| Author | Message | ||
     Pkforbes87 |
I was just looking at where I could get orders to next, and one of my options is Travis AFB. I've never even visited west of the rockies so know nothing about the area. Honestly, my main motivation for picking the area would be motorcycling. The midwest can be beautiful at times, but the roads are dull to say the least. What's the cost of living like? | ||
| Rex |
High cost of living. San Jose, silicon valley. SF area...BUT...the best motorcycling in the world. Don't forget to attend ASBN on the first Monday of the month, visit Alices restaurant, ride highway 1 up the coast, visit Monterrey and Laguna Seca, Infineon, Yosemite, and much more. The motorcycle capital of the USA | ||
| Gregtonn |
Rex forgot to mention Santa Cruz and highway 9 if you can find a day without much traffic. Rex is right about the cost of living, but if you can live on base and don't have to register your bike or any other vehicles in CA I would go for it. Be sure to take in some of the motorcycle races and try to ride some of the tracks especially Laguna Seca, even if it's only a couple of parade laps at the races. G | ||
| Garyz28 |
Travis is actually closer to Sacramento than it is to San Jose. Cost of living should be a little cheaper there. San Jose and the coast range are a pretty short ride. Clear Lake is closer and there is a lot of good riding there too. The Sierras are just a little over an hour away. Also lots of good riding there. The Sierra Foothills is where I ride the most. | ||
| Rex |
the best riding anywhere, northern california | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Speaking of CA vehicle registration.. if I keep my vehicles all registered in my state home of record, would I run into any problems with CA law enforcement for emissions reasons? I seem to remember a 7 year age law when bringing vehicles into the state..? I do have the 2009 Uly which obviously isn't a CA model. Other than that, my newest vehicle is the 2002 X1 and it definitely wouldn't pass an emissions test running enriched race maps  Rex, I knew Travis would be close to Infineon but Laguna Seca never crossed my mind. This is sounding better all the time! Thanks for the tips guys. | ||
| Garyz28 |
If you're in the military and can keep your vehicles registered in your home state, then by all means do it! CA emission laws suck and it's really expensive here. | ||
| Pepperk496 |
As long as you are a resident of the state of your last duty station, there is no issue. I'm stationed at Travis, and Im the Motorcycle Safety rep for my Unit. As mentioned above, Travis is closer to Sacramento than San Jose. If you were to get stationed here you would definitely not want to live anywhere near the bay area! I have to make regular trips that way to pick up and drop off guys at SFO (although I drive the patrol car down there!) and bay area traffic is the ultimate traffic nightmare. No other way to put it. If you get the assignment, look me up when you get here. No doubt, Norcal has some of the greatest roads anywhere in North America! | ||
| Pwnzor |
norcal roads = win! | ||
| Mr_grumpy |
Well dearie dearie me, some people have such hard decisions to make. Don't mind me, I'm just jealous. Sounds like you've got it made mate, good weather, good roads, & you get paid to go there. Hell, even a Badweb riding buddy to show you round when you get there. | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
Yes the military does have some sweet perks. There are also some big sacrifices that aren't required with a civilian career. I have fun in some neat places with a bigger salary than most twenty-three year olds with nothing more than a diploma, but being single means that I do all of it hundreds if not thousands of miles away from my family. Every two to three years means leaving friends behind as well. Overall I can't complain. I like it well enough I just re-upped for another two years. I won't be moving to Travis or anywhere else real soon. Probably not for another year and a half or so. Last time I transfered though I did very little research beforehand and made a rushed decision after being turned down for my top choices. (who knew Atsugi, Japan and Kaneohe Bay, HI were in such hi demand?) Chris - any specific area you'd suggest to live in? Just from looking at a map, I'd assume anything south and east of the base is more expensive with more traffic? | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
I may also be moving to the area. Will I have registration issues running a Special Opps pipe? | ||
| Pwnzor |
Will I have registration issues running a Special Opps pipe? No problem at all. | ||
| Blackm2 |
Age isn't a concern for registration. It's mileage, has to have over 7,500 miles. Better to keep it registered out of state. Law enforcement won't cause you any problems. +1 to Hex's post, particularly Yosemite, if you like the outdoors, it was one prettiest places on Earth. Don't forget to make a trip to Socal though! | ||
| Pepperk496 |
Just off base there is Vacaville and Fairfield. Both have plenty of apartments for reasonable prices. Renting a house is really expensive so alot of guys share a big house and split the cost. BAH is pretty good for the area if you're able to get a roomate. | ||
| Rex |
If you are transferred by your company the mileage limit is eliminated. it was for me. You cannot help being transferred by work. they do check all vin numbers on the motor and the frame. No emissions in california yet. arizona yes. hard to get passed. both buells failed terribly in arizona coming from california. older than 64 in arizona you do not have to smog REX | ||
| Niceguyeddy |
Thanks guys. Marcus | ||
| Wbrisett |
Having lived in SJ for a while (it was ten years ago however). I can't agree more with the folk who say it's pretty. Northern California beats southern Cal by a long shot in the gorgeous area. Cost of living is outrageous, school systems are having money issues, the social system is having money issues, the road system is having money issues, basically everybody there is having money issue, and few in power really know how to fix it. As mentioned, Travis AFB is closer to Sacramento, land of the foreclosures. Although I do work with two people who live in Sacramento and commute to the bay area for work! Crazy... Anyhow, didn't travel or hang out in Sacramento much, so I'm not much help there. My wife and I moved to Toronto, then after our work permits expired to NY/NJ area, then we had the option of moving moving back to Toronto, or moving to San Jose or Austin, TX. I told the folks that offered me the job in SJ or Austin that I would accept the job if it was in Austin, but if it was in San Jose, forget it. I simply couldn't deal with the quality of life issues when raising a family. Doesn't sound like you have a family to deal with, but if you do, make sure QoL is something you look into. Wayne | ||
| Pkforbes87 |
BAH would be in the neighborhood of $1500/month for personnel at Travis. Is that enough to cover decent living arrangements in the area? Chris - I've only been stationed at Offutt AFB near Omaha, and Tinker AFB here in OKC, but both of those bases do not offer base housing to singles. If Travis is the same way, I'd be opting to recieve BAH and live off-base. The BEQ is NOT an option  |
