I want to take a trip to BC | GTAMotorcycle.com

I want to take a trip to BC

black_CG2

black_CG2

Well-known member
So, I want to make a trip to BC, driving through Canada. Hoping that my best friend accompany me. He is also a rider and a member here.

We will take my Toyota Matrix and our motorcycles on a light trailer. Could you please suggest a decent itinerary? Our goal is to drive to Jasper, ride there and then drive to BC, ride at Whistler and then drive back to Ontario. We have camping gear and we will most likely spend nights at camping grounds or dark parking lots lol.

PS. If you are looking for a solid deal on a clean certified 2011 Fazer, let me know! Sorry to throw it out there. Safety is expiring, so hurry!!
 
Park the Matrix near the Van ferry docks, ride the bikes to Whistler, you have to come back that way anyway.
... Jasper is all fast roads, not the right destination to offload for a ride, take the bikes across the ferry instead of the car + trailer and it might even be cheaper, not sure, check that if you are going to the island it's not cheap.
 
Not really answering your question but I wouldn't trust a compact hatchback to pull two bikes, two guys, and all that gear so far - Especially once you get to the mountains. You're looking at 500-800lbs for an empty trailer alone on a car with a 1500lbs tow capacity.

Unlikely for the foreseeable future, but if you go south of the border into Minnesota, North Dakota, Montana, Washington you can skip the absolute monotonous hell of driving through the prairies.
 
Ya that poor car will be struggling north of lake superior. there's a couple of hills there.
don't think you can take a shortcut through the USA during a pandemic :unsure: yep we won't be doing that any more for a bit.

Tow one bike, ride one bike, take turns, it will be lots easier on the car.
 
I think the trouble will be with the "light trailer" to accommodate 2 bikes.

That's a lot to ask of the car, I know its a Toyota but its only a little Matrix.

Why not just ride the bikes all the way there and back.

The route is the same regardless if you are on a bike or in the car.

Is there a time frame you need to get this done in. If your not pressed for time than ride the bikes and take as many brakes/rests as you need.
 
Or drive to Canmore, park then ride. It's pretty flat most of the way, a little car and trailer should do it. Going thru the mountains with a trailer will tax your car -- altitude kills power and brakes will get a killer workout.

I did this route when I was 18, it was spectacular. About 24 hours of riding, 75 hours in the cage. Canmore to Canmore
 
Due to ongoing issues in the US, I'm going to ride out to BC in mid-September now. Visit my cousins in Calgary and Edmonton, then a friend north of Prince George, then my sis out in Vancouver and another cousin on the island. If time allows, it would be pretty sweet to ride up through Yukon and NWT on my way there.
As for an itinerary - ride, eat, sleep.

Something like: Mississauga to Port Hardy
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I drove a bunch of times to BC through Canada and twice to Utah. Driving out west is way better through Canada. Once you pass Sudbury up to Winnipeg the roads are quite enjoyable. Hilly and plenty of turns. The grind between Winnipeg to Calgary is one day. It's not totally flat. The US middle is way more mind numbing. It's pure straight, flat grey highway.
 
hubs and I wanted to trailer the bikes out there in 2015, ended up going to San Diego instead...anyways, I found a place in Kananaskis AB called the Stoney Nakoda Resort & Casino that were going to allow us to park the SUV and trailer in their parking lot, while we toured around BC on the bikes...we would've stayed there a day or two before riding out and a day or two once we got back...give them a call, they might allow you to do the same...

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I'd just ride it. Yeah, the prairies are boring, but they don't go on for 5000km or anything like some would have you belive. Roads get boring once you get out of Ontario, sure, but it's only 1400km from Ontario to Calgary where things get interesting again.

Heck, if you're up to doing trying an Iron Butt qualifier (Saddlesore 1000) you're not going to get a better stretch of road and you can knock the entire stretch off in one fell swoop, and boom, you're in the foothills.

I would agree that the Matrix would be struggling in some areas, that's for sure, although wind is likely to be the bigger issue versus weight, but you'll be pushing that as well - grades (up, and down) will be trying and fuel consumption will surprise you.

As for camping once you're out west, take note that once you're in the mountains tents aren't even allowed at many campgrounds due to bears. If you're going to stealth camp that's not an issue, but the underlying issue (bears) certainly still is, so be savvy about it - no food in your tent, no food in your bikes, bear spray within arms reach in the tent, etc.....

You may want to checkout my Pickle Lake thread as well....out biggest issue was finding anything to eat in many places, and even some towns along the TransCanada we were still stuck with fast food from Tim Hortons or McDonalds as everything else was closed.
 
lol ya don't set your pup tent or hammock up in the middle of a Bear Moose or Elk runway ? that would really suck
and park the bike so it falls away from the tent.
 
I've made the trip several times on four wheels and twice by bike (2018/2019).

Why not just ride..?
Northern Ont. is a great ride... The prairies are not That bad. They actually have their own mystique.
Speed limit is 110kmh through Manitoba/Sask./and Alberta... Very few 5-0, unlike in Ontario with it's 90kmh limit.
Time it right and ride the prairies at night under a full moon... You'll thank me later.

Somewhere between Moose Jaw and Swift Current 2019
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Hack said:
Time it right and ride the prairies at night under a full moon
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Sounds wonderful....except for the 4 legged stuff out there just waiting to jump across the highway as you coast along at 120.
 
PrivatePilot said:
Sounds wonderful....except for the 4 legged stuff out there just waiting to jump across the highway as you coast along at 120.
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It's not so bad... You can see for miles ahead, left and right.

As for Ontario... Get off the road by dusk or you're risking your life.. Lol
 
I remember years ago going across the prairie's at dusk and seeing one of the most spectacular displays of northern lights ever. That would be amazing to ride under and would make riding at night worthwhile.
 
Sounds like an awesome trip by car or bike...my only comment is be careful with the small towns. A lot of them have totally shut down for visitors / travellers with the only thing available being gasoline. Buddy went from British Columbia to Calgary and said he barely made it sometimes as the food / washroom / gas situation was really bad with big signs 'No Visitors' and 'No stopping' in the towns along the route. May be better now, but early days of COVID it was a difficult trip.
 
mimico_polak said:
Sounds like an awesome trip by car or bike...my only comment is be careful with the small towns. A lot of them have totally shut down for visitors / travellers with the only thing available being gasoline. Buddy went from British Columbia to Calgary and said he barely made it sometimes as the food / washroom / gas situation was really bad with big signs 'No Visitors' and 'No stopping' in the towns along the route. May be better now, but early days of COVID it was a difficult trip.
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I found this to be true in Northern Ontario, barely anything open once you rolled into town at night.
 
Ride it. I did that run many times. First time was the Canadian route, the many times after were thru the US. With Covid, you don't have a choice. The only boring part will be the prairies.
 
Riceburner said:
Ride it. I did that run many times. First time was the Canadian route, the many times after were thru the US. With Covid, you don't have a choice. The only boring part will be the prairies.
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Some parts of the prairies are unexpectedly beautiful. If you don't mind gravel the Qu'appelle valley is a completely unexpected oasis. I'm not sure if I would want to give up BC time to explore SK though.

view-near-fort-quappelle-in-the-quappelle-valley-saskatchewan-canada-ANFT5P.jpg
 
This is how I remember riding Saskatchewan

13724052_294202404268267_2887838431949977948_o.jpg


People are great but the land is terrible.
 
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