Commuting Over the Hill (Santa Cruz to San Jose)

[erok81]

I’ll be moving to Santa Cruz soon and still working in San Jose. I’ve ridden 17 many times but never during commuting hours.

Anything interesting to know specific to that commute? Outside of what you read on the news about accidents.


I’m also excited to accidentally take hwy 9 home occasionally. :laughing

 

[mrzuzzo]

I use 17 every day during commute hours, but only from the Los Gatos side. It isn't too bad on the Los Gatos side.

Santa Cruz drivers are morons though. Every time I see a Santa Cruz sticker on a car I stay as far away as possible.

If you saw the kind of accidents these people get into on 17 you'd agree. Lots of incompetence going on.

One thing to remember is there is almost no room for error since there is no shoulder in many places, so I try to be selective about where I split. 17 is a poorly designed road. I also try not to ride in wet weather any more. Too many close calls for me to feel comfortable.

PS. I ride a red-white-blue VFR, and a white Grom and Ninja 300.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Based on the thread title I thought this was going to be about getting older. :laughing
I commuted over that particular hill years ago. :afm199

 

[erok81]

I use 17 every day during commute hours, but only from the Los Gatos side. It isn't too bad on the Los Gatos side.

Santa Cruz drivers are morons though. Every time I see a Santa Cruz sticker on a car I stay as far away as possible.

If you saw the kind of accidents these people get into on 17 you'd agree. Lots of incompetence going on.

One thing to remember is there is almost no room for error since there is no shoulder in many places, so I try to be selective about where I split. 17 is a poorly designed road. I also try not to ride in wet weather any more. Too many close calls for me to feel comfortable.

PS. I ride a red-white-blue VFR, and a white Grom and Ninja 300.

Yeah I’m expecting to see a few idiots. I heard some stories from coworkers that commute in cars.

Maybe it’s just me but it seems like the road is a lot more narrow as well so splitting takes some extra concentration. I’m pretty conservative with my splitting now and have my own set of rules. Like small deltas and under 35ish or so only. At least my two piece suit will see some use.

I’ll be on a 701 SM dianese suit with moto boots. :laughing

 

[erok81]

Based on the thread title I thought this was going to be about getting older. :laughing
I commuted over that particular hill years ago. :afm199

Haha. I thought that right as I hit submit. I’ve only lived in the area (San Jose) for three years. First time I’m Santa Cruz. Tried to sound local using the hill. That turned out well. :teeth

 

[JimE]

I live in Felton and currently go to Menlo Park. I've been commuting over the hill for most of the last 25 years. I'll offer some bits of advice for you:
-The best defense is a good offense. Not joking.
-People do some real stupid shit on that road. Be ready for it. Stuff they don't do elsewhere. Stay out of folks blind spots. Get driving lights if you don't have them.
-Take in to account holiday and beach traffic. HUGE difference between the regular crowd and the rest. Goes from mostly stupid to moron.
-Hang it up in the rain. Take the cage. Enjoy your coffee and tunes on rainy days. Check the CHP incident page (you have to check both regions as the county line is Summit). For the few rainy days you can do it. The journey is about the MILES my man. Don't be a fool.

Other than that it's a bitchin' road. Seriously 17 is a GREAT road. I run an R1200GS for the commute bike these days and let's just say I won't be having chicken strips for dinner, dig? I just wonder what all those idiots are doing on my personal racetrack anyways....

 

[Caddywumpus]

Santa Cruz drives blazed

 

[CDONA]

I figured this was about the Cuesta grade, since I'm in Morro Bay.

Running the hill/grade in SLO county is a thing.
Morro Bay is the one town that doesn't need to, ever.

 

[erok81]

I live in Felton and currently go to Menlo Park. I've been commuting over the hill for most of the last 25 years. I'll offer some bits of advice for you:
-The best defense is a good offense. Not joking.
-People do some real stupid shit on that road. Be ready for it. Stuff they don't do elsewhere. Stay out of folks blind spots. Get driving lights if you don't have them.
-Take in to account holiday and beach traffic. HUGE difference between the regular crowd and the rest. Goes from mostly stupid to moron.
-Hang it up in the rain. Take the cage. Enjoy your coffee and tunes on rainy days. Check the CHP incident page (you have to check both regions as the county line is Summit). For the few rainy days you can do it. The journey is about the MILES my man. Don't be a fool.

Other than that it's a bitchin' road. Seriously 17 is a GREAT road. I run an R1200GS for the commute bike these days and let's just say I won't be having chicken strips for dinner, dig? I just wonder what all those idiots are doing on my personal racetrack anyways....

Lucky! I’d love to live in Felton. Really nice area.

Good tips. I’ve only experienced the weekend beach traffic so far. It’s usually mostly stopped so never ran into many idiots.

Adding some extra corners on my commute is going to be nice too. Looking forward to that too.

Do you have the driving lights just for safety or use at night? I’ve debated on getting some for that commute if it’s dark but haven’t yet.

 

[erok81]

Side note - I edited the title so we aren’t confused anymore.

 

[Enchanter]

I live in Felton and currently go to Menlo Park. I've been commuting over the hill for most of the last 25 years. I'll offer some bits of advice for you:
-The best defense is a good offense. Not joking.
-People do some real stupid shit on that road. Be ready for it. Stuff they don't do elsewhere. Stay out of folks blind spots. Get driving lights if you don't have them.
-Take in to account holiday and beach traffic. HUGE difference between the regular crowd and the rest. Goes from mostly stupid to moron.
-Hang it up in the rain. Take the cage. Enjoy your coffee and tunes on rainy days. Check the CHP incident page (you have to check both regions as the county line is Summit). For the few rainy days you can do it. The journey is about the MILES my man. Don't be a fool.

Other than that it's a bitchin' road. Seriously 17 is a GREAT road. I run an R1200GS for the commute bike these days and let's just say I won't be having chicken strips for dinner, dig? I just wonder what all those idiots are doing on my personal racetrack anyways....

Pay attention to this post, and add checking Waze as soon as you wake up. I've also found it useful to sign up for text messages from the transit service for their Hwy17 bus route. They send out a message when they are running late, and tell you why: accident, road closed, etc., and you can adjust.

 

[davidji]

Side note - I edited the title so we aren’t confused anymore.

It's not about me anymore.

Do you have the driving lights just for safety or use at night? I’ve debated on getting some for that commute if it’s dark but haven’t yet.

If you want them for conspicuity, best is a day & night solution that gets noticed yet isn't blinding to others in the road. Amber Photon Blasters provide that.

http://www.photonblaster.com/index.htm

-Hang it up in the rain. Take the cage.

I totally get not commuting on a rain or bad traffic day if that's an option. I don't get choosing car rather than bike to face terrible traffic days. Isn't that why we ride?

I guess if you can get to your destination in a timely manner it's OK.

 

[Enchanter]

I totally get not commuting on a rain or bad traffic day if that's an option. I don't get choosing car rather than bike to face terrible traffic days. Isn't that why we ride?

I guess if you can get to your destination in a timely manner it's OK.

Are you familiar with Hwy 17? It is amazingly risky in the rain, especially on a motorcycle.

 

[davidji]

Are you familiar with Hwy 17? It is amazingly risky in the rain, especially on a motorcycle.

Glad it's not my usual commute, but I've ridden that way at commute time before.

 

[greenmonster]

http://www.photonblaster.com/index.htm

I’ve been looking at Clearwater running lights but they are pricey. I’ve have never heard of these Photon Blasters. They aren’t as “pretty” as the Clearwaters but they are a fraction of the price and they appear to do the same thing.
This why I love BARF.

 

[banshee01]

On the 701! Ooooowwweee!!!!! Fun commute right there!

What Mods on your bike? Let's see some pictures.

Welcome
!

Edit: thought this was the newbie section.... welcome anyway

 

[erok81]

It's not about me anymore.


If you want them for conspicuity, best is a day & night solution that gets noticed yet isn't blinding to others in the road. Amber Photon Blasters provide that.

http://www.photonblaster.com/index.htm


I totally get not commuting on a rain or bad traffic day if that's an option. I don't get choosing car rather than bike to face terrible traffic days. Isn't that why we ride?

I guess if you can get to your destination in a timely manner it's OK.

Right now I have LED strips that are also signals. They are pretty bright good for cars to notice me. I was just thinking driving lights if I’d be up there at night. I’ll check out those photons anyway.

Thanks!

Are you familiar with Hwy 17? It is amazingly risky in the rain, especially on a motorcycle.

What makes it more risky than anywhere else in the rain? Is it the drivers, more narrow lanes, more slick than normal roads?

 

[erok81]

On the 701! Ooooowwweee!!!!! Fun commute right there!

What Mods on your bike? Let's see some pictures.

Welcome
!

Edit: thought this was the newbie section.... welcome anyway

Should be fun. The 880 part not so much though. Gets old sticking straight up in the wind. :laughing

Currently has a -1 front sprocket, different seat, shortened akrapovic slip on, pro taper bars with different hand guards, Rottweiler intake, power commander with their tune. That’s about it.

 

[banshee01]

Should be fun. The 880 part not so much though. Gets old sticking straight up in the wind. :laughing

Currently has a -1 front sprocket, different seat, shortened akrapovic slip on, pro taper bars with different hand guards, Rottweiler intake, power commander with their tune. That’s about it.

How did you like the intake and power commander? I have one coming in the mail for the supermoto.

 

[mrzuzzo]

Right now I have LED strips that are also signals. They are pretty bright good for cars to notice me. I was just thinking driving lights if I’d be up there at night. I’ll check out those photons anyway.

Thanks!



What makes it more risky than anywhere else in the rain? Is it the drivers, more narrow lanes, more slick than normal roads?

Combination of fast speed with very wet conditions and high curvature turns. Add Santa Cruz drivers to that and it's a formula for disaster.

You are guaranteed to see at least one big accident every time the road is even slightly wet. Even today was a total disaster, with multiple pile ups after Summit Rd.

We only have one car in the family so sometimes I'm forced to ride in wet conditions. I've had too many close calls even when just chilling in my lane.