Motorcycles in Boston (Chelsea, Gloucester, Marblehead: dangerous, linear, safe)

[texasDDS]

Can someone list pros/cons for having a motorcycle in Boston? I'm thinking about bringing one when I move to Boston (even though I may be able to ride it only 2/3 of the yr). Thanks!

Also is having a motorcycle in Boston more dangerous than having one in Houston?

[BubbyBu]

it depends on where and how you use it....

most of the city is not suited for a motorcycle. too many traffic lights and non-linear streets...everyone jaywalks...you will constantly stopping and slowing down.

Really though Boston is not an accomidating city for driving any sort of vehicle. Everything is so dense and walkable. It is probably the total opposite of Houston in that regard.

If you want to bring the bike to drive along the interstate highways of New England than sure it would be nice to have...

[Bostonian08]

Originally Posted by texasDDS

Can someone list pros/cons for having a motorcycle in Boston? I'm thinking about bringing one when I move to Boston (even though I may be able to ride it only 2/3 of the yr). Thanks!

Also is having a motorcycle in Boston more dangerous than having one in Houston?

Well actually riding season is more like from Mid May to mid October. One year I wanted to stay up north till after Halloween then bike down to MIA, and I had to wait 8 days just to get a few hours in the afternoon above 45 degrees. 45 on a bike is really freakin cold dude. I had double and triple layers and still had to defrost every 50 miles. Of course you'll get a few hours on a few days before and after that time, but otherwise a bike up north amounts to a summer toy.

As for driving in BOS, it's a whole different animal than Tx. Roads are narrow and crooked, drivers are wild and aggressive, it's real hard at first. On the other hand, a MC is very handy in beating the BOS traffic. PArking in BOS is the only thing worse than driving, and the mc beats the crap out of that problem fer sure. BOS is a really scenic and fun place to drive around. Biking along the ocean, up to Marblehead and Gloucester, and New Hampshire is great.

I'd say as long as you can come to terms with the fact you will be biking about 1/3 of the year, I'd say hell yeah dude, go for it.

[HeadedWest]

Originally Posted by texasDDS

Can someone list pros/cons for having a motorcycle in Boston? I'm thinking about bringing one when I move to Boston (even though I may be able to ride it only 2/3 of the yr). Thanks!

Also is having a motorcycle in Boston more dangerous than having one in Houston?

Have the bike, but only use it to escape the city. Rural New England roads offer some really fine riding. ME, NH, VT, western Mass and northwestern CT are about as much fun as you can have on a bike. Endure the horrors of Boston traffic just long enough to escape to roads that are fun.

[DaveV]

Originally Posted by Bostonian08

Well actually riding season is more like from Mid May to mid October

I ride mine late March thru early November. Commute from the South Shore to Chelsea.

Originally Posted by HeadedWest

Have the bike, but only use it to escape the city. Endure the horrors of Boston traffic just long enough to escape to roads that are fun.

I don't agree with this one. Much easier to find a parking spot, you can snake your way thru traffic jams, and the HOV lanes on the highways are open to motorcycles, federal law.

Originally Posted by texasDDS

Also is having a motorcycle in Boston more dangerous than having one in Houston?

I would say no to that. Here like anywhere, don't daydream, stay out of cars blind spots and watch everyone. All these nitwits text messaging and using their phones while driving is the #1 danger. They should ban those practices altogether.

[mustmove]

I sure you are sick of the "I quit riding when" stories. But here goes mine I quit riding after getting rearended by a state trooper in stop and go traffic coming out of the Sumner tunnel. Cops are supposed to professional drivers and if you aren't safe from them in MA you aren't safe from anyone.