Transcanada 2016

Matias2016

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Montreal QC
(I hope Im not posting this 3 times, I try 2 other times with pictures but didn't work, I think.)

Finish my transcanada 2016.
Some short comments about the trip and the bike:
I did the trip west to east, from Montreal to Vancouver up to Jasper and down Montreal.
The places I staid where not choose by “beauty” but more convenience because the distances between them.
My first idea was to do about 700km average a day, but that change quickly when I got bored or entertained depend the stretch of highway I was doing.
So to west:
Montreal, Sturgeon Fall, Marathon, Kenora, Moose Jaw, Sparwood, Princeton, Vancouver.
To North/East:
Vancouver, Clearwater, Canmore, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Nipigon, Rouyn Noranda, Montreal.
I think the longest was around 900km and the shortest 290km, something like that.

I staid camping in all the places except Vancouver that I staid in a hotel downtown (thanks to airmails) took the day to visit places that I like and remember from my time living there.
Of all the camping that I staid only one I can recommend as really clean and enjoyable is call Painted Rock and is outside Saskatoon, around 60km from it.
It was really good, is a farm where they divide lots on the “backyard” and make you feel like camping in a friend house. All the installations where well taking care and neat.
Note: I staid from 6pm to 8am, I think during the day is too exposed and hot to stay, but for travellers is ideal.
The other places where ok to sleep and shower but that is it. (if anyone is interested on other places I can be more specific)

The road:
I was familiar with the first stretch almost until outside of Ontario, I really like those roads are waybe and hilly, the pine trees and lakes make a beautiful and entertaining drive.
After that was all new for me, the centre of Canada surprise me because everybody had told me that was boring but I found it really interesting, even thought was straight and long, the crops fields and farms on the way were picturesque plus the weather was perfect.
After that I approached BC that I find the most beautiful place on earth, like the slogan, so I really enjoined that stretch.
Of course the closer I got from Vancouver the rainier it got, but no problem because was expected and normal.
After that I rode up to Jasper, that was a little disappointing because a big part of my trip was to visit up there but when I arrived it was raining and stayed like that all day, so I could see only the bottom of the mountain and some road ahead. I speculated on camping some where in there and resume my trip the next day with better weather but it was forecast rain for pretty much the next 4 days, so no point on staying I just move forward.
After that I left the Rockies and enter the prairies again, kind of similar like before but now I drove in the middle instead of the side, still was lovely, only problem was wind, almost the entire time I was “holding for my life”:)
Many other things happened and I saw, but I guess this kind of cover the basic trip.
Total distance drove was 10,800km, rainy days total (some mornings some afternoons) 5 days.
I left July 5 and was back July 18.

The bike:
The bike was new to me, as you know ST 2015 with 7500km.
It was strange at the beginning because I was used to a smaller bike, but after some hours everything fall in place and I enjoyed the ride everyday.

The good and no so good:
Good
Riding position to me felt perfect, no to high no to low, screen in top position was perfect to deflect wind, the handlebar was ok could have been a little higher but just for perfection.
Seat was comfortable, and the tank shielded my legs from wind and water plus make me fell “protected” such a big beast.
Engine perfect, no noise no vibration, powerful and fast, passing trucks and trailers was really easy, and before you knew it you where well over the speed limit.
Suspension and luggage load was ideal, in any moment I notice a difference or even remember the pannier and all the crap was there.
Brakes are excellent, many time I saw a resting area just seconds before passing it, so I slam the brakes to enter and the bike react really forgiving to my stupidity, it stopped and compress the suspension to allow me to have control all the time (same thing that with my old bike I was all over trying to control the stop) the front/back share brake are great.
Love cruise control and information display, Is great to have average consumption and range available.
The 6th gear and eco drive is great, pretty much all throughout Manitoba/Saskatchewan I drove in same gear and eco setting for hours, at the point where I thought the gas gauge was broken because It staid full (all the bars) for more that the usual time before loosing the first long bar.
I was used to mountain drive gearing up and down, stopping and going, so the first bar disappear quickly.
Size and presence on the road is great, I know maybe sound stupid, but having such a big,tall imposing bike give you a sense of security wen passing big long trucks at 110 plus km, they see you coming and respect your space.
Reliable, never I mean never had even a doubt that I will arrived home riding, every morning I turn it on, put gas and 11hours plus later turn it off go to sleep and do it all over again with not even a miss fire.
Construction, everything has a place on this bike, every wire has a hook, every important part has a cover, every corner is reinforce, just beautiful and perfect.

My bike in particular has the 2 fog lights plus heated grip, and is the only ugly looking part, the square control for the grips place on the handlebar like you need them to be change every minute (put them on or off that is it) and the light with that cheap switch plus a stupid installation that doesn't turn off with the bike, so you must remember if you turn them on before the battery is drain.

The bad or no so good.
The display is really nice and give you plenty of info but also reflect the sun like a mirror, so if the sun is in your back it goes straight to your eyes, It may sound not important but is a mayor risk because is not always easy to cover with your head, and you have to almost close your eyes for long stretches if you ride straight with the sun behind you (like the prairies).

Mounting bar plus screen, it looks nice but it shakes like crazy, I almost lost my phone and could not see the GPS, unless the highway was smooth perfect. So I could not attached anything on it, I put all my things on the handlebar centre, and it work to my advantage because was closer to my hand and didn't shake.

The panniers.
They are the only bad quality part of the bike, the attachment is weak and those latch that you pull and push will be broken quick if you use them often. The anodizing of the aluminum that cover the boxes is of really low quality the corner are already bubbly and the colour is not even the same goes from bluish to black and back. (Because of my work I have seen that in low end manufacturing, really cheap crap).
The locks are horrible, they get stuck then you turn them to far and the box attachment open and then you turn back and get stuck again. Is like that day at Yamaha was “bring your sun at work day and let him design something”, luckily is something that you can just change, but I think is not the point.

Gear indicator,
is great to know which gear you are when driving, but normally you kind of know,
But is a different story when you are on a stop light with plenty of cars behind you and you can't remember which gear you stop on (the indicator shows you a dash, not number) of course you start downshifting wile waiting but not always work, specially if you are on high gear 5 or 6. (this can be solved just by paying more attention but after hours riding is not always the case)

Ok and now the normal complain!
Is heavy as fu......, I always read how 260kg bike is not a good thing because of this and that, however when I drove it I never notice any problem, that was until I stooped and my leg did not reach the floor (there was a hole) the bike lean maybe 10 degrees and it was impossible to bring back, it just fall, up to there I was surprise and a little ashamed but no problem I though, just pick it up?!, not that easy, I try 3 different ways until I put my back to it and push kind of back and up.
From that day on I grew a little afraid of making a U turn, or stopping suddenly without checking the ground, it was Ok for a couple of days until I fall again luckily in a parking lot with many peoples watching, that day had been a long one so I was really tired, I try lifting it but with a full tank of gas cI could not do it, also It didn't help that when I push with my back the bike slide instead of rising, because the pavement had no grip.
So long story short peoples came to help me and many told me “you should not load the bike that much” (of course that is not the problem the heavy part is the bike itself).
Conclusion I really pay attention now when, how, and where I stopped, something that for and “off road capable machined” should not be a concern.
In any case It doesn't change the fact that I love the bike.

Up to here is what I remember, there are probably some other good and bad but mainly this is it.

Overall a really enjoyable time, there are some thing that I will like to change, going alone is not always the best way, is nice that you decide what and how to ride, to where and for how long, but at the end of the day is nice to discussed and chat with someone plus taking pictures, videos, eating etc is easier by two.
Also next time I will try to improve my budget and staying more nights in hotels, is entertaining to camp but when you drive in rain all day, having to arrived put the tent up and entering all under rain is not fun, plus next morning start all over under rain again is tiresome.

I hope you find this resume useful, I have much info to share but as you can see I'm not good at writing and English is not my language, but after asking so many questions I wanted to share some of my trip.

It was a great experience and make me understand and appreciate many things, (remember you have hours with your thoughts inside the helmet).
Now I will start thinking on a trip south, probably home one day, but It has to be the day that I move definitively back, because I will ride down south but wont come back up. I'm not Nick Sanders.
Ps I will post some pictures.
 

Checkswrecks

Ungenear to broked stuff
Staff member
Global Moderator
2011 Site Supporter
Joined
Mar 7, 2011
Messages
11,489
Location
Damascus, MD
Nice write-up. The things you didn't like we've heard many times before. If you do some searches you'll find a number of ideas for mods that you may like.

For picking up the bike, it sounds like you originally could have been this guy with his mighty weighty KLR. LOL
www.youtube.com/watch?v=5kbbWfpLz08

or these guys muscling it the hard way
www.youtube.com/watch?v=DkqQz0OzzKg

Instead, put your back to the bike and use your thighs to walk it up like this.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=c6HTs9x3xBE

or this little 57 kg woman lifting a BMW GSA which weighs more than the Tenere
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sT4FmCSx0lw

And to prove that if it's stripped of top-heavy luggage it can be lifted directly there's always the Ol Git Ray video
www.youtube.com/watch?v=kdxYlQ02CmQ

and the Aussie one:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=vzRmCVpf3Hw

If you want to post photos, the instructions are here:
http://www.yamahasupertenere.com/index.php?topic=19249.0
 

Matias2016

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Montreal QC
Thanks for the videos
I will try the Aussi way, It looks the easiest and doesn't make me look that powerless doing it. :)
 

juniorscott81

New Member
Joined
Jun 20, 2016
Messages
24
Location
Knoxville, TN
Good report. Thanks for sharing. Sounds like a pretty great trip.

I'm currently in the market for some cases. I wanted the Yamaha cases because i think they look the best... BUT I keep hearing the same issues on them. Sounds like maybe I should steer clear. Second choice is the Givi Trekker Outbacks. Thanks for the insight.
 

Matias2016

New Member
Joined
Jun 27, 2016
Messages
9
Location
Montreal QC
I agree 100% with you juniorscott, the Yamaha Pannier are the best looking ones.

By chance in my bike I have 2 Yamaha panniers and one GIVI top box, the difference in finish, locking mechanism to attach to the bike and latch to close it is huge, givi seems to have spend the time making them right.
Another small problem for me with the panniers Yamaha is that they open up, so I'm used to strap my tend, sleeping mat, dry bag with camping stuff, etc over the back sit, is a set up that I like, because of that I have to be always aware on how I pack, because after I put all that, the panniers wont open unless I remove everything from the back sit. (this is a problem In my case only, but an observation to keep in mind)
Last thing for me is that using the same key for everything makes me worry, I'm not the most careful some times and It will be really frustrating if I get stranded some where because I broke the key trying to remove a t-shirt from inside the panniers.
For my trip I was scared of braking the keys so I screw/epoxy one of those magnetic boxes inside the back fender and put a key on it, It gave me ease of mind knowing that I have it.(is almost impossible to see, black in black and cover sideways by the panniers)

These is my view on them, but try to check them out for real some where so you have a personal impression.
 

Davidr8

Member
Joined
Jul 18, 2017
Messages
40
Location
Vancouver Island, BC Canada
Matias2016 said:
(I hope Im not posting this 3 times, I try 2 other times with pictures but didn't work, I think.)

Finish my transcanada 2016.
Some short comments about the trip and the bike:
I did the trip west to east, from Montreal to Vancouver up to Jasper and down Montreal.
The places I staid where not choose by “beauty” but more convenience because the distances between them.
My first idea was to do about 700km average a day, but that change quickly when I got bored or entertained depend the stretch of highway I was doing.
So to west:
Montreal, Sturgeon Fall, Marathon, Kenora, Moose Jaw, Sparwood, Princeton, Vancouver.
To North/East:
Vancouver, Clearwater, Canmore, Saskatoon, Winnipeg, Nipigon, Rouyn Noranda, Montreal.
I think the longest was around 900km and the shortest 290km, something like that.

I staid camping in all the places except Vancouver that I staid in a hotel downtown (thanks to airmails) took the day to visit places that I like and remember from my time living there.
Of all the camping that I staid only one I can recommend as really clean and enjoyable is call Painted Rock and is outside Saskatoon, around 60km from it.
It was really good, is a farm where they divide lots on the “backyard” and make you feel like camping in a friend house. All the installations where well taking care and neat.
Note: I staid from 6pm to 8am, I think during the day is too exposed and hot to stay, but for travellers is ideal.
The other places where ok to sleep and shower but that is it. (if anyone is interested on other places I can be more specific)

The road:
I was familiar with the first stretch almost until outside of Ontario, I really like those roads are waybe and hilly, the pine trees and lakes make a beautiful and entertaining drive.
After that was all new for me, the centre of Canada surprise me because everybody had told me that was boring but I found it really interesting, even thought was straight and long, the crops fields and farms on the way were picturesque plus the weather was perfect.
After that I approached BC that I find the most beautiful place on earth, like the slogan, so I really enjoined that stretch.
Of course the closer I got from Vancouver the rainier it got, but no problem because was expected and normal.
After that I rode up to Jasper, that was a little disappointing because a big part of my trip was to visit up there but when I arrived it was raining and stayed like that all day, so I could see only the bottom of the mountain and some road ahead. I speculated on camping some where in there and resume my trip the next day with better weather but it was forecast rain for pretty much the next 4 days, so no point on staying I just move forward.
After that I left the Rockies and enter the prairies again, kind of similar like before but now I drove in the middle instead of the side, still was lovely, only problem was wind, almost the entire time I was “holding for my life”:)
Many other things happened and I saw, but I guess this kind of cover the basic trip.
Total distance drove was 10,800km, rainy days total (some mornings some afternoons) 5 days.
I left July 5 and was back July 18.

The bike:
The bike was new to me, as you know ST 2015 with 7500km.
It was strange at the beginning because I was used to a smaller bike, but after some hours everything fall in place and I enjoyed the ride everyday.

The good and no so good:
Good
Riding position to me felt perfect, no to high no to low, screen in top position was perfect to deflect wind, the handlebar was ok could have been a little higher but just for perfection.
Seat was comfortable, and the tank shielded my legs from wind and water plus make me fell “protected” such a big beast.
Engine perfect, no noise no vibration, powerful and fast, passing trucks and trailers was really easy, and before you knew it you where well over the speed limit.
Suspension and luggage load was ideal, in any moment I notice a difference or even remember the pannier and all the crap was there.
Brakes are excellent, many time I saw a resting area just seconds before passing it, so I slam the brakes to enter and the bike react really forgiving to my stupidity, it stopped and compress the suspension to allow me to have control all the time (same thing that with my old bike I was all over trying to control the stop) the front/back share brake are great.
Love cruise control and information display, Is great to have average consumption and range available.
The 6th gear and eco drive is great, pretty much all throughout Manitoba/Saskatchewan I drove in same gear and eco setting for hours, at the point where I thought the gas gauge was broken because It staid full (all the bars) for more that the usual time before loosing the first long bar.
I was used to mountain drive gearing up and down, stopping and going, so the first bar disappear quickly.
Size and presence on the road is great, I know maybe sound stupid, but having such a big,tall imposing bike give you a sense of security wen passing big long trucks at 110 plus km, they see you coming and respect your space.
Reliable, never I mean never had even a doubt that I will arrived home riding, every morning I turn it on, put gas and 11hours plus later turn it off go to sleep and do it all over again with not even a miss fire.
Construction, everything has a place on this bike, every wire has a hook, every important part has a cover, every corner is reinforce, just beautiful and perfect.

My bike in particular has the 2 fog lights plus heated grip, and is the only ugly looking part, the square control for the grips place on the handlebar like you need them to be change every minute (put them on or off that is it) and the light with that cheap switch plus a stupid installation that doesn't turn off with the bike, so you must remember if you turn them on before the battery is drain.

The bad or no so good.
The display is really nice and give you plenty of info but also reflect the sun like a mirror, so if the sun is in your back it goes straight to your eyes, It may sound not important but is a mayor risk because is not always easy to cover with your head, and you have to almost close your eyes for long stretches if you ride straight with the sun behind you (like the prairies).

Mounting bar plus screen, it looks nice but it shakes like crazy, I almost lost my phone and could not see the GPS, unless the highway was smooth perfect. So I could not attached anything on it, I put all my things on the handlebar centre, and it work to my advantage because was closer to my hand and didn't shake.

The panniers.
They are the only bad quality part of the bike, the attachment is weak and those latch that you pull and push will be broken quick if you use them often. The anodizing of the aluminum that cover the boxes is of really low quality the corner are already bubbly and the colour is not even the same goes from bluish to black and back. (Because of my work I have seen that in low end manufacturing, really cheap crap).
The locks are horrible, they get stuck then you turn them to far and the box attachment open and then you turn back and get stuck again. Is like that day at Yamaha was “bring your sun at work day and let him design something”, luckily is something that you can just change, but I think is not the point.

Gear indicator,
is great to know which gear you are when driving, but normally you kind of know,
But is a different story when you are on a stop light with plenty of cars behind you and you can't remember which gear you stop on (the indicator shows you a dash, not number) of course you start downshifting wile waiting but not always work, specially if you are on high gear 5 or 6. (this can be solved just by paying more attention but after hours riding is not always the case)

Ok and now the normal complain!
Is heavy as fu......, I always read how 260kg bike is not a good thing because of this and that, however when I drove it I never notice any problem, that was until I stooped and my leg did not reach the floor (there was a hole) the bike lean maybe 10 degrees and it was impossible to bring back, it just fall, up to there I was surprise and a little ashamed but no problem I though, just pick it up?!, not that easy, I try 3 different ways until I put my back to it and push kind of back and up.
From that day on I grew a little afraid of making a U turn, or stopping suddenly without checking the ground, it was Ok for a couple of days until I fall again luckily in a parking lot with many peoples watching, that day had been a long one so I was really tired, I try lifting it but with a full tank of gas cI could not do it, also It didn't help that when I push with my back the bike slide instead of rising, because the pavement had no grip.
So long story short peoples came to help me and many told me “you should not load the bike that much” (of course that is not the problem the heavy part is the bike itself).
Conclusion I really pay attention now when, how, and where I stopped, something that for and “off road capable machined” should not be a concern.
In any case It doesn't change the fact that I love the bike.

Up to here is what I remember, there are probably some other good and bad but mainly this is it.

Overall a really enjoyable time, there are some thing that I will like to change, going alone is not always the best way, is nice that you decide what and how to ride, to where and for how long, but at the end of the day is nice to discussed and chat with someone plus taking pictures, videos, eating etc is easier by two.
Also next time I will try to improve my budget and staying more nights in hotels, is entertaining to camp but when you drive in rain all day, having to arrived put the tent up and entering all under rain is not fun, plus next morning start all over under rain again is tiresome.

I hope you find this resume useful, I have much info to share but as you can see I'm not good at writing and English is not my language, but after asking so many questions I wanted to share some of my trip.

It was a great experience and make me understand and appreciate many things, (remember you have hours with your thoughts inside the helmet).
Now I will start thinking on a trip south, probably home one day, but It has to be the day that I move definitively back, because I will ride down south but wont come back up. I'm not Nick Sanders.
Ps I will post some pictures.
Thank you for a great ride report.
Salut!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Cycledude

Well-Known Member
Joined
Jan 29, 2016
Messages
3,998
Location
Rib lake wi
Excellent ride report !
Other than the crazy lock system I’m pretty well satisfied with the Yamaha luggage.
 
Top