| Author | Message | ||
     Spike240sx |
Well the wife and I are at a turning point in our lives. This past year has just been rough. Lost my job last September, and could not find anything that would allow me to utilize my skill set. So I started my own motorcycle shop. Im busy enough to keep me occupied for about 50 hours a week so all is ok there. Well the wife just lost her job of 6 years due to some pretty crappy circumstances. Well, we have had out hearts and minds set on Knoxville TN for about 4 years now. We vacation there every year for two weeks. So with the current circumstances, we have decided to bit the bullet and make out first big move of out lives. Were both still pretty young (only 25) and figure its time to experience some new people, new geography, and shorter winters! Im gonna be moving down there in about a month to look for a job and housing. I'll use the winter time to find a place to restart my shop. The wife has to finish her last semester of school here and then transfer to a college down there. Ill be bringing her down and all of our stuff in late December. Im excited to start a new chapter in our lives. But I am met with some unique challenges. Ive got temporary housing figured out till I find a house. But I have no where to securely store my 2 Buells and some basic shop stuff. Motorcycle lift, Tool Box, etc. I dont mind getting a secure storage unit, but I want to take my time to determine what part of town I feel comfortable storing my bikes in. So my question to those who live in the area. Any good parts of town you would feel comfy storing about $100k worth of tools and bikes? Keep in mind, I WILL be riding as soon as I get there. So others in that area will see the bikes and know where I'm storing them. I cant wait to get down there! We like the area so much. And the people just seem nicer! | ||
| Gunut75 |
Nothin better than southern hospitality. I myself, tire of winter. Good for you two!  | ||
| Ft_bstrd |
TN generally has low crime. Knoxville is pretty safe. You can generally tell the "bad" areas from the good ones. I'd PM 86129squids or Etennuly. Both are in the area and can give you advice. Welcome to TN! We joke that TX have the reputation for pride in their state, but Tennesseans are just as proud. We just aren't as loud about it! | ||
| Drkside79 |
I actually like TN as well. Good luck to you both. | ||
| Rotzaruck |
I don't know how you plan on moving your stuff. If you had a trailer though, one of the guys around there would probably have somewhere to put it for a while and give you time to find a place. If not, I can find a spot, about 1.5-2 hrs away, depending on which side of Knoxville you end up on. Ft is right, you can ride around a bit and tell where you wouldn't want to be. If you aren't sure, ride through in the middle of the night. There are nice little towns all around Knoxville too. Tennessee is a great place to be! Rotzaruck! | ||
| Buelltoys |
Good for you on making the change. That area of TN is a great place. My best friend and love of my life is in Cosby, TN south of Knoxville. Would love to be up there but would have a hard time finding work up there with what I do. One day I will live up that way and enjoy the mountains and the riding. | ||
| Etennuly |
Nick, I sent you a PM. | ||
| Court |
Congratulations on seeing the future, doing something about it and shaping it. I'll be rootin' for you and eager to hear your adventures. When it comes to getting a helping hand . . you'll do no better than Buell owners. | ||
| Whatever |
DO IT !!! Don't look back. It took me five years to finally move out of Wisconsin to NC and I am planning my third trip into the mountains this year in about ten days... you will not regret it ! Sorry I can't help on the other matters, but I know there is a website that lists crime by geographic area for every major city in the US. I will try to find it for you. | ||
| Whatever |
Here you go. Have fun !!! https://www.crimereports.com/ | ||
| 86129squids |
PM sent... BTW, what is your wife's field of study? I went to UT, grew to kinda hate it and dropped out... now I live about 5 blocks away from Maryville College, a private college but a very good one... East TN Sportbike Riders is a good group to hook into- lots of good links through Killboy's site too. I'll do what I can to get you hooked up! | ||
| Brumbear |
Good on you!!!!!!!! | ||
| Spike240sx |
Ya we are very excited for the big move! I really appreciate the support from the Buell Family. Nothing better than having people you can trust already in the area. I do have a trailer, but I can not store it where I will be staying. I'll be right off of I-75 and Merchants Drive. Finding a spot for my fully loaded 28ft race trailer sucks. So its probably gonna have to stay behind till December. I will say though, real estate is a lot cheaper there than it is here. Beautiful houses that a about twice the size of my current house for damn near the same price. Squids and Etennuly, I got your PM's and appreciate the info. Squids, My wife is studying general business and already has her AA, she has been looking at transferring to UT to get her BA I believe. She is an online student so being near campus is not an issue. Ive already joined East Tenn riders, but the forum seems slow and not regualary posted on. Seems like FB has slowly started to kill that site. Are there any local FB groups or pages that alot of the riders are on? Heck we have 2 groups here in Des Moines alone with about 150 riders in each. I'll keep you guys updated as things progress. Which is very quickly at this point. 3 weeks to go and I still need to move my house into a storage unit! | ||
| Etennuly |
I have sent you another PM. Riders groups suck. All you need are a few phone numbers of a few BadWeB riders in the local area. | ||
| Doerman |
Spike In 99 I left a really great paying job for freedom from corporate shackles. I have never regretted it even though it took a long time to equalize the "great pay" thing. Seek your own fortune. You will never regret it! | ||
| Spike240sx |
"Freedom from corporate shackles" is my biggest motivation. If all I ever wanted out of life was money and material things,I would have stuck to the corporate world. But my happiness is worth more than anything any one could ever pay me. Reaping the benefits of achieving my own goals provides all the happiness I need. | ||
| Kenm123t |
Spike welcome to the world. You will find different challenges in your new venture. Starting your own business is great fun and a lot of work. Its worth it in the long run. One day you ll find your self thinking now I know why my ex boss was a__ When you care about what you do Its harder some days. Getting Employees to do it your way can be a pain. If you cant get them on your program fire them cull ruthlessly any that buck your Program of customer service. Court has some customer service standards he wrote. Ask him to send them to you also look up the Buell Values. If you have any question in that area ask Al Lighton at American Sport Bike They are a great vendor. ASK for help there are some great folks on here Daves ex Appleton Buell guy now has a Archery place. Does business like A.S.B. I hope you do well in your venture. | ||
| Daves |
Good for you! Wish I would've struck out on my own at 25. Although I probably wouldn't have known any of you guys if I had? Anyway, being your own boss is great some days and sucks other days(kinda like most jobs) BUT, you live and die by your own rules, standards, goals, decisions and results. Getting to the "great pay" is a struggle I am still working on. Money isn't everything. I am in the beginning stages of planning another/additional business startup. Looking for a spring time frame if I can make it happen. | ||
| No_rice |
I am in the beginning stages of planning another/additional business startup. uh oh! international supplier of whoopie cushions?!  | ||
| Daves |
Shhhhhhhh! I don't want anyone to steal my idea! | ||
| Spike240sx |
3 weeks to go! Moving Memorial weekend! | ||
| 86129squids |
Hmm- haven't looked into the E. TN Riders site in a while- oh well. Given that you'll be in N. Knoxville, there are lots of good roads, good areas up yonder- check out Norris TN, it has a great lake/dam/highway running out there... don't know about the "density" of competing bike techs there, but it might be a good area. I believe you'll be closer to Vern than me if you end up staying there. There are secondary highways that will connect you right into his area of the woods. The Museum of Appalachia is in Norris- very cool place. They have an anvil shoot every 4th of July, mebbe one or two other times a year- always wanted to go to one. Keep us posted! E. TN is the shizz. | ||
| Dannyd |
Not sure how well you are set up for HD and Buell parts suppliers and services but if you need any help there feel free to call me. 303-702-1600 |
