I think it's time for me to leave California... Portland might be nice?? Although I've recently purchased a very nice 1968 Triumph motorcycle and I became CURIOUS as to the plausibility of RIDING a motorcycle year round in Portland???? Can I do it? Will it be MISERABLE? I'm 22, and I realized my life will be EASIER (?) if I get the fuck out- Even though I WAS BORN in California (3rd generation )- So how is that place? Any IRON?
I lived across the Columbia river in Vancouver Wa for about 7 yrs. Its a nice city, I think the weather is better then Seattle. Car scene back then was good, they have a huge swapmeet every year and you are not to far from Cal, or Seattle for other car related stuff. It does rain alot more then Cal (thou this year may be an exception.) If you do go up, consider living on the Washington side, there are tax advantages to both locations..
I just bailed out of So-cal last year. Im in Spokane Wa. and I love it. Good car scene, nice weather, and there are still a few barn cars out here to build.
The Pacific Northwest in general is the greatest place in the country. I know, I'm from NY and have spent time elsewhere. Others will disagree. Portland: A cool, laid back city. Good swap meet and the weather is nice. Anyone who bitches about rain and what-not in the PNW doesn't know shit. We're headed for a five year droubt...if that's how you spell that damn word Cali gets more rain than we do. Depending on where in Cali you're from, it will probably seem comparable cost-of-living-wise. Portland is quite affordable, in my mind.
I just moved here a little less than a year ago. It's a really cool city with a lot of character (old buildings). The night life is pretty hoppin' with plenty of decent bands playing. Probably the only thing that bothers me, is that if there's a chance of rain, all the outdoor car things get scrubbed. And it rains a lot here!!! I haven't seen a lot of younger people with cars at gigs, but there's a group of really young ones who hang out at the pseudoweekly cruise nights.
Portland/Vancouver the new Meth capitol of the Pacific Northwest.Also the #5 highest rated citys for I.D. Theft nation wide. Seaside Oregon, The #1 highest population ratio Nation wide for Drug related arrests. Ride a motorcycle year round, You'd half to be really tough or really stupid, although this winter has been the miledest on record. The Freeway structure is about 40 years behind time and getting accrost town in a hurry doesn't happen. 3 Weeks ago on a Saturday afternoon there was a street gang shoot out in the Clackamas Town Center parking lot. That is one of the largest Shopping malls in the aeria. Don't belive me? Do some homework. Sound better than where your living? The Wizzard
Did you see the News coverage of the ice storm before christmas? The showed a lone biker doing a pretty good clip down I-5. Now that's tough...
10/4 Also had the largest turn out for Toy and Joy ride up to Shriners hosp. Dec. 4. It's a banner year for Motorcycles. We'll pay for it next year. The Wizzard
I move to Seattle in November of 03. Before that I spent my 35 years of existance on the gulf coast of Florida. I have been back to Florida 3 times so far, and the minute I get there I am ready to go back to Seattle. It rains much more and much harder in Florida. The climate in the NW is so much nicer. I have met lots of great car enthusiasts up here. And found some great cars. Bike weather gets a little hairy once in a while. No worse than the traffic vs bikes in CA.
I grew up in Oregon City 20 min south of Portland. I would move back in an instant if I could. Marrige however dictates otherwise but I would rather be happy in a place I don't really like than miserable in a place that I love. You would love riding a bike in Oregon on the sunny days. However its not a year round vehicle there by any means. There are alot of really senic places to take day trips in the Colombia River Gourge or up and around Mt. Hood to name a few. Senic routes go just about everywhere.
Portland is just great if you want the government intruding every day, it really is the most liberal city on the west coast, which translates you are too stupid to think or care so one of dozens of governing bodies will be there to help you empty your wallet. but if you do move up here please never ever vote to approve a sales tax.
Although I've recently purchased a very nice 1968 Triumph motorcycle and I became CURIOUS as to the plausibility of RIDING a motorcycle year round in Portland???? you either want to ride or ya don't cuz after your face goes numb ya can ride all day
my cousin was broken down in portland while driving through, he said he's seen an unbelievably large number of really good looking girls there...
In my opinion, Portland has a lot more character than Sacto. Otherwise, the car scene is similar in size, diversity and history - same with the arts, if you care about that. Cost of living is lower, but the wages are a LOT lower. If you're leaving Sacto to escape the crime, overpopulation, etc, might as well stay put...I was born and raised in the Columbia Gorge (outside Potland), moved away as a teen, and finally came back in '96. It's great to be home (I was REALLY homesick), but I've been starving since I got back......
I like it here. Originally from Denver and you want to talk gang violence?!? Fer Crissakes we had a couple of summers that would have made Compton proud. As for the scenery it is kick ass. We have a huge market for micro brews, the MOST strip clubs in any town I have ever been in, the chicks are hot, the seafood is excellent, the people are friendly and yes it is liberal, but so am I. And I am a hell of a nice person, so what are ya waiting for? Oh, and there are a TON of bars up here from gritty dives to hoity toity aloof ones. Did I mention the bridges? Kick ass bridges man. And the Pacific is less than 2 hours away.
Where to begin....you have a job lined up? High unemployment here. Minimum wage here is around $7.50-8.00 an hour. Portland is extremely liberal. For years, the city council has been talking about shutting down parts of downtown to all vehicles. Portland is in Multnomah county. I think it's the only county in the country that voted in a 'county tax', just for living there. Minimum of $300 a year. Supposed to be for the schools, but they're closing schools down anyways. Cost of living is prob lower than Sacto, you might actually be able to buy a house here!! Property costs inside P-town are stupid. I moved a few miles out of P-town, and Multnomah county a few years ago. Saved lots of $ in every day expenses. Lots of hippies, methers, car thiefs, liberals, sex offenders, and serial killers. The PNW breeds more serial killers than anywhere else in the country! The liberal local government is all for the rehabilitation of criminals, not the punishment for the crimes. So there is the revolving door at jail, all the while they cut the police bureau and then bitch about the crime rate. The Secret Service nicknamed Portland the 'Beruit of the West', due to all the protests against everything. Meth is fueling all the crime around here. I think it's the same everywhere on the west coast. High car theft rate (don't own a Camry!), but I think the recovery rate around here is about 95% within 7 days. Meth is also causing an explosion in ID theft, burglaries, and metal theft. Tweekers are stealing railings off bridges, and street signs! Good stuff: I used to live in Escondido, Seattle, and various places in Nebraska that I really don't like to think about. I liked it here best. Big difference between here and Cali, things are green here year round. I have friends that ride year round. You have to be able to ride in the rain, it does do that a lot here. If you only have a bike, the public transport here is very good when the weather is to bad. It's also overcast a lot. If you're one of those types that get depressed while enduring weeks without seeing the sun, you better stay where you are. P-town is 40 miles from Mt. Hood, about 45 minutes from the coast, and about 2.5 hours from Seattle. There are more strip bars here than there are in L.A., with full bars also. Lots of micro-breweries, lots of coffee, diverse and steady music scene, NO SALES TAX. You can drive 20 miles in almost any direction from here and be in the country. The Columbia Gorge has some of the best wind surfing in the world. Good fishing and hunting, if you're into that. Lots of bikes in town, lots of bike clubs. Outlaw and otherwise. Helmet law in Oregon, and you need to have at least one rear view mirror. Is that enough rambling for you??
Well... I am almost a hippy And minimum wage in CA is $6.75 (STILL) I thoroughly enjoy the whole idea of taking the bus if it's to hairy to ride, I wouldn't have thought of that myself (thanks). I was looking at some temp. agencies in Portland because I do NOT have work lined up- Can anyone recommend anything???? And... What's the most GHETTO part of Portland, Or rather, where do me (and my gorgeous ladyfriend) NOT want to live? Thanks!! Oh, here's a link to the bike, I'm retarded when it comes to posting pics- http://www.myspace.com/index.cfm?fu...47722&imageID=53482244&Mytoken=20050306073403
not all the east is bad but you definitely don't want to settle in around 82nd Foster area, casually referred to as "felony flats". doesn't take much of explaining. Myself moved out of Multnomah County 19 years ago, and can't figure why anyone still lives there.
P-town is 40 miles from Mt. Hood, about 45 minutes from the coast, and about 2.5 hours from Seattle. Sombitch! Fidget, I want to go for a ride with you! The Wizzard
Buses aren't to bad here, and there's light rail which goes almost everywhere. Ghetto all depends on your interpetation. Theres pockets of shitheads everywhere, in all parts of the city. Outer SE is traditionally shithead land. Big parts of NE and North are still gangsta' land. Parts of SW have the same shitheads, but pay higher rent. It all depends on what you can afford. I have friends who live in parts of town that I won't go to without packing a gun, and they've never had problems. I've always had a secure garage to store my cars and bikes in, the daily goes on the street/driveway. You might wanna look for someplace with a garage, or a big patio slider door to roll your bike inside..at least for the winter. But I'm paranoid. Lots of temp agencies here.
Yea, I completely agree. Can anyone recomend a few things to do to a bike if it will be ridden in the rain? And I've got a belt-drive, so the primary needs to be (somewhat) open. Will that be a pain in the ass? Any idea's on how to handle THAT situation? Any tricky bike laws I should be aware of? Thanks again, this is really cool.
so yeah, portland. I moved from northern washington to the portland area, sherwood to be exact, a month after i graduated in 03. I lived there for 5 months, and it was the greatest 5 months. I had soo much fun, so oh well if it rains a little bit, if it wasnt for the rain you wouldnt have the awesome scenery that you do. I worked at Fry's Electronics, easy place to work, but working in oregon they rape you with taxes and shit, but i got alot back too. There is always stuff to do, places to go, and i see your 22, there are lots and lots and lots of hot girls there, and they are really down to earth girls, not crazy ass stalker crackwhore girls. The car scene is pretty good, when i was there i had my small blocked s-10, people liked it, but i got my 65 panel chopped and layin body, itll be down there alot this summer. Im moving back this mid-late summer, or fall. I really like that place, the people, just everything. So yeah, whats portland like, its cool. Move there.
1980 thru 1985 due to a job transfer we lived in Milwaukie and worked in Clackamas. I found it very hard to make friends as people didn't seem to like outsiders moving in. Drag raced at Portland ,and up into Washington. Used to be a lot of Rust free cars on the eastern side of the state. For the most part I liked it ,if I wouldn't have been hit head on by a chip truck at Snow Bunny I would probably still be there. I know no-one seems to like Nebraska -Iowa but no-one around here even mentions minumum wage .Tons of good jobs,outside Omaha the housing prices are reasonable. Next door to me right now is a Ranch style ,probably built in the 70's, big corner lot ,big garage, priced in the 80's. Meth dealers are everywhere I think,we don't see any gang stuff ,or else I'm so dumb I don't know it . But you can't ride your bike year round ,probably 6 months for sure and another 3 months maybe.
Biggest problem with riding in the rain, is having the proper clothing, decent tires, and avoiding all those things in the road that become slick when wet. It's been in the mid to upper 60's for the last week or so, I think the rainy season is over. Going to be a dry summer. As for bike laws, mandatory insurance on anything on the road. If you're stopped, and you don't have proof, you get towed. Helmets required, visible rear plate, plate light, no blue dots on your tail light (unless the vehicle is 1958 or older), and at least one mirror. Registering vehicles here is waaaay cheap compared to California, you'll need current insurance proof, and proof of ownership. Your bike is only registered with the VIN, but since things do get stolen, I've always made sure to keep track of my engine # since the state doesn't do that here. You might want to come up here for a couple days to scout it out before you do the big move.
As I was squeezing my fat ass into my leathers, I remembered something I forgot. No lane splitting here. Get a big ticket for that.
I was there for 4 or 5 months at Portland State University. I didn't really like Portland to much, probably because it was very laidback. I am from Seattle. Now i am at school in NY, NY...bullshit...no car stuff i can find around the area...pretty big fuckin' area too. Maybe i am not looking hard enough. And sometimes this city just sucks, although today was great. I mean all the music stuff i can do here and see is awesome, and there is no better place in my opinion for that, but i really like Seattle. I do know that i will not leave Manhattan because of school, and it is where i need to be...after school, i just need a job in a symphony...hopefully Seattle! Funny, i like Spokane though. it is more laid back there than Seattle for sure, but i think it is meant to be there. If i was to go back to Portland i would live on the WA side in Vancouver and buy everything in Portland.
St. Johns neighbor hood isn't to nice either. My boat was stuck at the dry dock there for almost 4 months. I like the area I have been up in the Seattle area most of my life though. Eric
The Jalopy Journal
