So, Californian Roads .....

[J.P]

I've just got back from a trip round California on a fly drive holiday. Had a great time driving up the Pacific Coast Highway and found lots and lots of other routes in-land that would have been just brilliant for a bike trip.
Obviously most of the bikes you come across were fat Harley's riden by fat American's and I can understand that given the space they've got, but I also came across an awfully large number of Ducati Monster's too. Easy to hear coming and more popular around the bigger cities rather than the smaller ones.

I envied them, especially as I haven't been on the bike for over a month.

[Yorkie]

My favourite part of the US, did you manage to do San Diego on your trip?

Yorkie

[J.P]

Yes, landed there first but both the wife and I always suffer badly from jetlag so we decided just to stay chilling out at Pacific Beach, actually stayed on a Pier which was cool.
There's always the problem of trying to fit too much in so it was a general good taster for another trip at some time in the future.

[slob]

I know the Presidents of LA DOC and NorCal DOC (Bay Area) and can put you in touch if anyone's heading out that way and wants local advice

[simon_g]

Yeah, there's some cracking roads around LA which I've only ever explored in slow auto hire cars.

Check out the RideApart videos on the Drive youtube channel, lots of riding around there which looks really fun. Jamie Robinson moved out there for the riding and is in some of them.

http://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL061D914B66D2A0AF

[mintyhit]

I've always wanted to do this... I wonder if some sort of exchange program could work with our American cousins, a week loan of a Monster in the states in exchange for a week loan over here. :)

I know riding in England might not stack up but it is pretty easy to nip over to Europe... I'd lend my bike to a responsible rider... if I still had one. :)

[slob]

Valid insurance would be the issue with brief exchanges...

[utopia]

Never mind the roads....did you catch a grateful dead (further) show while you were there ?? .....:spin:

But yeah....pics I've seen of the pacific coast highway look like heaven.

[JerryXt]

I remember that there was a San Diego-based hire company that specialised in Ducatis a few years ago. Don't know if they're still there, but maybe worth a google

[Capo]

slow auto hire cars.

No such thing :mand:

[Rally]

I hope you went to Arnies Diner up by Malibu beach on route 1? Theres always hundreds of bikes parked up there.
The other good one is the road out the back of the Hollywood hills, Steve McQueens old race track allegedly. :D

[Thirdway]

I hired a fat Harley in SF and did a few hours along HW1 it was cold, but it was always a dream to do it. Wife on the back, pudding basin helmets and cheap sunglasses. We were covered in snot, but happy :mand:

[Char]

looks a bit 'dry'

<iframe width="560" height="315" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/F6M0O4yXqUY" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

[slob]

looks a bit expensive

[OrangeCat02]

Did part of HW1 last year, rented a Mustang convertible. We said we'd go back and do it again as we had a cracking time. Flew from LA to Oahu, Hawaii after that and rented a Chevrolet Aveo, it was a really **** car that drank more fuel than the mustang!