GZ 250 Forums - View Single Post - Rode my GZ on a CA freeway for the first time

OC Hoosier · 08-13-2008, 01:09 PM

Hey Moedad and Alan--

I live in Costa Mesa, work in Newport Coast, and my girlfriend lives in Mission Viejo (on the SW end of Santiago Canyon Rd...lots of Cook's Corner traffic!!). I too have only my permit and as Alan can testify, the Safety Courses are booked almost two months in advance. I am on the road at 5 a.m. heading for work, so needless to say it is 'dark'. I commute via the 73 to PCH. There is almost no traffic in the mornings, but moderate to heavy in the evenings. The road is fairly smooth and I can hold my own with the cagers. I have braved the 405 about three times heading to/from my girlfriend's house. I don't mind the diamond lane, but everywhere else on this stretch of concrete makes me nervous. Heavy traffic, high speeds, and uneven/grooved/wavy paving are a bad combination for a GZ! So...except for riding double (which I refuse to do as a learner...I have actually removed the back seat both for aesthetics and to alleviate the temptation) I have managed to quite illegally ride both on a freeway and in the dark...often combining the two, ha! I am a very responsible/conservative rider and am becoming very confident in my skill level. I am, however, anxiously awaiting my training course. It's extremely rare to see a motorcycle pulled over on the SoCal freeways, so I haven't worried too much about being hindered by my 'permit'. Besides, good luck getting anywhere out here without hopping on some sort of multi-lane thoroughfare! With an air-cooled 5 speed, we'd be much more likely burn out the clutch or blow the motor before actually reaching our destination (which is usually only 15 miles or less), right?! Ha!!

08-13-2008, 01:09 PM	#9
OC Hoosier Junior Member Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Orange County, California Posts: 24	Re: Cal permits Hey Moedad and Alan-- I live in Costa Mesa, work in Newport Coast, and my girlfriend lives in Mission Viejo (on the SW end of Santiago Canyon Rd...lots of Cook's Corner traffic!!). I too have only my permit and as Alan can testify, the Safety Courses are booked almost two months in advance. I am on the road at 5 a.m. heading for work, so needless to say it is 'dark'. I commute via the 73 to PCH. There is almost no traffic in the mornings, but moderate to heavy in the evenings. The road is fairly smooth and I can hold my own with the cagers. I have braved the 405 about three times heading to/from my girlfriend's house. I don't mind the diamond lane, but everywhere else on this stretch of concrete makes me nervous. Heavy traffic, high speeds, and uneven/grooved/wavy paving are a bad combination for a GZ! So...except for riding double (which I refuse to do as a learner...I have actually removed the back seat both for aesthetics and to alleviate the temptation) I have managed to quite illegally ride both on a freeway and in the dark...often combining the two, ha! I am a very responsible/conservative rider and am becoming very confident in my skill level. I am, however, anxiously awaiting my training course. It's extremely rare to see a motorcycle pulled over on the SoCal freeways, so I haven't worried too much about being hindered by my 'permit'. Besides, good luck getting anywhere out here without hopping on some sort of multi-lane thoroughfare! With an air-cooled 5 speed, we'd be much more likely burn out the clutch or blow the motor before actually reaching our destination (which is usually only 15 miles or less), right?! Ha!!
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