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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 10:03 AM
  #21  
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From: Glen Rose TX
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I had my TX licensed Fatbob with me out there for 1.5 years and no problems... except for that one time when I gunned it going through a tunnel moving around a texter while rocking out on some riding music.. Upon leaving the tunnel I was in cruising mode again but I couldn't hear the nice officer behind me for a little while and .. then I try and find a spot to pull over... well next thing I know he has his gun drawn so I wasn't about to reach in the jacket to turn down the ACDC...
$400.00 50 in a 40 ticket...

That $30K can get eaten up quickly but sometimes you have to play along with the Company man to climb the ladder when the opportunity presents itself.
Bakersfield itself sucks except the good people there and there is plenty of good riding within a short distance. Worst case you go out there and enjoy all of the weekend away rides that are near you 1/3 of the raise to that 1/3 of it to the taxes and 1/3 of it to increased cost in general
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 10:46 AM
  #22  
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The state isn't a cheap place to live but it has a lot of good riding areas & beautiful coast line from one end to the other. Come on down!
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 10:56 AM
  #23  
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It seems odd that there are so many experts on California who live far,far away.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 11:04 AM
  #24  
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Originally Posted by gjetson
I would be moving there because of my work, and at the moment I have 7400 miles on my bike. Thanks for all the imput. I don't think that my Vance and Hines PD and monster rounds are much louder than my stock pipes are, that is unless I roll on the throttle, but even then its not as loud as my old Big shots that I had on my RK.
As others have said, mileage doesn't matter if you're relocating. Pipes and mods are a non-issue. They don't even have you start it for the inspection. Bar height is six inches above the shoulder. Check the Cal Guns website for the CCW. Some counties are very close to "shall issue" and Kern might be one of them. Max income tax rate is 13.3 percent but that is if you make over 1 million taxable. Property tax rates are low due to prop 13 but values are high so you pay anyway.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 11:08 AM
  #25  
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From: Northern California
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I have lived in Ca since 2002 and for the most part if you ride without trying to be an attention hog you are going to be ok for the most part.
That being said there is also the individual Officer to be considered, run across a biker hater and you are in for some pain.
We have a CHP officer in our area who hates bikers and calls us scum, he makes up things to write you a ticket for. My buddy has an old Shovel with FLH duals that he has put long glass packs on and upswept the pipes to seat level. He got a ticket for loud pipes and too high exhaust along with a host of other "violations". His bike is so quiet the valve train is the loudest thing.

I love the State for it's variety of beautiful natural wonders and great outdoor activity opportunities but the State gubmint and politics just suck and I hate supporting it. If I could go back in time to receiving my wonderful job opportunity with a 40k bump in pay I would turn it down, this place is very expensive to live and many freedoms taken for granted are not here. Do you hunt? You will need to purchase a hunting lic 2 times a year as they only last 6 months. Hunt big game? No lead can be used in your projectiles any longer, California is the first state to ban lead for hunting bullets. The list goes on.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 11:12 AM
  #26  
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Originally Posted by Teebone56
I agree certain cities they pretty much lay in wait on the dot helmet then pick your bike apart. They haven't started the smog on bikes but i believe it is just a matter of time.
Not in the current SIP and no pending legislation. I don't believe it's ever going to happen. They're going to quit tailpipe testing on 2000 and newer autos in 2014 and until the EPA requires motorcycles to go OBDII there will be no effective way to test them.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 11:36 AM
  #27  
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From: Santa Cruz
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Yeah Calif. Sucks! Don't move here! And please do move out if Ya don't want to a part of the 8th largest economy in the world. Bakersfield is redneck enough ya may ok there but better ya don't come.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 11:57 AM
  #28  
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Originally Posted by Gonzy
This 7500k mileage only applies to Calif residents buying a vehicle out of state then bringing it into CA. Here's the verbiage from the DMV regs.

NOTE:California law prohibits California residents or businesses from importing and/or registering a new vehicle with less than 7,500 miles at the time of purchase unless it meets or is exempt from California emission standards. If you acquire a 49-State vehicle (manufactured for all states except California) from another state or country, you may not be able to register your vehicle in California.
I have always known of this law until last month I was told by my former engine builder that there's only 50 state bikes now and that law is no longer valid. Don't know if its ba or not but he says he just bought a 14 BMW dual sport up in Oregon and had no issue being in back to ca and registering it. Anyone know if this is now law?
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 01:34 PM
  #29  
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From: San Diego
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I lived in Detroit and had lots of relatives in Indiana before moving to SoCal. This place is a bikers dream. Fantastic weather, no snow or sleet to worry about. Police leave us alone. The taxes are higher, but so are the services.

I am pretty conservative, and have lots of like minded buddies to ride with. The smallest club in the entire state is the "Bikers for Obama" group.

The financial opportunities are great out here. If you make more money, you pay more taxes. That is the way it is.

Bakersfield is a unique situation. The best opportunities are with oil services, medical, and government providers. Bakersfield is a pretty isolated place, but lf you like riding, hiking, hunting, boating, or any outdoors sports you will be as busy as you want.

It is different from Indiana, and if you want everything to be just like home, you will not be happy. If you are leaving a strong family culture, and they all remain in Indiana, you will miss that family stuff.

Best advice is to give it a shot. Common out, and take some time to travel around the state and it's adjoining states. You may just find a final landing spot for you to set up a fresh, new life. I know I did. Have no interest in moving back to Detroit, and most of my family comes out to California now for their vacations.

On the Highways, Harley's rule. Lots of biker specific events to give you a reason to ride. Tahoe, Reno, Laughlin, Rocky Point, Hollister, etc.
 
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Old Dec 28, 2013 | 01:44 PM
  #30  
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Originally Posted by bagman1
I have always known of this law until last month I was told by my former engine builder that there's only 50 state bikes now and that law is no longer valid. Don't know if its ba or not but he says he just bought a 14 BMW dual sport up in Oregon and had no issue being in back to ca and registering it. Anyone know if this is now law?
The law has not changed. CA and Fed bikes for 2014 are still different. Difference being is that CA requires fuel EVAP and the EPA (as of yet) does not. Many dealers in neighboring states order CA bikes for their CA customers. May be different for BMW but definitely not for HD.
 
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