San Antonio?
 

So I found out this week that I'm moving to San Antonio in April. I'll be bringing the 636, but not the other two bikes. I'll have to find a bike for the wife when I get out there, but she hasn't ridden too many different bikes and is picky, so we'll be doing a lot of "test-sitting".

So for those of you down that area, are there any dealerships worth a damn? We'll probably be looking for something used, and along the lines of an FZ6/SV/etc.

Since I'll apparently be in the "Texas Hill Country", is there good riding to be had out there?

I heard something about this "Elite Trackdays" company- anybody have anything good to say about them? ;)

What else do I need to know about the area? I understand that both Austin and Houston are relatively short trips, right?

well first... you'll have to sell the 636 and buy a Ducati... then you can hang with Moira... :lol:


naw... HHR is a sweet track... got to see it first hand... (didn't have the bike or gear or time to ride it)

Good time... it's after our so-called winter and before it gets disgustingly hot

You'll do better looking in San Antonio or maybe New Braunfels. Austin area dealerships tend to be reluctant to make good deals (in my experience).

Yes. You just have to avoid deer, gravel, cops, and traffic. :)


A spiffy young track... a track day company run by a serious motorcyclist for serious motorcyclists... what's not to love?

Between SA and Austin are some of the best roads.

Lots o'dealers, bring your leathers, skip the Duc, ride the ninj!

So I, too, can be an "elitist asshole"? :lol

I'm definitely bringing my leathers. I've been hooked on trackdays since my first one (the track is worse than heroin, I swear to God), and my wife wants to get out and try one out but has yet to have the opportunity- the last 2 that happened out in Okinawa her bike was down and she couldn't go.

Seriously, though, I've heard that there are a few different trackday organizations out there but that Elite is the best for instruction (not to kiss Moira's ass, just what I've heard). I've also heard that they are the priciest, but that may just mean I have to do less of them and get more out of each. Quality over quantity, right?

Besides, I really need to get my wife on the track. She was dragging hard parts on her ZZR within a month of her first ride, so the track is a must for her. :tremble:

From what I hear about other org/track prices, yes.

BUT there's 8 - 30min sessions for either Group 1(novice) or 2(advanced). That's 4 HOURS of straight riding. Most org run 6-8 20min sessions. Great if you're a minute man, but 30min gives you plenty of time to be comfortable go out when you want, come in when you want, and go back out if time allowed.

Group 1 also usually entails 2:1 student/instructor ratio, and depending on what day you go, almost 1:1. All of the instructors are familiar to the track, and most of them have more riding experience than I've been licensed to drive, including a few visits from an AMA SuperStock/Sport professional. And if you've never done a trackday, I would recommend Elite as you're first go round.(esp for your wife, I know theres at least 1 female instructor ;) at every one, may make things more comfortable for those a little more timid)

Plus this year there was about 2 trackdays a month. Varying days from Friday, Sat/Sun enitre weekends, and Mondays. Since you'll be here in April, I don't know next years schedule, but you should be getting in around the peak-before-hell time. *110+ this past summer, with like 140deg track surface. It be hot sometimes.

And the biggest benefit - it's about a 45min drive depending on where you're at in SA.

Don't know about the roads there but I've visted an ex there a few times in the past few years and loved the area. The river walk was pretty cool.

You're best bet for dealerships are the ones in New Braunfels. I hate all dealerships, but they aren't aweful.

I am not sure how familiar you are with the area but NB is North of SA on 35 right South of San Marcos where H2R is.

There is a Kawi dealer in Universal City(North of SA) that is pretty good.

On which base will you be stationed? Randolph? If so, you will be really close to all these places, and Randolph might be the prettiest base ever.

I grew up in SA and had several friends/boyfriends stationed at Randolph so if that is where you are going I can help you out with learning the area. :wink:

Nah, I'll be across town at Lackland. I actually put in for Randolph, but an awesome job popped up at Lackland, so I'm going there instead.

I will definitely need some help with the area, though. The only time I've ever been out there was for Basic Training years ago, and that's not a very good way to get to know San Antonio. ;)

It'll be good for my wife to meet some female riders, too- she's gonna miss her Japanese girls that she rides with out in Oki.

Well everyone goes to SA for basic and I think that is why so many AF people hate SA. :lol:

Yeah Lackland is really on the other side of town, but the great thing about SA is there are highways everywhere and it doesn't take you long(relatively) to get across town.

Since you are gonna be kinda West, you can get to some fantastic hill country rides pretty quick North and West of where Lackland is.

Lori(skiergirl) probably lives closest to SA out of all of us and I know she used to go to SA regularly to ride with a group. I think she might not as much anymore since she lives like a mile from the track. :lol:

There aren't too many of us that ride on the street regularly anymore(or at all) but definitely have her come out to H2R. That's where all the cool kids go. :lol:

welcome to TX! I live practically next door to the track with Tye so we are at most every track day Elite has. It's a great organization and perfect for a first time track rider because she will have plenty of instruction and guidance.

New Branfels has some good dealerships but you can find some good deals in Austin too if you look around and aren't in a hurry or super picky.

As for riding there is awesome hill country in North West San Antonio and I know a whole bunch of people that ride there regularly. I don't make it down nearly as much as I used to but they still ride on the weekends, I'll PM you a local board that a lot of the SA guys are on.

Awesome. Thanks for the info, folks. It'll be great to meet up with you when we get out there.

Just stay away from Ft Hood.

Well, now it's REALLY safe there.... :panic:

Hi there - golly y'all are awesome. We'd be happy to have you come by sometime :)

We are in SA and do all kinds of motorcycle work.

We specialize in Roadracing/Sportbikes.
Multi Championship Winning Service and Suspension.

Come check us out. www.VonHertell.com

Bump!

We're finally settled in (mostly, anyway). We bought a house on the Northeast side of town, and I have my 636 out of storage and on the road. Now I just need to replace the tires that were on it when it went into storage four years ago and I'll be in pretty good shape.

The wife is interested in meeting some motorcycle-type folks. Is there a decent bike night or something around here that isn't too squidtacular?

Welcome! What neighborhood are you in? Or, what roads are you close to? I grew up in the ghetto part of the NE side...I hope you aren't there. :lol:

What the hell are you doing NE if you're stationed at Lackland? :lol: Traffic isn't really that bad there, but still. That's a drive.

Sorry....I don't know anything about bike nights. Lori(Skiergirl) would probably know better than any of us. :D

I'm in Valencia, I think. Off Nacodoches a couple miles south of the 1604.

Honestly, we wanted to be closer to Lackland (I have about a 40-minute drive each way), but couldn't find a house we really liked down there. That's part of the reason I'm looking at race take-offs for the bike; it's a lot of freeway travel, and the 636 just gets WAY better gas mileage than my F-150. :lol:

I ride to work as often as possible, but that still only means 1-2 times per week. Between PT schedules and having to haul lots of stuff I can't take on the bike, I end up taking my truck or the wife's Kia a lot. Someday when we have money, I'd like to get a sport-touring rig with some luggage to make the commute easier on my old knees and let me carry more stuff.

For now, though, the wife is still looking for a job, so my salary is what we're living on. That means no new toys for a while, which also means the wife has no bike for now.

Nah we don't go to SA for bike nights. We just don't like going north of the border :lol:

MotoLiberty has a bike night at Swig North - that's one that I would go to if I were down there. Nathan and Chad run a good ship.

Swig - North
18322 Sonterra Pl., Ste. 101
Stone Oak
San Antonio, TX
210-476-0005

We're all at the track all weekend - you should stop in and say hello!

Yeah most of the guys and gals I know in SA don't do the bike night thing....it usually ends up being a lot of people just standing around their bikes in a parking lot or drinking beer or both

The gang I know meets up for hill country rides, track days and MX riding but no bike nights that I know if.

Wish we could have- the weekend was pretty packed. Y'all are down there a lot, right?

Me? Yes.

Everyone? Nah...

That's a rather poor fit for the wife and I, as we both adhere to a strict policy of not combining booze and bikes, which seems to put us in the minority in this country.

Can someone give me a Google map to where the good riding is? I'm thinking the best thing might just be to go out where the riding is, thus ensuring I only run into riders who actually ride their motorcycles, rather than pose like tough guys and admire them over booze at some lame "biker bar".

West of SA

Look for cities like Luekenback, Utopia, or roads like 335 - 336 - 337

I found Utopia, and the map seems to show some interesting stuff out there. It's over two hours from me, so looks like I'll need a weekend to go explore.

Go north on I-35 a bit to New Braunsfel and check out the best Aprilia dealership in the USA, possibly even the world.

http://www.af1racing.com/store/Scripts/default.asp

PR 337 will be your new best friend - I'll PM you a site I'm on in SA that the guys I ride with frequent. They post up weekend rides usually pretty early like 7-8am through hill country so they can get the hell out before the cruisers and bicycle riders clog it all up.

What about when you head west a bit and there's a small, private motorcycle museum that was out in the middle of nowhere? The old pop still races in the vintage series.

That's in Leakey, TX

One of the best roads... 337 from Vanderpool to Leakey.

I know more of the Austin area for quick rides than I do of San Antonio. SkierGirl will point you in the right direction with those guys.