originally posted by curley
Go east young man! – Wifey and I are looking for a place to retire to – can’t afford the taxes in CA. and the life style we want when we retire. Just went to Deals Gap in October (we road the Dragon on a rented GW) and the surrounding area. Charlotte is a lot like San Diego – going through a rebuilding (I’m sure there are needs for a Licensed Engineer….) the roads are great although it does rain a heck of lot more there than here. Housing is reasonable and if you still want to follow your dream… most all the NASCAR teams are in Mooresville.


And CMP (carolina motorsports park) is pretty close to Charlotte - trackdays!

[SilverRider]

I bring in my clothes for the week and then just change when I get to work. I wear all gear all of the time. Unless I am just cruising down the street to the store. I have a mesh jacket for the summer and they hold up pretty well during lowsides. You get use to wearing the gear in the heat. It does tax you a lot though. I was exhausted after 45 minutes splitting lanes in the heat. I would have to chill for half an hour when I got home before hopping on my bicycle to go train. Like I said before the weekend rides were out of the question. I just needed a break from the bike. I would ride my bicycle to work two times a week just to get a break from the traffic. Turns the round trip into a 4 hour affair but I get to exercise and cruise down the 101 and check out all of the hot ladies on the beach, lol. LA area will drive you nuts with traffic. I stay away from the LA area as much as possible. The traffic isn't as bad down in San Dog.

[Dragonhawk]

Originally posted by ZenSandy
You don't want to move here. It's all earthquakes and freeway shootings.

Paid for by the Committee to Keep More People Out of SoCal.
You forgot awful gridlock and smog and gangs and dirty beaches and vapid-wannabe-actors-at-every-streetcorner ... and ... oh; You have to speak fluent Spanish (or you won't be able to communicate with anyone who works in any retail stores).

Proud Supporter Of The Aforementioned Committee

[curley]

really hot days - stuck in traffic? - we split lanes! - arghhhh!
a) we sweat and look like it at our morning Ops meeting ( no one sits next to you -plenty of room for your cup of coffee and laptop)
b) we work at a place that has a locker room and showers (only 2 companies in my career have had that benefit) so we can change before the Ops meeting - but then we have to come to work extra early to shower and change.

Mesh works OK as long as your moving - but you still sweat and look like it.

[steveb]

I commuted from 7 miles to 75 miles each way to different jobs over the years. Riding and lane splitting left me refreshed, alive and ready to get busy at work. I love fighting my way through street traffic.

After work I would take 100 to 150 mile night rides after work on the way home once or twice a week. (when I was single)

A couple close calls on the street or an unusually cold, windy and rainy year do call for a Honda Civic beater though for a break in riding every day, and for getting canned goods from the store once a month.

Each person has to find their comfort level.