Bennnington Triumph Bash

STRIPES said:

I've always wanted to ride the streets of downtown NY city.

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Still laughing, coffee coming out of my nose...Well Stripes, I, for one, want to hear what you have to say once you have that 'dream' fulfilled! Grew up on Long Island, lived in CT for many years and NYC is the one driving/riding place I avoided like the plague. Don't get me wrong it's great fun to hang out in the city once in a while and see a show or something...I'll be looking out for your follow up post, bud.

Same here. I go miles and miles out of my way to avoid NYC. Any part of it.

KingOfFleece said:

The usual crew from Western New York will be in attendence again this year.
Best event of the season.

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You sure you can handle the presence of a native Texan? May be a culture difference!

Rayvin said:

Still laughing, coffee coming out of my nose...Well Stripes, I, for one, want to hear what you have to say once you have that 'dream' fulfilled! Grew up on Long Island, lived in CT for many years and NYC is the one driving/riding place I avoided like the plague. Don't get me wrong it's great fun to hang out in the city once in a while and see a show or something...I'll be looking out for your follow up post, bud.

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MB and I made a trip to the "island" a few months ago. It wasn't her first trip but it was my mine. I was impressed with everything. NYC was totally different than what I had pictured in my head. The people there were exceptionally nice ...even those on the street. It was so very clean! No trash, no noxious odors. ....Just love the whole experience.

I also noticed there were almost no motorcycles even though parking for bikes was everywhere. The traffic didn't seem to be that bad. Of course you have to understand, the traffic in the DFW metro-mess can be horrific. Perhaps there isn't much difference in traffic between DFW and NYC. For example, I'd rather drink bleach than to have to ride through DFW Airport. DFW airport is slightly larger than Manhattan Island but is covered up with cabs and busses that will run your asss over and use you for traction if you don't run 20 miles per hour over the limit!!! Hwy I 35, Hwy I 635, Hwy I 20, Hwy I 30 and Hwy 45 are often bumper to bumper parking lots due to wrecks. When traffic is flowing....the crazy drivers tail-gate at 80 plus mph. I see 2 to 3 rear-end accidents (causing traffic snarls) every time I go from Denton to Dallas or back on I 35. I have a deathly fear of being hit from behind (which has happened to several acquaintances of mine).

I would much rather ride in heavy NYC traffic at ~40mph than 80 mph bumper to bumper rush hour in the DFW area.

I would especially like to explore the suburbs ie Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens, etc. Maybe by then my taste buds will be healed enough to enjoy some of the famous foods like pizza, philly cheese steak sandwiches, calzones, etc.

Stay in touch especially if you are going to be part of BTB and/or would wish to be part of my tour if I can swing it.

Wow, your description of Dallas and DFW traffic makes the NYC situation sound tame in comparison. I've only ridden through Texas once, and that was far from Dallas, just the NW section, on I-40. It was in 1974, riding my brand new Yamaha TX-500 from San Diego to New York, and I was just passing through. So I never got to see the crazy TX traffic you're talking about. At least now I'll know what to avoid if I ever find myself on 2-wheels in the Lone Star state...

The traffic is even worse than I'm saying here. I am 30 miles north of both Dallas and Ft Worth The two cities are side by side east and west of each other. I 35E goes from Denton to Dallas. I 35W goes to Ft Worth. If I leave Denton at 6 AM for Dallas, I will get there in 25 minutes. If I leave at 6:10, it may take two hours or more.


If I am in Dallas, I can leave at 3PM and get home in about half an hour. If I leave at 3:30, it may be 6 PM before I get home. Traffic is always bumper to bumper all the way to Denton where it disperses.

The same is pretty much true with respect to traffic between Denton and Ft Worth but not quite as bad except on race days at the Texas Motor Speedway near Alliance airport on 35W. Then it can be worse than 35E.

Yes, traffic is heavy and scary. We lose about 1 motor cycler a month.

Always try to time your passage through DFW at around 9AM and/or 2PM and you won't have much problem. But, the traffic always is moving between 60 and 80mph. You can receive a citation if you go too slow.

If you are transitioning east-west or west-east across the Dallas-Ft Worth area, it is always better to go south along I-20. Even if you come in on I-30, it seems to be faster and safer to loop south on I-20. That's just my opinion. Trying to take the north loop via I-635 (LBJ Freeway) in Dallas borders on suicide.

Houston isn't any better. On my return trip from the Hill Country Salvo, I hit Houston about 10 am. I don't think that my sphincter relaxed until and hour later when I was on the other side heading to Beaumont. The I-10 transition was terrifying.

Good point about I 20. Ditto on Houston. My ex came from there so I have much experience w Houston drivers...... I think the are worse.

Those are a few of the reasons why I left Dallas.
I had to commute from Mesquite to Irving and sometimes that took 2+ hours.
Go with the flow or get crushed up under something.

Houston should be where they train people for defensive driving.

STRIPES said:

The traffic is even worse than I'm saying here. I am 30 miles north of both Dallas and Ft Worth The two cities are side by side east and west of each other. I 35E goes from Denton to Dallas. I 35W goes to Ft Worth. If I leave Denton at 6 AM for Dallas, I will get there in 25 minutes. If I leave at 6:10, it may take two hours or more.


If I am in Dallas, I can leave at 3PM and get home in about half an hour. If I leave at 3:30, it may be 6 PM before I get home. Traffic is always bumper to bumper all the way to Denton where it disperses.

The same is pretty much true with respect to traffic between Denton and Ft Worth but not quite as bad except on race days at the Texas Motor Speedway near Alliance airport on 35W. Then it can be worse than 35E.

Yes, traffic is heavy and scary. We lose about 1 motor cycler a month.

Always try to time your passage through DFW at around 9AM and/or 2PM and you won't have much problem. But, the traffic always is moving between 60 and 80mph. You can receive a citation if you go too slow.

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LOL, I built a lot of apartment complexes around you around 79-82, I could get to work faster on a bicycle than in a car, I used to borrow a friends bicycle. And yes, I remember Houston being even worse.