... but not here, cause I'm in LA, baby!!!
haha!
After a very stressful trip... I arrived very late Sunday night (about 2am monday) in LA. It took all week to find a place and get approved, blablabla... and finally I'm all moved in and I was even lucky enough to get my cable/net all set up the same day! At least some things went my way.
So... the bike DID survive the long haul across the USA. I strapped it across 4 corners using the forks just below the handlebars and for the rear I used the grab bar. Needless to say I was nervous the entire trip that the bike was going to go ker-plunk and fall over. I was also very concerned that my car (towed it behind the truck) was going to fall off the tow dolly.... so I was pretty much a nervous wreck the entire trip. I didn't stop to smell the roses so I have no pics of my trip except for 1 I took through the windshield of the truck. Remember, I was driving a 15' truck and then extended probably another 15' because I was towing my car.... so I was pure business on the road and just wanted to get to California as quickly and as safely as possible while preserving my car and the busa inside the truck. Thank you to everyone who wished me well. I saw your posts in the 'checking out' thread I posted before I left. I appreciate it.
So... today I finally got to ride the busa in Hollywood traffic. I must admit that it was scary. Scary just because the traffic here is EVEN heavier than it was when I used to live out here. In certain parts of town, namely Hollywood, it's not so simple to share lanes and cut between cars.... becasue there's not always enough room. I also took it easy since I've never split lanes on the busa and it has been so long since I've split lanes at all. Hollywood traffic is extremely tight! And that's an understatement. But on the freeways, here... splitting lanes is amazing fun. The 101 is like a racetrack. But I definitely need to get used to the city traffic around Hollywood. It requires your absolute attention... no looking around at chicks, etc. In an instant traffic can stop and if you're not prepared (even in a car) you're going to hit something/somebody. Riding a bike in certain sections of this city requires situational awareness and every ounce of rider skill you have. I can admit that I'm still a little nervous about it. But I'll be able to handle it once I get more riding time around my area.
I'm smack in the heart of Hollywood, too. I can spit and hit Hollywood Blvd. I'm between Vine and Highland on N. Wilcox. Ave. I like it because I can walk to my bank, Popeye's chicken, the liquor/convenient store... anything, really. My building is pretty pricey... but it's got covered/gated parking and a security guard on duty at night. I'm not the only one here with a bike, too. A red CBR is parked in the garage and also something that looks like a Honda cruiser (not sure what it is). The dude with the CBR got a better parking place than I did because his is bigger and he can easily fit his bike into the same spot as his car. On Monday I'm going to ask for another spot. In the pics that will follow in this thread, you'll all see what I'm having to deal with when it comes to parking my bike... it's as tight as (insert your nasty comparison here).
Ok, I've talked enough... so on with the pics!
Thanks again for the warm wishes for a safe trip! It worked. I'm here in once piece and so is everything I brought along...
The truck/car the night before I left AL to CA
haha!
After a very stressful trip... I arrived very late Sunday night (about 2am monday) in LA. It took all week to find a place and get approved, blablabla... and finally I'm all moved in and I was even lucky enough to get my cable/net all set up the same day! At least some things went my way.
So... the bike DID survive the long haul across the USA. I strapped it across 4 corners using the forks just below the handlebars and for the rear I used the grab bar. Needless to say I was nervous the entire trip that the bike was going to go ker-plunk and fall over. I was also very concerned that my car (towed it behind the truck) was going to fall off the tow dolly.... so I was pretty much a nervous wreck the entire trip. I didn't stop to smell the roses so I have no pics of my trip except for 1 I took through the windshield of the truck. Remember, I was driving a 15' truck and then extended probably another 15' because I was towing my car.... so I was pure business on the road and just wanted to get to California as quickly and as safely as possible while preserving my car and the busa inside the truck. Thank you to everyone who wished me well. I saw your posts in the 'checking out' thread I posted before I left. I appreciate it.
So... today I finally got to ride the busa in Hollywood traffic. I must admit that it was scary. Scary just because the traffic here is EVEN heavier than it was when I used to live out here. In certain parts of town, namely Hollywood, it's not so simple to share lanes and cut between cars.... becasue there's not always enough room. I also took it easy since I've never split lanes on the busa and it has been so long since I've split lanes at all. Hollywood traffic is extremely tight! And that's an understatement. But on the freeways, here... splitting lanes is amazing fun. The 101 is like a racetrack. But I definitely need to get used to the city traffic around Hollywood. It requires your absolute attention... no looking around at chicks, etc. In an instant traffic can stop and if you're not prepared (even in a car) you're going to hit something/somebody. Riding a bike in certain sections of this city requires situational awareness and every ounce of rider skill you have. I can admit that I'm still a little nervous about it. But I'll be able to handle it once I get more riding time around my area.
I'm smack in the heart of Hollywood, too. I can spit and hit Hollywood Blvd. I'm between Vine and Highland on N. Wilcox. Ave. I like it because I can walk to my bank, Popeye's chicken, the liquor/convenient store... anything, really. My building is pretty pricey... but it's got covered/gated parking and a security guard on duty at night. I'm not the only one here with a bike, too. A red CBR is parked in the garage and also something that looks like a Honda cruiser (not sure what it is). The dude with the CBR got a better parking place than I did because his is bigger and he can easily fit his bike into the same spot as his car. On Monday I'm going to ask for another spot. In the pics that will follow in this thread, you'll all see what I'm having to deal with when it comes to parking my bike... it's as tight as (insert your nasty comparison here).
Ok, I've talked enough... so on with the pics!
Thanks again for the warm wishes for a safe trip! It worked. I'm here in once piece and so is everything I brought along...
The truck/car the night before I left AL to CA
