What's the Boston riding scene like?

[ancosta]

Bhavesh - I have ridden quite a bit in and around boston. I would not advocate riding a bike to a club and leaving it unattended, particuarly on Tremont, Lansdowne, etc. Your biggest thread would be someone barfing/pissing/sitting on it, etc. (who knows maybe all at once!). If you must do the urban riding thing I would go to Cambridge, you can find good food, etc. and the streets are generally wider, and much less congested.

Pull up on Tremont after last call on a Sat. night on some type of flashy hardware & you'll be the cat's meow to many of the hot, drunk women, if posing is your thing. Bring on the neon lights and chromed swingarms!

I only ride in/through Boston if I have a legitimate reason to go in or through, but not just to buzz around. Too much other nice riding nearby w/o 18" potholes and crazy cabbies.

That said, I do a Providence - Boston each week and often lumber through the the big dig or TWT if I'll make better time than going 128N.

If I was into ripping it grand theft auto style, I'd think that the Arborway through brookline & towards dedham would be a good (yet dangerous) run.

I did get stopped once for no inspection sticker by Mass SP, and the guy admired my full gear. Of course he did mention that it wouldn't help me much in the city because most of the MC accidents he sees are crushing, blunt force traumas.

[chr|s sedition]

Originally posted by ancosta
If I was into ripping it grand theft auto style, I'd think that the Arborway through brookline & towards dedham would be a good (yet dangerous) run.

ooooo! The Riverway through JP. Now *that* is a fun inner-city road.

-sedition

[breakdirt916]

Ancosta, what about parking on a side street near a stable object (tree, streetlamp, etc.) with a cable lock? I'd like to ride to cambridge, but all my friends already go to clubs on tremont, so that's where I'll end up, bike or not.

And yes, the arborway/riverway/JP way is a fun road (when nobody else is on it).

Outside 495? That suits me well, because that's where I live. I do ~97% of my riding out here.

So overall, it seems the general concensus of Boston riders is: Stay out of Boston.

But (holding simple random sampling aside) why is it, that I see 2-3 sportbikes/day just walking around Boston, but outside 495 (where I live), I'll see 1-2 cruisers every couple weeks?

Everything's backwards

It's like bizzaro world.

[breakdirt916]

And as for blunt force trauma, that's what I'm afraid of. Cab drivers, truck drivers, and commuters alike do not care. How do Boston riders still do it everyday?

[chr|s sedition]

Originally posted by Bhavesh
But (holding simple random sampling aside) why is it, that I see 2-3 sportbikes/day just walking around Boston, but outside 495 (where I live), I'll see 1-2 cruisers every couple weeks?

damn...how many times have people answered that already? If you want to "pose", "strut your peacock feathers", or show off your CBR1000 fashion accessory, then Boston is where people go to do it.

[breakdirt916]

In summary:

Be not, tempted to ride, by (some of, not all) those multiudes of bikes you see in Boston; because most of them aren't hitting the hidden twisties in and around town, but instead are only there to park (and flaunt their stuff).

I pretty much got what I'm looking for, out of this thread. Thanks for the responses.

[ancosta]

Originally posted by chr|s sedition
damn...how many times have people answered that already? If you want to "pose", "strut your peacock feathers", or show off your CBR1000 fashion accessory, then Boston is where people go to do it.

Exactly...my one and only Boston pose event was with my GSXR750 buddy...went to Chinatown, got some food, laughed at him b/c he was afraid his bike would be missing when we got out, then we went to Tremont street.

We parked in front of the Roxy, observed insane amounts of hot drunk chicks. The ruff ryders showed up with chrome brain buckets on blinged out bikes. Lots of tuff looks and no chit chat about things like say, motorcycling. Then there was another guy doing a smokey against the curb, which was funny to an extent.

Riding home on Route 1 I realize that 95% of the people on the road are shitfaced and using my tailights as a visual aide to not drive off the road. Getting home was a pretty good feeling!

Yeah, lets do that again real soon!

[kmobrien76]

Sad but true...

Originally posted by benVFR
Don't forget ... ... the sketchy looking teenage guys who didn't ride in on a bike but are really really interested in your bike!

[OreoGaborio]

reviving a dead thread, cuz i'm gonna be doin a two-up ride this evening & was hopin to keep it local... i dunno, we might head up to the north shore & go allong the coast or somethin, we'll see.

As much as i ride, i do all my fun shit on the track... haven't ridden around boston much other than w/ the purpose of just getting somewhere. Storrow is a good one, we'll probably hit that up...

any other suggestions?

[ancosta]

I might be up for a ride in the 7PM timeframe, give or take an hr. If I am with the Ms. she might come 2-up with me, she is very new to riding and this would be her 1st time on the back of the bike this year, so I am riding a very "street" speeds. Route 127 to Manchester might be a good one.

If you guys want to have a bite my friend owns a great little bar/resturant in Salem where they have awesome BBQ...its a good starting point for a ride up 127.

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
reviving a dead thread, cuz i'm gonna be doin a two-up ride this evening & was hopin to keep it local... i dunno, we might head up to the north shore & go allong the coast or somethin, we'll see.

As much as i ride, i do all my fun shit on the track... haven't ridden around boston much other than w/ the purpose of just getting somewhere. Storrow is a good one, we'll probably hit that up...

any other suggestions?

[OreoGaborio]

hmm.... well... i would normally take ya up on that cuz it sounds like a good time, but this is kind of a first date kinda deal with this girl. If i already knew her I'd take ya up on that, but i think i'm gonna have to pass this time around.

next time, bro. I appreciate the offer

[ancosta]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
hmm.... well... i would normally take ya up on that cuz it sounds like a good time, but this is kind of a first date kinda deal with this girl. If i already knew her I'd take ya up on that, but i think i'm gonna have to pass this time around.

next time, bro. I appreciate the offer

I understand...no worries.

Don't forget to use protection








Gloves, jacket, boots, helmet, etc...

[Cam_In_IL]

Originally posted by hessogood
Sedition, you should try heading to Storrow via fresh pond and do a little out of the way back tracking. I'll have to show you my version of the race track and you can show me yours when the warm comes out. I think my house is no more than a few miles from you.

Oh man, I miss those roads. I may have to ride the bike to work next week, and then hit Storrow after grabbing some dinner.

[kendoairdog]

The closet I come to riding into Bos is Framingham and that is to take the Logan Express to the Airport cuz that is where i work.

[imnot12]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio

any other suggestions?

When I have to roll 2-up, I like route 1. It's relatively twisty, traffic isn't horrible, and you don't have to stop at lights all the time (and you can open it up a little to impress the chica if you are so inclined). We usually head up that way to 114 in Middleton and grab ice cream at Richardson's Dairy. They have putt-putt golf and stuff too and the ice cream is awesome. Sometimes there are some cool bikes and cars there. Plus, if it doesn't work out with the girl, there are usually lots of little hotties running around so you could trade her or something. Usually come back 1 to lynn fells parkway to 28, cause that is also a nice road with some sweet curves. Good luck with the other curves tho!

[chr|s sedition]

River Way. Jamaica Way. Storrow to Soldiers Feild Rd. x-way in the tunnel can be fun. Logan Airport has some mean turns in it.

[slaps76]

When my roomate, who owns a Harley says "I'm going for a ride," it means: down Rt 9 to Boylston, down then up Newbury, down Lansdowne...get beer on Brookline Ave...go to Fanueil Hall, drink more beer. Smart fella.

So yea, if I'm not drinking at all, I'll go with him. Never had a problem parking my bike on the street, but avoid parking it right near the meathead bars, like Sissy K's, ect. But when I'm actually going riding, I head out through Dover, Westwood, ect...away from the city. Sitting in traffic sucks, and cabs are dangerous.

Always wondered the point of those guys sitting on the sidewalk on Lansdowne all night

[chr|s sedition]

ok, who wants to go follow Pete aroubnd on his 'date'? We could just tailgate him in traffic and throw pennies at him or something. this could prove to a really funny ride.

and do you think he is taking her out riding right before a thunder storm just so he can get her t-shirt wet? hmmm..

-sedition

[dhuze]

Originally posted by OreoGaborio
hmm.... well... i would normally take ya up on that cuz it sounds like a good time, but this is kind of a first date kinda deal with this girl. If i already knew her I'd take ya up on that, but i think i'm gonna have to pass this time around.

next time, bro. I appreciate the offer

So for a first date you thought you'd bring a bunch of people?

[dhuze]

Originally posted by chr|s sedition
.............

and do you think he is taking her out riding right before a thunder storm just so he can get her t-shirt wet? hmmm..

-sedition

He's taking her on the bike because it's the only way he knows to get her to touch him

[OreoGaborio]

When we were makin plans to go out, she brought up the bike & wanted to go for a ride. i said "easy ride around the outskirts of the city or find some twisties & step it up a notch?" ... she said "step it up a notch"

so now the skies just opened up as i was gettin ready to head out... i told her rain was on the way & there was a possibility plans would be changing... she wants to wait it out & go after it lets up (and it doesn't look like it'll be long before it clears up)

[a13x]

Oh boy..

I LOVE riding in and around Boston! Yes I say that with conviction.

Some riders will not come within 20 miles of the city, I'm not one of them. I've lived in Boston from 97 to present and had a streetbike almost all of that time. I'm with Jay in saying that Storrow Drive is one of my favourite 'twisties' of all time. Oh the excitement. Must be doing something right however cause both Jay and I seem to hustle around Loudon okay... probably cause they are both bumpy as hell

I enjoy riding in all forms. Spirited corners and just slow cruising thru town. Riding in Boston is akin to a videogame. You have to be hyper-alert and semi-aggressive in order to 'enjoy' it if you will. I'm just as happy flying around corners as I am sitting on the curb at Lansdowne talking bikes with a bunch of guys and watching the girls walk by.

Oh. Since I rode solo most of the time.. I never had problems riding with any 'crews'. Oddly enough I used to run into the 'Roxbury / Dorchester / Mattapan Extreme Team' a bunch (yes big black dudes that do wheelies around town) and latch onto them. Nice enough fellas. Other than those cats I'd jump in with a few guys on Lansdowne.. Newbury.. where ever and do some runs thru the City and Storrow fairly often.

So yea. Go out on a warm summer night, look at the chicks, rev it up a lil, have some laughs and enjoy the City. Isn't that what riding is all about as well?

PS: I don't do burnouts, wheelies, or bounce my shit off the rev-limiter and I can corner.

PSS: Don't go fast thru the Jamaciaway out in JP. It's real curvy.. but real dangerous. Trust me, not worth it.

[chr|s sedition]

Originally posted by a13x
PSS: Don't go fast thru the Jamaciaway out in JP. It's real curvy.. but real dangerous. Trust me, not worth it.

I hit 80mph on the J-way yesterday (and *not* on the straight parts either). I *heart* that road.



-sedition