Crossing Canada May-Aug

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:11 pm

Hey all,
I'm planning a cross-Canada road trip this summer (2-up, with my wife).
We'll start from Toronto and cover the eastern provinces (including Labrador), back to Toronto for a week, then out west to BC and Yukon. Total trip is ~ 75 days and 22k kms.

My '04 has 25k kms on the dial. I've had the 20k (12k mile) service, and while in storage this winter I've had all fluids changed, new rear brake pads, and a set of Pilot Roads installed. Anyone know how long the exhaust normally lasts? I'm working out a maintenance budget for this trip.

I'm confident the R will carry us well on this trip. I have the routes planned, packing list and gear.

I have read a couple posts about some long-distance trips with the R and they were all possitive, with respect to the choice of bike.

Has anyone taken an extended trip like this on their R? Just hoping to get a few tid-bits of info that I may not have considered.

And BTW...If anyone has similar travel plans through Canada this summer, let me know. Maybe we can hook-up for a few miles, or compare routes.

peterbulgar · Post by **peterbulgar** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:37 pm

I've taken two two-up trips of 4200 and 3000 miles respectively on my R. If you've done any two-up riding on your bike, you probably already have an aftermarket passenger seat - or a very tolerant wife. I'm planning a long trip this summer that will be at least partly in Canada: Banff to Jasper (coming up from Idaho) and then either northwest into British Columbia, or north to Grande Prairie and then southeast through Edmonton and follow the Yellowhead Highway east.

I've never heard of any problems with the BMW exhaust/CAT/muffler.
peter '73 R75/5, '04 R1150RA

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:47 pm

Hi Peter_B
I have the latter - a very tolerant wife (and a real light-weight). I was considering beadrider covers, or sheepskin.

We will be in Banff/Jasper as well. Looks like around end of July.
We'll be on the Yellowhead, heading west early July.

So the exhaust may just last - at least until I get back home. Thanks!

Post by **TicTac50** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 8:49 pm

Before I take a long trip like that I would take couple of short trips like 200-300 km to find out if your passenger is ok on the back seat.
I have a top GIVI case E52 with the pad for the backrest, there was not enough room for both of us after about 100 miles ride. So I installed a 1/2 inch plate on the top of the GIVI hardware and moved the GIVI case 5.5 inches back. I also got a day-long seat since the original seats were not up to the task. The trip from Miami to New York and back was just fine. 1150R is a good bike for a long trip if you have all the right equipment. I would recommend a rack to for the top GIVE case if you have a GIVI case. 22000km is Ok. All you need is one oil change on the trip like that, if you use synthetc oil

Good luck and have lots of fun.
P.S. We hope to see some pic from trip.

MIXR · Post by **MIXR** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 9:16 pm

Tic Tac is right about the pillion seat. There is little room left for the little lady with most topcase set-ups. They sit too far forward. I use half a sheep for long trips.

I'm heading off on a 15,000 km 23 day ride around Oz on 6 May this year. Average is 750 km a day with a few days up around the 1,000 km mark. The bike is ideally suited for such trips and the exhaust will last no problems. I have quizzed my service guys a few times about the trip, and they suggest a few fuses and a spare alternator belt as the only spares. Most other stuff is just too hard to be a roadside fix, and is unlikely to break anyway. I carry tools and emergency repair stuff like wire and zip-ties, plus a comprehensive first aid kit.

I'm leaving with a fresh service and new tyres. I will get an oil change at the 10,000 mark if I can (with a set of tyres), but will not get a service until I get home. I have been advised that it's fine to 'skip' a service, provided it's a minor and not a major (see your handbook). That should give you 20,000 kms no worries. Even the oil change is optional as the bike won't be sitting around.

If you want to PM me I'll send you a copy of my packing list. We are camping beside the bikes on a lot of nights, so need to take swags and sleeping bags but no cooking gear. The secret is to travel light and use easy to wash clothes under your bike gear, and carry very little in the way of non-riding gear. Just enough to get you into a cafe or restaurant after the day's riding.

I'm set up with my two side cases full of first aid, tool kit, emergency and bike stuff, plus spare bike gear like gloves, wets and jacket liner etc. Some camping gear is also there, like a sports towel and sleeping bag liner. These are always on the bike and always packed.

The top case is used for clothes and toiletries. Being solo, I carry a swag and hydration pack, but you will probably be without these. I also have another long skinny bag that straps accross the pillion seat with my sleeping bag, sport shoes and sandals for after hours off the bike. This could be replaced by another long waterproof bag across the topcase.

I also have extra tiedown points on all my cases. Very handy. Hope you enjoy your trip as much as I'm looking forward to mine.

neevee · Post by **neevee** » Wed Mar 08, 2006 10:50 pm

MIXR wrote:Tic Tac is right about the pillion seat. There is little room left for the little lady with most topcase set-ups. They sit too far forward. I use half a sheep for long trips.

I apologise in advance for this comment MIXR, but do you take the half sheep instead of the little lady? If so is it the front half or the back half?

possum · Post by **possum** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 12:11 am

I cant speak for the rest of the canadian provinces,but you will enjoy riding through the Alberta icefeild parkway.Beware of sudden weather changes in the rockies....Enjoy your trip.

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 8:49 am

Thanks folks.
I was thinking about a Givi set-up, but decided to do without it. I'll use the rear perch to strap on a small tail bag, and ROK strap our compact 2-man tent. The total weight is 5 kg (11 lbs). This leave a little more room for my wife (although she's almost 5' tall!).

MIXR, thanks for the alternator belt tip. Never even thought of that. I have spare bulbs and fuses.

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 9:47 am

I'll be riding Vancouver to St.John's & back, from mid-July to mid-August.

Hopefully we'll cross paths. Depending upon when you get to Vancouver, send me an e-mail, we can get together for a ride. Check out http://www.destinationhighways.com/default.htm if you will have a bit of time here in BC. It is a pretty accurate accounting of the best riding here; at least from my experience so far.

X-Cruiser · Post by **X-Cruiser** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 1:38 am

Tor1150r/Peter B. Let me know if you want to hook up while you're travelling through this part of Alberta. I may join you for a day trip, as I live an hour from Banff.

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 8:51 am

Robb,
Our route takes us from Calgary to Banff then to Jasper. After Jasper we're heading north to Grande Prairie before we hit BC. Just can't pinpoint the date yet. Our plan is to leave Toronto on July 3.

I'll post as we're travelling. A hook-up would be great.

--
Lorne

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:44 am

Here are some pix of my trip through BC, Alberta & Northern Washington last July:

http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome/sets/651617/

http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome/sets/592669/

http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome/sets/592662/

http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome/sets/564597/

Lastly, a great local motorcycle institution worth visiting when you get here:

http://flickr.com/photos/kromedome/sets/564612/

domekrome · Post by **domekrome** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 9:47 am

How are you navigating, maps or GPS?

Let me know, as I can provide you with some waypoints/coordinates for some of the best riding in BC. I can arrange them for you in a manner that would accomodate your progress in either direction.

tor1150r · Post by **tor1150r** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 5:01 pm

Thanks Jason,
Nice pics! And I wouldn't mind stopping by the Deeley Museum.
I'm using a Garmin GPS. Planning routes with Mapsource, with the assistance of paper maps (will use the maps as well. I've learned not ot rely 100% on GPS).

Cheers,

vinman · Post by **vinman** » Fri Mar 10, 2006 7:07 pm

I would suggest reading through this old thread: http://r1150r.org/board/viewtopic.php?t=3383&highlight=

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