X-Canada, 2-up trip

[tor12gs]

Hi all,
In 2006 my wife and I took a 3-month trip across Canada. We did this on an 04 R1150R. Just recently I traded it in for an 07 GS. We hope to take another extended trip within the next year. Info and pics of our trip are at www.motorcycle-overland.com

If anyone is considering a cross-Canada trip, feel free to contact me if you need additional info.

Cheers,

 

[Gas'd Off]

Hi Tor. What a trip! How many drivelines was it you broke?

Stopping really is a low point isn't it

But then you get to plan the next mission

 

[(RIP) petcul]

Loved it

Hope to do it some day and maybe include overland in Labrador and further north in Yukon.

Great stuff.

 

[squid]

I'll be doing it one day. I have a lot of family in Ontario so hope to combine a visit with a road trip at some point.

I'd have to ship my bike there and back which is the only thing stopping me until I'm in a position to take more time off work.

It works out a bit expensive for a shorter trip.

 

[Rushy]

Nice website tor12gs !!!

I did 3 months in the US riding around the West where all the good stuff is.

It was a last minute thing and with a bit more forethought and planning I would have loved to have done Alaska/Canada. As it was I only got to see Vancouver, Victoria and the San Jan Islands. Saw a lot of the US though

Shipping (especially by air) looked prohibitively expensive for someone who was unemployed at the time so I bought a bike Rob , a lovely 1110GS with loads of overland kit on it plus Ohlins. It was a great bike and smoother than my 1150. Lost about £1400 ( for a fast sale ) when I sold it but it did have BALD tyres and was in dreadful need of a service & some TLC.

Got bike home and my GS had no extra miles on it no worn out tyres, no service needed, no damage from dropping it etc

You might be able to do the same if you have family over there.

 

[Greg Masters]

What a great trip!

This photo I really like ....

.... miles and miles of really great highway - with nobody else on it!



Greg

 

[squid]

I did 3 months in the US riding around the West where all the good stuff is.

It was a last minute thing and with a bit more forethought and planning I would have loved to have done Alaska/Canada. As it was I only got to see Vancouver, Victoria and the San Jan Islands. Saw a lot of the US though

Shipping (especially by air) looked prohibitively expensive for someone who was unemployed at the time so I bought a bike Rob , a lovely 1110GS with loads of overland kit on it plus Ohlins. It was a great bike and smoother than my 1150. Lost about £1400 ( for a fast sale ) when I sold it but it did have BALD tyres and was in dreadful need of a service & some TLC.

Got bike home and my GS had no extra miles on it no worn out tyres, no service needed, no damage from dropping it etc

You might be able to do the same if you have family over there.

I was going to go over for 2-3 weeks this year (don't think I will be able now due to other family reasons) I looked at bike hire but it came out a rip off for even a basic bike in Toronto. I had hoped I could see the family and run straight over to the Rockies.

Then I contacted a bike shop about a second hand bike on their website. It looked like an old FJ1200 but in kinda gold wing mode. I thought that would do the job and I could sell it back to another dealer and not lose too much.

I was going ask a family member to check it out and if ok store at their house until I arrived.

They we're no help when I emailed my idea/requirements. I also looked at the Toronto ad pages which have lots of bikes.

You are right in this would be the way to go. Couldn't find much in the way of BM's for sale but privately I spotted a smart looking FJ1100 for a lot less than the price of hiring a GS500. I could have just given the bike to family after.

For a short trip I'd aim for this, a longer one I'd try and buy a 1100/1150 and take my panniers etc with me.

Cheers Rob

 

[tor12gs]

Hi Tor. What a trip! How many drivelines was it you broke?

Stopping really is a low point isn't it

But then you get to plan the next mission

Hi Luke . . .
The trans/spline shaft let go in Labrador (note - not the final drive). Fixed under warranty in Quebec. We spent 3-days on a freight boat to get there!!

The same thing happened this past summer while on a weekend trip in Ontario. Transmission spline went again. Fixed again under warranty. That's when I decided to trade it in and get the GS.

Cheers,