KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 2

See part 1

Scarecrow near the former Kilmar mine railway.

10:30 a.m. No luck.  I do not know who put this scarecrow here, but one thing is certain: this person knew what they were doing: it is a clear warning – don’t! I walked to the middle of the flooded road to convince myself even more. I had knee-deep water ... and the water level kept rising. How very unfortunate! This section is the missing link to complete the loop around Black Lake: the view is nice there – probably a good (e.g. challenging) section to include in a rally ... Now that I think about it, a Panoramio user, Karlos Gibeault gave me more information about this road:  “...I went with my car last week (May 8, 2012) and we were able to cross with a Jeep YJ ... by the way, this is not a road, but the former railway that connected Kilmar mine to the processing plant at Marelan,  at each end, there's a factory, it is not for nothing!!”  So based on this affirmation, it should be possible to pass!

An overview of Black Lake and the railway …

An overview of the former railway from Google Map. The railway leading to Black Lake (Lac Noir) is almost completely flooded: see the zoom in the upper right corner of the image.

[At the same point] An alternative path?  It was not the first time that I saw this trail, but I had never dared to adventure in it before because of its apparent roughness a little further…but with the KTM it was different.  I was hoping that this path would lead to further discoveries in the area…

Not quite! There were many obstacles: deep mud, logs and trees whipping me on my way with their branches.  There were some nice sections, but too few.

On many occasions I had to push the bike through deep mud.  On some others, I had to lift the back of the bike to change its direction to be able to continue.

At least I learned something here: the 350 EXC is light enough to go through any situation.  I was tired after this experience, but I could not have done it with a much heavier bike.  Out of 10, I’d give the 350 EXC an 11 for its lightness.

Unfortunately, this path was a dead end.  I was totally lost in the middle of this forest.  When I looked at Google map afterwards, I was heading through Lake Cook – with no hope to connect to any other trails in the area.

The motorcycle was covered with mud at that point.  The folks at KTM Canada had given me their blessing a few days before –  allowing me to go through all those obstacles with peace of mind!

I took a moment to relax, take a few shots and appreciated the calmness far from everyday burdens.  Then I had to go back through all those mud holes backwards!

 

11:30 a.m. Out of the woods.  After my journey out of the woods: I rode the old railroad backwards, I followed the 6e Concession road (one of my personal favorite challenges); then connected to Scotch road.  A stop at the sand pit was a must to see how the beast would behave in such conditions.

I met “Le Bleuet” there:, a rider on RidAventure.ca forum.  He took this picture while I was starting the bike prior to diving into the sand pit.  I was hoping to have a short movie to share my “prowess”, but unfortunately it did not work out with the camera.

I had quite a blast with the KTM even if I have only had a few experiences in sand pits - the bike performs pretty well in this type of situation!  I let “Le Bleuet” - who used to ride dirt bikes - have a try.  Here he is in the video.

 

Entrez la légende de la vidéo ici

After this, I continued on Scotch road with “Le Bleuet” to the end of the road.  He was riding a heavier adventure bike.  I realized that I had quite an advantage with the small 350 EXC in rough road conditions – I lost him from sight a couple of times before reaching the end of the road.  Then “Le Bleuet” was heading East, I was heading West, we shook hands and left our separate ways.

To be continued…Part 3

DSAQ

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Honda Unveils New Production Dakar Rally Racer

On October 3, 2012, Honda unveiled its new CRF450 Rally model Dakar racer at the 2012 International Motorcycle, Scooter and Bike Fair in Cologne, Germany. The world debut of this production-based race machine centers on its entry in the Dakar Rally, which will be held in January 2013.

America's Johnny Campbell, the 11-time Baja 1000 champion who previously gained Dakar Rally experience in Africa, will join riders Helder Rodrigues (Portugal), Felipe Zanol (Brazil), Sam Sunderland (United Kingdom) and Javier Pizzolito (Argentina) in an international effort. Honda entered factory teams nine times from 1981 onward in the forerunner of the present Dakar Rally, the Paris-Dakar Rally. Cyril Neveu (France) rode Honda to its first victory in 1982, the race's fourth year, and from 1986 to 1989 Honda won four consecutive titles for an overall record of five victories in nine years. In 2013, Honda will aim for its first rally victory with a model built from a production-based machine.

The CRF450 Rally model is based on Honda's commercial CRF450X off-road racing machine, but it differs in a number of ways. Changes include its use of Honda's Programmed Fuel Injection (PGM-FI) system, increased fuel capacity and the addition of a sophisticated navigation system. In addition, other changes were made to the bodywork and chassis for protection, efficiency and durability. The CRF450 Rally model in its current configuration has undergone extensive testing in Japan and will be tested further in its first race at the Morocco Rally, beginning October 14th. The Morocco Rally will serve as a real-world test to gather data, identify any problems with the machine under actual race conditions, and pinpoint any operational issues.

Tetsuo Suzuki, President of Honda Racing Corporation (HRC) and Honda Motorcycle R&D, said, "Our young engineers have created a race machine based on the CRF450X production enduro bike. The Dakar Rally is a race that continues for two weeks across the hardest terrain of three different countries. The Dakar Rally is extremely long and extremely tough. This is a new challenge for us. Previously, we entered the Dakar Rally with machines purpose-built for racing. This time, we are aiming for our first victory in the Dakar Rally with a production-based machine."

Johnny Campbell said, "My participation in the Dakar Rally over the past few years has been an amazing experience. I have been working very hard to bring the enthusiasm and attention of the USA to this prestigious global event. I am excited to be part of Honda's official Dakar race team and I'm committed to its success. My role will be to provide consultant, development, rider and mechanical services as needed to the project."

[SRC:HONDA]

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013: Papineau Labelle Wildlife Reserve Ride Part 1

Sunday, September 16 2012 - Patience paid off. For 3 days I could only admire the snazzy KTM 350 EXC-F in my garage.  Other priorities prevented me to go for an adventure ride with the “Ferrari” of dual sport bikes.  But finally, the perfect day presented itself: no rain on the horizon, sunny and 64 F (18 C) degrees as a maximum - perfect conditions.

But before leaving, I made ​​some adjustments that were beneficial:

1. I removed the visor on my hybrid helmet - it has the effect of a parachute on the highway with a dual-sport motorcycle.  So much for the look;
2. I adjusted the mirrors - returning from St-Bruno, Qc where I picked up the bike a few days earlier, I realized on the highway that the mirrors were very, very well secured, which is a good thing, unfortunately in a position that did not suit me well;
3. As the bike is pretty high, I got used to removing the kickstand before sitting  - a lot easier!

With the 350 EXC-F, I had to use my imagination and all the pockets of my jacket and my pants since there is obviously no suitcase or anything to carry some goods in.  This way, I could carry my usual equipment: camera, iPhone, 2 cans of energy drink, cereal bars etc etc..

And finally, a precaution: the fuel tank on the KTM is 10 liters with the reserve, so I planned for refuelling along the way... I will get back to this.

8:45 a.m., departure, heading to Lac des Plages village, through:

• 344 along the Ottawa river, then
• head to Staynerville road,
• Montee Hall,
• Dumoulin road,
• Rawcliffe,
• 6e concession,
• Scotch road,
• Huntington road,
• Maskinongé road,
• …
• and a stop at Namur village for refuelling.  So I thought…

The planned ride, about 140 km from (A) St-Eustache to (C) Lac des Plages with a gas stop at Namur (B)

 

 

West Staynerville Road

09:53 a.m. A gravel road… woot woot!  After 40 miles (60 km), I finally reached West Staynerville road.  I could probably have done this faster, but the ride alongside the Ottawa river (344) is always nice. At last! I could try the bike on a path that sticks a little more to what it was designed for. I opened the throttle and some adrenaline  flowed through my veins. Finally! - This is the reason I worked so hard planning all the steps to get there - you can’t imagine – riding a KTM in the conditions where it excels, what a great start!

 

10:02 a.m.  On the Hydro road near Montée Hall. This road, I had looked at it often in the past: access is obstructed by concrete blocks, but the KTM is so narrow that it can sneak in everywhere. This is a major advantage! +2 I often wondered what was at the end of that road - I thought that somehow I would be able to join the Scotch road from here, but no... Crap!  The road is blocked a mile further with a padlocked fence. No way around it. WWHHHYYYY?! Hydro roads are interesting for motorcycle adventuring!  Those lands are supposed to be public!  Frustrating!

Chemin Hydro, près de Montée Hall

Anyway, continuing southbound on the Montée Hall, I joined another gravel road (Dumoulin road) along highway 50 and the path that leads to Rawcliffe road. One thing lead to another, I borrowed my usual trails in the area through the 6th concession.

I appreciated the lightness of the bike and its handling on hotter trails. Everything became so easy, it was night and day with my usual bike that weighs almost twice as much. Normally, I drive with caution in rocky trails, but with the high ground clearance of the KTM, its large diameter wheels (21 and 18 inches) and long travel suspensions, the same routes seemed to be made of pavers - fantastic!

This was a total bliss until I reached the next section of this awesome road:

 

To be continued…See part 2

Ciao!

DSAQ

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KTM 350 EXC-F 2013, Photo Montage, Papineau Labelle Park

Enjoy!

DSAQ

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First Contact: KTM 350 EXC-F 2013

When I asked KTM Canada to lend me a bike, I did not expect to be catapulted miles out of my comfort zone.

The landing is a bit brutal: it is not the bike that is adapted to humans - but humans must adapt to it.  The word “compromise" was not part of the 350 EXC-F spec sheet.

Result: about 240 pounds.

Once the shock of the first contact has passed, one understands where he just landed: in a world where gravity is no longer as important. The 350 EXC-F is easy to tame and quickly becomes an extension of the driver.  The step is high, but behind the handle bar, everything is possible.  I experienced it on my way back from KTM Canada in St-Bruno.

My first off-road experiment was done in Kahnawake, near Mercier Bridge on the south shore of Montreal: I spotted a trail from the road and gave it a try.  There was a steep slope covered with boulders - the kind of road where you have to think twice with a bigger bike. With the KTM, I was on top of the slope in a wink. It felt like the weight of the bike was almost negligible and it didn’t require much effort to drive even in difficult situations.  I was pretty eager to find other similar challenges after this one.  I rode alongside the St-Lawrence river for a while in short trails then I continued my journey to St-Eustache.

On my way back home, there is a trail that I could never access with my regular motorcycle: there are big concrete blocks that prevent vehicles from crossing.  The 350 EXC-F is so thin that I could snake around the blocks easily.  At the other end of the trail there was a racing sand pit with jumps and bumps pretty well hidden from sight – probably the best kept secret in town.  I went for a couple of laps in the sand, through the bumps, and even attempted a few jumps.  That was pretty cool.  I was able to ride the bike it the sand with such ease!  The biggest surprise was that the small 350cc engine was more than sufficient for the task.

So my next ride with the bike will be to kick some ass in trails that I could not complete and had to turn around with my regular bike.  My expectations are very high, but I feel that I will not be disappointed… 

Ciao!
DSAQ

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NEW XC VERSION OF TRIUMPH TIGER EXPLORER FOR 2013

Here is the original press release followed by my own opinions on the subject.

Triumph Tiger Explorer XC 2013

• Aluminium rimmed, steel spoked wheels with tubeless tyres. • Ride by wire, traction control, cruise control and switchable ABS all as standard. • Hand Guards, Fog Lights, Belly Pan and Engine Bars to back up the go anywhere capability of the Explorer XC . • Extended Service intervals along with two-year unlimited mileage warranty. • Available at Triumph dealerships April, 2013.

Triumph Motorcycles increases its range in the Adventure Touring market with the launch of the new Tiger Explorer XC. With a nod to the styling cues of the award winning Tiger 800 XC, the new Tiger Explorer XC gains a number of enhancements to further enhance its long haul adventure touring appeal.

Key to the rugged look of the XC are the new aluminum rimmed, steel spoked wheels. Maintaining the 19” front and 17” rear of the Explorer, the new Triumph designed spoked wheels retain the Explorer’s incredible dynamic handling providing the additional benefit of tubeless tyres. If mid adventure you find yourself suffering with a flat tyre the experience can soon turn into an adventure of a different kind! Triumph’s tubeless rims ensure this will not be the case and allow you to quickly resume your explorations without the need for an extensive tool kit or experienced tyre fitters.

The adventure look is further enhanced with the standard fit of some additional features, designed to increase comfort and confidence to any adventure. The high impact Adventure Hand Guards offer warmth and protection to hands and controls, whilst the high performance 55w Dual Fog Lights deliver increased visibility for those late rides. Tough 22mm steel tube engine bars and a heavy gauge aluminium Belly Guard combine to offer maximum protection when the going gets more challenging. For riders wishing to further tailor their XC, there is a further range of 54 additional Genuine Triumph Accessories to choose from.

The Tiger Explorer XC is powered by Triumph’s shaft-driven 1215cc triple. Producing 137ps with 121Nm of torque the engine continues to impress. Add into the equation cruise and traction control, switchable ABS and a virtually maintenance free shaft drive, you have the perfect combination for long distance adventure touring. All confidently backed up by a 10,000 mile service interval and unlimited mileage two-year warranty.

Available in Khaki Green, the XC will make its debut during Triumph Live, the World’s largest celebration of all things Triumph, being held at Mallory Park, Leicestershire, UK over the weekend of 31 Aug – 2 September. The Triumph Tiger Explorer XC’s international debut will follow at Intermot, Cologne, on 2 October, 2012. Test rides at Triumph dealerships will be available in early April 2013.

[SRC: TRIUMPH]

When I saw the original Explorer last year, my first thought was “great!, but it seems Triumph has cooked up a more road oriented adventurer this time”.  The XC version aims to fill in the blanks.

Cruise control!  Simply said, this is an underrated item on ADV motorcycles – it will be standard on the XC.

Hopefully traction control (TC) will be easy to turn off - it is not clear on the original press release... crossing fingers.  Personally, I would have preferred TC as optional for a lower bill.  I still need to understand the positive aspect of TC on ADV bikes, but I clearly get the minuses.

Shaft drive: some like, other don’t.  Personally, I appreciate the maintenance free aspect of it.  I own a chain drive bike right now: I can’t find any advantages besides “I could eventually change the sprockets and save a few bucks on gas”, but I feel the hassle of required regular maintenance.  Shaft drive is a plus in my book especially with that much torque on the throttle.

Triumph announces a hefty 54 genuine accessories to choose from.  I assume that heater grips will be part of the list – on my top 5 items not far from aluminum side/top cases.  Add a USB plug and (personal wish!) electronic adjustable suspension (EAS) to complete the shopping list…yeah, I’m a big fan of EAS since my last adv ride to Parent.

To conclude, most likely the total weight of the XC is not heading south and off road capabilities will be limited in heavy conditions – which is the price to pay for a long range, comfortable and powerful adventure motorcycle.

Ciao!

DSAQ

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Trying a new floating bar widget

Found this widget:
http://www.way2blogging.org/2012/06/new-floating-social-sharing-bar-widget-blogger-blogspot.html

So let's give it a try.

Nope.  Cannot find the <data:post.body/> tag.

I tried with the regualar </body> but the floating bar appears with errors at the bottom of the page.

Update: finally found the <data:post.body/> tag.  I miss looked ;)

But there are 4.  So testing with appending the code at first one seems to work.  However my page is not big enough to see the scrolling effect.

So adding

many

useless

lines

to

see

it

scrolling.

Update: nope.  This is not scrolling.

Checking for miss coding.  Hmm, probably miss placed code.  Should try other  <data:post.body/> ...

anyhow, not exactly what I was looking for, but close.

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