Riding in/around Raleigh NC
- Thread starter Brown81
- Start date
Zerox
Can I be....frank?
NC is my home state. Yah it's the deep south where the stereotypes you've heard are often true but the Raleigh area is more progressive. You've got University of North Carolina, Duke, NC State and Wake Forest University close by so it's got a good college vibe.
I can't think of any good riding roads around Raleigh though, that part of the state is flat as a pancake. You got to head west around Asheville (another progressive city) for the mind-blowing motorcycle roads.
I can't think of any good riding roads around Raleigh though, that part of the state is flat as a pancake. You got to head west around Asheville (another progressive city) for the mind-blowing motorcycle roads.
larry kahn
Well-known member
Blue Ridge Parkway has some stupid low speed limit and is thick with cops and rangers and such. Very much too bad. They should have a motorcycle only week or something. But then the Hog groups would fuck it up. It's a nice area, but it ain't California.
maxandgrinch
Acquired Taste
Lived there 8 years 'till 85.
It has gotten a lot more expensive and metropolitan than it was. There is a food culture, a ton of regional theaters (all starving), and WRAL-TV is a technology leader - early HD station, early low power studio lighting, early stereo audio........ Sort of a test bed for TV station technology.
Riding should be awesome, I was car only at that point. I remember some great back roads in my 85 300ZX - of course it had the voice module.
Sorta like here IIRC 3 hours either direction and you're in a different kind of terrain.
My house sold at $283k in late 85: current assessments: $1,736,992 in 2010, $1,236,992 in 2009 and $658,517 in 2008. Not sure what a CA house would have done over the same time, but there is no freakin' way I'd pay 1.7 for it now.
It has gotten a lot more expensive and metropolitan than it was. There is a food culture, a ton of regional theaters (all starving), and WRAL-TV is a technology leader - early HD station, early low power studio lighting, early stereo audio........ Sort of a test bed for TV station technology.
Riding should be awesome, I was car only at that point. I remember some great back roads in my 85 300ZX - of course it had the voice module.
Sorta like here IIRC 3 hours either direction and you're in a different kind of terrain.
My house sold at $283k in late 85: current assessments: $1,736,992 in 2010, $1,236,992 in 2009 and $658,517 in 2008. Not sure what a CA house would have done over the same time, but there is no freakin' way I'd pay 1.7 for it now.
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
The area is littered with great little roads. Pick any rural 2 lane in NC and start riding, the terrain is fairly varied around Raleigh.
But if you want ultimate twisty riding, make it up to the BRP and take it down to the end. Check out the roads around the Dragon (Cherhola Skyway and the rest), no enforcement, no traffic, good quality asphalt.
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
If you go early in the season (april or may) you won't see many police/rangers. I recall passing 2 on a trip from Mt. Airy down in 2004.
Squidly McSmearstain
Well-known member
I grew up in North Carolina and moved here from Raleigh. I went to college and grad school in Raleigh, then lived in Raleigh for three years while working in RTP.
There aren't any great roads in the immediate area. Raleigh is really the beginning of Eastern North Carolina which is sandy and flat. For good roads you need to head west.
There is a range of rolling hills southwest of Raleigh near Asheboro that provide some pretty good riding. Grab a map and check out the areas around Asheboro. There are some scenic views off 64 as it crosses over Lake Jordan. This is going to be your best bet for good riding that's somewhat close to Raleigh. It's still a good 45 minute ride until you hit good roads.
Further west there's some nice riding around Winston-Salem, but that's about 100 miles away from Raleigh. West of Winston-Salem is when you hit the hills. An hour west of Winston-Salem are the mountains of North Carolina, so hitting the BRP is a pretty long ride from Raleigh. The Dragon is a LONG ride from Raleigh and not a day trip at all.
I LOVE the area and will most likely move back to Raleigh at some point. For the sake of everything you hold dear, if you move to NC, DO NOT BECOME A UNC-Ch fan.
There aren't any great roads in the immediate area. Raleigh is really the beginning of Eastern North Carolina which is sandy and flat. For good roads you need to head west.
There is a range of rolling hills southwest of Raleigh near Asheboro that provide some pretty good riding. Grab a map and check out the areas around Asheboro. There are some scenic views off 64 as it crosses over Lake Jordan. This is going to be your best bet for good riding that's somewhat close to Raleigh. It's still a good 45 minute ride until you hit good roads.
Further west there's some nice riding around Winston-Salem, but that's about 100 miles away from Raleigh. West of Winston-Salem is when you hit the hills. An hour west of Winston-Salem are the mountains of North Carolina, so hitting the BRP is a pretty long ride from Raleigh. The Dragon is a LONG ride from Raleigh and not a day trip at all.
I LOVE the area and will most likely move back to Raleigh at some point. For the sake of everything you hold dear, if you move to NC, DO NOT BECOME A UNC-Ch fan.
Squidly McSmearstain
Well-known member
Keep in mind the BRP is about ~150 miles from Raleigh.
Brown81
Well-known member
When you going? I may end up in RTP (Research Triangle Park) in two weeks. I'll buy yuo a beer if you are near there.ort
Planning on going next year as my girlfriend is from there!
Bummer, as I am always down for a free beer!:laughing
Next time maybe?
True dat.
Thanks for your thoughts! Must have been a pretty nice house as I have been looking at real estate prices and they are still considerably lower than here.
:cool
Brown81
Well-known member
I have been out there twice (couple days at a time) and your description seems dead accurate. My girlfriends family lives out in the hills. So I have stayed there and in Raleigh.
My family is from Alabama, so so the rednecks won't shock me too badly..
:laughing
Cool. Thanks for your input I appreciate it!
Don't worry, I'll remain a silent Cal fan.:laughing
I checked out google maps. It does seem as if 1 hour or so seems to be the time/distance to decent roads.
I guess I was hoping maybe there was some local gem like Redwood Rd laying hidden from view really close that only locals know of. But, looks like that is not the case.
But an hour ride is not a deal breaker if it is good riding.
My girlfriend and I were thinking of moving out there next year. It's kind of bumming me out as I love this place. Can do a nice loop right in my backyard (redwood, bear creek, ect.) and I am spoiled.
Thanks for all the input fellas. :thumbup
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
I know, but at that distance, one could be up there by 9 am on a weekend morning, and have nice little 400 mile day following it up or down.
Ogier le Danois
Well-known member
This site usually has a few gems, I have used it before to plan routes.
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/SouthEast/NC/NC_index.htm
http://www.motorcycleroads.com/routes/SouthEast/NC/NC_index.htm
Brown81
Well-known member
acer66
Well-known member
1+ I live a little further away from Raleigh close to Asheville but it`s the same here.
I just moved here this year and there are great roads everywhere.
When I talked to a local guy about the Dragon, he said, what do you need the Dragon for?
You have the 151 leading up to the Parkway!
Which is just around the corner from me and it is a great local twisty road.
Brown81
Well-known member
So, how do you like it compared to living in CA ? Aside from riding.
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acer66
Well-known member
So far I really like it, Asheville is a progressive little city with a lot of Art, Bars, Music and some interesting characters.
I moved form LA`s west side here so the changes were quite big, but as expected.
I did some research and traveling before I settled here and the reason why I like it here is that it is very green,
you have mountains, it has mild winters and it does not get to humid during summer,
even the weather was quite extreme this year but I was told that it was a 10 year occurrence.
The pace of life is slower and people are more friendly, properties are dirt cheap compared to Socal.
Besides the properties living is not so much cheaper, sure fuel etc. is a little cheaper but quality food (Whole Food type)
is as expensive as in LA or counterbalanced by lower wages.
I grew up in Germany so I am also used to 4 seasons.
Overall, I do not miss LA at all and I can see myself living here for a long time.
I hope this helps.