I would like to plan a road trip for next year, might have a week. How far could I get from the Owen Sound area and back home in this time? I dont really know how far I can expect to get in a day so I could use some advice. I plan on looking for scenic routes likely in a western direction and will not likely be camping. Don't really care too much for the big highways either and will likely not go through the states. Anyones previous experience wpuld be appreciated. Thanks

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K10 DL 650 ABS
Black

We all have our daily limits. I've done 750 miles (1200km) a few times in the last couple of years, but 500 miles (800km) is more comfortable.

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-Tom (DL650AL2) (KA1TOX) (E-I-E-I-O)

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My wife has a friend that took destination specific trips every year. Found it exhausting. Then one time she and hubby took off in the motor home with no where to go and all day to get there. Loved it. They stopped at all the places they had missed because they had that destination to get to.
No reason it couldn't work for a motorcycle. That cheese factory in Beaver Ut I've missed 5 times or the Valley of the Gods, etc.
If you are bent on a distance, try for Brownsville Texas and give yourself 3 days to get there. 3 days back and a day or rest before work again.

It depends on how far you want to travel each day as well as other factors that only you will know. Do you to have a destination every day? Or are you comfortable riding until you want to stop for the day and look for a place to sleep then?

Riding solo, I could probably do the Cabot trail, PEI and Gaspé in a week. I would probably put a lot of miles down the first 2 days to get there and then take the rest of the week to get back. Solo I can do really long days if I have to and I don't really mind, long days being over 1000km or over 12 hrs. Most of us will start off strong, meaning we can do maximum daily mileage for the first day or two and then peter out to about 60% of that for the rest of the trip. It's just not pleasant doing 1200km days. I enjoy the days so much more doing only 500-700km.

Are you riding solo or with pillion? You riding alone or with other riders? What kind of riding do you enjoy most, all freeway or mostly secondary highways? Do you like to stop for pictures every 20 min or prefer to rip it up all day long? These all influence how far you'll get in a week.

Nosce te ipsum. Only you can answer your own question.

If you really don't know, pick a spot on the map, get on your bike and ride in that direction. Stop when you get tired, turn around when you get half way into day 3 and come back home.

Work is stressful enough.

Vacation time shouldn't be as well.

Now, if you're the kind of person who needx to know exactly where he's going to be at a specific time, plan on 250 miles a day, riding in a spiral pattern around your starting place so that you'll never be more than 250 miles from home. Clockwise or counter-clockwise (anti-clockwise) is up to you.

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Sent from my Hewlett-Packard 75C, using the Flying Merkel motorcycle app.

Stromin'Nroman NC28729, USA

DL650A K7 (Greywolf Moto Lab's R&D test mule) June 1, 2012 - present
DL650A K7 April 23, 2007 - January 6, 2012, RIP

"Look here brother, who you jivin' with that cosmik debris?" Frank Zappa, 1975

For a week long trip your probably looking at a 2000km destination, then turning around. Or make a 4000km loop.

1k a day is do-able for a day or two but gets old quick if this is supposed to be fun and vacation time.

Good luck

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2007 DL650 Gray

First get yourself a GPS. Putzing along solo or 2-up at a leisurely, pace mostly on paved backroads and enjoying stops and taking lots of pictures, I can very easily accomplish 300km daily on an extended trips. If you have some destinations in mind than realistically 500km is rideable. Your bike is certainly capable of going 1000miles day after day; just ad fuel and lube the chain. It can go continuously trouble free for days on end until it needs an oil change or tires. Camping ads to the adventure and saves some money but sacrificing riding time and possibly some sleeping comfort.
Staying in Canada: Haliburton, Algonquin Park, Foymount, Calabogie, Ottawa, Lac St Marie, Mt Tremblant all offer great scenic roads.
You could do a nice loop around Lake Ontario riding some in the US; lots of great riding in Pennsylvania, the Adirondack Mts in New York and of course the Mts in Vermont.
Planning is half the fun; I usually spend as much time planning a route as I do riding it.

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Road Toads Charter Member - old guy goes stromabout on a 2007 Vee


States and Provinces I've visited

I did a solo ride to the east coast in July this year. I did 5,400 km on my ride. North of Toronto through lake placid to Bar Harbor Maine then up to Cabot Trail, PEI, Gaspé and home.. I was riding solo so super long days are no prob (I did 1,200 km on my last day.) You could cut out a fair amount and still have an amazing adventure in on week.

..Tom

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Road Toads Charter Member - 2006 V-Strom DL650: 202,000 km 125,500 miles, 2012 DL650 New March 2012 50,000 km


Why Cars don't see bikes (SMIDSY)
SMIDSY detailed report

I suggest you ride around Lakes Huron and Michigan. Starting from Toronto, I have ridden around the three nearest Great Lakes in three days each. I can manage about 1000 km per day, but I was riding with a fellow who was only 66, so we kept our daily distance closer to 700 kilometers.

By the time you reach Sarnia, you will have an idea how far you like to ride in a day, and if circling two lakes seems like too much work, you can just go around Huron. The coastal highways in Michigan are very pleasant riding. I haven't explored Wisconsin in a long time, but I recall it was pretty nice.

But do this ride clockwise, so that you are nearing home when you reach Manitoulin Island. There is a lot to see on Manitoulin, and if you are ahead of schedule, you can explore the island thoroughly. If you are low on time, you can leave Manitoulin for next time.

In any case, here is your ride back to Tobermory, as you likely know already:
Welcome to the MS Chi-Cheemaun - Tobermory Ferry to Manitoulin Island

Ya know, this sounds like so much fun, I might tag along with you ...

Keith

PS The circuit around Lakes Huron and Michigan is not much more than 2200 kilometers, so you can add lots of side trips in case you want to visit Bad Axe or see both Sheboygan and Cheboygan, or even tour the thriving metropolis of Petrolia ON.

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I thinking about going down east next year. Did you camp, if so any recommendations for campsites