Suzuki DR650
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Last Updated: August 10, 2022
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March 17, 2022
Since selling the Suzuki TU250X and the Kawasaki Super Sherpa over the past couple months, I have now added the big brother to the DR200 to my stables, the venerable Suzuki DR650! Many adventures await!
Since selling the Suzuki TU250X and the Kawasaki Super Sherpa over the past couple months, I have now added the big brother to the DR200 to my stables, the venerable Suzuki DR650! Many adventures await!
May 28, 2022
A great first ride off road in the hills above Nanaimo, and testing out new Tusk Highlander X2 rackless bags.
A great first ride off road in the hills above Nanaimo, and testing out new Tusk Highlander X2 rackless bags.
July 16, 2022
Planned for an over nighter from Nanaimo, through Nanaimo Lakes to Lake Cowichan, on to Bamfield and back. Unfortunately Mosaic didn't open the gates this weekend at Nanaimo Lakes so we had to take the highway to Lake Cowichan which was disappointing as it's a great ride over the hills and down Nitinat main.
We got a bit of rain just as we were leaving the town of Lake Cowichan and heading up the lake, and encountered a few other spots of on and off rain through the day but it wasn't too bad.
Once we reached Bamfield and were able to check the weather forecast we decided overnight rain and thunderstorms was enough reason to cut the trip short and head for home. It was still a great 8 hours of motorcycling!
Planned for an over nighter from Nanaimo, through Nanaimo Lakes to Lake Cowichan, on to Bamfield and back. Unfortunately Mosaic didn't open the gates this weekend at Nanaimo Lakes so we had to take the highway to Lake Cowichan which was disappointing as it's a great ride over the hills and down Nitinat main.
We got a bit of rain just as we were leaving the town of Lake Cowichan and heading up the lake, and encountered a few other spots of on and off rain through the day but it wasn't too bad.
Once we reached Bamfield and were able to check the weather forecast we decided overnight rain and thunderstorms was enough reason to cut the trip short and head for home. It was still a great 8 hours of motorcycling!
August 6 to 10, 2022
This trip is a do over of last September's VI 1000 trip on the Kawasaki Super Sherpa that ended in a rain out on day 3! The weather forecast was looking good, sunny through to Wednesday with potential for rain on our final day, which should work out for us as we were expecting to be on our way home by Wednesday.
The total trip was 1411 Kms.
This trip is a do over of last September's VI 1000 trip on the Kawasaki Super Sherpa that ended in a rain out on day 3! The weather forecast was looking good, sunny through to Wednesday with potential for rain on our final day, which should work out for us as we were expecting to be on our way home by Wednesday.
The total trip was 1411 Kms.
Day 1 - 234 Kms
We hit the road Saturday morning and planned to make our way through the Campbell Lakes area but unfortunately hit several closed gates that were open last fall. So after a bunch of time wasted and back tracking we finally made our way around the lakes.
We hit the road Saturday morning and planned to make our way through the Campbell Lakes area but unfortunately hit several closed gates that were open last fall. So after a bunch of time wasted and back tracking we finally made our way around the lakes.
Late in the afternoon, planning to head up to Sayward, I got a flat front tire. Luckily there were some suitable rocks that I was able to use to prop up the bike to get the front tire off the ground and about an hour later the tube was changed. It was now around supper time, we were hot and ready for a swim, so we decided to back track a bit and stayed at the Brewster Lake Rec site. The site was fantastic with a great sandy beach, clean toilets and a wonderful breeze that kept the bugs down.
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Day 2 - 270 Kms
Leaving Brewster Lake, we headed up towards Sayward and had a great ride and finished off the day on a highway stretch to Port McNeill for a late lunch at a local pub, checked out a few Rec sites, and ended up at Marble River Rec site on the way to Port Alice. The mosquitoes were relentless, but there was a very nice bend in the river where we could swim and wash up.
Leaving Brewster Lake, we headed up towards Sayward and had a great ride and finished off the day on a highway stretch to Port McNeill for a late lunch at a local pub, checked out a few Rec sites, and ended up at Marble River Rec site on the way to Port Alice. The mosquitoes were relentless, but there was a very nice bend in the river where we could swim and wash up.
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Day 3 - 266 Kms
We left the campsite bright and early and headed to Port Hardy to top up with fuel, only to be thwarted by a massive power outage that impacted the entire north island, everything from Sayward north was without power. With no gas stations in town running on generators we were unable to fill up and continue on to Holberg, so we hunkered down at the Chevron prepared to wait it out. About an hour and a half later we got word that a Coop Card Lock back towards the airport, off the highway and out off the main road, was running on a generator and was temporarily taking all customers. With vague directions, we went hunting for this mythical gas station. Another rider we met at the Chevron came along with us, very concerned as he had been running on reserve for quite some time, but we made it almost directly without any trouble.
After filling up, we were able to continue with our day! The trip from Port Hardy to Holberg was my least favorite road to travel. It was deep gravel, very busy and extremely dusty...I wouldn't do it again by choice. Holberg was a neat little waypoint where people stop on their way up to Cape Scott for some wild hiking adventures. You can get gas from the local general store, sold out of jerry cans to motorcyclists by a South African fellow who runs the store. We had a great chat, be sure to stop in and say hello.
Holberg to Coal Harbour was a terrific ride. The road was mostly hard pack, had a great flow and there was no traffic. In Coal Harbour we filled with gas at the warf (you need to transfer to fuel containers as you can't get your bike directly down to the pumps) and checked out the interesting museum. The museum is in an old air hanger and isn't easily recognized as there aren't any signs on the building, but it's the biggest building on the water front, you can't miss it.
We left the campsite bright and early and headed to Port Hardy to top up with fuel, only to be thwarted by a massive power outage that impacted the entire north island, everything from Sayward north was without power. With no gas stations in town running on generators we were unable to fill up and continue on to Holberg, so we hunkered down at the Chevron prepared to wait it out. About an hour and a half later we got word that a Coop Card Lock back towards the airport, off the highway and out off the main road, was running on a generator and was temporarily taking all customers. With vague directions, we went hunting for this mythical gas station. Another rider we met at the Chevron came along with us, very concerned as he had been running on reserve for quite some time, but we made it almost directly without any trouble.
After filling up, we were able to continue with our day! The trip from Port Hardy to Holberg was my least favorite road to travel. It was deep gravel, very busy and extremely dusty...I wouldn't do it again by choice. Holberg was a neat little waypoint where people stop on their way up to Cape Scott for some wild hiking adventures. You can get gas from the local general store, sold out of jerry cans to motorcyclists by a South African fellow who runs the store. We had a great chat, be sure to stop in and say hello.
Holberg to Coal Harbour was a terrific ride. The road was mostly hard pack, had a great flow and there was no traffic. In Coal Harbour we filled with gas at the warf (you need to transfer to fuel containers as you can't get your bike directly down to the pumps) and checked out the interesting museum. The museum is in an old air hanger and isn't easily recognized as there aren't any signs on the building, but it's the biggest building on the water front, you can't miss it.
From Coal Harbour we continue on to Port Alice, passing our campsite from the night before. We stopped for gas and a very late lunch in Port Alice at the local grocery store and contemplated our next stop. We had started the day early, but had been delayed for some time at Port Hardy due to the power outage, and it was already after 4pm. Where should we stay tonight? We both felt pretty good and decided that we would make the trip out to Side Bay that day, instead of back tracking to find a campsite and going out the next day. It was expected to be about a 2 hour journey and would save us a lot of time the next day if we didn't have to make the trip out on day 4.
It was a great ride in, the road was well maintained and provided awesome hill climbs and fantastic views. We got to Side Bay just before 7pm and picked our spot on the beach.
It was a great ride in, the road was well maintained and provided awesome hill climbs and fantastic views. We got to Side Bay just before 7pm and picked our spot on the beach.
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Oh No!! As I was unpacking, I realized I didn't have my cell phone, which also had my credit card and drivers license in the card holder slots! I just knew I had left it in the Port Alice grocery store parking lot while were were eating. Ugh! It was way too late to ride back into town to see if it was still there or if anybody had turned it in. I was resigned to waiting until the morning on our return trip to see if I was ever going to see it again.
One last hope, I contacted home through my Garmin Montana 700i satellite communicator, and messaged my wife who was able to contact the store to see if anybody found my phone or would be able to check the parking lot. About a half hour later I received great news, they had found it! It would be waiting for me in the grocery store office.
One last hope, I contacted home through my Garmin Montana 700i satellite communicator, and messaged my wife who was able to contact the store to see if anybody found my phone or would be able to check the parking lot. About a half hour later I received great news, they had found it! It would be waiting for me in the grocery store office.
Day 4 - 328 Kms
We were up and leaving the beach bright and early, and the ride out was just as fantastic as the ride in. We made Port Alice by 9:30 am and my cell phone along with credit card and drivers license was there as promised.
We made the trip from Port Alice, past AtLuck Lake, to the Woss Zabellos Rd junction in good time. This stretch is a great ride with no traffic, but the ride from the junction to Zabellos is another busy, dusty gravel road. It was in good shape but was not much fun to ride. We got into Zabellos, and after tracking down the attendant for the fuel pump by knocking on the door of a house around the corner and a street away, we rode out to Fair Harbour.
We were up and leaving the beach bright and early, and the ride out was just as fantastic as the ride in. We made Port Alice by 9:30 am and my cell phone along with credit card and drivers license was there as promised.
We made the trip from Port Alice, past AtLuck Lake, to the Woss Zabellos Rd junction in good time. This stretch is a great ride with no traffic, but the ride from the junction to Zabellos is another busy, dusty gravel road. It was in good shape but was not much fun to ride. We got into Zabellos, and after tracking down the attendant for the fuel pump by knocking on the door of a house around the corner and a street away, we rode out to Fair Harbour.
The ride to Fair Harbour was another great ride, out and back. We didn't encounter any traffic, but I think that was entirely luck. The place was just packed with fishermen! There were trucks and boat trailers parked in every available spot in and around the little general store. After a quick lunch we headed back out, bypassed Zabellos, and continued on our way to stay the night at Woss Lake Rec site.
We filled up at the Woss gas station and grabbed a burger at the little restaurant next door, who I don't think were expecting to serve any customers! and made our way to the Woss Lake Rec camp site. The mosquitoes were out in force again!
Day 5 - 314 Kms
At the Woss Lake Rec site, we actually had cell reception, the only place during the trip where we had any overnight, so we were able to check weather updates. As expected our last day, Wednesday, was forecasting rain...and even worse, had upgraded to thunder and lightning storms starting anytime that morning!
At the Woss Lake Rec site, we actually had cell reception, the only place during the trip where we had any overnight, so we were able to check weather updates. As expected our last day, Wednesday, was forecasting rain...and even worse, had upgraded to thunder and lightning storms starting anytime that morning!
We were determined to beat out any storms, so were up and on the road bright and early. We made great time and just 10 minutes outside Gold River, the first sprinkles of rain started to fall, and 5 minutes later the first strike of lighting! We boogied into town, and just as we were parking under cover at the gas station the heavens unloaded, a down pour of rain and an incredibly rapid succession of lightning strikes and thunder exploded around us!
We waited out the worst of it, put on our rain gear (well, just over coats really!) and headed back towards Campbell River and home. We were racing the storm on an off the whole way home but managed to stay ahead of any heavy rain.
1411 Kms later I was happy to be home, have a shower and sleep once more in my bed! The trip was a great success!
We waited out the worst of it, put on our rain gear (well, just over coats really!) and headed back towards Campbell River and home. We were racing the storm on an off the whole way home but managed to stay ahead of any heavy rain.
1411 Kms later I was happy to be home, have a shower and sleep once more in my bed! The trip was a great success!