Brit bike on Miami beach...

22-02-2009, 06:48 AM

OK, so you probably don't want to hear it's 80*F here in Florida... but I just thought I'd let you all know what I've been up to...

This year, I have mostly been riding from one side of the USA to the other, and finally made it to the Atlantic on Tuesday (17th Feb), having been down to Key West (the southernmost point of the US) the weekend before...

With any luck, I'll have made it back to Las Vegas by the end of April, and all being well, will arrive in the UK just in time for the weekender... is there a prize for the most miles travelled to get to the Mill this year?!

Looking forward to seeing you all there!

Toot toot!

Jenny & Piglet xx

slob · 22-02-2009, 09:17 AM

Heathrow-Arrow: 97 miles

Nickj · 22-02-2009, 10:34 AM

There's a nicely detailed old Enfield knocking about there, cafe racer styling and very loud. LOL Not as fast as it sounds though, well it is an RE, just thought I'd toss in some local colour.

22-02-2009, 10:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nickj

There's a nicely detailed old Enfield knocking about there, cafe racer styling and very loud. LOL Not as fast as it sounds though, well it is an RE, just thought I'd toss in some local colour.

Where? Miami or Heathrow?!

xxx

Seb_uk · 22-02-2009, 02:13 PM

Wow - I'm jealous!!

I was in Miami about ten years ago but it doen't feel that long ago.... I loved the place.

Jut looking at that photo makes me realise how pants our dear old UK climate is in comparison!

22-02-2009, 05:44 PM

Funny you say that Seb - I actually hated Miami... well not exactly hated it, but was dissapointed... it is just another huge sprawling US city these days (although the beach front is still nice, even if the restaurants are robbers!)...

I've been lucky to ride all over the USA these past few months, and not being a city person I much prefer the openness and scenery of the west - the mountains in Colorado and Utah, the desert in Arizona and Nevada, the forests in Oregon and California... Florida is so flat, and the roads so busy and dull comparision! I seem to have been in a queue of traffic for 2000 miles already!

I'm currently in Orlando (cheap hotels thank goodness!), but to be honest riding round the city is like taking the M25 back and forth between Staines a Cherstsey - just miles of concrete motorway, mental drivers, and the odd rollercoaster sticking up from behind a tree... x

I feel Florida is just one big a tourist trap, and seemingly out to fleece you as much as possible - toll roads, parking meters, aggressive drivers, expensive hotels... no wonder so many Brits feel right at home!

But you're right about the weather - luverly!

I'll be heading off to Daytona next weekend, then heading north to Tenessee to ride some proper roads, then head back west after that (thank goodness!) - back to some sort of sanity!

xxx

Seb_uk · 24-02-2009, 01:32 PM

I guess I probably have the rose tinted glasses on to a certain degree when I think about my time in Miami back in the late ninetees......

I did an organised tour accross the states with a company called Suntrek (unfortunately in a minibus rather than on a motorcycle!). It was great fun - started out in San Francisco and then drove accross the country over the course of a few weeks taking in the sights along the way. Went as far down as Key West and then back up to Miami & spent a couple of weeks there before heading back to the UK. Met some cool people and really got to see the real America when I headed off the tourist trail. I spent a few days in Missouri and I don't think some of the people I met had ever seen a British person in the flesh before - it was quite funny!

Anyway, I reckon two wheels is by far the best way to travel in the states (or pretty much anywhere for that matter) If only I didn't have all these damn financial commitments and desk job I would definately re-do the journey on a bike. Still, without the job I couldn't pay for my beloved Monster, so it's not all bad......

25-02-2009, 07:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seb_uk

I guess I probably have the rose tinted glasses on to a certain degree when I think about my time in Miami back in the late ninetees......

I know - I had visions of palm trees and pink flamingoes (are there any other kind?), linen suits etc...

To be fair, there are still plenty of palm trees - just surrounded by towerblocks these days, and I was in a traffic queue with a 456 Ferrari and Merc coupe next to me...and that is the problem - Miami is just another rammed city full of traffic these days - infact the whole of Florida seems to have more cars than the rest of the States put together!

xxx

25-02-2009, 07:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Seb_uk

Met some cool people and really got to see the real America when I headed off the tourist trail. I spent a few days in Missouri and I don't think some of the people I met had ever seen a British person in the flesh before - it was quite funny!

Hee hee - I can imagine! For my return route I'm planning oh heading through the heart of the country - Tenessee, Mississippi, Arkansas, Oklahoma... it will be interesting to see how I'm received there - hopefully not too many banjos... x

I can see why people hate America/Americans if their only experience of the country is Florida and the east coast metropoli... as you say, the real America is well away from the tourist trail, and almost without exception they are some of the kindest and friendliest people I've ever met!

xxx

J.P · 24-02-2009, 02:16 PM

J-Mo, definitely making us jealous.
How is it with the 65mph maximum ?

25-02-2009, 07:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J.P

How is it with the 65mph maximum ?

Dude! You saying my bike is slow?!

Actually it's not to bad - some states have 70 or even 75mph limits on the interstates these days, and actually riding along the more minor roads at 55-ish means you get to see a lot more and soak up the sun...

Yep, I'm loving it!

xxx

24-02-2009, 02:33 PM

That looks like a fantastic trip - wonder if the wife would notice if I sneaked off for a while?

Have you been on the Tenere all trip, or diff bikes along the way?

24-02-2009, 02:45 PM

I spent most of the eighties there with my partner Tubbs. We spent our days cruising around in our Ferarri and the evenings penetrating Cuban drug gangs. Great days!

24-02-2009, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lucati

I spent most of the eighties there with my partner Tubbs. We spent our days cruising around in our Ferarri and the evenings penetrating Cuban drug gangs. Great days!

McBurnie Coach Built Ferarri - hand built shell on 1978 Corvette chassis.

I'll get MY anorak!

24-02-2009, 05:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by giler

McBurnie Coach Built Ferarri - hand built shell on 1978 Corvette chassis.

I'll get MY anorak!

Nothing changes, I don't really ride a monster, it's a vespa ET2 with a body kit, big wheels and sports exhaust....mums the word.

22-02-2009, 06:48 AM	#1
JMo Guest Posts: n/a	Brit bike on Miami beach... OK, so you probably don't want to hear it's 80*F here in Florida... but I just thought I'd let you all know what I've been up to... This year, I have mostly been riding from one side of the USA to the other, and finally made it to the Atlantic on Tuesday (17th Feb), having been down to Key West (the southernmost point of the US) the weekend before... With any luck, I'll have made it back to Las Vegas by the end of April, and all being well, will arrive in the UK just in time for the weekender... is there a prize for the most miles travelled to get to the Mill this year?! Looking forward to seeing you all there! Toot toot! Jenny & Piglet xx

22-02-2009, 10:34 AM	#3
Nickj Too much time on my hands member Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Forest Of Dean Bike: S2r Posts: 3,208	There's a nicely detailed old Enfield knocking about there, cafe racer styling and very loud. LOL Not as fast as it sounds though, well it is an RE, just thought I'd toss in some local colour. __________________ "The final measure of any rider's skill is the inverse ratio of his preferred Traveling Speed to the number of bad scars on his body." Song of the sausage creature

22-02-2009, 05:44 PM	#6
JMo Guest Posts: n/a	Glory days... Funny you say that Seb - I actually hated Miami... well not exactly hated it, but was dissapointed... it is just another huge sprawling US city these days (although the beach front is still nice, even if the restaurants are robbers!)... I've been lucky to ride all over the USA these past few months, and not being a city person I much prefer the openness and scenery of the west - the mountains in Colorado and Utah, the desert in Arizona and Nevada, the forests in Oregon and California... Florida is so flat, and the roads so busy and dull comparision! I seem to have been in a queue of traffic for 2000 miles already! I'm currently in Orlando (cheap hotels thank goodness!), but to be honest riding round the city is like taking the M25 back and forth between Staines a Cherstsey - just miles of concrete motorway, mental drivers, and the odd rollercoaster sticking up from behind a tree... x I feel Florida is just one big a tourist trap, and seemingly out to fleece you as much as possible - toll roads, parking meters, aggressive drivers, expensive hotels... no wonder so many Brits feel right at home! But you're right about the weather - luverly! I'll be heading off to Daytona next weekend, then heading north to Tenessee to ride some proper roads, then head back west after that (thank goodness!) - back to some sort of sanity! xxx

24-02-2009, 02:16 PM	#10
J.P No more Monster... Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: London Bike: Other Not a Ducati Posts: 4,326	J-Mo, definitely making us jealous. How is it with the 65mph maximum ? __________________ J.JP ------------------------------- My Mum says, there's no such thing as Monsters.

22-02-2009, 09:17 AM	#2
slob . Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: East London Bike: Multiple Monsters Posts: 9,736	Heathrow-Arrow: 97 miles

22-02-2009, 02:13 PM	#5
Seb_uk Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cardiff Bike: M695 Posts: 284	Wow - I'm jealous!! I was in Miami about ten years ago but it doen't feel that long ago.... I loved the place. Jut looking at that photo makes me realise how pants our dear old UK climate is in comparison!

24-02-2009, 01:32 PM	#7
Seb_uk Bronze Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Cardiff Bike: M695 Posts: 284	I guess I probably have the rose tinted glasses on to a certain degree when I think about my time in Miami back in the late ninetees...... I did an organised tour accross the states with a company called Suntrek (unfortunately in a minibus rather than on a motorcycle!). It was great fun - started out in San Francisco and then drove accross the country over the course of a few weeks taking in the sights along the way. Went as far down as Key West and then back up to Miami & spent a couple of weeks there before heading back to the UK. Met some cool people and really got to see the real America when I headed off the tourist trail. I spent a few days in Missouri and I don't think some of the people I met had ever seen a British person in the flesh before - it was quite funny! Anyway, I reckon two wheels is by far the best way to travel in the states (or pretty much anywhere for that matter) If only I didn't have all these damn financial commitments and desk job I would definately re-do the journey on a bike. Still, without the job I couldn't pay for my beloved Monster, so it's not all bad......

24-02-2009, 02:33 PM	#12
giler Guest Posts: n/a	That looks like a fantastic trip - wonder if the wife would notice if I sneaked off for a while? Have you been on the Tenere all trip, or diff bikes along the way?

24-02-2009, 02:45 PM	#13
Lucati Guest Posts: n/a	I spent most of the eighties there with my partner Tubbs. We spent our days cruising around in our Ferarri and the evenings penetrating Cuban drug gangs. Great days!