"Forever Yonge" Anyone ever driven/rode the entire length of Yonge st? | GTAMotorcycle.com

"Forever Yonge" Anyone ever driven/rode the entire length of Yonge st?

2

2500Express

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Read a car and driver magazine article a long while back, and they got a Mercedes Benz G-class suv and drove up the entire length of Yonge st, from queens quay all the way to rainy river. It's been in the back of my mind for years, and now want to check that off my list. I know that it isn't technically the longest street anymore due to the street breaking up/turning into a highway and whatnot, but I still think it's pretty neat.

Anyways, does anyone have any feedback on the route or if there are any obstacles for a streetbike to complete this trek? I'd like to stay on the street as faithfully as possible, so no shortcuts :p. Thanks guys.
 
I've started in the Thornhill area and gone all the way downtown via Yonge St. Although it isn't quite the same it was fun for sure.

Starting downtown at around 22:00 or 23:00 and going north would probably be best, you'd get to see all the "interesting people" while heading away from all of the traffic as time wears on. However once you hit moose country it is probably best to bed down for the night and then continue during the day.

I've roughed out a path on the map that sticks to Yonge St./Hwy. 11 pretty faithfully with the exception of taking a couple of detours around Holland Landing and Barrie where there isn't much choice. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Yo...ia=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17&z=6
 
sundancekid said:
I've started in the Thornhill area and gone all the way downtown via Yonge St. Although it isn't quite the same it was fun for sure.

Starting downtown at around 22:00 or 23:00 and going north would probably be best, you'd get to see all the "interesting people" while heading away from all of the traffic as time wears on. However once you hit moose country it is probably best to bed down for the night and then continue during the day.

I've roughed out a path on the map that sticks to Yonge St./Hwy. 11 pretty faithfully with the exception of taking a couple of detours around Holland Landing and Barrie where there isn't much choice. http://maps.google.ca/maps?saddr=Yo...ia=1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,13,14,15,16,17&z=6
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Thanks for the route, do you think that there'd be any gravel roads as part of it? I assumed that there wouldn't be, can anyone that drove that far up and seen anything chime in?
 
Ive done the whole stretch in a truck. Boring *** drive, plenty of **** little towns with nothing really interesting. The road is comparable to a road in a third world country, pot holes so big you'll disappear and never be heard from again if on your bike. If you manage to survive that part, a moose, or a bear will take your *** out. If you got a horseshoe up your *** and are still left alive after all that the local OPP will take your bike away when the speed limit constantly decreases from 90 - 40 on a regular basis with little warning...
 
Dohhh said:
Ive done the whole stretch in a truck. Boring *** drive, plenty of **** little towns with nothing really interesting. The road is comparable to a road in a third world country, pot holes so big you'll disappear and never be heard from again if on your bike. If you manage to survive that part, a moose, or a bear will take your *** out. If you got a horseshoe up your *** and are still left alive after all that the local OPP will take your bike away when the speed limit constantly decreases from 90 - 40 on a regular basis with little warning...
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Lol
 
tried it ....many years ago......too many lights to start off..............
then very boring the father you go.....i couldn't stay awake
a ride down to the dragon is far better......
 
I have done it more than once. Drove from Toronto to Thunder Bay (was transferred there for a while), and then onward to Dryden (short 3 month stay) and eventually further points west. It was always done in a car though, never a bike.

FYI the drive between Thunder Bay and Rainy River is gorgeous but beware of moose. They come out of nowhere and can mangle a small car and walk away with only scratches while you may be dead.
 
Dohhh said:
Ive done the whole stretch in a truck. Boring *** drive, plenty of **** little towns with nothing really interesting. The road is comparable to a road in a third world country, pot holes so big you'll disappear and never be heard from again if on your bike. If you manage to survive that part, a moose, or a bear will take your *** out...
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I have driven to and from Thunder Bay. Its true to some extent that the further up north you go the more "boring" the driving gets. You do get tired of only seeing road, trees, roadkill and rocks. However there are some scenic sections which are at the top of some hilly sections. As far as the moose or bear are concerned, if you drive in the daytime as I previously suggested the risk is arguably lower. I didn't have any trouble with the varying speed limits, much of the Trans-Canada Highway is 90, managed to keep my license even though I was at a young age.

2500Express said:
Thanks for the route, do you think that there'd be any gravel roads as part of it? I assumed that there wouldn't be, can anyone that drove that far up and seen anything chime in?
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I don't recall any dirt or gravel sections en route to T-Bay, or any massive potholes for that matter. Although I went up in late Aug./early Sept. so there had been lots of opportunity for road repairs over the summer.

GSXMAER said:
tried it ....many years ago......too many lights to start off..............
then very boring the father you go.....i couldn't stay awake
a ride down to the dragon is far better......
Click to expand...

Wasn't that bad when I did the Thornhill to Queens Quay run a few weeks back but the time of day is key. If you go at 11:00 PM on a sunday night it is far different.
 
Dohhh said:
Ive done the whole stretch in a truck. Boring *** drive, plenty of **** little towns with nothing really interesting. The road is comparable to a road in a third world country, pot holes so big you'll disappear and never be heard from jagain if on your bike. If you manage to survive that part, a moose, or a bear will take your *** out. If you got a horseshoe up your *** and are still left alive after all that the local OPP will take your bike away when the speed limit constantly decreases from 90 - 40 on a regular basis with little warning...
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Sounds interesting. LOL
 
No thanks.
 
What are you considering to be Yonge St?
It ends in Newmarket then piggybacks in Bradford, then it stops in Barrie and turns into Hwy11.
I'm not sure Yonge ST. Deserves it's title of longest rd. in the world.
But besides that I've done a good stretch of it both in my truck and on the bike. Not really anything interesting to see, or do along the way. Lots of wildlife, logging trucks an toothless woman.
 
Yes I know it's not considered the longest street any more, it's in my OP. I'm still going to do it, never been up to Thunder bay area or that far north, might as well take "Yonge st". Northern Canada is not a third world country, I highly doubt anyone is risking life and limb doing this, tone down the drama please. Now dying of boredom may happen :lmao: but what the hell, I enjoy riding not only for twisties and epic scenery, but just for an excuse to get away from the busyness of Toronto. It's good to be disconnected and be bored for a bit to get some good thinking time and appreciated the less populated areas of Ontario. I like a good combination of those, I think it'd be great. Thanks for the input guys.
 
SkyRider said:
so how long is this "forever yonge" st OP plan on riding?
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The road is about 1900 km's, probably gonna take 8 days or so to do it, i'm flexible with time, if it takes longer then meh. BTW "Forever Yonge" came from this article, give it a read, it's pretty good, although it's missing the pictures from the print version which added to the hilarity.

Car and Driver
 
SkyRider said:
wtf thats nuts. how can a moose destroy a metal car and still be ok?
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600-800kg's with the weight centered about 5' off the ground can do some serious damage to a car. The problem with them is their height. In a car you hit their legs, and then the body flops on (read through) your windshield and your dead.

http://www.snopes.com/photos/accident/moose.asp

I've worked on trucks that have hit moose.. not a pretty sight. You know those big moose bumpers some trucks run? I've seen trucks that still lost the hood, rad, cac, fender, wheel end and one fuel tank ripped clean off. That's with the moose bumper.

Not something you want to actually run into, however they are magnificent creatures to see in the wild. Very impressive.

OP: I have done all of the named sections of Yonge St and most of Hwy 11. I understand the desire to do it from one end to the other and I say go for it. If your just looking to go to T-bay just take 17. It's a much nicer route. The 11 route to Tbay is the preferred truck route... simply because it's straighter, and more flat. It's more distance but generally takes less time for rigs since they can average better speed. So not the route if your looking for enjoyment on 2 wheels.
 
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