Woodman asked: There are curves in Florida?

[Dan]

You bet! Especially true if you have a good tour guide like rblue02.

Florida gets an undeservedly bad rap as a riding place. You won't find Deals Gap there, but the central part of the state offers fine riding; most of it a ways inland. Elevation changes? Yes. One stretch of road has one of the steepest hills I know of just about anywhere, the reason being that anywhere else, the road would wind around the terrain, while in FL, the road goes straight up and down the incline.

If you don't mind endless straight stretches, there's thousands of square miles of the rest of Florida to explore. And the cops seem to have a bit of understanding when it comes to those white signs-with-numbers along the roadside. Twenty over in a rural area didn't muster a second glance.

Now I'm back in NY with a foot of snow. So, which do you prefer? Swimming outside after a motorcycle ride or waiting for spring?

I'll take Florida... every January.

[rblue02]

Good to see you made it back Dan.
I'm sure towing in snow is no fun.


California probably has the best combo of weather and roads,
but it's not without its problems too.

[Dan]

When I was over riding by Cocoa, I saw two guys riding together on 3 wheelers that had been converted from sportbikes. Single wheel in back, two in front. They looked like they were professionally built kits that replaced the front forks. Have you ever seen these or know where they got them? They looked like they might be fun...

[woodman]

You're right, there is some good riding in the central past of the state like the Ocala National Forest. I lived in Ormond Beach for awhile and have been throught the central part a few times.
Still nothing like the more mountainous states. I lived in West Palm Beach for about 6 years and the riding down there was nothing but flat straight roads. A popular place for sportbikers was hwy 27 from Ft. Lauderdale to South Bay, straight and flat, they would get well into the upper triple digits and hold it there for miles.

[Dan]

Still nothing like the more mountainous states.

Right... you have more room to roam... great vistas, etc. And if you go to FL looking for mountains you'll be disappointed.

There's a lot to be said for riding among palm trees and moss draped oaks. Unlike northern areas motorcycling doesn't take a break either. You'll find riders out on all but the coldest days. Here in the north, it seems folks lose their enthusiasm for riding about the time the NFL hype starts. Then, come spring, they come out all enthusiastic until that tapers off again in August. Sheesh.

I find an everglades vista is just as inspiring as one in the mountains and a ride along the Indian River on FL 515... well, where's the mountain equivalent of that? Ride breaks at one of Florida's open air watering holes, cafes or restaurants are unique to the region as well.

Probably the last thing Florida needs is more people, so if anyone's not convinced....