Versys & V-Strom Ride The Irish Loop

DRZ400SK4 · 10-29-2007, 08:57 AM

The last time I met Dave, he was just a teenager, and was introduced to me as "Denise's little brother". 20 years later we both have grey hair, and are just now getting around to taking a motorcycle ride together.

Dave recently bought himself a new Kawasaki Versys.

Hard to believe it, considering it's the end of October in Newfoundland, but the sun was shining, and the temperature climbed up to a very pleasant 15 degrees Celsius (60 F).

I met Dave at the Salmonier Line overpass at 11:00 AM, and we headed south to ride the Irish Loop. We took a little detour down to the fishing community of Admiral's Beach along the way, too.

Total distance door to door for me today, was 390 kms.

Thanks for joining me on the run today, Dave. It's always more enjoyable with another biker along for the ride.

Here's a half dozen photos from out trip around The Irish Loop...

Dave on his Versys...

Strom with fall colours as a backdrop...

Trepassey harbour light front door...Rumoured to be a time-machine...

...

The 'V' and the 'V' on the beach on Powles Peninsula...

The Dave-o-nator, with his game-face on...

And here's a map of our route, as plotted from Dave's GPS track...

Gaston Gagne · 10-29-2007, 09:45 AM

Are Suzuki and Kawasaki paying you guys? I'm torn between the two and you didn't help. Not at all. Very nice work.

disconnected · 10-29-2007, 09:49 AM

Great pictures!!!!!! Im glad to see the new Verseys out... I love your strom too, kick ass color and cool screen..

greg

DRZ400SK4 · 10-29-2007, 10:18 AM

Thanks guys...

I could probably be just as happy with either bike, to be honest. The Versys will carve a little more like a sportbike in the tight stuff, but the Strom is less twitchy at higher speeds, and is more friendly off-pavement. But that's about it. They both look odd, are both very versatile bikes, with very tractable engines, and they give you about the same level of performance and fuel-economy. The Strom has a tad more range.

Dave has a few minor complaints about the Versys... He says the highbeam is useless, the screen isn't great, the low exhaust spews crap and moisture on the rear brake disc, and you can't buy by a Metzeler Tourance to fit the rims. All pretty trivial stuff, however.

Powershouse · 10-29-2007, 10:54 AM

Looks like a fun ride through some pretty country. Why do they call this the Irish Loop? I was expecting a ride report from the other side of the pond!

DRZ400SK4 · 10-29-2007, 11:08 AM

Quote:

Why do they call this the Irish Loop?

They call it the Irish Loop, because it's an area of the Island of Newfoundland which was almost exclusively settled by Irish immigrants. Names like Murphy, Ryan, Power, etc are very common along that shore.

There are parts of the area where you would swear you are in Ireland, right down to the rocky coastline, sheep in the green and hilly pastures, and the accents of the locals, and even the traditional fiddle, tin whistle, and accordion folk music of the region.

Here's a little more history of the area, if you are interested...

http://www.irish-loop.com/

Powershouse · 10-29-2007, 11:43 AM

I'll have to follow up on that! My grandfather was a Power from Newfoundland - the s got tacked on the end of the name by an Army Sargeant and Pop decided it was easier to go with it than fight it.

GB · 10-29-2007, 11:53 AM

Nice pics.. should we move this to Beasts or keep it here.. is it a ride report or a bike comparo?!!

MichaelJ · 10-29-2007, 12:22 PM

Nice ride - need to add it to my list of things to do when I go north to visit Dildo (to add to my set).

DRZ400SK4 · 10-30-2007, 04:13 AM

Quote:

Nice pics.. should we move this to Beasts or keep it here.. is it a ride report or a bike comparo?!!

Probably better left here, since the Irish Loop is one of Newfoundland's most-loved motorcycle routes.

Quote:

I'll have to follow up on that! My grandfather was a Power from Newfoundland

Do you know which community in Newfoundland your Grandfather was from?

The 'Town of Placentia' area has a very high population of Power families, originally from Ireland.

DRZ400SK4 · 10-30-2007, 04:16 AM

Quote:

Nice ride - need to add it to my list of things to do when I go north to visit Dildo (to add to my set).

A funny and little known thing, about the community of 'Dildo'...

The neighboring community is called 'Spread Eagle'!

I shit thee not!

Goat-Boy · 01-12-2008, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DRZ400SK4

A funny and little known thing, about the community of 'Dildo'...

The neighboring community is called 'Spread Eagle'!

I shit thee not!

You forgot to mention that Dildo is populated almost entirely by....

... wait for it... seamen...

Bazzam · 06-09-2008, 02:36 AM

Great photos, maps and humour in this end of the post. Go the v-strom! Cheers.

10-29-2007, 08:57 AM	#1
DRZ400SK4 ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Newfoundland Oddometer: 2,034	Versys & V-Strom Ride The Irish Loop The last time I met Dave, he was just a teenager, and was introduced to me as "Denise's little brother". 20 years later we both have grey hair, and are just now getting around to taking a motorcycle ride together. Dave recently bought himself a new Kawasaki Versys. Hard to believe it, considering it's the end of October in Newfoundland, but the sun was shining, and the temperature climbed up to a very pleasant 15 degrees Celsius (60 F). I met Dave at the Salmonier Line overpass at 11:00 AM, and we headed south to ride the Irish Loop. We took a little detour down to the fishing community of Admiral's Beach along the way, too. Total distance door to door for me today, was 390 kms. Thanks for joining me on the run today, Dave. It's always more enjoyable with another biker along for the ride. Here's a half dozen photos from out trip around The Irish Loop... Dave on his Versys... Strom with fall colours as a backdrop... Trepassey harbour light front door...Rumoured to be a time-machine... ... The 'V' and the 'V' on the beach on Powles Peninsula... The Dave-o-nator, with his game-face on... And here's a map of our route, as plotted from Dave's GPS track... __________________ 2008 Yamaha FZ1 / 2009 Kawasaki KLX450R / 2012 Triumph Scrambler My Photos In Google Earth DRZ400SK4 screwed with this post 02-12-2008 at 07:30 AM

10-29-2007, 09:45 AM	#2
Gaston Gagne Past Easy Joined: Jan 2006 Location: Western Piedmont, NC Oddometer: 1,572	Are Suzuki and Kawasaki paying you guys? I'm torn between the two and you didn't help. Not at all. Very nice work. __________________ Cela est comment nous roulons.

10-29-2007, 09:49 AM	#3
disconnected ultra runner Joined: Feb 2006 Location: Pittsburgh Oddometer: 5,857	Great pictures!!!!!! Im glad to see the new Verseys out... I love your strom too, kick ass color and cool screen.. greg __________________ .

10-29-2007, 10:18 AM	#4
DRZ400SK4 ^OP Beastly Adventurer Joined: May 2005 Location: Newfoundland Oddometer: 2,034	Thanks guys... I could probably be just as happy with either bike, to be honest. The Versys will carve a little more like a sportbike in the tight stuff, but the Strom is less twitchy at higher speeds, and is more friendly off-pavement. But that's about it. They both look odd, are both very versatile bikes, with very tractable engines, and they give you about the same level of performance and fuel-economy. The Strom has a tad more range. Dave has a few minor complaints about the Versys... He says the highbeam is useless, the screen isn't great, the low exhaust spews crap and moisture on the rear brake disc, and you can't buy by a Metzeler Tourance to fit the rims. All pretty trivial stuff, however. __________________ 2008 Yamaha FZ1 / 2009 Kawasaki KLX450R / 2012 Triumph Scrambler My Photos In Google Earth

10-29-2007, 10:54 AM	#5
Powershouse Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Minn-knee-sooo-taaa Oddometer: 1,893	Irish Loop? Looks like a fun ride through some pretty country. Why do they call this the Irish Loop? I was expecting a ride report from the other side of the pond!

10-29-2007, 11:43 AM	#7
Powershouse Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Minn-knee-sooo-taaa Oddometer: 1,893	I'll have to follow up on that! My grandfather was a Power from Newfoundland - the s got tacked on the end of the name by an Army Sargeant and Pop decided it was easier to go with it than fight it.

10-29-2007, 11:53 AM	#8
GB Mod Squad Joined: Aug 2002 Location: Toronto, ON Oddometer: 53,466	Nice pics.. should we move this to Beasts or keep it here.. is it a ride report or a bike comparo?!! __________________ ADV decals, patches & flag? Here

10-29-2007, 12:22 PM	#9
MichaelJ Beastly Adventurer Joined: Jul 2003 Location: Sterling, Virginia, USA Oddometer: 1,580	Nice ride - need to add it to my list of things to do when I go north to visit Dildo (to add to my set). __________________ Michael J. IBA #3901 Alpine Trip Reports: 2006, 2007, 2009 Pictures, pictures and more pictures

06-09-2008, 02:36 AM	#13
Bazzam Vstroming around Joined: Jul 2006 Location: Southern S.I. New Zealand Oddometer: 37	Thanks Great photos, maps and humour in this end of the post. Go the v-strom! Cheers. __________________ Does the Vstrom pine when I leave it in the garage alone all day?

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