Forum Newbie, Moving to Colorado, some questions non bike and bike related

[Drama]

Hey everyone,

My wife and I are finally moving to Colorado. We are originally from the midwest, but had to make a 2 year stop in Cali. In Sept we are moving to Colorado hopefully permanently.

I currently own an awesome Zuma :w00t: lol, but i've ridden and raced sport bikes for about 10 years now and ridden dirt bikes for 5. I've sold my bikes, but will be looking to replace them shortly.

Housing question I have:
I'm looking to live within a 45 minute drive of Denver airport. Looking for a suburb with good schools, low crime, good family life, and a downtown that is somewhat interesting. We have friends in Highlands Ranch, but I wanted to hear your suggestions on places we should look to live. Have any recommendations?

Now a Dirt Bike question:
In Cali there are stupid green sticker/red sticker last. Basically its determined by emissions and limits certain bikes from being ridden on trails in the summer. Do you guys have anything like this I need to know about?

Now track questions:
What good race track do you have nearby?
What track day/race organizations do you have?

Thanks for the help!

[grim]

Del mar circle is beautiful and about 30 min from the airport.

[CaptGoodvibes]

Los Gatos is a nice town. We moved here from Ben Lomond ourselves. Shoot me a PM if you like.

[Drama]

Los Gatos is a nice town. We moved here from Ben Lomond ourselves. Shoot me a PM if you like.

Los gatos has been great. We are looking for a similar type of city, but more space, bigger houses and a heck of a lot cheaper. :)

[Ghost]

Appropriate name for these boards...we'll see if he can live up to it and/or survive it...

[Drama]

Appropriate name for these boards...we'll see if he can live up to it and/or survive it...

:) ... the name was forced on my by my buddies at Chicagolandsportbike.com (Chicagolandsportbikes.com)

They sure thought I earned up to it. :)

[Bueller]

Now a Dirt Bike question:
In Cali there are stupid green sticker/red sticker last. Basically its determined by emissions and limits certain bikes from being ridden on trails in the summer. Do you guys have anything like this I need to know about?
We have OHV stickers that are required on forest service land along with spark arrestors.


Now track questions:
What good race track do you have nearby?
What track day/race organizations do you have?
High Plains Raceway (http://www.highplainsraceway.com/index.html) 1 hr east and Pueblo (http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.us/) and Pikes Peak International Raceway (http://www.ppir.com/) are an hour and a half or so south.
Not much in the way of organized track days, mostly open days.
MRA (http://www.mra-racing.org/) is the roadrace org, there is also supermoto and minimoto racing.

[Drama]

there is also supermoto and minimoto racing.

YOU HAVE MINIMOTO :shocked: I've been looking for that. Please send more details!

[longrider]

Minimoto: http://rmminimoto.com/

[longrider]

Now for a little more detail on the dirt bikes, I am familiar with the CA red sticker/green sticker deal and we have nothing like that here. Any dirt bike can be ridden anywhere off road riding is allowed. Public lands require a spark arrestor, OHV sticker which is just a registration and there is a DB limit. Private lands are up to the owner but the most you should find is a DB limit on some tracks

[Drama]

Now for a little more detail on the dirt bikes, I am familiar with the CA red sticker/green sticker deal and we have nothing like that here. Any dirt bike can be ridden anywhere off road riding is allowed. Public lands require a spark arrestor, OHV sticker which is just a registration and there is a DB limit. Private lands are up to the owner but the most you should find is a DB limit on some tracks

Good, can move back to a YZ250F. I had 2 of them, but they were red sticker so I went to a WR450F and I wasn't really happy with it.

[Drama]

Minimoto: http://rmminimoto.com/

grrr...we aren't moving until September 9th and Semptember will be crazy. Doubt i'll make it this year, but next year i'll do the full season most likely.

[CaptGoodvibes]

Los gatos has been great. We are looking for a similar type of city, but more space, bigger houses and a heck of a lot cheaper. :)

Nothing like Los Gatos here. Closest would be Old Town Arvada or Old Town Littleton but still, pales in comparison. Lots are small unless you move to the westside - Lakewood, Arvada, Littleton, etc... - where you can find a 1/4 acre lot.

You might consider Golden or Morrison for mountain access but drive time to DIA might be outside your params unless you have 6am flights then, it's no problem.

People will tell you to move to all kinds of neighborhoods but only Mother Goose - afaik - knows Log Gatos also and can give you an honest comparo.


But don't take my comments to mean the metro not a great place to live. Because it is!

Oh yeah, welcome!

[grim]

Just an FYI DIA (Denver international airport) is not actually in Denver it's north east of Denver do nothing is actually close to the airport. Eastern aurora has nice homes and is closer to dia but further from the mountains.

You are pretty much going to have to pick one over the other.

[Sully]

Lowry is a nice area as well as Cherry Creek, depending on how much you want to spend for a home. There are nice areas along the E470 corridor in Aurora/Parker/Centennial.

Tracks nearby where the MRA races -www.mra-racing.org along with Chicane Track Days, etc.
High Plains Raceway - www.highplainsraceway.com (http://www.highplainsraceway.com/)
Pikes Peak International Raceway - www.PPIR.com (http://www.ppir.com/)
Pueblo Motorsports Park - www.PuebloMotorsportsPark.com (http://www.pueblomotorsportspark.com/)

[CaptGoodvibes]

Well, DIA is easy to get to from the north west side of the metro but nothing in Aurora is going to remind our new friend of the place he's leaving. Think of the bad parts of San Jose mixed with the good parts - lol - of Gilroy and Morgan Hill, and you have Aurora. ;)

Edit: There are new communities - developments - in south Aurora that are really clean.

Edit edit: I second what Sully said.

[asp_125]

Highlands Ranch ... it's the 'Burbs.. think ohhh.. Sunnyvale. Wide boulevards with soccer moms in Lexus and Escalades.

[Sully]

Highlands Ranch ... it's the 'Burbs.. think ohhh.. Sunnyvale. Wide boulevards with soccer moms in Lexus and Escalades.

:lol:.. and Swingers!! well..from what I heard :oops:..:shock:

[CaptGoodvibes]

Oh yeah, I guess Jeff knows also.

Whatever you decide, I'm sure you'll find out you picked the wrong neighborhood within a year or so. ;)

[Dietrich_R1]

I'm curious what ur gonna be doing @ DIA???? Anyway, I used to live in SE Denver close to Hampton/Yosemite. It was 'bout 45 minutes to get to the airport to work.

Just look at the roads (especially the toll roads to stay away from). You could live in Broomfield & make it there in 45 minutes. That's a difficult ?, all pending on your lifestyle.

[derekm]

I like park hill, out of my $$$ to buy but I live 1 mile east & as its not bad, its deff not as nice.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Park_Hill,_Denver

my wife was a fa. 30 mins best time from door to terminal. 15 mins to lodo

[derekm]

stapleton will yield sim. results but no yards & built on 70 yrs of jet fuel & de-icer.

[AOK303]

I hear Canada is nice move there haha Jm

Oi i live at the foot of morrison and it take me 30 to 45 min to get to the air port unless its rush hour so close to the air port i wouldn't worry as much

[asp_125]

Highlands Ranch to DIA.. 35min on the toll road.

[WolFeYeZ]

Highlands Ranch to DIA.. 35min on the toll road.

And 40 minutes without the toll road: http://g.co/maps/v9sj5

[Sully]

Here is the toll info: https://www.expresstoll.com/CalculatingTolls/Pages/Calculating-Tolls.aspx

[Ghost]

Most of metro Denver is within 45minutes of DIA, and half the time to get to the actual airport seems to be the drive out Pena.

[bodhizafa]

I think its under 30 minutes for me from Louisville to DIA on 470. Nice little town, 5 minutes to Boulder and about 15 minutes to Denver.

[CaptGoodvibes]

Louisville has the best series of Friday night street fairs in the summer!

[CYCLE_MONKEY]

Louisville has the best series of Friday night street fairs in the summer!
Gotta agree with that. Seen a couple good bands there. good times.

[Snowman]

Once you get on E-470 it's like 20mins from anywhere. Once went from Centennial up Parker to E-470 and was in Boulder in 43mins. Never got the bike out of 6th gear or below 10,000 rpm... (you do the math)

[asp_125]

Just don't mention the rush hour gridlock when he's trying to get to DIA. ;)

[Drama]

I'm curious what ur gonna be doing @ DIA???? Anyway, I used to live in SE Denver close to Hampton/Yosemite. It was 'bout 45 minutes to get to the airport to work.

Just flying a lot. I'm going to cover some accounts in San Fran, Canada, Chicago, and a few other places.

[Drama]

30-45 minutes the airport is fine. I'll only be doing the drive once a week max and back in Chicago I got stuck with over an hour drive each way every day so I've built up a tolerance.

[PunyJuney]

I live in Willow Springs, an area that's technically Morrison. We have a large lot, but it's on the side of a mountain, so not a bunch you can do with it but the neighbors don't bother us either :) It takes me 38 minutes from my driveway to the "canopy parking" lot at DIA via C470 and I70 (no tolls). Morrison is also nestled in the foothills, so you are already in the best area for rides when you are at home. We're 30 minutes from downtown if we want to go to catch a game or hit up our favorite restaurant. Everyone that comes to our house says "wow, I didn't know this was up here". With the economy as soft as it's been, you can get a lot more for your money right now, although the market is turning. Good luck and welcome! http://www.cohomefinder.com/browse-ci-Morrison-sub-Willow-Springs-homes.htm

[Drama]

Well I found a place to live. Signed a short term lease at some apartments in Lone tree. I plan on staying there while I'm searching for a home to buy.

[jbnwc]

Well I found a place to live. Signed a short term lease at some apartments in Lone tree. I plan on staying there while I'm searching for a home to buy.

That's a pretty good compromise between mountains/airport. I, too, am originally from the Midwest. I'm currently in Parker, which is just to the east of Lone Tree and I like it. I think I would prefer Lone Tree or Highlands Ranch just so I could be closer to the mountains. That last 45 minutes of Interstate and suburb roads on a hot summer day after a long ride in the mountains can be exhausting.

[grim]

That's a pretty good compromise between mountains/airport. I, too, am originally from the Midwest. I'm currently in Parker, which is just to the east of Lone Tree and I like it. I think I would prefer Lone Tree or Highlands Ranch just so I could be closer to the mountains. That last 45 minutes of Interstate and suburb roads on a hot summer day after a long ride in the mountains can be exhausting.

Then why don't you take Hess road to 285 then 285 to 67 and ride through those canyons to Deckers?

[Slo]

When will you be moving here or has it already happened? From your introduction, looks like you will fit right in around here.

[Drama]

Here is the toll info: https://www.expresstoll.com/CalculatingTolls/Pages/Calculating-Tolls.aspx

Thanks...tags ordered

[Drama]

When will you be moving here or has it already happened? From your introduction, looks like you will fit right in around here.

Moving the first week of August. I'm looking forward to it.

[Slo]

Great, if you have a current race license, you can still make a race or two if you want:
August 25/26 High Plains Raceway Round #6
September 15/16 Pikes Peak International Raceway Round #7

EDIT-just noticed you mentioned you sold your bikes but will be looking for another one. There are sometimes good deals to be found on the mra forums for bikes, most of which are already set up.

Just snagged one this week and was trying to snag another one for another friend but I think I got ninja'd.

[#1Townie]

Appropriate name for these boards...we'll see if he can live up to it and/or survive it...

Lol hi I'm townie.

[Drama]

Great, if you have a current race license, you can still make a race or two if you want:
August 25/26 High Plains Raceway Round #6
September 15/16 Pikes Peak International Raceway Round #7

EDIT-just noticed you mentioned you sold your bikes but will be looking for another one. There are sometimes good deals to be found on the mra forums for bikes, most of which are already set up.

Just snagged one this week and was trying to snag another one for another friend but I think I got ninja'd.

Thanks for the info, but i'm going to sit out this season for sure. I'm going to buy a house first and am holding off on purchases until then.

[Dietrich_R1]

You can get from Broomfield down to highlands Ranch w/ in 45 minutes of the airport (on a good day). Only factors are how much tolls your willing to incur during your travels. From the sounds of it, you shouldn't have to factor in rush hour either.... Only Weather

[Drama]

You can get from Broomfield down to highlands Ranch w/ in 45 minutes of the airport (on a good day). Only factors are how much tolls your willing to incur during your travels. From the sounds of it, you shouldn't have to factor in rush hour either.... Only Weather

Company pays for tolls:) 470 all the way lol

[jbnwc]

Then why don't you take Hess road to 285 then 285 to 67 and ride through those canyons to Deckers?

That's ok if the people I'm with don't mind dirt and want to ride Deckers or 105, but if we do Deer Creek, Coal Creek, Golden Gate, Mt. Evans, etc. the only way back is 470. :down: I'd love to live right at the base of Deer Creek Canyon.

[Drama]

2 more weeks!

[Drama]

Last day working from a real office. Movers come Monday. I"m pumped.

[maktastik_jr.]

Congrats!

[Ghost]

Last day working from a real office. Movers come Monday. I"m pumped.

Where'd you decide to live? Or still just the apartments for now?

[bornwildnfree]

FYI, you don't even need a race license to go see the races. It's a reasonable $10/day and HPR is only about an hour and a half (in a car going the speed limit ish) or an hour on the bike from Denver. It's a good time and you can meet the racing community. I host gatherings at my house most months so you can come meet some peeps and there is always bike nights and lots and lots of rides. I fly out of DIA weekly and yes, you can get stuck in traffic but Colorado traffic is nothing! like Chicago traffic...not even close. An hour in Colorado traffic and you can get pretty far, an hour in Chicago traffic will get you maybe 4 miles. I commuted from Palatine to Hyde Park every day. Can't wait to meet you man and welcome to paradise on two wheels.

[Drama]

Where'd you decide to live? Or still just the apartments for now?

Reting an apartment in lone tree month-to-month. We will start searching for a house in highlands ranch next weekend.

[Drama]

Closed on the house Friday! Super pumped.

[WolFeYeZ]

Congrats! Large garage? :D

[modette99]

Dirt Bikes: Just plate the thing you can plate anything here for the most part, it comes in handy to connect trails and areas...besides you will have to then come do BreckTrek or one of the many other ADV events.

The OHV sticker is $25.25 and good for the year and you get it from the State Parks as they control it...for example whether you buy one in Jan or one in December for 2012 its good for 2012 year only so that is kind of a down fall buying one now...but still $25.25 worth of riding to do on dirt. The .25 goes to Search & Rescue and if you have this I guess it helps with the cost.

The sticker lets you ride on MVUM (Multi Vehicle Use Map) trails. However with the plate you are allowed on Jeep trails and roads but need the sticker for ATV & Single track trails.

Maybe come out in April 5th tp 7th and do the Kokopellia Trail ride with us.

Welcome to the forum
Mark
www.rmariders.org

[Drama]

Congrats! Large garage? :D

I was thinking so, its a 3-car carage, then I saw my neighbor's 5-car and it looks small. :lol:

[Drama]

Dirt Bikes: Just plate the thing you can plate anything here for the most part, it comes in handy to connect trails and areas...besides you will have to then come do BreckTrek or one of the many other ADV events.

The OHV sticker is $25.25 and good for the year and you get it from the State Parks as they control it...for example whether you buy one in Jan or one in December for 2012 its good for 2012 year only so that is kind of a down fall buying one now...but still $25.25 worth of riding to do on dirt. The .25 goes to Search & Rescue and if you have this I guess it helps with the cost.

The sticker lets you ride on MVUM (Multi Vehicle Use Map) trails. However with the plate you are allowed on Jeep trails and roads but need the sticker for ATV & Single track trails.

Maybe come out in April 5th tp 7th and do the Kokopellia Trail ride with us.

Welcome to the forum
Mark
www.rmariders.org

That sounds awesome. I'm down if I have the money for a bike by then. have to rebuild the savings first.

[mdub]

I was thinking so, its a 3-car carage, then I saw my neighbor's 5-car and it looks small. :lol:


very nice....i wish i had a 3 car garage..eh i have a shed....cant go wrong with HR....