Manawan Reserve ride

When I came back from a test ride to Parent in July, I met a retired logging truck driver in Mont St-Michel.  He suggested I take the Manawan fire road instead of the boring Highway 15. 

Waste of time.  Despite searching around for a while, I never found the road in question.  I promised myself that I’d give it another shot eventually.

So, in September, I planned a ride to the Manawan reserve taking the road bearing the same name.   I brought a ratchet and a socket along just in case.  The last time I rode on a fire road, the Parent road, it was more than the Versys suspension could handle.  Most of the vibrations caused by the washboard sections of the road were directly transmitted to the handle bar.  So the ratchet could come in handy for adjusting the suspension and hopefully making the ride enjoyable.

The ride plan below (http://goo.gl/maps/gQYe0):

Note all the parks on the map, from the left: Papineau-Labelle, Mount Tremblant, Ouareau Forest, Taureau Lake, La Mauricie National Park and more.  It is amazing all the places I can explore just few hours away!  More to the east, there is the huge Laurentian Park.

To reach Manawan, I left early in the morning to have some spare time to take a few shots.  So at around 7:30 am I was off: 640 east, 25 north, 125 north, the 337 north.

9 a.m. The most beautiful site during this ride: the Dorwin falls in the Chute-Dorwin park along the 337 in Rawdon.

Quite a nice waterfall! I told myself: “How come I never heard of this place before?”  The picture does not really show how great it is: it is huge!

Accessing the park is not free, but when I got there, the gate was open and the booth was empty - I could access freely.

I went back with my family a few weeks later.  The ride is a little long with young kids from my place, but once there everyone enjoyed walking in the forest along the river.

To be continued.  See next part.

Metzeler introduces the new Karoo 3 at EICMA

Munich, 12 November 2012 – After the global preview of the newTourance Next at Intermot, Metzeler introduces another jewel from the 2013 range at EICMA: The Karoo 3, a knobby tire made for bikers who love adventure and want to use their motorcycles for long off-road trips.

The new Karoo 3 is the perfect tire for large and medium displacement enduro bikes which have to travel both on asphalt and off-road. Bikes like the latest BMW R 1200 GS, which can be equipped with the Karoo 3 in 120/70 R 19 on the front and the brand new 170/60 R 17 on the rear.

The Karoo 3 is capable of guaranteeing high mileage to all those bikers who love to take on long distance travel, provides excellent grip off-road and terrific stability and handling. These are all important elements, considering that riders must often travel for many miles over asphalt in order to reach their off-road destination.

These are the main characteristics of the new Karoo 3 with respect to its MCE Karoo and MCE Karoo T predecessors:

The compounds in the new Karoo 3 use high dispersibility components capable of obtaining a more uniform mix which provides mechanical resistance to lacerations, all to the benefit of mileage, while still maintaining high dampening capability.

The structure in polyester guarantees a sturdy, yet flexible product because the tire is able to perfectly follow the unevenness of the terrain when riding off road, to the advantage of handling and traction.

The trapezoid-shaped knobs have an innovative geometry which ensures progressive off-road traction at various lean angles. The “V” shape of the pattern provided by the knob arrangement optimizes power transmission and wear.  The center knobs are larger, which  reduces their mobility to enhance stability at high speed. The knob-spacing varies from the center to the shoulder: at the center the knobs are spaced farther apart to guarantee better penetration in soft terrain, offering better traction off road, while on the shoulder the knobs are closer together in order to guarantee more rubber on the road—and more grip—when leaning into a curve on asphalt.

The Karoo 3 will be on sale from spring 2013 and will replace the current MCE Karoo and MCE Karoo T. The new tire will be available in the following sizes:

Front:

110/80 – 19 M/C 59R TL M+S

120/70 R 19 M/C 60T TL M+S

90/90 – 21 M/C 54R TL M+S

Rear:

150/70 – 17 M/C 69R TL M+S

170/60 R 17 M/C 72T TL M+S

130/80 – 17 M/C 65R M+S

140/80 – 17 M/C 69R M+S

140/80 – 18 M/C 70R M+S

150/70 – 18 M/C 70R M+S

 

[SRC:Metzeler]

JCR Honda Wins 45th Baja 1000

After fending off numerous challenges from other motorcycle teams during the 45th running of the Tecate SCORE Baja 1000, the Johnny Campbell Racing (JCR) Honda team and their Honda CRF450X pulled out a decisive lead and sailed into La Paz to win the race with a margin of more than an hour, and lock up the 2012 SCORE 1X championship. It was a fitting tribute to Honda’s 50th Baja anniversary, stretching back to the inaugural ride from Tijuana to La Paz undertaken by Dave Ekins and Bill Robertson to promote Honda’s CL72 Scrambler in 1962. 

After leading for more than 970 miles, the JCR team’s finishing time totaled 20:09:30 for an average speed of 55.64 mph. The success of JCR Honda team riders Colton Udall, Timmy Weigand and David Kamo extended the Honda win streak in the Baja 1000 to 16 consecutive victories and 23 overall motorcycle wins. Equally impressive, nine out of the top 10 finishing teams this year in the motorcycle division chose to ride a Honda CRF450X. 

The toughness of this year’s Baja 1000 was evident at the finish line: Of the 298 starters only 174 teams finished the race. The JCR Honda CRF450X—prepped for the race by JCR’s Eric Siraton—worked flawlessly while racing over the brutal 1121-mile course. 

“It was a very tough course,” said Udall. “The section through San Felipe was probably one of the gnarliest workouts I ever had in my life.” 

“My stretches went by really fast,” said Kamo. “There were lots of cows and lots of cars and lots of people. Donkeys, horses, everything. Some were on the trail and some just stood there because we were going by so fast that they didn’t move. It couldn’t have gone any better.” 

“We have three amazing teammates,” said Weigand, “and we have a great mentor in Johnny (Campbell) and a great bike in Honda. We’ve won this race before so we expected to do the same.” 

“I am overwhelmed by the effort my pit crews put together to make this race run smoothly,” said Johnny Campbell. “JCR brings a small army of some of the most extraordinary people together to make a race like the Baja 1000 possible. I can’t thank them enough for their service and support. I am proud to have each one of them in the JCR family and look forward to many more adventures together. Thank you to the racers for their commitment to upholding this Honda legacy and our 16th Baja 1000 win in a row.”

[SRC: Honda]

Polaris Acquires KLIM Technical Riding Gear

MINNEAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dec. 6, 2012-- Polaris Industries Inc. (NYSE: PII) today announced the acquisition of Teton Outfitters, LLC, a privately owned, Rigby, Idaho-based company which designs, develops and distributes KLIM Technical Riding Gear. Calendar year 2012 sales for KLIM are anticipated to approach $30 million. KLIM is an industry leader in technical riding gear. This acquisition adds KLIM to Polaris’ growing parts, garments and accessories (PG&A) business. The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

KTM 350 EXC-F: A Conclusion

 

KTM’s “Ready-to-race” mantra sticks to the 350 EXC-F for sure - but this motorcycle is more than a race bike.

Every part of this motorcycle was designed to perform.  It sums up to a very agile, predictable and easy to drive off-road bike in all trail conditions.  Surprisingly, it also makes the 350 EXC-F an ideal motorcycle for off-road neophytes as it easily forgives mistakes.  However, there are fine prints: the bike does not fit everyone.  As an example, with my 5’9” frame, I had to adapt to the seat height.  But once you’re off, the experience is unique.

In 5 points, what I liked the most about this bike:

KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 4

See part 3

The teenager’s father that I had met earlier was right: Lake Croche road was great to ride.  It was a little more technical than Scotch road I had taken before getting there.  The 350 EXC-F, however, made this road pretty easy for the rider – the KTM off-road capabilities are far beyond everything I had ridden so far;  its stratospheric ground clearance freed my attention from anything on the road including large rocks on upward slopes – which makes off-road riding an even more satisfying experience.

KTM 350 EXC-F with Lake Croche in the background

2:04 p.m.  A stop near Lake Croche While I was riding in the area, I saw a small opening in the forest leading to the lake.  It was a small access to the lake with an area of about 200 square feet – enough place for a couple of tents.  I also saw traces of a camp fire. Camping and moto adventuring is probably something I’ll try in the future.

KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 3

See part 2

Maskinongé Bay

12:28 p.m. Commuting between Scotch road and Namur.  I left Scotch road heading towards the Namur gas station with less than half of the gas tank and about 35 miles (50 kms) to go. I was not too preoccupied, I knew I could do it without running out of gas. So, I left Scotch road, followed Harrington road which becomes the Maskinongé road – this fun road is in major part unpaved.  I enjoy this ride which runs along the Red river, crosses quiet rural areas and borders the beautiful Maskinongé Bay.

KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 2

See part 1

Scarecrow near the former Kilmar mine railway.

10:30 a.m. No luck.  I do not know who put this scarecrow here, but one thing is certain: this person knew what they were doing: it is a clear warning – don’t! I walked to the middle of the flooded road to convince myself even more. I had knee-deep water ... and the water level kept rising. How very unfortunate! This section is the missing link to complete the loop around Black Lake: the view is nice there – probably a good (e.g. challenging) section to include in a rally ... Now that I think about it, a Panoramio user, Karlos Gibeault gave me more information about this road:  “...I went with my car last week (May 8, 2012) and we were able to cross with a Jeep YJ ... by the way, this is not a road, but the former railway that connected Kilmar mine to the processing plant at Marelan,  at each end, there's a factory, it is not for nothing!!”  So based on this affirmation, it should be possible to pass!

An overview of Black Lake and the railway …

Honda Unveils New Production Dakar Rally Racer

On October 3, 2012, Honda unveiled its new CRF450 Rally model Dakar racer at the 2012 International Motorcycle, Scooter and Bike Fair in Cologne, Germany. The world debut of this production-based race machine centers on its entry in the Dakar Rally, which will be held in January 2013.

America's Johnny Campbell, the 11-time Baja 1000 champion who previously gained Dakar Rally experience in Africa, will join riders Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Felipe Zanol (Brazil), Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom) and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina) in an international effort. Honda entered factory teams nine times from 1981 onward in the forerunner of the present Dakar Rally, the Paris-Dakar Rally. Cyril Neveu (France) rode Honda to its first victory in 1982, the race's fourth year, and from 1986 to 1989 Honda won four consecutive titles for an overall record of five victories in nine years. In 2013, Honda will aim for its first rally victory with a model built from a production-based machine.

The CRF450 Rally model is based on Honda's commercial CRF450X off-road racing machine, but it differs in a number of ways. Changes include its use of Honda's Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system, increased fuel capacity and the addition of a sophisticated navigation system. In addition, other changes were made to the bodywork and chassis for protection, efficiency and durability. The CRF450 Rally model in its current configuration has undergone extensive testing in Japan and will be tested further in its first race at the Morocco Rally, beginning October 14th. The Morocco Rally will serve as a real-world test to gather data, identify any problems with the machine under actual race conditions, and pinpoint any operational issues.

Tetsuo Suzuki, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Honda Motorcycle R&D, said, "Our young engineers have created a race machine based on the CRF450X production enduro bike. The Dakar Rally is a race that continues for two weeks across the hardest terrain of three different countries. The Dakar Rally is extremely long and extremely tough. This is a new challenge for us. Previously, we entered the Dakar Rally with machines purpose-built for racing. This time, we are aiming for our first victory in the Dakar Rally with a production-based machine."

Johnny Campbell said, "My participation in the Dakar Rally over the past few years has been an amazing experience. I have been working very hard to bring the enthusiasm and attention of the USA to this prestigious global event. I am excited to be part of Honda's official Dakar race team and I'm committed to its success. My role will be to provide consultant, development, rider and mechanical services as needed to the project."

[SRC:HONDA]

KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 1

Sunday, September 16 2012 - Patience paid off. For 3 days I could only admire the snazzy KTM 350 EXC-F in my garage.  Other priorities prevented me to go for an adventure ride with the “Ferrari” of dual sport bikes.  But finally, the perfect day presented itself: no rain on the horizon, sunny and 64 F (18 C) degrees as a maximum - perfect conditions.

But before leaving, I made ​​some adjustments that were beneficial:

1. I removed the visor on my hybrid helmet - it has the effect of a parachute on the highway with a dual-sport motorcycle.  So much for the look;
2. I adjusted the mirrors - returning from St-Bruno, Qc where I picked up the bike a few days earlier, I realized on the highway that the mirrors were very, very well secured, which is a good thing, unfortunately in a position that did not suit me well;
3. As the bike is pretty high, I got used to removing the kickstand before sitting  - a lot easier!

With the 350 EXC-F, I had to use my imagination and all the pockets of my jacket and my pants since there is obviously no suitcase or anything to carry some goods in.  This way, I could carry my usual equipment: camera, iPhone, 2 cans of energy drink, cereal bars etc etc..

And finally, a precaution: the fuel tank on the KTM is 10 liters with the reserve, so I planned for refuelling along the way... I will get back to this.

KTM 350 EXC-F 2013, Photo Montage, Papineau Labelle Park

Enjoy!

DSAQ

First Contact: KTM 350 EXC-F 2013

When I asked KTM Canada to lend me a bike, I did not expect to be catapulted miles out of my comfort zone.

The landing is a bit brutal: it is not the bike that is adapted to humans - but humans must adapt to it.  The word “compromise" was not part of the 350 EXC-F spec sheet.

Result: about 240 pounds.

Once the shock of the first contact has passed, one understands where he just landed: in a world where gravity is no longer as important. The 350 EXC-F is easy to tame and quickly becomes an extension of the driver.  The step is high, but behind the handle bar, everything is possible.  I experienced it on my way back from KTM Canada in St-Bruno.

NEW XC VERSION OF TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER FOR 2013

Here is the original press release followed by my own opinions on the subject.

Triumph Tiger Explorer XC 2013

• Aluminium rimmed, steel spoked wheels with tubeless tyres. • Ride by wire, traction control, cruise control and switchable ABS all as standard. • Hand Guards, Fog Lights, Belly Pan and Engine Bars to back up the go anywhere capability of the Explorer XC . • Extended Service intervals along with two-year unlimited mileage warranty. • Available at Triumph dealerships April, 2013.

Triumph Motorcycles increases its range in the Adventure Touring market with the launch of the new Tiger Explorer XC. With a nod to the styling cues of the award winning Tiger 800 XC, the new Tiger Explorer XC gains a number of enhancements to further enhance its long haul adventure touring appeal.

12oo GS Rallye 2012: Ride to Parent: part 3

See part 2

Sand pit, near Parent (47.75° N, 74.61° O).  Free camping area?

Nearing Parent (at about 11h20) on my first ride, a road leading to this sand pit got my attention.  The place was huge!  The picture on the left shows one third of the sand pit area.  Most likely a place where ATVs and motocross riders hang out.  I would have spent a lot of time here but I was on a tight schedule.  I will certainly have other occasions to come back. There was evidence of camp fire in the pit… probably a nice place for free camping near Parent.

Once in Parent, there are gas stations, restaurants, camping areas and hotels.  I had to refuel and eat something.  I was toasted and would probably have had a power nap in the restaurant after lunch, but hey!, the little restaurant was crowded!

12oo GS Rallye 2012: Ride to Parent: part 2

See part 1

Parent road at the 309 intersection

10:23 am  The famous road to Parent. After refuelling a few minutes beforehand in Mont St-Michel village, the signs indicating the road to Parent came into sight.  Looking at the blue sign, I realized right away that this road was unusual… it read: “Warning! This road is used by heavy trucks.  For your safety, use a CB on channel 10 to indicate your presence…”  Not very welcoming. I took some time to put on my motorcycle pants (which I recommend for this route).

What follows is a blend of my two rides to Parent: first with my Versys, then with the Rally. It's a bit unfair to the Versys, but it served me as a base comparison to evaluate the Rally. The Versys: an entry level crossover. The Rally: top of the line adventurer whose reputation is second to none. That being said, I learned a lot about the 2 bikes and I will try to transmit my observations as precisely as possible.

12oo GS Rallye 2012: Ride to Parent: part 1

After BMW Canada offered me the Rallye for a week, I wondered which type of road I should ride to test it out to its full potential.  I have read here and there about the ride to Parent and I was hoping to have an occasion this year to make it - the stars were aligned,  the Rallye was about to be in my driveway, I was on vacation, so be it!

 

	In fact, I made the same ride twice in a week: -the first time with my Versys on July the 19th, a few days before I received the BMW – making the ride first with my own bike would give me a point of comparison; -the second time on July 27 with the Rallye, after my first ride with the BMW to Mont Tremblant Park. So I’ll be describing mostly the second ride.
St-Eustache(A)-Parent(C), through Mont St-Michel(B) : 400km

BMW 1200GS Rallye 2012: Ride to Mont Tremblant

Video Parent Qc, BMW 1200GS Rallye

Photo montage from my ride to Parent Qc.

Montage photo de ma randonnée à Parent avec la Rallye.

Enjoy!

dsaq

Ride to Mont Tremblant Park with the Rally: The finale

Part 1 I Part 2

[A trail for the 1200GS Rally] This picture is the continuity of the15 East.  The road also branched to the right.  I rode a long way on this path.

Not quite a spectacular picture, but yet this is what the motorcycle adventurers seek above all: a road with an interesting challenge, much like Scotch Road which I wrote about in part 1.

After several miles, when I realized that the road did not lead to an end (I could go on and on), I turned around - there were two other attractions that I really wanted to see and I had to head back to Lake Superior road to get there.

Anyway, for this road, I will certainly have other opportunities to see what's at the end of it.

 

7. Continue on Lake Superior road...

After a few kilometers, there is an indication for the “Croche” fall . There is a 300 meter walk along a charming forest path before you get there.

Above, the “De la Diable” waterfall. A 15 meter (50 feet) high waterfall which is one of the principal attractions in the area. The intense downpour of the previous day increased the river flow which - according to frequent visitors - made ​​the falls more attractive. There is a beautiful forest trail (half a mile) that you need to walk to get there.

***

I went back to Mont Tremblant Park with my family a few days later. The kids loved running on the paths that lead to each waterfall. We also rented canoes at lake “Escalier” which is a little further. And finally, we had a great time at the beach. It was truly a day enjoyed by all!

***

Back on Lake Superior road, there are 20 kilometers of gravel road and more beautiful scenery, lakes, beaches, campgrounds, bicycle paths, and probably several other trails just waiting to be discovered by adventure motorcycle enthusiasts. Once the unpaved road ends, it’s back to regional roads ...

8.  So, what does 110 ponies @ 6675 rpm mean?  …this road had the answer…

 ………………yes, that’s it - a big smile on my face - on each gear.  Of course, we are not talking sport bike performances, but the 1200GS 110 hps has quite a lot of punch at all rpms from first to last gear.  However, what impressed me the most was the windshield efficiency – at high speed and with a hybrid helmet, air was still flowing around me.

That is it for this ride.  It was great, the bike was great, the weather was perfect…I could not have wished for more. 

I have created a video montage that shows all the ride shots with great music... Enjoy!  and thanks for watching.

Entrez la légende de la vidéo ici

Next ride: the real test.

Ciao!

dsaq

Ride to Mont Tremblant Park with the Rally: part 2

 

See part 1

3. Turn left on Harrington road then right on Red River (Riviere Rouge) road…

Despite the fact that Red River road is a gravel road, it does not require any particular riding abilities nor a specific bike – a cruiser could ride here no problem.

So this road is not a challenge for the 1200GS Rally.  However, the TKC 80s tires installed on the bike, as well as its torquey engine can turn this road into a somewhat interesting playground.

A couple of things worth nothing: the view is magnificent along the Red River and the hillside fields offer a panoramic view as well.

If you pay attention, you cannot miss the Buddhist monastery on the right side of Red River road.

I like to stop at this place from time to time to take some pics, the change of scenery is astonishing – each time I get the feeling I took a bypass to Asia.

I am not Buddhist of course, but the monks that live here are very courteous and accept “visitors” into the area.  While remaining respectful of the place I take some pictures and  continue my journey.

4. Continue on Red River road, then take the 327 North, then the 117 South and finally take the exit to Lake Supérieur…

Following the Lake Supérieur road, you eventually arrive in Lake Supérieur town.  The landscape here is absolutely beautiful and I could not resist: I stopped to take some pictures.  Above, the Lake Superior with a mountain range in the background.

 

Other pictures of Lake Supérieur.  Left, a steep hillside that seems appropriate for climbing.  Right, a windsurfer on the Lake Supérieur.

5. Continue on Lac Supérieur road…

…that eventually lead to the Mont Tremblant Park gate.  There is a 6$ fee per adult (there is a family fee of 12$).

Once in the park, it's a cascade of breathtaking landscapes. The Mont Tremblant Park is certainly one of the most beautiful places in Québec.

 

For the early birds (you must arrive at the park entrance in the morning to register), it is possible to ride down the river by canoe.

6. Optional, turn right onto 15 East ...

The 15 East (unpaved road) proved to be the highlight of this tour.

At some point, I thought I was dreaming - I was driving a beautiful motorcycle on a gorgeous road while a splendid summer sun illuminated my path.

Here are some pictures of this paradise ...

I still get chills looking at these pictures. Several times during the ride I told myself: “I’m such a lucky bastard to see all this!  Someone pinch me!”  What a beautiful moment of moto adventuring ...

To be continued…see the last part.

Ciao!

dsaq

Ride to Mont Tremblant Park with the Rally

I went for a day ride with the 1200GS Rally to get acquainted.  The day was perfect – forecast was sunny with passing clouds, temperature: 70 Fahrenheit (20 Celsius).

The path that I followed to get to Mont Tremblant Park was somewhat tortuous.  Here’s the description.

1. Follow the 344 west alongside the Ottawa river…

For most Lower Laurentian motorcyclists the 344 is one of the most scenic roads in the area.

Before stopping at Carillon village to take this shot with the Hydro Quebec dam in the background, I was telling myself: “Wow!  What a great motorcycle!  The thrust from the throttle opening is just great and at all speeds, I must mention it in my ride report ... the saddle is really comfortable ... it's pure bliss ... I cannot believe I’m about to throw this wonderful bike on the unpaved roads ... I'm completely nuts ... etc etc ". In short, quite a monologue in my head.

As I planned to go for the day and I had no hard case provided with the bike, I strapped a rigid bag (Bags-Connection) that I bought years ago for a ride to Pennsylvania.  As you can see on the picture, the bag was a perfect match for the Rally!

2. At Grenville, turn left to the north and continue on Scotch road…

It's not a coincidence that I took Scotch road for this ride: to understand the bike’s behavior on rough roads. So here's how everything took place.

As usual, I stopped on the edge of this lake for a caffeine break.  I like the sight and contact with nature that this place offers.

After a while, two fellow adventurers I had seen before joined me. One named Martin and the other…well, unfortunately, I forgot

Briefly, two great guys who chat on RidAventure.ca motorcycle forum. They enjoyed the Rally and were surprised to learn that I was from St-Eustache: "Huh? Weird ... your bike has an Ontario plate". I explained that it was a borrowed bike…hopefully they did not think I had stolen it!  One thing led to another, and they invited me to follow them.  I told them: "Sure! I have no specific plan, but do not wait if you lose sight of me, I would rather not take chances with the BM..."

So I started to follow these two amateurs ... but not for long!  These guys were great riders - they vanished in a flash!  The bright side is that in trying to follow them, I greatly increased the pace at which I used to ride on the bumpy Scotch road (especially after heavy rains the previous day). I noticed how the Rally suspension was effective and able to handle the obstacles while remaining stable. A world of difference with my Versys which requires much more caution.

Speaking of suspension, the Rally was equipped with electronic suspension (an option).  There are as many modes as one can ever imagine:

1. one up;
2. with luggage;
3. with a passenger;
4. with a passenger and luggage; 
5. light off-road; and finally
6. heavy off-road.

Each mode can then be configured as comfortable, normal or sport.  Total: 18 possible configurations at the tip of my fingers...a real gem!  Electronically adjustable suspension is the option I liked the most on the bike – and sincerely all road bikes should offer this feature.

Testing 1..2..3.  I took this picture when I was on my break before chatting with the two "amateurs".

I was often frustrated in the past because I was using my iPhone for photos and missed many wildlife moments. The day before the ride, I bought a Canon SX 230 HS with integrated GPS. It's always interesting to have the location of the images when you look at them back home ... but still, one needs to turn on the function!

Yes…I did not

In short, with a 14x optical zoom, I was able to photograph these two tiny frogs.

Here is an overview of Scotch road in one technical section. A 4x4 would probably pass, but forget it by car.

Again, I was able to enjoy the low-end torque of the bike on my way up this path. Gear changes are optional!

Another thing I liked about this bike is the natural position when standing on the pegs.  It seemed like I could ride for miles without using the seat.

To be continued…next, part 2

dsaq

Related Reading:

• BMW 1200GS Rallye Edition: First Contact
• BMW 1200GS Rallye : Ride to Parent

BMW 1200GS Rally 2012: First Contact

Fan-tas-tic!  That is the first thought that came to mind after a first day with the 1200GS Rally edition.

It is sublime, powerful, comfortable and so on… this bike has all the charm needed to win over a motorcycle adventurist.

When I asked my contact at Moto Internationale if it would be possible to have dual sport tires, BMW Canada authorized the installation of TKC 80s to allow me to ride the bike under many different conditions.

So the plan for next few days is:

• ride long distances on paved roads to better evaluate seat comfort, wind protection, gas consumption and better understand what 110 hp @7750 rpm means!!;
• ride the Scotch road, the best place I know for a first feeling of a bike on unpaved roads;
• then the Lac des Plages (Beaches Lake) fire roads;
• and more…

The Quebec motorcycle “bible” (Guide de la moto 2012) rants and raves about the bike – so my expectations are high, but based on this first day, things are off to a good start!

Read more: Ride to Mont-Tremblant

Ciao!

dsaq