Anyone interested in a James Bay Highway tour to Radisson/James Bay week of August 5?
- Thread starter Motorcycle Mike
- Start date
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
It's all coming together.
The dam tour is booked.
Now 3 hotel rooms are booked: Matagami, Radisson, and Matagami.
If anyone else is interested, you are welcome to join; there are just a few things you need to do:
1) Ensure your bike is mechanically capable of a 3600km trip in a remote area and that you are physically up for the challenge.
2) Ensure your bike has the capability to go 380km without refueling and/or a means to bring extra fuel.
3) Book hotel rooms in Matagami and Radisson. The hotel in Radisson said they are selling out fast and only Aug. 6 still had rooms available.
The dam tour is booked.
Now 3 hotel rooms are booked: Matagami, Radisson, and Matagami.
If anyone else is interested, you are welcome to join; there are just a few things you need to do:
1) Ensure your bike is mechanically capable of a 3600km trip in a remote area and that you are physically up for the challenge.
2) Ensure your bike has the capability to go 380km without refueling and/or a means to bring extra fuel.
3) Book hotel rooms in Matagami and Radisson. The hotel in Radisson said they are selling out fast and only Aug. 6 still had rooms available.
stevie t
Well-known member
Hopefully it rains before we leave, currently the stretch between matagami and Radisson is closed due to forest fires.
http://www.sdbj.gouv.qc.ca/en/territoire_baie_james/conditions_routieres/
http://www.sdbj.gouv.qc.ca/en/territoire_baie_james/conditions_routieres/
Yeah the stretches of burn are incredible there.
That first day is a killer so get out early and take some breaks......it's just a no win situation as it's either 900+ to Matagami or 900 + from Rouyn to Radisson.
I considered splitting the 900 up on the way home and staying somewhere in the middle but by the time you hit North Bay.....hey you can boogie.
I ended up taking a longish break in Belfountain and then the last 50 km home I felt like riding again......900k + is a push and twice in 4 days even more so.
Since you can really fly on the JBR if you are willing to put up with the frost heaves....I'd almost think Toronto Matagami then Radisson on the way up and Radisson Rouyn-Noranda on the way home.
The last day is a civilized 600k then
Just make sure your gear is double secured on the JBR as it's incredibly rough in spots.
The other aspect is don't get suckered on just the one long stretch between stations.
Because of the speeds we misjudged the fuel to get to Matagami and I drifted in very low with an empty spare fuel can....how dumb is that.
Your bikes will eat a lot of fuel at the speeds you can travel up there. I'd fill up the spares in North Bay.
That first day is a killer so get out early and take some breaks......it's just a no win situation as it's either 900+ to Matagami or 900 + from Rouyn to Radisson.
I considered splitting the 900 up on the way home and staying somewhere in the middle but by the time you hit North Bay.....hey you can boogie.
I ended up taking a longish break in Belfountain and then the last 50 km home I felt like riding again......900k + is a push and twice in 4 days even more so.
Since you can really fly on the JBR if you are willing to put up with the frost heaves....I'd almost think Toronto Matagami then Radisson on the way up and Radisson Rouyn-Noranda on the way home.
The last day is a civilized 600k then
Just make sure your gear is double secured on the JBR as it's incredibly rough in spots.
The other aspect is don't get suckered on just the one long stretch between stations.
Because of the speeds we misjudged the fuel to get to Matagami and I drifted in very low with an empty spare fuel can....how dumb is that.
Your bikes will eat a lot of fuel at the speeds you can travel up there. I'd fill up the spares in North Bay.
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Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
We ended up booking the 3rd night in Matagami because we have the dam tour booked on Wednesday morning... so we may not even get out of Radisson until noon, meaning Matagami is as far as we can hope to make it that day -- possibly Amos, but we decided to play it safe with Matagami.
I also don't know about the others, but two of us this morning decided that we are going to split off at Amos and take the Trans-Canada route 117 to 105 and come back into Ontario around Renfrew and will be staying at a cabin not far from there.
adv_round, Rocketguy, are you guys still thinking about joining? Anyone else considering it?
I also don't know about the others, but two of us this morning decided that we are going to split off at Amos and take the Trans-Canada route 117 to 105 and come back into Ontario around Renfrew and will be staying at a cabin not far from there.
adv_round, Rocketguy, are you guys still thinking about joining? Anyone else considering it?
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stevie t
Well-known member
Everything I've read talks about the frost heaves......what can you tell us about that?
From the way things are going, probably not.
It would be helpful if you can post all decisions on the first post so it is easy to follow. Its hard to read the whole thread to know the final verdict.
But take lots of pics, I'm sure I'll be curious what I missed
It get old real fast. I bottomed the Burgman a couple of times at 140 plus.
You can usually see them by the rubber streaks on either side from the bogey wheels on the trucks hitting.
came across this
That's hail.....!!!!
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?23123-Canadian-Odyssey-James-Bay-Road
from the same report....
Now you guys are going later in the season ( he left in July ) so be prepared for very cold weather.....and you have to be self sufficient to deal with it......there just are no facilities.
Make sure you let the rangers at the beginning of the road know your schedule.
Jay on the left and the Burgman ready to roll on the long stretch.
the station is right as you jump off for the long stretch with no fuel as you can see on the sign.
We went in June with long daylight and the weather was perfect.
August might be different so just keep it in mind.
You can usually see them by the rubber streaks on either side from the bogey wheels on the trucks hitting.
came across this
That's hail.....!!!!
http://www.bmwmoa.org/forum/showthread.php?23123-Canadian-Odyssey-James-Bay-Road
from the same report....
Now you guys are going later in the season ( he left in July ) so be prepared for very cold weather.....and you have to be self sufficient to deal with it......there just are no facilities.
Make sure you let the rangers at the beginning of the road know your schedule.
Jay on the left and the Burgman ready to roll on the long stretch.
the station is right as you jump off for the long stretch with no fuel as you can see on the sign.
We went in June with long daylight and the weather was perfect.
August might be different so just keep it in mind.
Motorcycle Mike
Well-known member
With all due respect MacDoc, although the longest day of the year in Radisson is indeed in June, the hottest day of the year is not far from when we will be there: https://weatherspark.com/averages/28251/Radisson-Quebec-Canada
which means more erratic weather.....Tstorms up there are wild as you see from the blog and it's extremes that are the nasty part - not averages.
Temperature gradients are what drive storms....
Mind you once you get up a while the influence off the Bay will tend to damp convective storms.
It's pretty nasty up there now with Tstorms on the way and very severe fires....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...e-east-main-hydro-youtube-maxime-duperre.html
Would be good if the moist air moved north to help with those fires.
Lucky you are not going this week.
Temperature gradients are what drive storms....
Mind you once you get up a while the influence off the Bay will tend to damp convective storms.
It's pretty nasty up there now with Tstorms on the way and very severe fires....
http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/montr...e-east-main-hydro-youtube-maxime-duperre.html
Would be good if the moist air moved north to help with those fires.
Lucky you are not going this week.
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Well the obvious answer is the middle of winter only because of the shorter day but that's not what determines the aurora.
This does
You can keep track here and get an email about it
http://spaceweather.com
Flares and CMEs can happen anytime and it takes a big one to trigger a southern view. Clear air and a flat horizon ( the trees are short up there ) helps but you gotta stay up way late to get it dark enough....not a great idea with long rides.
This does
You can keep track here and get an email about it
http://spaceweather.com
Flares and CMEs can happen anytime and it takes a big one to trigger a southern view. Clear air and a flat horizon ( the trees are short up there ) helps but you gotta stay up way late to get it dark enough....not a great idea with long rides.
slowbird
Well-known member
Well the obvious answer is the middle of winter only because of the shorter day but that's not what determines the aurora.
This does
You can keep track here and get an email about it
http://spaceweather.com
Flares and CMEs can happen anytime and it takes a big one to trigger a southern view. Clear air and a flat horizon ( the trees are short up there ) helps but you gotta stay up way late to get it dark enough....not a great idea with long rides.
Neat! thanks.
They're not huge rim denters or anything scary just numerous to the point of annoyance. Thump thumpity thump thump all the way for 600km.
Our 200km gravel road detour out to East Main & back was a nice break from that. 80-100kph on the gravel without the thumping.
Yeah - depends on your speed and how heavily loaded the bike is but annoying??.......you bet - the long sweeps etc would be fun at speed if not for that. However it does keep your fuel use down.
A dual sport fares pretty well on them - tending to float over with the long suspension travel....results may vary
A dual sport fares pretty well on them - tending to float over with the long suspension travel....results may vary
stevie t
Well-known member
Yeah - depends on your speed and how heavily loaded the bike is but annoying??.......you bet - the long sweeps etc would be fun at speed if not for that. However it does keep your fuel use down.
A dual sport fares pretty well on them - tending to float over with the long suspension travel....results may vary
no doubt, trying to decide between the klr and darth zxad.....
stevie t
Well-known member
Ya, I know, even putting Jesse's on it today...some less than knobby tires and I'm good to go.
It's just that the call of the darkside is strong....it is......
