Well, Bert, before you totally make up your mind about the (so-called) "dull/uninteresting FL roads" without even trying them out, here's what I suggest you do: come down to the "interior lakes area" of FL, anywhere between Ocala and Orlando; rent a place for a week or two, and go out and ride the COUNTY roads - not the Interstate or state roads, etc. Get your butt out into the farming countryside and visit the smaller places. If you like, stop by my place, and I'll take you for a series of rides that will amaze you. My friends and relatives who visit tell me they "never knew this part of FL existed". That's a common reaction. It's rolling land with gentle hills, enough twists and turns to practice your riding skills, pretty little 'out-of-the-way' eateries, lots of fresh water lakes of good size, and often not much traffic. Maybe I've been spoiled by getting myself 'adopted' into the Hump Day Riders of Tavares, and being taken on rides by group captains who continuously amaze even veteran riders with the 'undiscovered' routes they take us on; Gary and Jim are amazing. And they're not alone. I've met many others, snowbirds who ride with other Central Florida clubs who say the same. So, I just think you're selling yourself short by not checking any area, in person, for yourself before deciding. Kind of like buying a seat or windshield for your bike based on how it suits somebody else. Not intending to disrespect others for their opinions; they're just responding as you requested. But, they obviously are doing so on very short, far from in depth exploration. In fact, you really ought to allow yourself a 'test season' or two in several areas before making any long-term commitment. We lived 3 winters in Leesburg before we thought of it as a reasonably decent long-term winter escape solution, and only after that did we even bring the Spyder into the mix. And only, then, did we even begin to discover those back road riding pleasures we hadn't even realized were all around us. Takes a long time to really get to know and appreciate ANY area for its true treasures. And personal preference decisions can only come from your own trial and error over time. FL works for us. That's just our personal reaction. It does have great riding, IF you get out into the back country, and use the COUNTY roads. We do visit the coasts from time to time, but pick the smaller port towns; we stay away from the Interstate whenever possible, and try to avoid major State highways. If that's all we ever saw, I'd probably have said the same as others. But we've been lucky to have been shown other paths by knowledgeable locals... and they are truly delightful. Not perfect, but a lot of fun!!!
Most of all (speaking as a snowbird), there are no snowdrifts to climb over, no ice to slip on, a real chance to ryde most days (except for rain), and only a need to pull on a sweater if temps drop.
