[Scout]

I'm playing with the idea of relocating to NV, North Las Vegas to be specific. I can't in good conscience move to anyplace that doesn't have some good twisties though, or I'd be in Hawaii right now.

Anyone been riding in, around, or through this area. Lake Mead any good?

And yeah, I'm aware of the local tracks, or aware there are some, but that's just not my cup o tea (yet).

[Recoil]

I am also interested in hearing what you guys have to say! My buddy and i are planning to load our bikes from Canada this winter and go to Vegas to do some riding.

[BDA116]

Vegas isn't exactly in the middle of a lot of mountains. There's Mt.Charleston, and the locas love the ride out to the dam. They are nice roads, but they are also slick - I don't know what the local DOT does, but many of the Vegas area roads have some kind of slick surface to them. The road out to the dam doesn't leave much room for error in the immediate area of the dam, but there is also heavy traffic out there most of the time. The road up Mt. Charleston doesn't have that slick surface, though.
The ride out to Pahrump goes over a small mountain pass as well, but there really aren't a whole ton of twisty roads.
One of my brothers now lives out in the north LV area now in a town called Summerlin, and it's actually a pretty nice area - for the desert.
I've been to Vegas many many times and never once wished I had my bike.
The drive from Mesquite to St.George, UT on I-15 goes through a great canyon called the Virgin River Gorge that is fun on a bike as well, but you'll have ~45 minute straight-assed boring drive just to get there.
Anyway, yeah - there are a few areas of twisties, but if you're going there because of twisties or thinking there's some great ones then you're mistaken.

[phobiaphobe]

Originally Posted by Recoil

I am also interested in hearing what you guys have to say! My buddy and i are planning to load our bikes from Canada this winter and go to Vegas to do some riding.

I want in!

[Scout]

Thanks for the info BDA. I'm not greedy, as long as there are a few curves within an hour, I'm alright with that. If you get in contact with your brother, besides Summerlin, what other areas would he recommend to live? I want to make it out there soon, as I'm not a weekend-hop-to-Vegas man (it's been about 6 years), to check out living conditions in the suburbs.


Yeah, and I'm a realist. Probably nowhere can compare with what I have locally available as far as riding. Best kept secrets and all...

[ND4SPD]

So then why are you moving?

[SYKOTYK]

Originally Posted by Scout

Yeah, and I'm a realist. Probably nowhere can compare with what I have locally available as far as riding. Best kept secrets and all...

You live in Bakersfield, there is nothing local to you. It is a desert. I grew up there, you still have a good little ride before you get to any decent roads.

Unlike here, where I can go in any direction for less than 10 min, and hit twisties.

[RRWANTR]

Originally Posted by SYKOTYK

You live in Bakersfield, there is nothing local to you. It is a desert. I grew up there, you still have a good little ride before you get to any decent roads.

Unlike here, where I can go in any direction for less than 10 min, and hit twisties.

You didn't get out much then....I live over in Ridgecrest and there are some awesome roads just outside of Bakersfield....

[SYKOTYK]

That's my point. Outside of Bakersfield. And only if you go north or east. West there is the 58 but you have to drive over a half hour to get there. North Glennville Hwy again unless he lives in Oildale it's another half hour drive. East, 178 through the Canyon road, lake Isabella, RR Canyon.

Bakersfield has grown since I moved away, but it's still a flat farming/desert community that you have to drive a distance to get to a decent road.

[K9inAZ]

Nope, never ridden in Nevada at all. I was going to ride up in Pahrump, but the K-9 Trials were the same days.

[Scout]

Originally Posted by ND4SPD

So then why are you moving?

Not decided yet, but Pay, Housing, Taxes, Schools, Quality of Life, etc.

(Of course riding environment plays into it).

Might have an opportunity I can't turn a blind eye to, so I'm in the research phase.

[Scout]

Originally Posted by SYKOTYK

You live in Bakersfield, there is nothing local to you. It is a desert. I grew up there, you still have a good little ride before you get to any decent roads.

Unlike here, where I can go in any direction for less than 10 min, and hit twisties.

Hey man, no offense, but you're smokin'!

Check out the member map, http://www.fireblades.org/forums/VBGooglemap.php
and look where I am, and keep in mind, I'm 2 minutes from James/Petrol road. Let your imagination take over from there.

Ever heard of Caliente/ Bodfish? 10 minutes from me.

Willow Springs Raceway and Buttonwillow Raceway are equal distance to me, I can ride 30 minutes to HWY33/ HWY166, HWY58 West, etc. etc.

178 is for Harley's and cagers.

58 East just takes me where I want to be, though there is an interesting unnamed road which runs parrallel with 58 and puts you into Tehachapi.

I would consider this all "local".

Nevermind there's ACH and GMR from the 5 to the 210 about an hour away. Mullholland "Raceway" about the same.




Don't rely on just http://www.pashnit.com/motoroads.htm or the old Freeways (Old I-5 comes to mind, Grapevine), or 178 and 58 East, there is a whole "Undiscovered Country" here.

And, BTW, Bakersfield is not the cow-town desert valley you remember.
(Though it does have it's fair share of rednecks, which I beeyitch about occasionally).

edit: But, just to prove I'm not greedy, I'll meet you in Ojai this spring/ summer, and take you through the local paces, for a couple days. I'll even give you a place to stay overnight, if you wish. In return, you can show me the Santa Monicas..

Put on the new tires, you'll need 'em.

[Scout]

Not that anyone would read it, or pay attention, but found and pulled this off Nevada DMV site:

Sharing the Road

Back To Top

See our DMV Quick Tips on Motorcycle Safety and Bicycle Safety (PDF).
Motorcycles - Motorcyclists have the same rights and the same responsibilities as other drivers. However, there are special situations and conditions we all need to be aware of so we can safely share the road with them.

• Motorcycle operators have the right to use a complete traffic lane. Two motorcycles may share a lane.
• Because of their smaller size, motorcycles are less visible and may appear to be farther away than they really are.
• It is difficult for other drivers to judge how fast a motorcycle is going.
• Motorcycles may be forced from their position on the road by strong winds or a rough road surface.
• Turn signals are not self-cancelling on most motorcycles. Before you make a lane change or turn that depends on what a motorcycle’s path is, be sure you know what a motorcyclist is doing. Watch for clues such as operators or passengers turning their heads to look behind, or operators beginning to lean or tilt their motorcycles.
• If you are coming up behind a motorcycle, slow down sooner than you would for another vehicle. Leave plenty of space.
• Always dim your headlights when approaching a motorcycle. Because motorcyclists balance as well as steer their vehicles, the blinding effect of your high beams can be far more dangerous to them than to drivers of cars or trucks.
• Bad weather and slippery roads can be real problems for motorcyclists. Allow even more following distance when it is raining or the road is slippery.

Sounds like a motorcycle friendly State, doesn't it?

[Scout]

*UPDATE*

Was there Fri- Mon Superbowl weekend.

I gotta say, everything is looking positive. Kept an eye and ear out for sportbike riders (no shortage of Harley and Slopper riders), and noticed a few.

Spent the weekend at a friends on the west border of NLV, and I've gotta tell you, after weighing in pro's and con's (what con's, I mean NO STATE TAX), cost of living, etc.-

man, it is looking good. BDA nailed the hot riding spots, and they seemed okay by map, not to far to have free fun. Might even get into trackdays finally (and I might even have the money for them). I could really see the wisdom of owning a two-up monster like a 'Busa out there. Maybe even some quads.

BUT- the Canadians would be better served going to the LA basin, or even Santa Cruz area for the winter. Not a lot of twisties there (Vegas) for sure. And for the Californians, you lose the ocean, but you gain so much more...

[BDA116]

Hey Scout, pretty much anything on that north west side is a good place. It's mostly newer, like in the last 8-10 years at the most, and some pretty good neighborhoods.
I hope things work out well for you.

[fat2k3]

Originally Posted by Scout

*UPDATE*

Spent the weekend at a friends on the west border of NLV, and I've gotta tell you, after weighing in pro's and con's (what con's, I mean NO STATE TAX), cost of living, etc.-

Scout, not only can you NOT split traffic in Nevada (Love sitting through a couple red-light when its 120+) and if you try, the cagers get all AGRO on you (who knew?), you may want to check out the REAL cost of living in Nevada. I'm not trying to dog-you out or anything, live where you want, it's just hard be beat Cali.

The info I have heard from friends that live there, is it actually cost MORE to live in Nevada. The no State Tax just sucks you in, other costs are where they get ya!

Check this cost of living calculator web-site out: http://www.prunevada.com/CostOfLivingComparison.aspx

I compared Bakersfield to North Las Vegas, if you make $100,000, it will cost you $112,069 to live in Vegas. This info if from a NEVADA Real Estate office web site!

Just check it out, and if and when you move, I hope you dig it!

PS. I hear Newberry Park is nice?

[Scout]

No problem, I enjoy input from anyone, and when I ask, it's not to hear what I want to hear.

The housing market is about equal with NLV right now, as both markets (Baketown and NLV are blowing up). The problem is locally, my gross annual household income hasn't been keeping up with the cost of living. Sooo, the 100,000 - 112,000 figure is taken into consideration. If I go with the work I've been looking at, and my wifes HR at her hospital isn't lying, we've got it covered and then some.

When the wife and I went over there for 4 days, we didn't even hit The Strip. We went looking at model homes (Aliante is looking DAMN good), hit the local grocery stores, of course I checked out the local employment opportunities, etc. I was just taking it all in...

If it was up to me, we'd be there right now, but all things come to those who wait, and it will take some time.

BDA thanks for the well wishes.

[luvtolean]

Scout, not trying to talk you out of it at all.

But Vegas has wicked bad crime. Good friends of mine have lots of family there, and here's an example.

They walked into a grocery store for some supplies. My friend has 2 daughters close to teenage years (at the time) and as soon as they were in the store the girls goto the books/mags or whatever while the adults went the other way to shop. A person in the store saw this and WENT OFF on my buddy for allowing his girls to leave his side. Apparently abductions are a serious problem there.

I'm sure you're looking into it, but Vegas is one of the places on earth I would not consider living no matter how much money I made, and was paid.

There are some great twisties on Maui, and Oahu even has a racetrack. While I was over there in the hills one day I was passed by a (literally) knee scraping sportbiker. I had just got done saying to the car the road was so nice, no frost heaves or anything like our mountain roads can get.

I know a couple of Hawaiians that immigrated to Cali as they were bored of the place though.

[BDA116]

That is mostly down towards Vegas itself and the south and east sides of the valley - towards Henderson and the like. Yeah, the valley as a whole has a pretty high crime rate, but that north western area of the valley is actually a very good and clean area. Not many old neighborhoods, and a little higher priced.
My bro does keep that stuff in mind with his two kids, but they are far enough away from Vegas itself that they don't see it that much.

Still good words and something to look out for, and after saying what I have and even visiting and seeing the neighborhood where my bro lives, I would never live in Vegas either - no matter the money. Besides, shuttles to and from there are so cheap it would make more sense to just commute there and back for a job if it were that good.
But my feelings have as much to do with the words of ex-nuclear researchers that worked in the area as the crime/cost of living/asshole of a Senator in the area.

[Scout]

LTL, didn't know that about Maui, and I only heard the islands had a deathtrap figure eight type track. Interesting.

I did this comparison first-


City of North Las Vegas:

http://www.kidfriendlycities.org/2001/city59.html

Bakersfield:

http://www.kidfriendlycities.org/2001/city83.html

and then this:

http://www.bestplaces.net/crime/?city1=4120&city2=0680

The week before the weekend I was there, a police officer was fatally shot (a Sgt. actually). It was the first cop shot since 1984.

http://www.bestplaces.net/city/city....A&city=0603526

During Christmas season, a couple gang bangers decided to shoot it out in a crowded mall here. There are more violent crimes every day. Blame it on how many local prisons we have (6 mainline prisons), and the families of these people moving closer to be near them - and when they parole (???). Or blame it on the influx of people we're getting from LA, and they're trying to finance a "bullet-train" between here and LA in the next 10 years. That will really skyrocket the cost of living here.

The fact is, I've seen more of California than most, from border to border, and really there's nothing else here (Bakersfield) for me.
I'm actually looking at The City of North Las Vegas. Not too shabby, and makes the custom homes in California look like track-housing.

http://www.bestplaces.net/city/city.aspx?cat=GENERAL&state=NV&city=3251800&ccity= &cstate=

If I don't go to NLV, I'll still probably end up around Salinas. So it may not be goodbye yet, but I'm not staying here any longer than I have to. I've at least made my mind up about that. I've got to look at other places, for the betterment of my family and kids, and I just really can't afford to stay (Not that I'm strapped, just wouldn't make sense financially). Of course I'm not jumping into anything, as with any large gov't machine, hiring (laterals) takes time.

[luvtolean]

I personally don't equate house size with well being for my family or I.

Many people disagree, but I'd never move somewhere just to have 4k sq feet with Subzero applicances.

Salinas (imo) kinda sucks too. Head north a bit to Gilroy or Morgan Hill, and as I've said on here many times, I think it's harder to find a better place to live anywhere. (I've lived in both cities)

Hawaii is expensive too, and the islands are pretty small. But if all you're worried about is twisties, they're certainly there.

Anyways, good luck with your search!

[Scout]

Originally Posted by luvtolean

I personally don't equate house size with well being for my family or I.

Many people disagree, but I'd never move somewhere just to have 4k sq feet with Subzero applicances.

Ouch. They're subzero knock-offs by Maytag, alright, and I already have'em and am taking them with me.

No, really, here's it in a nutshell. I rent a 3 bdrm apt. Shame on me for not buying before the boom, but now I'm priced out of housing (or housing in areas I would want to raise my 14 and 7 year old). I and my wife will both be getting substantial raises if we move to Nevada, probably looking at 50% more on top of what we are individually making now.

If I stay, for 20 yrs and out, where I'm at now, at age 55 I'm looking at $2200-2400 mo. in pension, without med benefits, and not transferable to spouse in case of death.

If I go where I'm looking at, within 16 years, at age 50 I'm looking at $4500 mo. in pension, with health benefits, and transferable in case of death to my spouse (pre or post retirement).

Originally Posted by luvtolean

Salinas (imo) kinda sucks too. Head north a bit to Gilroy or Morgan Hill, and as I've said on here many times, I think it's harder to find a better place to live anywhere. (I've lived in both cities)

Hawaii is expensive too, and the islands are pretty small. But if all you're worried about is twisties, they're certainly there.

Anyways, good luck with your search!

I agree. I'm using Salinas as a geographical center. It would be outside (probably north towards Gilroy).

Close to the same deal with $$ and benefits