Ontario riders (or near-Ontario riders)

[Heavy]

So, how many of us are there?

Is it worth trying to organize some kind of gathering?

What does everyone think; single day? weekend?

Do we try and gather where the majority are or should we focus on a spot with some good roads?

I'll start off:

I'm Jim, I live in Barrie and I should have a nice shiny 2006 Big Strom by the end of March. (Colour still to be decided)

[The Shepherd]

Ian - Barrie with big Strom sitting in the garage.

I'm up for a ride sometime this year. I'll have Sundays and Mondays off so i'd be able to make it for a Sunday ride for sure.

I'm sure I'll be posting a few rides here come springtime, I'm starting to get a few ideas together now.

[Heavy]

I'm sure I'll be posting a few rides here come springtime, I'm starting to get a few ideas together now.

No pavement? All ski-doo trails? Lots of dirt and mud and bogs and stuff? I hope I get a couple hundred kms on my Strom before I throw it down in the dirt some place. :lol:

Let us know about your favorite roads in our area.

[fyr]

Glen -
Wee -
Ottawa.
I ride all over this area and West Quebec. Some good pubs here too :twisted:

[The Shepherd]

I'm sure I'll be posting a few rides here come springtime, I'm starting to get a few ideas together now.

No pavement? All ski-doo trails? Lots of dirt and mud and bogs and stuff? I hope I get a couple hundred kms on my Strom before I throw it down in the dirt some place. :lol:

Let us know about your favorite roads in our area.

I haven't had the Strom long enough to get on some nice hardpacked and dry gravel yet. I'll be starting off on the pavement for sure in the spring until the surrounding fields and whatnot have time to dry out. I'll be looking to try some gravel roads / rail trails and whatnot but not right away.

As for roads around Barrie, you mentioned Southwoods Rd. #13. I usually combine that with Bala #38 or go through Bala to #632 and back down to Windamere....awesome twisties. Also Coopers Falls Rd. to Hwy #118 then across to Haliburton where I either take #507 down to Bobcaygeon and Fenelon Falls or go further east to Elephant Lake. Rd then through Algonquin Park then head to Dorset and the firetower.

West out of Barrie we do the shorter Creemore / Terra Nova thing and head south for Hockley Valley as well, there is another road between them which is good too. Rd. #2 North just NW of Angus is nice as well, you follow one side of the escarpment through Ravenna to Georgian Bay then we'll take Beaver Valley Rd. back down and check out how they are coming along with the windmills at Shelbourne.

Sometimes I ride for certain roads, other times I just try and pick a destination that is different to go to. Places like downtown Fergus or Bruce Nuclear to check out the big windmills there.

I'll be looking to try and add some gravel bits to some of these rides or come up with other routes. I just need to get a map or two out. Maybe try hugging Georgian Bay tightly or taking a real long ride and going all the way around Algonquin the shortest route possible......hmmm.

I also was looking at this website, http://www.ontarioghosttowns.com/ to see if there is any places that look interesting that would be a decent destination to go take some pictures. I've been through or to a few on the list but will most likely check out a few more.

I don't think I'm going to be doing any mud bogging on the Strom heh, I can certainly see gravel roads and maybe a nice hardpacked dirt trail but I'll leave the slop and big ruts to the dirt bike crowd I think.

[Heavy]

Sounds like we frequent the same roads around here. I know what you're saying about mud and stuff, I think gravel will be enough fun, specially early on. I saw an article about 3 guys on Stroms that rode the Continental Divide. Almost all dirt and some of it pretty gnarly for a bike the size of ours.

I think the Nippising Road, North of us, would be a good ride.

[The Shepherd]

Sounds like we frequent the same roads around here. I know what you're saying about mud and stuff, I think gravel will be enough fun, specially early on. I saw an article about 3 guys on Stroms that rode the Continental Divide. Almost all dirt and some of it pretty gnarly for a bike the size of ours.

I think the Nippising Road, North of us, would be a good ride.

I've seen some of the ride reports at http://www.advrider.com/ , some of those guys are alot more hardcore than I think I'd ever be. I'd just be happy to head to James Bay, Goose Bay, or Inuvik at some point on the Strom...though the western US has some really nice scenery.

As for the Nippissing Rd, you are talking about this here? http://www.onlink.net/~woodland/trail.htm , I'd really be up for that. It sounds like it'd be a great ride with alot to see.

[Heavy]

As for the Nippissing Rd, you are talking about this here? http://www.onlink.net/~woodland/trail.htm , I'd really be up for that. It sounds like it'd be a great ride with alot to see.

That's it. Look like fun? Maybe we should schedule a Sunday?

[Vordak]

We're near Kingston, Ontario. Let us know if you set something up.

[The Shepherd]

As for the Nippissing Rd, you are talking about this here? http://www.onlink.net/~woodland/trail.htm , I'd really be up for that. It sounds like it'd be a great ride with alot to see.

That's it. Look like fun? Maybe we should schedule a Sunday?

Sounds good to me.

[dedinpool]

I would be interested checking it out!

Pete

[Heavy]

I would be interested checking it out!

Pete

Hey Pete, you're welcome along. The more people we have in the group the easier it will be to pick up my Strom when I drop it. :wink:

[JGL351]

Hi
I am Jim in Scarborough. I have a blue 05 Wee Strom. I definitely want to ride the James Bay Road this summer but not alone. Maybe we can put together a small group? Rosseau to Nippising looks like a very interesting day ride.

[Heavy]

Hey Jim,

I'm also a Jim. Maybe we can get together a Stromtrooping group and head out for a ride some day before long.

See you around.

[vstrom_ryder]

Hi, I am from Montreal and willing to ride.
Paulo

[Chopper]

I'm Bob for Toronto (south Etobicoke) I get my strom on May 13th (15th I turn 48) Can't wait to ride hope the weather's good on the 13th I want to put 3-400 k's on get start getting it broken in. I'd love to ride but need lots of notice. Got a friend with a Triumph Tiger and another with a BMW 900 could they come too?

[Heavy]

Sounds like we better start getting organized and consider a possible date for this gathering.

[Night_Wolf]

Bob, I'm in Etobicoke north and ride with a bunch of nice folks on Tuesdays. Yes they make fun of my bike and more than a few ride cruisers, but it's all in good fun :lol:

I'd love to do an Ontario ride, but I'm booked until June 17th weekend and the 18th I'm taking a course

I'm Bob for Toronto (south Etobicoke) I get my strom on May 13th (15th I turn 48) Can't wait to ride hope the weather's good on the 13th I want to put 3-400 k's on get start getting it broken in. I'd love to ride but need lots of notice. Got a friend with a Triumph Tiger and another with a BMW 900 could they come too?

[babooka]

Ottawa, DL650K5, one week old



http://img48.imageshack.us/img48/3203/weeeeeeeee4dn.th.jpg (http://img48.imageshack.us/my.php?image=weeeeeeeee4dn.jpg)

[Chopper]

Hey Night Wolf I'm originally from north Etobicoke grew up north of the Albion Mall. Went to good old NACI. Ya I got my wife a 500 Vulcan last year for passing th Humber course. My friend with the Tiger his wife took the course with my wife and she too picked up a 500 Vulcan. Plus someone they met on the course got a Vulcan as well. All three women are 45 and they want to call themselves the Vulcanettes. Blah , ugh. So I have to sheppard them around so they can get experiance. As a truck driver I have a few easy rides planned out west of here.

[Night_Wolf]

Drop me a note, I live just North of Albion Mall currently (from NFLD originally) As it happens I'm a teacher of Humber's Motorcycle course and I may have been working the weekend the ladies took the course. IMO the 500 Vulcan is a great cruiser and an overachiever.

Hey Night Wolf I'm originally from north Etobicoke grew up north of the Albion Mall. Went to good old NACI. Ya I got my wife a 500 Vulcan last year for passing th Humber course. My friend with the Tiger his wife took the course with my wife and she too picked up a 500 Vulcan. Plus someone they met on the course got a Vulcan as well. All three women are 45 and they want to call themselves the Vulcanettes. Blah , ugh. So I have to sheppard them around so they can get experiance. As a truck driver I have a few easy rides planned out west of here.

[Chopper]

Had a quick look at yor web site ...Trying to build one of my own . Best friend a gov web master so trying to learn from him ( almost imposible) Couldn't find your e-mail address they we're on te course last Aug or Sept
can't remember . they tried in June but it was the beginning of the heat wave and both had to reschedual

[kamloopsal]

Sounds like there is life beyond Manitoba? (I can't spell Saskachewan!) :lol:

Al

[okanagan]

I'm from B.C. and riding to south eastern Ontario. Should be there around the 7th of June. A gathering of Stroms sounds great.

[Night_Wolf]

Links all over the site to send an e-mail but you'd have to remove a second @ symbol. I did some teaching in Sept, so I may have helped them. intruderalertca at yahoo dot com
Replace at with @ and dot with . and no spaces of course :P I was teaching this weekend

Had a quick look at yor web site ...Trying to build one of my own . Best friend a gov web master so trying to learn from him ( almost imposible) Couldn't find your e-mail address they we're on te course last Aug or Sept
can't remember . they tried in June but it was the beginning of the heat wave and both had to reschedual

[Canuckstrom]

New to the board from Thunder Bay. I think I am a bit isolated here, only one other Strommer that I am aware of. I have just purchased a new (to me) DL1000K4 in Quebec, so my inagural ride will be from Ottawa to home next weekend. Hope the weather gets nicer!!
http://i57.photobucket.com/albums/g202/leafmania/VSTrom.jpg

[Heavy]

Nice looking machine.

Welcome to the board and have a good ride home.

[water warrior]

Canuckstrom

Do my eyes deceive me or does your bike have little wings on the lower portion of the fairing ? Can't remember seeing them on other Stroms.

[Canuckstrom]

I see that. I had not noticed them before. I guess I will find out when I lay my own eyes on the bike! I have only seen pics myself to this point. I won't get to actually see it until next Saturday. Interesting though.

[Heavy]

Canuckstrom

Do my eyes deceive me or does your bike have little wings on the lower portion of the fairing ? Can't remember seeing them on other Stroms.

You can't remember seeing them on any other Stroms because you only have eyes for 650's.

Feast your eyes on the Majesty of a 1000 sometime and you'll see many differences (beyond the 40 extra pounds and $3,000 extra cost). :lol:

[Iris985]

Can;t belive you just said "" and "" in the same sentence! :lol:

[Throttlehound]

Hey Heavy / The Shepherd / et al:

Anyone still interested in a day ride in the near future? I am generally available on Fridays, Saturdays, and some Sundays. Recently I did an interesting ride where I followed the roads that most closely follow the Bruce Trail from Terra Cotta to Collingwood. I got into some pretty hairy unmaintained roads near Terra Nova in the Pine River Valley and a little further up in the Noisy River Park. In both cases I encountered very steep trails covered in loose stones, rocks, ruts, and sand. It was quite a challenge! :shock: I was alone (not recommended) and was fortunate not to drop the bike. I think I will be sticking to the more travelled dirt roads in the future. The DL650 is certainly no dirt bike!

[The Shepherd]

I'd be interested in a ride on a Sunday for sure. If you'd like to plan it out that'd be great. I still haven't made it up to the Nippissing Trail or whatever it is called. I like to ride a route before posting it up but I've been busy leading hooligans around on the lovely pavement of the Kawarthas and Muskokas.

[Heavy]

I rode the lower part of the Nippissing Road a couple of weekends ago. It wasn't as good as I anticipated (or maybe I'm just a suck). It was a lot of sand and loose, large gravel. It is narrow with lots of blind corners and I ended up just poking along, waiting to get to the end of it.

Once at the bottom I hit the 518 towards Parry Sound. It is a good Strom road with lots of tight turns and some broken pavement. Much more enjoyable!

http://i52.photobucket.com/albums/g36/jjchonga/Nipp.jpg

[farmerjoe]

Hi All,

New strommer here in Toronto (Beaches)

I picked up my 650 last Saturday and have racked up 1500km so far (and counting). I was out with a fellow Strom yesterday among others riding the 507 and Elephant Lake Rd south of Algonquin - a great trip!

I'd love to meet some others anytime!

[Fearless Freep]

I rode the lower part of the Nippissing Road a couple of weekends ago. It wasn't as good as I anticipated

That's good to know Heavy. I am going to be up there in Aug. and had the southern part of the Nippissing trail on my to do list. I have heard a lot about it, but don't really know what to expect. I figured 518 would be fun, so If the Nippissing trail proves a bust, I will probably backtrack and finish #518. I will then ride #520 into Magnetawan instead, then do #124 heading towards North Bay.

[V-Tom]

Hi All,

I picked up my 650 last Saturday and have racked up 1500km so far (and counting). I was out with a fellow Strom yesterday among others riding the 507 and Elephant Lake Rd south of Algonquin - a great trip!



I think I saw you on Sunday.. my Wife has a cottage at Tory Hill and my mom lives in South Wilberforce and saw Vstroms at different times in the day. I also took my brothers' Silver/Blue VStrom around "The loop" and saw a Vstrom amongst other bikes as well.

Maybe next time I'll be riding with you.....


..Tom

[farmerjoe]

Hi All,

I picked up my 650 last Saturday and have racked up 1500km so far (and counting). I was out with a fellow Strom yesterday among others riding the 507 and Elephant Lake Rd south of Algonquin - a great trip!



I think I saw you on Sunday.. my Wife has a cottage at Tory Hill and my mom lives in South Wilberforce and saw Vstroms at different times in the day. I also took my brothers' Silver/Blue VStrom around "The loop" and saw a Vstrom amongst other bikes as well.

Maybe next time I'll be riding with you.....


..Tom


Anytime Tom! Always looking for fellow riders (especially those who have access to cottages up north for lake-side pitstops!)

[V-Tom]

Hi All,

I picked up my 650 last Saturday and have racked up 1500km so far (and counting). I was out with a fellow Strom yesterday among others riding the 507 and Elephant Lake Rd south of Algonquin - a great trip!



I think I saw you on Sunday.. my Wife has a cottage at Tory Hill and my mom lives in South Wilberforce and saw Vstroms at different times in the day. I also took my brothers' Silver/Blue VStrom around "The loop" and saw a Vstrom amongst other bikes as well.

Maybe next time I'll be riding with you.....


..Tom


Anytime Tom! Always looking for fellow riders (especially those who have access to cottages up north for lake-side pitstops!)

I was up there Thursday, Friday and Saturday. Did a lot of general riding around and then on Saturday decided to head for a longish ride.

My brother has a V-Strom near Petawawa. I decided to head out there Saturday morning (was on the road at 7am). Drove out his way, around a bit with him, back to the cottage, back home near Newmarket and then into town to pickup something (the bracket for my Givi E562 came in). Put about 800 km on it on the Saturday!

I now have a little over 3000 km on it... need to look into a better seat before i do many more longer rides!

Lovign the bike!

..Tom

[farmerjoe]

ha - funny you should say that - I've ordered a gel seat and am headed down to the DC next week where I'll pick it up. I'm going to be on the road Sunday for a long jaunt. Doing the Toronto - port hope- peterborough - 507 - somewhere - toronto route depending on how all goes. Hope the weather is nice! Let me know if you're available. Have 5 or 6 tentatives and at least one other Strom in the group!

Meeting at Leslie and Lakeshore Tim Hortons 9 am and headed out from there.

[V-Tom]

ha - funny you should say that - I've ordered a gel seat and am headed down to the DC next week where I'll pick it up. I'm going to be on the road Sunday for a long jaunt. Doing the Toronto - port hope- peterborough - 507 - somewhere - toronto route depending on how all goes. Hope the weather is nice! Let me know if you're available. Have 5 or 6 tentatives and at least one other Strom in the group!

Meeting at Leslie and Lakeshore Tim Hortons 9 am and headed out from there.

Let me know how the gel seat works out!

I don't know how Sunday will work. (family commitments). I'll have a better idea Saturday eve.


..Tom

[Throttlehound]

Here's a strong endorsement for Suzuki Gel Seat. I received it just before taking off on my 3 day, 1500 km road trip last week and it was fantastic. It seemed pretty close to the Mustang Seat I had on my Volusia. Even though I still got a little butt burn every couple of hours, I found that my recovery period was very quick (5 minutes) and let me go another couple of hours. This may not sound so great, but for me it was outstanding performance. I am very prone to butt burn with my bony little butt :lol: . I also have the Dan Vesel sheepskin and wear the LDComfort riding shorts (LD = Long Distance). It's a great combination for those 8-10 hour days in the saddle :D .

[Fearless Freep]

I was up riding around the Nipissing Trail and shot this pic of the old general store in Commanda.

http://w1.bikepics.com/pics/2006/08/26/bikepics-665489-800.jpg

Hwy. 518 just south of Parry Sound was a blast, so was Moonstone. I did the Big Chute, but kept my speed down because of so many cottagers.