Might be moving to Florida...
Road Captain
Joined: Oct 2005
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RE: Might be moving to Florida...
hdrider02... I was born Massachusetts, but lived in NH most of my life.... I remember riding from tank fill-up to tank reserve without stopping for any stop lights and really no traffic to speak of... So riding was relaxing then...Not down here, I almost did what you did, got rid of my bikes.. I couldn't move I was still with Uncle... Only good thing now is I'm retired so I can get out now when most everyone is working and road aren't as screwed up....
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 2,795
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From: hollywood, FL
RE: Might be moving to Florida...
ORIGINAL: Rocket350
If all goes well, I will be working in the surrounding areas of Orlando. What are the pros and cons of the climate? Will the bike need extra care becase of the humidity, salt in the air etc? Does it rain a lot in the midle of the day? Will my bike get stolen?
I have never lived in Florida.
If all goes well, I will be working in the surrounding areas of Orlando. What are the pros and cons of the climate? Will the bike need extra care becase of the humidity, salt in the air etc? Does it rain a lot in the midle of the day? Will my bike get stolen?
I have never lived in Florida.
on what roads? thats our downfall, everything is flat and straight; then theres our traffic. [:@] our seasons? rainy (summer) and winter thats all there is. you will probably have to do more climate "adjusting" than your bike. just like everywhere else, if someone really wants your bike its gone. good luck and welcome to the sunshine state! 
6th Gear
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 12
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RE: Might be moving to Florida...
Florida is great for riding! We live in Tampa and head out every single weekend. Brooksville is beautiful, San Antonio (yes that is in Florida) is great, the Ocala area is wonderful. We make allot of trips to Leesburg from Tampa via the back roads (not 75). Map out some routes, you can go to Homsassa and visit Monkey Island, go to Crystal River, there are hot springs, cold springs, oceans and the gulf! It rains in the afternoon in the summer, so plan your ride around it, and you can ride most of the winter (the entire winter if you are die hard) when we get very low rainfall. I will say, we don't ride our bikes to Orlando, so I can't speak for them, but we have ridden the west coast of the state..and the riding is fabulous, the scenery is beautiful and you may even find your occoasional hill. 
As far as straight and flat roads, yeah, if your on a long haul and in the middle of the state yeah, its straight, but alls it takes is someone with interest enough to look in the atlas and you will find some of the best southern scenery with roads curving all over the place. I'm sorry to you guys stuck in Orlando...it sounds like you guys are stuck in traffic too long to make it out to the country in a reasonable amount of time, but if you get the chance, there is some great riding out there.
As far as straight and flat roads, yeah, if your on a long haul and in the middle of the state yeah, its straight, but alls it takes is someone with interest enough to look in the atlas and you will find some of the best southern scenery with roads curving all over the place. I'm sorry to you guys stuck in Orlando...it sounds like you guys are stuck in traffic too long to make it out to the country in a reasonable amount of time, but if you get the chance, there is some great riding out there.
Road Captain
Joined: Dec 2005
Posts: 591
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From: Land O'Lakes, FL
RE: Might be moving to Florida...
There are plenty of great roads in Florida but you gotta explore a bit and also ask around. Several have mentioned Brooksville, some good riding in that area. Dade City/San Antonio area has some unbelievable hills, you'd never believe you are in Florida. I grew up in Ocala, just head out to horse country and there are plenty of nice roads to cruise on with beautiful scenery. Even though you have to battle the traffic a little, there are few scenes quite like going over the Sunshine Skyway Bridge on a bike. Tampa Bay is beautiful.
Most of Florida's cities have rural areas very close by with nicely paved roads to cruise around on. The cities have road construction all the time due to the population growth, but otherwise, Florida's roads are well constructed, well maintained and safe. Orlando and everything about it and around it suck in my honest opinion but the rest of central Florida has a lot to offer in terms of riding. The afternoon showers thing is totally seasonal and most of the rest of the year, the forecasts are decently accurate so that you can plan around the weather.
PM me when you're down here and I can give you a couple of good routes well worth taking in that Dade City area. Don't let the bad things weigh you down. Like most everywhere else, there are compromises to living here. You just gotta adapt a little to make the most of your new surroundings but it's hardly all bad.
Kevin
Most of Florida's cities have rural areas very close by with nicely paved roads to cruise around on. The cities have road construction all the time due to the population growth, but otherwise, Florida's roads are well constructed, well maintained and safe. Orlando and everything about it and around it suck in my honest opinion but the rest of central Florida has a lot to offer in terms of riding. The afternoon showers thing is totally seasonal and most of the rest of the year, the forecasts are decently accurate so that you can plan around the weather.
PM me when you're down here and I can give you a couple of good routes well worth taking in that Dade City area. Don't let the bad things weigh you down. Like most everywhere else, there are compromises to living here. You just gotta adapt a little to make the most of your new surroundings but it's hardly all bad.
Kevin
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2006
Posts: 1,200
Likes: 1
From: Okeechobee, Fl
RE: Might be moving to Florida...
I live down in the Okeechobee area, been here over 30 years. I think there's a lot of good riding all around here. We have some flat straight roads but we also have very little traffic compared to other parts of the state and the Everglades are great. We ride year round down here.
Deland is great, some of the best looking parts of Florida, it's just a little north of Orlando and close to Daytona.
Deland is great, some of the best looking parts of Florida, it's just a little north of Orlando and close to Daytona.
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Sep 2006
Posts: 2,945
Likes: 85
From: Florida
RE: Might be moving to Florida...
I used to live in Orlando, now just north of there. Yes, during summer there is almost always a 40% chance of rain. No, in Orlando there is no salt air to worry about but it is very humid. 92 degrees is a hot day but the humidity makes it a lot worse. I don't think there is any greater chance of getting your bike stolen than any other big city and Orlando's crime rate is less than most its size. As for riding, stay off hiway 4, and forget about twisties, you have to go to Georgia and north for those. The beach rides are great though, and there are the keys (Key West alone is worth a trip!!!) etc. Winter riding is great, I was out tonight in shirtsleeves. Overall you will love it. Living at home at catching Daytona bike weeks makes it worthwhile also. I have friends in Orlando that ride and we tend to meet in Daytona and St Augustine, drop me an e-mail and maybe we can show you around. A LOT of bikes in that part of Florida!!!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,958
Likes: 1
From: West Tennessee
RE: Might be moving to Florida...
Florida sucks but people like it, don't know why. I was born not 15mins from where I sit. The heat and humidity is really rough. Especially if you work outside. I've never been able to get used to it. Expect mid to high 90's every day for late spring, all summer and early fall. Winter is all but non-existent. Don't be surprised if it's 80° at Christmas. The wet season usually runs from spring into fall and typically rains about every day. There is no salt in the air but humidity takes its toll. Don't leave your guns in a vehicle overnight.
Urban sprawl is really bad and getting a lot worse. LOTS of construction going on. Lots of traffic to go with it. We are not prepared for our traffic levels, having only one interstate going through town. They are slowly catching up with toll roads 408, 528, 417 and 429. I-4 is almost always a parking lot. Crime is also getting worse but we do have good law enforcement departments. There are some decent areas to ride, if you get out of the Orlando area, into Lake or Polk counties but suburbia is speading fast.
Leesburg is not too bad, still lots of traffic though. Brooksville is more pleasant. Deland is a nice town. Clermont is nice but growing fast. Altamonte Springs is a nightmare traffic-wise.
Overall, I can't recommend much here. I'm glad I'm finally getting out at the end of the year. Toting my *** to Tennessee!
Urban sprawl is really bad and getting a lot worse. LOTS of construction going on. Lots of traffic to go with it. We are not prepared for our traffic levels, having only one interstate going through town. They are slowly catching up with toll roads 408, 528, 417 and 429. I-4 is almost always a parking lot. Crime is also getting worse but we do have good law enforcement departments. There are some decent areas to ride, if you get out of the Orlando area, into Lake or Polk counties but suburbia is speading fast.
Leesburg is not too bad, still lots of traffic though. Brooksville is more pleasant. Deland is a nice town. Clermont is nice but growing fast. Altamonte Springs is a nightmare traffic-wise.
Overall, I can't recommend much here. I'm glad I'm finally getting out at the end of the year. Toting my *** to Tennessee!
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Joined: Oct 2006
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RE: Might be moving to Florida...
Ive been in Fl 8 yrs now. Has its good and bad like everywhere. Its what you make it. Im fond of saying if youre bored here its your fault. Did I answer any of your questions? Not really, but all the previous threads were right on-Its all about the attitude. Traffic? yeah its heavy I live in Pinellas county. Over a million people crammed in this little county. The area I left in Ohio, same sq miles but only 33k people. Not hard to do the math. Why? Wanna go to a show? Out to eat? Movie? Youre driving 50 miles. You have everything here.
Into sports? got it all. The Arts? its here. People spend thousands to come here for a week or two. If I wanna go to the beach, catch a sunset, see a thong ride up some chicks ***, its a 10 minute putt. Just a better quality of life imho.
I hear people bitch and moan all the time. If you dont like it do something about it and go somewhere that makes you happy(if possible) my fat ****in toes will be in the water whether youre here or not.
Into sports? got it all. The Arts? its here. People spend thousands to come here for a week or two. If I wanna go to the beach, catch a sunset, see a thong ride up some chicks ***, its a 10 minute putt. Just a better quality of life imho.
I hear people bitch and moan all the time. If you dont like it do something about it and go somewhere that makes you happy(if possible) my fat ****in toes will be in the water whether youre here or not.