The Cottage Run |
The bike has new oil and filter and is half blue, so I'm in good mechanical shape and looking like a fine arts project. The partially stripped black paint looks like it got pulled off by going too fast.
I'm not worried about it mechanically, it's super solid, the weakest link on this trip is the n00b rider. As long as I can remember that and pace myself, it'll be a great step forward in riding.
The most exciting bit should be the logging road at the end of the trip. It drives like a rally stage, but I'm going to be riding it with a light touch. The Ninja isn't built for this kind of work, so it'll be a gentle last leg on the best roads. I'll save the rally driving for the ATVs once we're at the
The Cottage Road |
The map doesn't do the cottage road justice. It's been straightened out, graded and widened in recent years, it used to be even madder. The road weaves around stone outcroppings in the Canadian Shield and includes a lot of elevation drops you don't see on the map. The tight corners come up on you suddenly because you can't see over the hill you're on to what's next.
It's roads like this that make me wish I had something more dual purpose.
The Triumph Tiger 800xc would snort and stomp down that road. The new KTM Supermoto would make that cottage road a tail wagging good time, though that's a much bigger bike. I think I'd prefer the Triumph. It's lithe, and agile where the KTM is a monster.
In the meantime, I'm going to gingerly nurse the Ninja to the cottage after a beautiful Saturday afternoon ride across rural Southern Ontario. Pictures to follow.