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/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl General Category >> The Cafe >> 2600 mile relocation to Seattle /cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1307818742 Message started by DrunkenDwarf on 06/11/11 at 11:59:02 |
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Title: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by DrunkenDwarf on 06/11/11 at 11:59:02 Esteemed forum members, I've been absent from this form for quite some time, but I feel it is time to reach out and ask for some advice. Due to work, I've relocated from Rochester, NY to Seattle, WA. I'm still getting settled, but plan on using my S40 to do battle with traffic here. I know there are several members that live in the Seattle area and I'm hoping to get some friendly advice on a few topics.
I appreciate any advice from those that are familiar with the area. Thanks. -D. Dwarf |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/11/11 at 12:03:31 If you need more info on Seattle than this bunch can muster, visit http://illuminatiguzzisti.forumcircle.com/viewforum.php?f=2& Theres some guys there who have it all figgered out. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by WD on 06/11/11 at 14:45:34 Born, raised and long time rider out there (Puyallup, not Seattle). You want the bike to be visible. Upgrade your lights to the brightest bulbs you can find. Dunlop D404 or other name brand equivalent tires. Kenda will work out there, just. You want a good water channeling tread. Dual sport tires work really well out there, lot's of beat up roads, chip seal, tar snakes, gravel, sand and other junk on the roads. Best gear prices are at Bent Bike. Good source for your oil filters (dealerships buy from them) and air filters. Don't buy oil there, way overpriced. Okay selection of tubes and tires, great selection of windshields (pretty much mandatory in western Washington), mufflers, lights, bike luggage, etc. I prefer the store in Auburn, only 8K sq ft but... Lynnwood is 3x bigger but has a 10x worse attitude. DO NOT do any business with Hinshaw's Honda (and Suzuki, Victory, can't remember what else), orders take forever to arrive, they forget to call you and get mad when you come in to check your order status. Good rides? 101 loop around the Olympic Peninsula, stop and meet up with KimChris1 and her husband, they live over there. Cascade Loop, just don't waste time stopping in Leavenworth, and watch out for cows, much of the route is open range. Seaside Oregon has a couple good car/bike events. Old Snohomish MC Days is worth the trip. Mt Rainier and Mt St Helens are over rated. Alki area of west Seattle has okay bike events, but the roads are junk. Yella Beak Saloon (Enumclaw) has okay bike nights, or used to, they might have stopped them last year. Pick up the free monthly bike mag at any local bike shop, religiously. All kinds of events listed for the entire Pacific NW. Keep an eye open for a burgundy 1500 Drifter sporting a real 1950s red/clear windshield and about 5 bags. If you run into him, get to know him. Name is Doug, he rides out there year round, in the 6 years we've been friends I've seen him drive a car exactly once. Good luck. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by kimchris1 on 06/11/11 at 15:00:10 Yeppers I have some great riding places over here. Hurricane Ridge as soon as it opens, is a beautiful place as well as St. Helens. John and a few others want to meet up and do that one. Your welcome to tag along when we can get together. The 101 loop offers a variety of twisties and viewing areas. Come on over and get acquainted with this side of the water. As far as clothing, well have a variety as weather can change very fast here. Once the sun goes down, cools off fast and rain, well that can come every 5 mins.. lololo.. At least it seems that way.. So good rain gear, warm gear is a must. Being on guard at all times is a must as in most if not all places. If you take the ferry's, your first on and first off.. The Tacoma Narrow's bridge is a toll bridge if your leaving this side. Toll is $4.00 even for bikes.. >:( NO toll if your coming here.. Costco is available and their is a Wal Mart supserstore over by Auburn. Welcome to Southwest Washington.. :) kim Will pm you the contact info.. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by justin_o_guy2 on 06/11/11 at 16:03:58 Replace your horn with a foghorn off a tugboat.. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by WD on 06/11/11 at 19:59:30 Car alarm siren is a direct swap over... just need to fab up a bracket. Oh, try to avoid riding on Alaskan Way, the potholes are capable of eating a Peterbilt. And the food most places is almost as bad as in New England, everything is overcooked. ;) Believe me, I know, been to Long Island plenty of times. ;D |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by DrunkenDwarf on 06/11/11 at 21:53:47 Thank you for the responses so far. I'm a little fuzzy on where things are. So far the only places I know are Capital Hill (where I live) and the two Microsoft campuses (opposite ends of Bellevue) where I work. I need to buy something for my legs in the rain and new gloves. I'm hoping to get riding this week, but I still have too many boxes to unpack. -D. Dwarf Edit: Seattle Cycle Center seems to get good reviews. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by kimchris1 on 06/12/11 at 03:40:19 The Alaskan Viaduct is over by the Football and Baseball stadiums.. Nasty areas right now as lots of construcion going on.. Best to stay clear if you can.. It seems most of Seattle right now is under some type of construction. Be careful as cagers here are like most every where else, too big of a hurry.. They don't look out for motorcyclists.. Get yourself a few maps and good luck.. :) kim |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by DrunkenDwarf on 06/12/11 at 10:08:47 I need to do an oil change soon, I didn't see Rotella listed on Walmart's website for the Renton location. Any local sources recommended? -D. Dwarf |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by kimchris1 on 06/12/11 at 10:13:21 Give the store a call, ask for the Auto Dept.. Should have it. Filters are cheap at Bent Bike in Auburn, and oil may be as well. Not sure on that, possibly WD can chime in on that one. If you go and buy your filter at Bent Bike, pick up a few extras to make your trip worth while. :) kim |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by Max_Morley on 06/12/11 at 12:15:23 Check out the Seattle Times archives on motorcycle parking issues. Coming from the dry East side I find the traffic there ugly but I have family who do just fine. One lived in Orange Co, CA so it is like home to her. Seems like you have to commute over one of the floating bridges, I see from the paper there are some issues with the planned toll on the 520 one. Haven't used the I-90 one in years so don't know if there is a toll on it now. Take care and welcome to WA State. Max |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by WD on 06/12/11 at 13:33:13 Wal-mart brand 15W40 is fine for year round use. And it will run you about $5 out the door for the amount you need. Bent Bike charges $11 and up per bottle. Cycle Gear in Auburn is good. Bent Bike is decent if you can tolerate the attitude (owner hates motorcycles, only thing he hates more is riders). Auburn store was my stomping grounds for a year and a half. Deal with Tony or Rich ONLY! Unless you are looking for luggage and riding gear. Get your bulbs and such at Wal-mart, bike shops charge 3-5x as much. LG brand gloves from Bent Bike are decent. If you want unlined for summer use check out the deerskin version they carry made in Washington. If you don't like their selection, South Sound BMW in Fife is stellar, Desecration (Destination) HD on Fife Tacoma line is good but do not show up on a rice bike. Ditto Downtown HD in Renton. RMC (right next to Downtown HD) isn't bad either, just don't buy a used bike there (long story, my VN800 Classic tried to kill me). I forgot about the viaduct. I meant the real Alaskan Way, the road on the waterfront. What a hunk of junk, it is built on 1800s landfill, wooden seawall is rotten. One good quake and much of Seattle will sink. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by Boofer on 06/12/11 at 17:33:28 WalMart doesn't list chemicals and such, but they'll most likely have it. Hope you enjoy the change. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by John_D FSO on 06/14/11 at 21:58:17 Welcome to the great (soggy) Northwest! :D |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by Dj12midnit on 06/14/11 at 22:05:12 Welcome to the PNW man. The suzuki owners club has a lot or riders in your area usually a ride every weekend. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by webhead on 06/15/11 at 19:16:00 575E5B52485F5B3A0 wrote:
Good luck man. I live in Putnam, NY. I don't blame you for moving. All the best. KC |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by WD on 06/16/11 at 03:14:19 There is a decent bikes always welcome sports bar in Rochester Wa. Okay, just a few feet south of there in Grand Mound, but hey, close enough. One of the few German restaurants left in the state is a block from there, screwy hours though. There are other German restaurants but they are run by Pakis, not Germans. When we moved from TN to WA in 2001 Lisa was looking forward to all the recreational opportunities out there. Then she found out how expensive the Puget Sound Basin is, how contaminated the salt water is, and how cold it is. And how bad the food is, how lousy the traffic is and how rude much of the west side is. I did warn her, I grew up out there, couldn't wait to get out of there. Oh, just as a heads up, Rochester Wa is a sexual predator dumping ground. So don't take kids there. |
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Title: Re: 2600 mile relocation to Seattle Post by DrunkenDwarf on 06/20/11 at 09:48:55 Thanks for all the info. The grooved pavement is going to take some getting used to. -D. Dwarf |
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