Possible move from SoCal to Melbourne Florida

[FGO]

We may be relocating to Melbourne, Florida in January, after 45 years in SoCal, any guzzi info I should know about, such as parts sources, or possibly a twisty road.  We can no longer hang in SoCal and have great opportunity there.....   Any guzzi folks able to share what to expect? We are interested in seeing what rain looks like after 6 years of drought.   Thanks for any input.  Also, any suggestions on shipping a Toyota Tacoma, Mazda Miata and a Cal SS?
Cheers,
Jon

[oldbike54]

 Wait , isn't Melbourne in Austria ?

 Looks like a good place to own a boat .

 Dusty

[Triple Jim]

From what I know about Melbourne, you'll get to know not only about rain, but plenty of heat and high humidity about 3/4 of the year.  There's also lots of traffic and few twisty roads.  The only hills are where highways have overpasses over crossroads.  If your move isn't definite yet, you might want to visit there for a few days to see if the differences from southern CA are good ones or not so good ones.

[oldbike54]

 To paraphrase one of our buds from the Lafayette LA area , the only incline one will encounter in Florida is while walking on a treadmill 

 Dusty

[Noguzznoglory]

To paraphrase one of our buds from the Lafayette LA area , the only incline one will encounter in Florida is while walking on a treadmill 

 :1:

the highest point in the state is only about 250' above sea level and that's in the panhandle

[clubman]

I lived in various parts of Fl. over a 30 yr. period, easily the worst state in the Union for motorcycles. Flat, straight, hot, humid, and did I mention traffic? The eastern side seems to be becoming more vulnerable to hurricanes. I retired to South Georgia and have plenty of good riding (nicer people too).

[oldbike54]

 Florida has some lovely places , but as a motorcyclist it would be at the bottom of any list as a place to retire . For all of the myths about how flat Kansas and Oklahoma are , Kansas is only the 7th flattest state , and Oklahoma is the 23rd , with Florida holding down the top spot . Heck , measured by percentage of area, Oklahoma ranks right with California as being un-flat .

 Dusty

[ITSec]

the highest point in the state is only about 250' above sea level and that's in the panhandle

Actually, that spot (Britton Hill) is 345' altitude (unless there's a high tide  ).

The highest spot in the main body of the state is Sugarloaf Mountain (mountain - hah!) northwest of Orlando, at 312'.

These readings are subject to change, and will be reduced as the sea level rises - then again, they may be valuable ocean-view property in another 50-100 years!

[wavedog]

I live an hour or so north of Melbourne. Most of Florida is flat, straight and fast. You may not do much riding in the summer as it is hot and humid. The rest of the year is good riding weather.  Anytime of the year you will encounter an occasional afternoon rain shower regardless of the forecast. The Central Florida M-G club is active and has a core group of people that have meet-ups throughout the year. There are some pleasant places to visit and some fairly decent roads to ride, you just have to learn where they are and it may take a while to get there. The good news is the Smokey mountains and the Blue Ridge mountains are a days ride away. Most excellent riding up there. So, if you are coming in January be sure to meet up at the Pantheon in Daytona and Martins in Flagler during Bike Week. Riding in Florida requires a different mind set. You need to be happy to just be able to get out and ride. See ya!

[pressureangle]

I live an hour or so north of Melbourne. Most of Florida is flat, straight and fast. You may not do much riding in the summer as it is hot and humid. The rest of the year is good riding weather.  Anytime of the year you will encounter an occasional afternoon rain shower regardless of the forecast. The Central Florida M-G club is active and has a core group of people that have meet-ups throughout the year. There are some pleasant places to visit and some fairly decent roads to ride, you just have to learn where they are and it may take a while to get there. The good news is the Smokey mountains and the Blue Ridge mountains are a days ride away. Most excellent riding up there. So, if you are coming in January be sure to meet up at the Pantheon in Daytona and Martins in Flagler during Bike Week. Riding in Florida requires a different mind set. You need to be happy to just be able to get out and ride. See ya!

^ What he said. I'm an hour South of Melbourne. Though twisties are few, the scenery is awesome. Some of the best riding is North of Orlando, a couple hours from M. It's a nice ride down US1/A1A to about Jupiter, too.

[John Ulrich]

, any suggestions on shipping a Toyota Tacoma, Mazda Miata and a Cal SS?

Wow, A big adventure ahead for you two!  The enclosed big name haulers charge about $1.00 a mile per car, open haulers were around 60 cents a mile.   Try U-ship and see what the independents come up with for a package deal. 

[blackcat]

"We can no longer hang in SoCal and have great opportunity there....."

Father,

I hope all works out for you two. Florida......can't say much, but best of luck.

PS. Does this opportunity involve midgets?

[Wayne Orwig]

or possibly a twisty road.

Look for an interstate on ramp.

Flat, hot, humid. The official vehicle is a Buick.

We have a facility in Melbourne. They had to shut down for a few days for the Hurricane. No damage in the end.

[Chuck in Indiana]

The good news is the Smokey mountains and the Blue Ridge mountains are a days ride away.

There's that.

Father.. if you haven't been to Flori duh in the summer..I'm just saying. It can get hot inland in SoCal.. but not humid.
Our friend Madonna used to b!tch about the winters in Indiana, saying she couldn't get out of the house for 3 months. She finally moved to Florida, got upside down on a house, and then realized she couldn't go outside for 9 months.
Now, if your midget porn empire requires you to move there, that's a different matter. You can send me pix of riding around in February when I can't even see the road.

[antmanbee]

There is no place in the US that is as good as So Cal when you factor in weather that you can ride in all year and the close proximity to some of the best twisty roads anywhere. Within about 20 miles from the coast in San Diego you start climbing through Wild Cat Canyon up to Ramona and then on to Julian. Or up to Palomar mountain where the observatory is, tight twisty switchbacks all the way and beautiful scenery too and many many more.

Contrast this to Florida where you can ride 8-9 months of the year with the summer being too hot and humid and there is nothing that I have seen that resembles a twisty road probably at least several hours from Melbourne.

It is still nice to get out in the mornings on some back roads without traffic and take an easy cruise in a mostly straight line just to hear and feel the Guzzi communicate to you as they do.

[Kiwi Dave]

There is no place in the US that is as good as So Cal when you factor in weather that you can ride in all year and the close proximity to some of the best twisty roads anywhere. Within about 20 miles from the coast in San Diego you start climbing through Wild Cat Canyon up to Ramona and then on to Julian. Or up to Palomar mountain where the observatory is, tight twisty switchbacks all the way and beautiful scenery too and many many more.

My favourite has to be Hwy 33 from Ojai up to Hwy 166 to PCH1 and the coast, or just as good Lockwood Valley Rd to Frazier Park and then 138 to Lake Hughes.

I sure miss California riding.

[Dean Rose]

The best thing to do is spend a few weeks down there in mid summer. Then you'll realize why the Snowbirds only come down for the coldest months. We lived in Sarasota for 15 years couldn't wait to get back to the mountains. Living in SoCal you're probably used to the traffic and waiting in line for everything.

Good luck.

Dean

[OlDogface]

My Mom retired to Florida 15-odd years ago. I recall it was Flat, Hot and Crowded. I wouldn't mind visiting her around Christmas but 4th of July was a definite no-go for me.

Good luck and safe travels!

[Tom]

Good luck with the proposed move. 

[Shorty]

Florida is cruiser ("biker")country. Some nice beach roads. A few nice rural farm roads. LOTS of insane MOFOs running (worse, driving) around. I've never been to the west coast of USA, so I cannot compare.  I lived in Florida, and go back every year for a week or so. As mentioned above, it's not for me full time anymore because of the crowds and heat. In Guzzi terms, Florida is more Eldo than Le Mans.

Some fun Florida writers:   Carl Hiaasen, Tim Dorsey, Randy Wayne White, James W Hall.

[Two Checks]

11 curves in 318 miles...

[Arizona Wayne]

Back in the '60-80s Calfornia was a great place to live.  But now between the state politics, cost of living and population, those days are over.   I had an ex-Navy buddy who lived in Jacksonville,Fl. who said the best time to be in Florida is March & October, the times Daytona has there bike weeks.   If you have never experienced summer heat/humidity you are in for a

Calif. has earthquakes - Fl. has hurricanes & sinkholes

[antmanbee]

11 curves in 318 miles...

Wow!! Where is that road? I didn't know Florida had anything like that.

[Triple Jim]

11 curves in 318 miles...

If you have never experienced summer heat/humidity you are in for a

A few years back, I went to central Florida for a week in September on business and spent most of the time outdoors.  I was hoping for nice pre-fall weather.  Instead it felt like someone was aiming a hair dryer at my whole body, all day, every day.

[Wayne Orwig]

11 curves in 318 miles...

[cee2cee]

Boy, I just love all the misinformation....b ut to be expected.  I am guilty of the same type of generalizations as well, so no offense.  However, as a lifelong Floridian here who has also spent time elsewhere here is my 2 cents.  Florida, like every state, has its pluses and minuses.  Yea, Southeast Florida including Keys to West Palm, Tampa south to Ft. Meyers, Jacksonville, and Orlando area are insanely crowded and get more so during the winter, on par with or a bit less than parts of California.    As for weather, winter is the best weather in the country for Central and South Florida.  Summertime closer to the coast you are the more of a sea breeze you get.  It is humid during the summer and early fall,  but I know lots of bike riders and not one stops riding in the summer.   If twisties and mountains are your things, then nope Florida is not for you.  But if you are open-minded and ride simply because you like to ride, with a litte research you can find some very satisfying roads.  Cost of living...hands down Florida.  No CONFISCATORY state income tax, no nanny state government with all the fees and regulations.  California is a beautiful state but the quality of life, in my humble opinion and cost to live there would put it at the bottom of my list.  Melbourne is well situated to enjoy the ocean yet not as congested or over commercialized as other places in Florida.  And hell, its a short ride to Daytona...Good luck to you.

[Red Dog]

Well now that all them southern boys (anybody who lives south of Gainesville FL) have had their say I'll have to set things right.

Yes roads south of me are flat, straight, boring & if you go the east coast around Sanford-DeLand on the weekends be prepared to ride in parade mode behind the slow riders.

It is a shame that more riders here in Florida are not of an adventerous spirit & get out & explore more, why they stick to all the main roads is beyond me when there are many fine roads with beautiful country & curves.  You just have to travel a bit to get to them. 
Now from Melbourne to Gainesville is a two hour ride on blah hiways & from Gainesville to Fun is about another hour.
After that I can show you an easy 250 miles (or more) of the best riding in Florida.  Some tight curvers, s-curves & sweepers with enought straight between to go to triple digits if you like.
Nobody believes me until they ride it!

You may also want to try Google maps for Ozello (Ozela?) Florida.  There is a road called Ozello Trail that is a hot spot for sport bikers it is like a flat tail of the dragon except you have swamp on both sides instead of mountains.  I was there once, it was fun but not worth the 1-1/2 hours of boring to get there.

[wavedog]

Hey Red Dog - careful, you are going to give it all away.

[Guzzidad]

   I'm going to Ozzelo tomorrow to Pecks for lunch. There's several hundred miles of good riding in central FL.

[luthier]

All the best if you move there Father. It seems there may be a reasonable balance of pro's and cons.
It can be nice to have warm riding weather and humidity tends to be subjective in my opinion.
I constantly monitor humidity with my work and it's often on very hot dry days that people complain most about humidity because they  are sweating so much. They get a huge surprise when I inform them that it's 20%.
And the best to Brenda as well, hope she is doing ok.
Cheers,
Dan