Hi from Ontario, Canada
 

hey guys!

Just found this site and really think its fantastic.:thumbup1::thumbup1::clap:
I currently ride a sportbike. 2007 Honda CBR600RR but looking to grab a D-S Adventure bike instead. I have been into touring since I was a kid, but always seemed to get sport bikes. Now at 38, I am set on adventure travel. Problem is What Bike.. hehe So its a tough choice as Id like to be able to do some dirt too. But thats a different thread.


Just wanted to say hello to all. This site is a god send. So much info I was trying to dig up is right here in one spot :thumbup1::clap:

Little bout myself.

GARY

Married, 37 with a 17 year old son.

Fire Fighter Full TIme and Muay Thai instructor and school owner Part Time

Former Canadian Army Special Service Forces.

New to Adventure travelling on bike, but have been places on multi-method transport before. Most of the time Thailand and Europe a little.

next Trip hopefully 2 wheel Coast to Coast on CBR

Once I get a D-S Adventure, Id like to do Alaska to Argentina. As well as North West Territories and the Yukon / Alaska.

Dream: Paris-Dakar Rally

This is my school
Windsor Muay Thai | Central Combat Sports in Windsor Ontario Canada Training MMA Mixed Martial Arts Muay Thai Kickboxing CAMTAO Gary Dunne Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Submission Grappling Fight Team Videos Wrestling Boxing

Pic of bike and myself ( day I got the bike)... sorry its so large!:scooter:
http://i174.photobucket.com/albums/w...70/011_10A.jpg

Well, be safe and see yas if you travel through the Detroit Mich USA area to Canada, as I live right on the border. Anyone doing it, gimme a shout if you need info about Ontario, Canada.

Welcome
 

Welcome Gary;

If your looking for great travel information or want to get realy confused about what would be the best rtw bike you have come to the perfect place.

Good people and more opinions than you can shake a stick at.

Rick

:rofl:
yeah, bike choice has had me stumped a long time now!
Gary

You could do all those trips on your CBR I reckon, I'm gonna try and do some similar stuff very soon around your neck of the woods on my 03 CBR1000. Probably has about the same power and comfort as yours, mine being the older model CBR.

Have you seen Nick Sanders - homepage he travels all over the world on his R1 and he's heading off again soon. Mind you he is a bit crazy and goes so fast that he never really sees anything.

Guess if you want a proper adventure bike you should probably get one though. Loads of people to help you on that front here.

I'll look you up when I'm in Canada.

Sounds good PJ.
Yeah, Ill do some of the tours on the CBR till I can get get a D-S Adv. But I find the CBR is hurtin my hand and wrist. Now it could be that I havent riden in 8 years, but... Never had an issue with the Katana. I thought maybe rider position. Maybe Im not doing somehting right, dunno. But in a few minutes my right hand in the heel of the hand (meaty part below thumb) kills. Yeah, in minutes. Now Ive driven 3 hours striaght like that, but it wasnt that enjoyable. I might try to correct rider position, Maybe try new gloves, and maybe adjust the levers positions to nagle downward a little more and straighten the wrists. I know several D-S's were up the Dempster and once turning into the dirt roads, were forced to turn around due to t he slippery mud and fishtailing on the back end. They had a Adv style tire though, not nobbies. But I couldnt see travvelling that far on blacktop on nobbies.
When do you plan to come up this way?

I know this might sound a bit silly but a friend of mine had kind of the same problem until he dropped his right brake lever down a touch. Whatever angle it was at before was pushing his hand a little high then when he was on the throttle it hurt like hell after a few miles. Not saying this is what your problem is but just a suggestion. It can get very wrist heavy on them as you now.

To be honest if your not into the sportsbike travel thing then it will probably always be a nightmare to travel on them, I imagine most of the guys here would never do it. Complicated engines, lack of comfort and lack of luggage space being just a few of the problems with them. I love my bike though and can't see myself using anything else.

Probably going to be in Canada around June or July later this year if your about and fancy sharing some local knowledge with me.

Sounds goos, and I do love my bike. I wanted to ride down to the Laguna Seca Moto GP in Cali this year, and then to Mexico. Also wanted to roll up to Alaska and such. If the Pain was go ne, Id be far more inclined to hold onto the bike, as I will lose alot selling a 2007 right now. I usually use a backpack, and travel light. I saw a set of soft saddlebags designed for sports bikes in the road runner travel mag that looked good and got a good review. Would be an option.

I have some time off in June/July let me know when you have some dates and I will see how it fits in with the family timings.

Yeah I used the soft bags on my last trip and they were great, make sure to tape up your tailpiece though cause they do damage the paint pretty badly with all the rubbing. Traveling light on a Sportsbike really is the only way.

I'll be looking to land into Alaska around early June and ride south to Mexico, after that not sure where to go. Hope to finally end up back north in Montreal though as I have friends there and they will give me a place to stay while I try to organise the shipping back to Ireland. If you are into any of that it could be cool. As always with me though none of this is set in stone.

Very nice. I might be able to ride with ya some areas. Montreal is about 11-15 hours frmo here, forget exactly.

You are from Ireland eh! Cool, AS you may have noticed with the name, I have an Irish background. Family is from the Co. Laois area, and I think Clonsalee was the family castle etc. Britta House. for the Dunne Family.

I want to travel Ireland so badly. :thumbup1:

If you find your way this way, you could crash here a day or 2 if you like. We dont have a spare room, however, we have a very nice couch! I also have family in the area, that may be willing to help out, and friends abotu 3 hours north of here that may as well. Cant really speak for them, but its possible.

I speak a bit of french as well. Used to be almost binligual, then stopped speaking it for almost 20 years and lost alot.

I think y ou should look into 1 of our rides here. Well, its in the USA, but its only a days ride frmo here. Tail of the Dragon. Im sure you heard of it. 318 turns in 11 miles. I would be happy to help you plan anything in areas that I know.

my email is gdunne@hotmail.com

Slainte
Gary
Braithre thar gach ni!

Thanks.
 

That's great stuff, appreciate it all. I saw you have a myspace link there so I sent you a friend request. Of course if you ever do end up in Ireland I'll make sure you get the same hospitality. As I said I'll keep you posted on any movements and good luck with whatever bike choosing you do. If you do change machines there will be more than enough advice here to confuse you into a good purchase.

Very cool bro!

I accepted and posted a comment with some videos for ya!
gary

Hi Gary
 

Hello from the Isle of Wight, south coast UK.

Glad your getting into adventure biking…I’ve just come from 100+ hp road bikes, and if you’d told me this time last year I’d be having this much fun on a sub 50hp bike, I’d of laughed in your face. Having sooo much fun…… I’m planning my big 6-month ride, leaving in a couple years when I’ve saved 7k.

Like you say, great site for the planning

Shaun

For sure! Currently Im still on the CBR 600RR, and might have to remain there for the year, as the bikes only 6 months old and Im losing too much cash on resale. So, I may simply use the CBR for tripping on blacktop, and just go along like that. Then next year trade in for something. I am so confused on what to get still. I have ping pong'd all over the place on what to buy. Cant seem to get it figured out. Taking Cost, Maintenance, availabilty abroad, dependability, mileage etc etc...

I like to drive, and Im serious. I move moved away from my job 5 hours 1 way. I cvommuted 2-3 times a week to work. So, my 2002 VW Jetta (Bora) had 300,000 on it in about 3 years :-)

I think Ill be alot like this on th e bike. Im the sorta guy that would rather drive or ride someplace then fly.

The adventure part of trippin is what I like. :thumbup1: New people, new places, and challenges etc!!!:clap:

From what I can figure, the Kawasaki KLR 650 is popular on your side of the pond.

KLR650.NET - Your Kawasaki KLR650 Resource! - Forums Home

I almost got one, then, changed back to Yamaha because I’ve had years of good reliability with every Yamaha I’ve had.. I went for the TT600RE in the end, and I’m so happy with it.

It’s not the most powerful bike in the world but, its simple and reliable, which is what you want in the middle of Mongolia I guess.

shaun

I agree hehe

I am no where close to a mechanically inclined person, so I am looking for dependable, and good range, with a decent ride. Oh, and a sun roof too. :taz: