Smib Trans Lab 2011

[FJR_ski]

I'm planning a similar trip in 2011, don't know what month, maybe in August or September. Looking at the attached map can someone advice how are the road conditions, and are most roads paved or gravel. I own a FJR and it's not the best bike for gravel/dirt. But, she was great from Chicago to Alaska this year.

Thanks,

[scott P]

Originally Posted by zcooney

This sure sounds like a fun trip! My only issue would be riding my xr650l for an extended amount of time up 95. I'm wondering if I could trailer up to NY state and meet up with ya'll there.

I would like to ride my Tiger up to the gravel and then switch to my KLR

[6USMC6]

I thought you were going to tow the Tiger with the Connie?

[willys]

FJR.....why are you bypassing the Cabot trail??? Yes I too have done it in the cage but when there on a bike why pass it up? That is unless you've done it already.....

[FJR_ski]

Willys,

Can you tell me more about Cabot trail? Where is it located? Can you send me a map or a link? Also, is the road paved, dirt, gravel?

Thanks,

Update - Found it.
http://www.novascotia.com/en/home/ge...l/default.aspx


I'm assuming it would be RT19?

[willys]

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...7,3.532104&z=8

It's all paved and well worth the ride.

I hope this works

OK...this is Day 10 of our trip, it starts at North Sydney NS and goes up and around the Cabot Trail and then continues along the coast to Port Hastings and further.....

[FJR_ski]

I love it. Great trail. I'm going to add this to my route.

Anything else I should add?


Thanks again.

[willys]

This is our entire trip.....hope it helps.....I wanted to see and do as much as possible in the time we have. Plus I wanted to hug the coast as much as possible too. We have possibly 5 guys in our group..we all know we can get along together which makes it safe so to speak.....lol I don't want to get the group any bigger as it gets too difficult to govern so to speak.
Again hope this helps you....

http://maps.google.com/maps/ms?ie=UT...11b6ce0948&z=5

You can skip over Montreal if you zoom into our trip you will see how and also on the way back just clipping underneath too.

[blaster11]

At the North end of the Cabot trail down a well groomed dirt road you will find Meat Cove, it's worth a stop.

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by FJR_ski

I'm planning a similar trip in 2011, don't know what month, maybe in August or September. Looking at the attached map can someone advice how are the road conditions, and are most roads paved or gravel. I own a FJR and it's not the best bike for gravel/dirt. But, she was great from Chicago to Alaska this year.

You'll be riding gravel from Manic 5 (at the bottom of that circular lake north of Baie-Comeau) to Red Bay (on the southern Labrador coast) with only a few fairly short paved sections along the way. Figure on about 700 miles of dirt/gravel.

I would strongly advise you not to take the FJR on the Trans-Labrador Highway. The conditions are highly variable, but will definitely involve long stretches of loose gravel with few or no tracks in it.

Two guys did the ride last summer on sport-touring bikes, but they had a hard time and a number of crashes, and both bikes incurred damage from flying gravel and whatnot.

So unless you're extremely comfortable with the bike shimmying around beneath you and don't mind trashing your FJR, I'd recommend either picking up a used KLR or V-Strom to do the trip on, or skipping the Trans-Lab until you have a bike that's better suited to the conditions.

--mark

[FJR_ski]

Mark,

Thanks for all the info. FJR is a great bike and it was a good bike for my trip to Alaska. I only ran into some gravel parts on the Alaska Highway. Regards to my trip out East, I will omit taking Trans-Labrador Highway.

Last question, what are some of the must see things and must visit roads out east?

Thanks.

[blaster11]

Since we have around 1400 hits on this thread I thought it was time to start asking questions of all of you. The plan is do this about every 30 days just as a pulse check for the trip, so please provide the following information. PM's are acceptable

1.) Name (screen name fine)
2.) Steed of choice for trip
3.) Tires you plan to use (really just curious)
4.) Do you have any helmet communications gear (FRS, SCALA, etc.)
5.) Preferred lodging (camping, hotels, don't care, or would like some combination of camping/lodging)
6.) Maximum length of trip you can do (14 days, 21 days, or unlimited time)
7.) Preferred dates for trip (15 September - 02 August as an example)

Hopefully this will help us pair people up when we start comparing information. I will probably compile all this and then either make one new post or if I can I will post right at the beginning for easy reading. Your support of the thread is greatly appreciated, thanks!

[markbvt]

Originally Posted by FJR_ski

Mark,

Thanks for all the info. FJR is a great bike and it was a good bike for my trip to Alaska. I only ran into some gravel parts on the Alaska Highway. Regards to my trip out East, I will omit taking Trans-Labrador Highway.

Last question, what are some of the must see things and must visit roads out east?

Thanks.

My advice would be to take Rt 138 along the northern shore of the St Lawrence from Quebec City to Baie Comeau, then take the ferry from Baie Comeau to Matane and ride around the Gaspé peninsula hugging the coastline. Another option would be to stop once you get to the town of Gaspé (the southern part of the peninsula is not as good for riding -- you basically just pass through a lot of small towns) and take Rt 198 and 132 west to Sainte-Anne-des-Monts and then take Rt 299 south through the interior of the peninsula -- really beautiful road.

Then you could cross into New Brunswick and head down to Cape Breton, ride the Cabot Trail, and if you desire, take the ferry from Sydney to Newfoundland.

Blaster, I'll keep you guys in mind. I've ridden the Trans-Lab the past two years and I was going to do something else next fall, but if I can't find any riding partners maybe I'll join up with you guys. For the record, I'd be riding a Tiger 800 XC with TKC-80s, do not have any helmet communication, prefer to camp, and could do two weeks.

--mark

[FJR_ski]

Mark,

Thanks for the info. I took your information and put it into Street and Trips.

Thanks again.

Ohh, I forgot to ask. I need two great hiking trails/places, any suggestions?

[Dorito]

Originally Posted by FJR_ski

I need two great hiking trails/places, any suggestions?

Gros Morne, NLFD. It is a UNESCO forest.