Launch points for distant rides? | GTAMotorcycle.com

Launch points for distant rides?

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mimico_polak

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With the Volt hitched up, and the trailer all nice and working I was wondering what people do when their rides are far off (let's say 2-3hrs away) and you don't want to take the 401 to the area.

Where do you typically stop, launch the bikes, and then return to them? Walmart parking lots? abandoned lots? I assume Walmart would be the best spot, but hotels / motels may allow you for a small fee as I'm sure they'd prefer you to spend the night in order to accommodate free parking.
 
mimico_polak said:
With the Volt hitched up, and the trailer all nice and working I was wondering what people do when their rides are far off (let's say 2-3hrs away) and you don't want to take the 401 to the area.

Where do you typically stop, launch the bikes, and then return to them? Walmart parking lots? abandoned lots? I assume Walmart would be the best spot, but hotels / motels may allow you for a small fee as I'm sure they'd prefer you to spend the night in order to accommodate free parking.
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You're trailering 2 - 3 hours to get to a better riding area? Ride there instead.

By the time you hitch up, load up the bikes, unload, reload and then unload, unhitch at home you've wasted 1 - 2 hours. I think you're wasting your time doing this unless you going to trailer a minimum of 1,000 - 1,500 km to get somewhere far away in a day or day and a half.
 
For me personally, multiplying a day trip from 1 personal vehicle to 3 would make it more stressful, not less
 
bitzz said:
Did you buy a Harley?
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No...no I did not. But it's at the back of my mind every season...one of those things every time I see a sweet Sportster.

If I could justify it...I'd buy a Sportster, keep the X, and then get it out of my system.

Unless anyone is renting out their Sportster?
 
To somewhat answer your question, some people do trailer, many go to the Appalachians but that is more than 2-3 hours
 
I've trailered our sportbikes to Deals Gap and parked the trailer at the hotel, they don't mind if you're staying there. If you're not booked there, chances are they'll ticket/tow you.

Many Walmart lots allows overnight parking, but anywhere else might get you ticketed/towed if you leave the trailer well after business hours or overnight.
 
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If you are only there for a few hours, just any spot that has space and isn't sketchy. If you want to be more safe/secure, maybe a paid lot with limited access (hospitals are actually a good idea but pricey).
I did this last year but it was 4-day trip out east. Parked it at a self-storage for the few days we rode around. Paid but not worrying about coming back to a missing trailer or broken into truck was worth the money.
 
We trailer the bike down to Vermont most years.
It's around four and a half hours by car, and about six or seven by bike (Different routes obviously).
We park at the resort. Keep in mind that the trailer will fit into the trunk of the Odyssey, if that's necessary, but it usually isn't.
Then we ride two up or drive for several day trips. Load up the trailer and return home.

Like Lightcycle said, it's where you can and can't park for long periods that count.
You might get by at a place like a boat launch, or the rest stops on the number 7 (which weren't open last time I was by).
Entrance lot at a dirt bike trail would be another possibility.

I've left a pair of cars at different spots in Algonquin for weeks while we were canoeing, and they didn't mind.

You can come park in front of my house and nobody should bother you. It would be different in Toronto as some people like to complain.


Edit: If I'm going for a course, I'll either tow the bike or ride down a day early and stay close to the site. There's nothing like riding for hours all the way there, exhausting yourself learning something new, and then having to ride a long ways home in the dark.
 
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danp said:
You could move out of Toronto... For me (innisfil) the good roads are only an hour away instead of 3. I'd move even further if I didn't need to work in the GTA.
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Same for us. But for now we have a lot of family and friends within a 10min drive of us.

Maybe once my parents are no longer around we'd consider a move further away. But for now, it's a good spot.
 
mimico_polak said:
No...no I did not. But it's at the back of my mind every season...one of those things every time I see a sweet Sportster.

If I could justify it...I'd buy a Sportster, keep the X, and then get it out of my system.

Unless anyone is renting out their Sportster?
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Is your wife starting to ride?
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