Ducati Monster Forum

I've been on the forum for a little while. I'm from New Jersey (NYC Metro) and am moving due to a job position. Any suggestions about places to live (and ride) would be much appreciated!

Where will you be working? That's a big factor. Budget? Rent? Buy?

+11tyB

Run away!!!  [laugh] [laugh] [laugh]

Rush hour traffic can be hell around here. The ideal is to live somewhere that will let you go against traffic. Area-wise, in Maryland most of Montgomery County is pretty decent, parts of Prince Georges can be sketchy.

Hope this helps.

I am basically in McPherson Square. I think the office is a few blocks from the metro stop. I am looking to rent right now, if possible short term, just so I get the jive for the area before I commit to buying (probably a year off anyway). I've been to the area before so I know my way around the city, but other than that I really only know the Reston/Herndon area. Right now my commute is about an hour and some change; I take a bus from about a quarter mile away to port authority, and then hit the subway a few stops.
Everything helps!

I haven't been looking too much in Maryland as I figured I'd want to be taking public transportation. Should I be reconsidering that? :)

Welcome to the area! The west side of Maryland (Red line/Montgomery County) wouldn't be too bad for you to consider: get off at Farragut North or Metro Center.

Something you want to consider for a VA vs MD situation: guns. You like'em: VA. You like'em and don't mind hidin'em from the gov't (or jumping through 12 mile high hoops to register'em): MD or DC.

The gun laws in Jersey make Monkey County seem like Arizona!

I'm putting my vote in for Arlington, VA. It's literally a 5 min drive to DC and if you choose parts of North Arlington, such as Rosslyn, you are a 5 minute walk to Georgetown. Plus there are many metro stops in north Arlington(Rosslyn, Clarendon, Ballston, etc).

No one has asked his family situation, but I gather he's not married or with children.

DC rentals are of course more expensive.  Plenty of singles live in Arlington or even Alexandria in VA.

Maryland has some nice urbanish areas, but the nice areas nearer to DC are very pricey.  In MD, you can find a reasonable place but you're possibly living near a crack house or a high crime area.   

Virginia has lower taxes overall than both DC or Maryland.  Housing in Arlington on average is more expensive than DC "on average" but bear in mind that Arlington or Alexandria are much nicer overall -- when you look at averages in DC, remember that includes the really crappy areas.  Same with Montgomery county in MD.

Coming from New Jersey, you'll have to learn to drive too -- no driving in the left lane except to pass, there are no jug handles in the area...

DC has crazy high insurance rates for vehicles too.  Between the high rate of crashes and the rate of theft, they have the highest or second highest insurance in the nation.

Thanks for the response everyone.

I've been leaning more towards VA due to taxes and guns. The cost of car insurance is probably going to be lower than what I pay in New Jersey by all means. I'm of sound mind that us New Jerseyians teach everyone else how to drive...

DC proper was pretty much always out of the question. I wasn't looking to paying baller prices for rent when I'm saving to buy a house in basically a year.

Oh, single and no children.

Metro rail map (hint: click on "Google Map") http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm (http://www.wmata.com/rail/maps/map.cfm) If you're on the Red line you could probably get off at Farragut North or Metro Center.

In general ALL locations along the metro lines (VA, MD, DC) tend to be more pricey, and in my opinion it's worth it. These areas tend to be better developed, plus I like being able to go places without having to take the car and deal with traffic (IE: idiot drivers).

The exception to this tends to be the South East part of DC and its extension into PG county. Essentially the former DC ghetto inhabitants are being pushed into PG county (that's where ducatiz gets his crack refills... Crappy areas in MoCo??? You must be thinking of Potomac!  [cheeky] [laugh]).

You can consider some part of falls church too . If you dont mind  a mile or two to metro station you can get decent one bed room apartment around falls church from $1000-$1200.

Look around east or west falls church metro , some of the apartments even offer shuttle rides to metro , so you might not even need to drive.

[quote author=The Mad King Pepe' link=topic=54758.msg1016867#msg1016867

The exception to this tends to be the South East part of DC and its extension into PG county. Essentially the former DC ghetto inhabitants are being pushed into PG county (that's where ducatiz gets his crack refills... Crappy areas in MoCo??? You must be thinking of Potomac!  [cheeky] [laugh]).

[/quote]

If you do consider DC, the Navy Yard area is quickly transforming into a desirable area. And the H Street corridor is within walking distance.

I can't believe you haven't asked the most importatn questions! Sheesh.

How many bikes do you have? What model(s) and do you require covered and/or off-street parking?


 ;D

I have much to learn.

Right now only a 2011 796. That's going to stay at my parent's place until I find somewhere to store it. I'm not completely comfortable keeping it in parking, covered or not, right now. I was going to look for some kind of heated garage I could rent a monthly space. I guess I've lived in an area with way too many thefts.

Probably more than you're looking for - but I'm wrapping up renos on a 2br + loft place in Fairlington - which is very south Arlington.

Details in another thread.

Working down town, you'll probably want metro access. The pentagon is a major transit hub with tons of bus lines running there and the blue and yellow line trains running through there. Getting a place right on a metro stop is usually premium price. But if you snag one near a bus line that goes quickly from your place to a metro stop or hub you may avoid the premium and still have a fast transit.

wmata.com is the site for much of local mass transit - you can look at metro station placements and bus routes there.

Parking on the streets around here is generally NOT a good idea. Bike might get knocked over or worse...

I'm pretty happy parking in my condo: limited access, cameras, and the space is between my car and the wall.  ;D

Yeah, 2BR is a little more than I am looking for right now.

It looks like my office is right on the orange line. Most of the apartments I have been seeing in the Rosslyn/Arlington area are within a few blocks walk of the metro stops (Claredon/Rosslyn) which should make it really easy to get into work in the morning. One apartment you have to take a 10-15 minute bus ride to Rosslyn metro right from in front of the building. Its a few hundred dollars less so I am considering this.

Luckily it is the winter right now for at least another month or so. I'll have a bit of time to scope out the area before I bring down the Monster. From what I can tell most of the apartments that I am seeing around Rosslyn include outdoor parking in some kind of lot behind the place.

If you're living in the city, you'll find parking garages are much more amenable to bikes than the ones in NYC.  It was a rare feat to find an NYC garage that took bikes, but it seems most of the ones in DC do.  I think it's that they are actually using parking spots rather than just cramming the cars into any available space.  You will see bikes 2-3 into a car spot in DC garages.  Don't know how they are priced, but you see them.

Isn't there a law in NJ about multiple motorcycles into a single parking space? I vaguely remember this on my computerized test. Obviously that doesn't matter in the good ole' state of VA.

This is good to know. I'm definitely going to consider it when I bring it down from the shore.

If there is a va law regarding # of bikes in a spot, I don't recall it... Though you are supposed to park parallel to the curb vs back in perpendicular which is daft and I ignore.

I'm talking about private parking garages.

DC actually has a good amount of metered street parking for bikes as well -- single bike width parking.  If it's a car sized spot, you're supposed to park 1 to a slot...

http://www.examiner.com/dc-in-washington-dc/motorcycle-parking-washington-dc (http://www.examiner.com/dc-in-washington-dc/motorcycle-parking-washington-dc)

I would defintely look for a place with a garage. As to your other question, about riding we got some of that trust me, you just have to escape the Metro area, usually west although there are pockets of good roads elsewhere. The other thing is we have many possibilities within a days ride, there are tons of roads in VA, WV, SE Ohio.

^^^ Gene knows *some roads.

*Some being a tongue in cheek statement meant to connote that Gene knows every road from Georgia to Ohio and then some

What's the process for changing over my driver's license?

Is it 60-90 day period before I can do this? Looking to take advantage of your superb car insurance rates as soon as possible. Not sure if this requires a VA driver's license, though.

You can just go into DMV and take the eye test at the counter and get your photo snapped and wait for it. You can get a license for 8 years in VA if you want to pay.

VERY IMPORTANT!!! Make sure they see your "M" endorsement and get an "M" endorsement on your VA license before you leave the DMV!!! On mine they failed to and I needed another photo taken but my son had warned me. If you fail to do this, you will need to then go through all the VA BS to get a motorcycle endorsement. You don't want to go through that!!!

Not sure whether you need the license first before you switch insurance. Yes, it is a fraction of the cost in NJ. Shop around though for a good agent and get some referrals.

To get the license, you will need proof of residence. Look on the DMV website for the requirements. You need some bills to your new address IIRC and I also took my passport.

When you want to switch your plates over, you can go to a DMV Select office which may be quicker. I did all this from NJ myself in 2008.

exact thing happened to me.  i never noticed until i got a ticket.  i showed the judge my old DL and he dismissed the ticket and told me to pay attention.   

Well..., you are an officer of the court..., and I have an FOP badge..., but...  ;)

Did you go back to DMV and get another license? My son failed to notice and had to go through all the BS to get the "M".

I had to get a damn learner's permit.

Riding after nearly 25 years with a learner's permit.   [roll]

Having nearly suffered the same fate, maybe the OP will at least be alert at DMV now. A gold star from me to you anyway! 8)

BTW, you just missed your 4-valve.  ;) http://search.ebay.com/220936939313 (http://search.ebay.com/220936939313) Thankfully, mine was an early one without white frame and wheels...

Have Fun!

PS See my Lobby Day thread update shortly.

Hah, been there, done that!

I didn't have (or know anyone with) a bike when I moved here from Italy...  [laugh]

that must have been a shock.  the streets in Roma are lousy with bikes and scoots.  stopping at a light is a lesson for Americans, the bikes all filter to the front and fill up the entire row..lol

 :)

Except possibly on a Sunday morning in August?  ;)

Passo a due - A Short Film by Cafe Twin (http://vimeo.com/33535331)

I appreciate everyone's help.

I found a place in Arlington which has a free shuttle bus to the metro line that gets me right into my office. Right now I figured a six month lease would suffice with the option to extend it later at no charge. This complex even has covered parking for the Monster. I'm definitely pumped.

At some point I am going to need to make my way over to the Virginia DMV and get the registration and license out of the way. I'll make sure not to leave the building without the motorcycle endorsement!

Some nice places in Arlington and you're close to DC and close to getting the hell away from DC.

This is more like it (start at 3:20)!
Long Way Down - 2 - 3 (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=g_NOfKKUvFM?t=3m20s#)

Even more frightening when it's moving!  ;) Paris is PD scary too!!! No way I'd tackle either on a bike. CRUNCH

Yah for Arlington. [clap] There are lots of nice parks and trails(running, cycling) that lead into Old Town Alexandria, DC and MD. Don't ask me how I know.

+1

Too far from the good roads for me. But it does have the Rhodeside which I hear is still hanging on, but it's days may be numbered. - Gene

Nice find!  Good luck and keep us posted. 

I don't know what everyone thinks of Coleman Powersports in Falls Church... but they've got a Ducati Master Mechanic if you need work done.  Right now he's got a four day backlog.  Meh.

I just bought a brand new helmet from Coleman in Falls Church. It was definitely busy, but its great that there is a wrench that close to me. Previously I had to drive nearly two hours for a good one in Jersey. I am not sure if I am hearing things because of the new helmet, but last night when the clutch is pulled and in neutral this constant sound is something I haven't noticed before. Very low vibration.

Anyone have a family physician, dentist, that they would recommend in the NOVA area? I'm in Arlington, but I don't mind traveling a bit if its a quality practice.

I've had really good experiences with Matt Gialanella@ Virginia Dental Center. They are located in Arlington, within walking distance of Whole Foods.

http://www.virginiadentalcenter.com/ (http://www.virginiadentalcenter.com/)

Awesome, thanks. Even though I'm not a fan of going to the dentist since insurance covers some of the fees I figure I should take advantage of it.