Anywhere in Mississippi or Alabama. North parts ride about 9 to 10 months, middle 10 to all year and all year in the south. Great ridding mountains to praire to ocean. Low taxes. Love it here.
You're joking, right? Mountains in Mississippi? There's some nice foothills in northern Alabama but mountains?
I like Arizona. You can find a wide variety of temps within just 2 or 3 hours.
Gotta agree that Arizona has a wide choice of temperatures and topography within a half days ride.
To me, the main thing when you're talking about a permanent retirement location is what percentage of your life is devoted to motorcycling. If it's the main thing you and your wife (if married) ever do, then decide what type of riding you most enjoy and find some place where you can do that the majority of the year.
If, like most, you really like riding but have many other interests in your life, then you have to factor that in to your decision. We like eating out, going to movies and sporting events, and just hanging out with friends. I could never move somewhere just for the great riding and sacrifice accessability to those other things or I'd be divorced in a heartbeat!
Out west, there seem to be lots of choices - Arizona, Albuquerque, northern California would all work for me.
A little tougher east of the mighty Mississippi - north Georgia is pretty ideal for access to mountains AND all that Atlanta has to offer. Knoxville, Asheville, and other hilly areas are also nice but the riding season gets shorter as you move further north or up in elevation.
Let us know what you decide!