Motorcycles in Cottage Country with the ESR Gang
Minden, Ontario, Canada
Coming off a twisty road in Northern Ontario
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Nothing like spending a few days with friends riding our local, respectable roads in Northern Ontario. There's no snakes but between Deep Bay Road, the 507 a few other local roads, we do alright. Technical enough to keep you alert along the back roads and worth smiling about.
Last Saturday, our 3.5 hour ride would be the 'tour de twisties' making up the best roads in the area. It all started with our little California-style Deep Bay Road to Minden and ended with a 507 finalé at Flynns where the 507 country road meets the 36. I'll share the map below.
Alex and Nick and I getting ready to ride
Nick's KTM 950 SM is only slightly sexier than my Street Triple
Like always with a group more than 1 it can take a while to get out on the road.
As you can see, Alex & Nick waiting patiently for pics
Marina with Peaches looking filthy!
Ian showed up later to do a few runs down Deep Bay Road
We looped back to around to Haliburton, which is a small lake town, for an all-day breakfast at the Kosy Korner filled with eggs, baccey and fries with gravy (yum). Then on the road for more technical riding.
Downtown Haliburton, Ontario, is a quiet town but a good jumping off point for exploring the area
We stopped for gas at Flynns at the end of the 507
It's Time for Motorcycle Trials
We wrapped it all up at ESR HQ, aka the cottage, where more excitement was awaiting. Nick brought along his Ossa 250i Trials bike, a two-stroke, fuel-injected machine with huge tires and no seat. A Trials motorcycle is meant to be ridden standing up. It requires skill but fun can be had in small spaces. Obstacle courses can be made in your back yard. While at the same time, the sport has taken on wide popularity among super skilled motorcycle riders. Basically, Trials is a way to get your thrills on a serious motor, at low-speed. Yes, it's the kind of motorcycle you see riders jumping up rock faces on. Everyone tried it.
The Ossa 250 fuel injected two-stroke Trials bike
Motorcycle trials is a non-speed skills riding sport on specialized motorcycles
Ruan on the Ossa Trials bike
A trials bike takes a minute to learn to kick start. You must balance yourself on two wheels or get a stump. I'm told, "you get the hang of it eventually", and "it's a piece of cake", but Nick still had to start the Ossa for everyone, not just me.
Shy was the first on the Ossa
Compared to a dirt bike, a trials bike is extremely light and maneuverable; Alex was in love!
Apparently you can sit down on a trials bike but only if you want to look like a lazy bugger
No I don't need to sit down! Here I am actually riding a Trials bike, hello!
Great times. Next weekend it all dirt riding. Can't wait.
The ESR gang
The perfect parking lot: Ducati Hypermotard, Triumph Street Triple, KTM 950 SM and a Triumph Explorer 1200
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95 months ago
That looks like it was just a flat out good day. Simple as that. Man, there's good riding to found all over the place! P.S. How do I get one of those slick ESR T-shirts being flaunted in one of the pics? I'll take a medium and a large please! ; )
95 months ago
Such a great weekend! Can't wait to do it again 🙂
95 months ago
Looks like it was a blast! Glad to see such a great gang of riders behind this app! 😉
95 months ago
@jordan @paulr you need to come ride with us. Next weekend we're riding dirt. Open invitations.
95 months ago
I feel left out of the fun 😞
95 months ago
Looks like a great way to spend the weekend, only thing missing were my and @sierralimahotel's bikes. I'm dying to try a trials bike, looks amazing.
95 months ago
@pjcroxx Hehe. Well let's just say, I didn't see the guys much on th ride until I arrived at the catch up turn. Both the KTM and Explorer are just faster if you know how to ride'm. By the way, I've had the Street Triple for 6 years this summer and I'm just now starting to understand how to ride it.
@Paulr told me I was revving it too low--forever. He was so right. I'm rarely out of 4th gear in the twisties and it's made a huge difference in my riding.
95 months ago
That looks like a brilliant ride! And never insinuate that your Tripple is any less sexy than the KTM...
95 months ago
@Jordan @Sierralimahotel it's not the Kootenays but you'll find your way out of the forest here.
95 months ago
@teramuto here's what you missed.