How would you escape a Large City in a disaster on a motorcycle: with rifle or without?
My Dad was good with money. When he died in 2005, he left me money. I had enough to buy a small ghetto house (780 sq ft) and I had enough for some other things. One was a Moto Guzzi California Motorcycle. It is sort of a Harley Davidson wanna be. I bought it because my brother is in Law Enforcement. In Los Angeles, the police used Moto Guzzis for decades. My brother bought a surplus police bike and I thought it was cool. So I bought a new one. I regret it now, and wished I had purchased a Yamaha.
Anyway, I have been thinking about what I would do if we had to evacuate Los Angeles. Car is out of the question. Los Angeles County is the largest (population wise) in America—ten million people. The roads would be clogged parking lots within an hour. So if you wanted to get out, you would have to leave by motorcycle. I would take a handgun of course. Probably my Smith & Wesson Model 39. But I think a la Katrina, cops would probably be shooting anything with a visible long firearm. I have a Winchester Lever action rifle (9422) in .22 Magnum that takes down into two pieces. It’s either that or a Charter Arms AR-7 type rifle I have. I like the extra zip of the .22 magnum. My problem is space on the bike is going to be very, very limited, and the main thing I will need to somehow take is extra gasoline. Plus, I will be most likely taking my significant other on the back. He doesn’t have a motorcycle. So I am figuring I will need a Katdyn Water filter, because I won’t have space to carry water, and will have to get water out of whatever filthy pond I encounter. And I think my panniers will be mainly filled with two liter soda bottles filled with gasoline. So shelter will probably consist of a small cheap tube tent strung by nylon cord. I guess I will have to live on whatever I and my significant other can stuff into small backpacks or strap to the handlebars. I will put the carbine, I guess, into a gym bag and bungee it to the bike somehow. Anyone here have experience camping on a bike? Any suggestions?
“For someone so concerned with personal security, you sure do give out a lot of personal information. Now the whole world knows you have money, guns, what you drive and the region in which you live”
I live in a region of ten million people. I can only assume you must live in a one horse town and assume everywhere is the same. You couldn’t find me in 20 years.
Richard W
Now I KNOW you live in a small town. Los Angeles has 613 elementary schools. By about the time you had showed up at say, 50 of them during daylight hours, you would have been arrested by Los Angeles City Schools Police, which is the third largest police department in Los Angeles County. Secondly, half the time, I take public transportation to work. I guess you are going to stake out all the subway stations and bus stops, while you are at it.
You are going to go to all the county soccer fields? Again, you must come from a small, small, town. The place we play isn’t even an official soccer field. Best of luck with that.
Thirdly, I am vastly amused that you think a person who live in a crime ridden ghetto like me and owns as many guns as I do, has a “walk in, walk out” house. I have a locked gate with a huge master lock, motion activated flood lights, an alarm, cameras, burglar bars and door, a gunsafe and a 115 pound German Shepherd. I live on the border between the
Umm do you know of a disaster about to occur in Los Angeles or somethin??? Camping on a bike would be pretty hard so why don’t you head to the next closest city
food
somewhere to go
getting out of the city so you can skip the problem entirely
For someone so concerned with personal security, you sure do give out a lot of personal information. Now the whole world knows you have money, guns, what you drive and the region in which you live.
My suggestions:
If you’re really that serious about emergency planning, and, you have money to spare, have a place to go other than just “evacuate.” Keep enough supplies there to last long enough for the situation to come under control. Know how much fuel you’ll need to get there, and keep it on hand. Otherwise, you’ll probably be in a worse situation than when you started.
As for Louisiana, we have our evacuation routes planned and designated shelter areas in the north. Try finding a place now that others won’t be rushing to, such as a friend’s house or hunting camp… sort of the opposite of a hotel, they get swamped.
Edit: I’ve lived in both very large/dense cities and small towns. I agree that someone is harder to find in a large city, but you might be surprised how easy it is to turn small details into larger ones… not that anyone actually would want/care to. If I wanted to find you, I’d start by finding local soccer league fields in your county. I’d drive by everyday for a week or so (not during school hours) and look for a honda insight or a moto guzzi. During school hours, I could look at 5th grade school parking lots. Once I see a lightweight man in his 30′s get into the car, I’ve probably found you without you knowing.
There’s other information available, but a probable physical location is all someone would need.
As for motivation, you have guns. That would be enough for some people, but, you’re probably relatively safe as many criminals are stupid.
2nd Edit: I’m pretty sure I could find you if I cared enough about it to do the research. You don’t seem to be hiding or anything. I’ve lived in a large city before. I’m not the country bumkin you seem to think I am. But whatever, enough of this tangent. Your question has already been answered sufficiently. Good day sir.
Multi problems….
Water? The Camelbak water carrier is perfect for a biker.http://www.camelbak.com/Sports-Recreation/AntidoteLanding/Main.aspx
Compact Gun? Kel tec has a CA legal folding .223 rifle the SU-16CA, A new 30 round .22wmr pistol the PMR-30 http://www.keltecweapons.com/our-guns/rifles/su-16ca/
Food? Buy some MRE’s. They are compact, light, and don’t need fire or a can opener. Found at any camping store or ebay. Some compact fishing gear might not be a bad idea to have.
As for space for gas? How about a trailer for your bike? http://www.motorcycletrailer.com/
What I would do, if I had to pack a rifle on a bike, is get a rifle scabbard, and mount it to the bike. The reason is, if you have to dump the bike you don’t have a rifle strapped to your back. Take-down rifles are cute, but remember anything that comes apart can come apart, if you know what I mean. And get a rifle in a caliber that is more useful than .22. If you are worried about ammo capacity, go with a lever rifle in a pistol caliber, like .357 or .45.
dude u have too much time on your hands , try to use it wisely and positively …..
First I would consider a different bike, something like the BMW R1200GSAdventure. Then I’d put on side bags and a top case, a tank bag and front saddlebags. The bag can be pre-loaded with non-essential stuff, the side and top cases can be loaded all the time. I’d stick with the .22 mag for everything (get a handgun for that caliber also) because you can carry plenty of ammo. 500 rounds min. Space blankets, concentrated and dehydrated food, fire-starting equipment, small fry pan, pot with lid, 2 cups, 2 spoons, a good couple knives, pliers and wire-cutters, wood saw (folding), hatchet, ski underwear, boots and sneakers. You may need to cut fences, cut wood, cook, things like that and need the basic equipment with you. Most of the rest you can pick up later. Warm clothes because even in the summer the night get cold. I’d plan on heading north into the Sierras, less people, more resources. Also a good portable radio. Take-down rifle is a good idea. Would also carry a take-down 20 ga. shotgun, some bird shot and some buckshot. But get a different bike and be sure your partner knows how to ride. I think the idea is nuts but I’ve also spent some time thinking about it.
‘richardw,’ I think I really like you! No, I’m definitely NOT a queer. I simply like you. I like the way you think!
(Damn it, Newell, block me again – Will you. I’m uncomfortable whenever you take me off your blocked list. Why do you do that? You just like to annoy me, huh.)
Slightly off topic, but you should hook up with “gay shooter” you guys seem to have A LOT in common, almost like you guys are twins or something.
Consider worst case. Streets immobilized, blocked. Other people attempting the same evacuation. So, plan your route out carefully. Find where there are routes a motorcycle can go, that a car cannot. Such as old rail lines? Alleyways? Consider that public transportation will be minimized/gone. You’ve a better idea of ground routes out, being in LA, than an outsider would. Just as I’ve a better idea of routes out of D/FW than you would. Plan more than one route out.
You might consider placing your bike in an out of area storage? Then plan a walking route out to get it? Takes more time. But, using the bike as the means out, may lose you the bike? Due to damage, run out of fuel stalled in traffic, assault, other wreckage and just flat all routes blocked. The X factor. Place any needed supplies with the bike. Then you only need carry perhaps a 3 day supply, and a set of bolt cutters (for storage access) with you out. In the chaos of an evacuation of LA? It is probable that police will have routes planned out already. Such as we do in Texas. Where freeways are planned to be re-routed into all out bound lanes. It happened during the hurricane that hit Houston. Check with their Emergency Management Services.
Do like the motorcycle couriers/scouts did during WWII, use a scabbard.
how far is echo park to Azusa or Glendale?
if you had to get out of town, just get yourself into the mountains and you’d be ok. from there you can either set up camp to wait it out (whatever the crisis is) or take the other roads down into the desert: Palmdale or Victorville areas. Or south to San Bernardino or Big Bear.
I don’t see what’s wrong with a car. I plan to use a car. I can drive pretty aggressively if I wanted to, and I can use my car to nudge obstacles out of my way, and use its size & energy to force my way thru crowds or heavy traffic. Also I’m much less likely to get seriously hurt if someone hits me with their car.
Consider Crystal Lake Campgrounds- get a small trailer, tow it behind your motorcycle and put the guns, camping gear ,and basic supplies you need in it. then go to the campgrounds. its quite nice there with telecommunications, electricity, water and gas. also remote (30 miles from the city below, 5000 ft elevation and easily defensible.
Actually that’s where me & my group is going if there’s a disaster. I picked the location because its close to my house (only 80 miles), has plenty of natural resources, remote, easily defensible, and above that depressing layer of smog that always seems to blanket LA (metro) below.
There are some cabins up there, and since hunting is banned up there, should be plenty of game around.
at the minimum:
a defensive pistol (your choice), a defensive rifle (like an AK or a Mosin Nagant M44 carbine), a hunting rifle/shotgun (your choice).
a basic 4 or 5 man tent (more room is better),
water storage & purification
cooking pots/pans, knifes for cleaning game/cutting meat
a shovel (folding spade ok)
fire starting kit & bucket (to put the fire out)
changes of clothing to adapt to the weather,
some food & water.
you can probably rent one of those little u-haul trailer for a few twenties or buy one for less than $2000.
You mention taking your boyfriend with you but what will you do with the dog? I hope you’re not planning to abandon him!