When planning a motorcycle trip to California, there are several options to choose from. These options range from riding on the Pacific Coast Highway, to traveling through the mountains of the Sierra Nevada, to riding on the infamous Malibu Canyon Road. But how do you pick the best rides for your California adventure?

Yosemite National Park

There are many things to do in the Yosemite National Park area. You can take a scenic ride around the valley, enjoy hiking and biking, or try a mule ride. However, the best way to experience the park is by bike.

One of the most beautiful drives in the US is the Yosemite Park road. It’s a short drive from San Francisco and you can explore the park in one day. The park is a huge tourist destination with over 4.1 million visitors a year.

While you’re in the park, you can visit the famous Valley Visitor Center. Yosemite NP also offers several other visitor centers, including Tuolumne Meadows, Soda Springs, and Mariposa Grove. Each visitor center has maps and information about the park.

There are also bike rentals available. You can rent a tandem or two-seat trailer at the Yosemite Lodge Bike Stand. Also, the Yosemite Airways company has a scenic flight for riders.

If you plan to take a hike, you can check out Lower Yosemite Falls trail. This loop trail gains about 50 feet of elevation and provides gorgeous views of the final drop. Another hike you should consider is Columbia Rock, which has a fantastic sunrise.

Palo Alto to Soquel (Santa Cruz)

If you’re looking for a rad ride, check out the half moon bay to Santa Cruz route. This paved and dirt route stretches from Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz and traverses a number of fun and fascinating inland roads. While not as snazzy as the Pacific Coast Highway, it provides some great perks. For instance, the town of Davenport is a great place to stop for a bite to eat or a brew.

The ride is not without its qualms. You have to make sure you’re wearing a helmet and there are some traffic issues to deal with. Nevertheless, the scenery is worth the hassle. Among the most scenic spots are Capitola Beach, Shark Fin Cove, and Point Reyes. A good surfing instructor will help you take advantage of the area’s waves.

As for the cheapest liboricles, you’ll have to stray off the main road a bit to make it to the best bets. There’s one that may be more than a mile away from downtown Santa Cruz, but it’s well worth the effort. Luckily, you can always head back down the highway once you hit Soquel.

The best part is, you’ll have the opportunity to “live like a local” and catch the sea breezes and sunsets without the high cost of a rental car. To get you started, you can hire a bike or buy one from the many options available.

Half Moon Bay to Santa Cruz

Located along the Pacific Coast Highway, Half Moon Bay is a perfect spot for a motorcycle ride. Getting to Half Moon Bay is easy by bus or taxi. The town’s Main Street offers a variety of stores, restaurants, and galleries.

Half Moon Bay is known for its incredible beach and surf. The city is also home to several breweries. It’s a small, but lovely town. A great place to explore is the Big Basin Redwoods State Park. Several of the area’s farms can be found along the route, making for an interesting day trip.

During the fall, a pumpkin-filled wonderland emerges in the town of Lemos. This Western-themed destination is home to a haunted house and hay maze, as well as a petting zoo. Guests can also visit the Elverhoj Museum of History and Art, which explores the Danish heritage.

While there, try sampling some local wine. Many of the vineyards in the area are family-owned and offer tasting rooms. Some of the favorites include Tobin James Cellars, Margarita Adventures, and Niner Wine Estates.

There’s also a farmers’ market to check out in Half Moon Bay. Several local vendors sell everything from granola to skincare products.

Pacific Coast Highway

The Pacific Coast Highway, also known as US Route 101, is one of the best motorcycle rides in the world. It offers amazing coastal views, historic sites, and quirky fishing and surfing villages.

Although it is only one of several routes through California, it is considered to be the king of the highways. Riders can enjoy spectacular views of the coastline as they travel through the state’s most iconic cities.

The road is mostly unspoiled and offers great views of the coastline. Many people ride from San Francisco to Los Angeles. This is an easy route and you should expect to complete it in less than three days.

While the PCH is a fantastic roadway, it is also full of twists and turns. A number of short one lane sections are used for road repairs. You should also be prepared for a lot of stoplights. If you are a solo rider, you should not hesitate to jump the line and get out of the way of other motorists.

If you are looking for more excitement, you may want to try a loop route. The Ventura County Loop is a good option. There are numerous twists and turns and the route also passes through the ocean.

Malibu Canyon Road

Malibu Canyon Road is one of the most popular motorcycle routes in California. It offers outstanding views and deep etched canyons. In addition to that, it is easy to ride. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced rider, Malibu Canyon is the ideal route to take.

The route takes riders through the Malibu Creek State Park and the Paramount Ranch. From there, it leads to the spectacular beaches in Malibu. You will also have the opportunity to ride through Cold Canyon, King Gillette Ranch, and Reagan Ranch.

Aside from that, Malibu Canyon is home to the Waves of Flags display. Here, you will find over two thousand national flags, representing every country in the world. There is a rock store at the end of the trail, too.

If you want to avoid PCH and the traffic, you can ride on the Mulholland Highway. This route is a short one, and it’s perfect for beginners.

For more challenging rides, you can head up Decker Canyon. This route has plenty of turns and sharp curves. However, it can be quite dangerous. That’s why you should hold on tight to your bike.

Another good option is to head up Latigo Canyon. This road starts in Malibu and ends at Kanan Dume Road. Although it is not as long as the Malibu Canyon Road, it is full of twists and turns.

Sierra Way to CA-190

When planning a motorcycle trip to California, there are several routes to choose from. However, the most popular route is the Double Century. This is the original 200-mile route in Southern California. The ride is challenging and beautiful, taking cyclists through the deserts, mountains, and peaks of the state.

The route has many advantages, including its quaint towns, easy riding, and relatively light traffic. There are also bailout options for beginner riders.

It is a great choice for anyone who likes to climb and explore the lesser known parts of California. Riders can start in Santa Ynez or Ballard. They will travel through the back roads of Santa Ynez, Los Angeles, and Lompoc.

The double century route takes riders through the most scenic parts of Southern California. They will experience the beauty of the deserts, the peaks of the Sierras, and the coastline.

One of the best features of this ride is that it has no traffic lights. There are ten rest stops along the route. You can find a number of volunteers who will allow you to finish the course. In addition, the course is marked with a number of helpful signs.

Another great feature of the course is that it is one of the safest in the state. This is especially true for novice riders. Unlike some other California motorcycle rides, there are no speed bumps and there are no traffic lights to worry about.

Mountain Hamilton Loop

Mountain Hamilton Loop is a scenic bike loop that runs up and down Mount Hamilton in the greater Bay Area. This ride offers amazing views of the Pacific Coast and the Los Angeles area. The course features rolling hills, technical riding and plenty of bailout options.

Starting in Santa Clarita, the route takes cyclists through parts of Los Padres National Forest and through Santa Maria and Ventura County. Once through Los Padres, the route winds through a series of river canyons. Riders will then join the traditional Spring route on Foxen Canyon.

Those who enjoy a challenge will love the route. After the first 150 miles, riders will encounter the Sierra Road, the steepest climb in the country. A rest stop is located at the top of the mountain.

Another challenging road is the Lompoc-Casmalia Road. It is a section of the Vandenberg Grade. It starts at River Park Campground, and diverges from Highway 1.

There are three rest stops on this ride. Each location is open for a limited amount of time, so riders need to be able to reach the stops while they are open.

If you want to ride this ride, you’ll need a bike that’s rated for mountain biking. You can check with the ride organizers for more details.

California Biker Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez 

California Biker Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez

 

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California Biker Attorney and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez at the Beach Ride

As a California Motorcycle Accident Attorney and Biker Lawyer, I regularly deal with all sorts of different motorcycle accident cases that are caused by all sorts of different scenarios. As an actual rider of motorcycles, something that sets me apart from other lawyers who handle motorcycle accident cases, I know firsthand the risks and dangers of riding motorcycles.

I am always asked what do you have to watch out for the most while riding your motorcycle. I could write an entire book on this subject, however, I will do my best to answer the question in this short essay.

There really is no simple answer to this question. Motorcycle accidents are caused by other negligent motorists, lack of riding experience or knowledge, road conditions, loose debris, mechanical failure, excessive speed, tire failure, weather, animals, drugs and alcohol, even medical conditions of a rider.

All of these topics warrant a lengthy discussion.

However, in my practice and in my opinion, the single largest cause of motorcycle accidents is other motorists in 4 wheel or greater vehicles, we bikers and motorcyclist call these persons “cagers.”

The largest threats to a biker and motorcyclist from a 4 wheel motorist on his or her motorcycle are; (1) A motorist turning left in front of you, (2) A motorist cutting you off or hitting you while exiting a driveway or an ally, (3) A motorist cutting you off or hitting you while coming from a side street, (4) a motorist merging into you from the side while driving next to you or near you, (5) a motorist pulling out from the curb, and (6) getting rear ended.

Among all of the motorcycle accident cases that I handle, the threats articulated above are the main causes of motorcycle accident and motorcycle accident death cases that I handle.

There are some basic preventative measures you can take to minimize the chances of you becoming the next victim of a negligent motorist while out on your motorcycle.

Beyond taking a certified motorcycle safety course, and advanced course on your own motorcycle, not driving while intoxicated, wearing proper riding attire including a DOT certified full face or modular helmet, and making sure you have a proper motorcycle endorsement, there are a few tricks I have learned throughout the years that I will share with you.

(1) Don’t ride too fast for the conditions you are in.

Most motorcycle accident happen on city streets, and within a 5 mile radius from your home. If you are on let’s say a 4 lane street (2 in each direction), there are risks everywhere. Make sure you keep your speed down so that if you have to stop or slow down quickly, you can. Remember, the faster you ride, the longer distance it takes for you to slow down or stop.

(2) Cover your brakes at intersections or when you see a risk.

Covering your brake means to put your hand over the front brake lever to prepare to use your brake. You should cover your brake anytime you enter an intersection where you see a car stopped on either side of you, or a car waiting to make a left turn in the opposite direction. Why, because already having your hand on the brake lever will give you an extra second or two to hit the brakes and to potentially avoid and accident if one of the cars drives or turns in front of you.

I know it sounds like a hassle, but if you do it everytime, it will become engrained into your muscle memory and you won’t even have to think about it in time.

Under certain circumstances, you may even want to hit your brakes while covering, to heat the them up so that you can stop faster, and to signal the car behind you that you are slowing down. The car behind you cannot see you if you let off of the throttle and use your engine to slow you down.

(3) Look at the tops of the wheels of a threatening car.

When you see a car stopped as you approach a driveway, a side street, or in the oncoming left turn lane, look at its wheels, especially the tops of its wheels if you can see them. If you cannot see the tops, look at the tire rims or hubcaps. The tops of the wheels actually move much faster than the actual car does, and it will give you an indication of whether the car is moving towards you or not. Your eyes will be able to perceive the wheels moving way before your eyes will be able to perceive the entire car moving forward. Don’t ask me why, it is just the way we perceive things.

Obviously if you are riding along and you see a car stopped at a driveway or a side street, and you see its tires moving, you better assume that they do not see you, and take evasive action. The best evasive action is to brake or stop and to not swerve because when you swerve you have less motorcycle tire contact than if your tires are straight up and down. The less tire contact you have, the more likely that you will not be able to stop in time, and/or lose control of your motorcycle and lay it down.

If you see an oncoming car in the left hand turn lane, and its tires start to turn in your direction, assume that they are going to turn in front of you, and take evasive action.

(4) Assume that other motorist cannot see you when you ride.

No matter how bright your clothing, how many lights you have on your motorcycle, how visible you think you are, no matter what you do, for some inexplicable reason, we motorcycle riders seem to be invisible to motorist in cars, trucks, or other motor vehicles. I am not telling you to try do anything you can to be more visible to other motorist, on the contrary, you should do everything you can to try to be more conspicuous to other motorist.

There have actually been studies done to understand how we human beings perceive things, and it has been found that we humans actually and not consciously selectively filter out certain things that we see for various reasons.

It seems that many people riding in cars, trucks, and other vehicles for some reason, filter us motorcycle riders out. After an accident these people swear that they did not see us, when they should have. Whether it is unintentional or not, some motorist flat out do not see us.

When you ride you have to assume that other motorist do not see you and you need to ride accordingly. If you ride as though you are invisible to other motorist, you will actually be a much more cautious and better rider.

Assume that the car in the oncoming left hand turn lane is going to turn left in front of you Assume that if you are on a two lane road with cars parked on the side that a car will pop out from the parked position. Assume that the car you see waiting to turn out of a gas station or waiting to make a right turn at the intersection will turn in front of you.

I know it’s not fair, but as a motorcycle rider, we have to be much more diligent about our own safety when we ride our motorcycles. Yes you may have the right of way, but that is not going to stop the negligent cager from hitting you and doing some major damage to you.

Exercising caution and some restraint, will make your motorcycle riding experience much more pleasurable, and above all, will allow you to make it home after your ride instead of in the hospital.

Keep both wheels on the road!

By California Motorcycle Accident Attorney, and Biker Lawyer, Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq., © August 28, 2011

The post What do you have to watch out for the Most when Riding a Motorcycle? first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

Here is a video from the movie Easy Rider. Every biker that I know of will be able to relate to this video. We all may ride different types of motorcycles. However in the end, this is what it is all about.

By California Motorcycle Accident Attorney and Biker Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.

The post Easy Rider…………………… It speaks for Itself! first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.

Having ridden motorcycles for many years, and also being a motorcycle lawyer, I have had many fantastic and outright scary experiences while riding on the road. Riding a motorcycle is not like driving a car. You are completely exposed to the elements, cars, and other motor vehicles, except for your clothes and your helmet if you use one.

There is an old biker saying; “it’s not a matter of if you’re going to go down, it’s a matter of when.”

I have gone down on a couple of occasions and it was not fun. As a matter of fact, it was downright painful. Luckily, I was not seriously injured.

Since I ride thousands of miles on my motorcycle each year, I have experienced many different type of scenarios on the open road, and on city streets. I have had many close calls which could have turned out to be disasters.

On one occasion when I went down, I was riding with a group of other motorcyclists in Palm Springs California. One of the other riders for unexplained reasons pulled ahead of me and proceeded to literally turn left right in front of me. I had no time to stop. I had two choices; I could have either T-boned the other rider which would have caused major injuries to both of us, or laid the bike down. I chose to lay the bike down. I thank God that I was not seriously injured and that there was only minor damage to the bike. You should’ve seen the look on the other riders face. I believe that the other rider had been drinking alcohol before the accident. By laying my bike down, I saved him and myself.

Nowadays, I absolutely refuse to ride alongside other motorcyclists who have been drinking. It’s not only illegal, but it’s downright dangerous. You never know what they’re going to do.

As I have said, I have had more than a few close calls. On one occasion while riding on Interstate 40 near Kingman Arizona, I pulled off the highway to get gas. I had my fiancé on the back of my motorcycle riding shotgun. If you have ever ridden through the Arizona desert at night, you’ll know that it’s pitch dark aside from the headlights on your motorcycle. To make a long story short, as I was turning left off the road to go to the gas station, I hit gravel in the road. Gravel, sand, and oil are a motorcycle rider’s worst nightmare, because a motorcycle only has two wheels, and those wheels lose traction on gravel, sand, oil, water, and other slippery surfaces. Suffices to say, I was able to keep the motorcycle up while sliding through the gravel, and it was a very close call. We were lucky that we do not go down.

I had another very close call at a major biker rally in Las Vegas a couple of years back. First off, Las Vegas is probably not the best place in the world to have a biker rally. As everyone knows, Las Vegas is a 24-hour gambling and drinking city. There are drunks on the road 24 hours a day in Las Vegas. To make a long story short, I was riding on a side street off of the strip with four other bikes, and I had my fiancé as usual on the back of my motorcycle riding shotgun. I was leading the pack in the number one lane. (The number one lane is the lane closest to the center divider.) Literally out of nowhere, a drunk pulled out of a casino parking lot and turned left directly into my lane, right in front of me. There was nothing I could do but to lock up the back tire, and countersteer to the right in preparation to lay the bike down to avoid hitting the car. In what seemed like an act of God, the car accelerated very fast right in front of me, and I was able by the grace of God, to pull the bike back up before I laid it down. I was riding a very heavy motorcycle with a backseat passenger. The riders behind me told me that they could not believe that I was able to keep the bike up. Let me tell you, I am not even close to being the best motorcycle rider in the world, I consider myself to be just above average as a motorcycle rider. God was with us that night.

I will give one more example of a very close call that I was involved in; I was leading a pack of approximately 20 motorcycles on a run to Santa Barbara on the 101 freeway last year. We were riding in a side-by-side formation (also known as coffin formation) in the number one lane. The 101 freeway has basically no median to speak of in the area in which we were riding. We were rolling at approximately 70 mph. Out of nowhere, a mattress appeared directly in front of us. There was nowhere to go, and we had milliseconds to react. Luckily the guys I was riding with were all experienced motorcycle riders. Instinctively I immediately swerved to the left to avoid the mattress, while the rider next to me swerved to the right to avoid the mattress. Had there been a car next to the rider on the right, it would have been all over. The guys riding behind us observed our movements, and were able to avoid hitting the mattress. We were all lucky that day, and it sure got the adrenaline pumping.

There are many other examples I could give you of close calls that I’ve experienced or witnessed. You will notice in the above examples, that accidents and close calls were usually either the result of other motorcycle riders, cagers, bad road conditions, or obstacles in the road.

As a motorcycle lawyer I have seen the worst case scenarios where catastrophic injuries resulted to motorcycle riders in accidents. Keep both wheels on the road and check out some of my safety tips in this section.
California Biker Lawyer Norman Gregory Fernandez, Esq.
Copyright 2006

The post My Personal Experiences. first appeared on Biker and Motorcycle Accident Lawyer Blog.