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Ninja 400 Newbie's First Day Trip - Niagara Region
Well, I had been planning this day trip for two weeks and was definitely a bit nervous to head out on a first long solo ride. I have to say that I got through what I wanted to accomplish--an amazing solo ride to get to know some beautiful wine region roads, get to know my bike and abilities better and end up at one of my favourite places to look at, Niagara Falls. After a crazy few weeks at work, this was something that I was really looking forward to. I couldn't sleep I was so excited! The weather was just amazing and everything just worked out well that day.
Highway 81 was involved, which is apparently a known riding route in Ontario with some twisties that were more than enough for me at my current riding level. The scenery through some of the vineyards was also really cool to see from a bike. I was more than comfortable handling the curves at just above the posted speed limits, on all sorts of great to horrible road surfaces. Definitely a learning experience!
All said and done, the ride really got started around 2pm and I managed to get back by 9:15pm, just after it started to get dark outside.
As far as the bike goes, I love it. It is not only very forgiving, but well balanced and easy to operate. The ride was comfortable and the bike has more than enough power to pass, take off faster than most cars and brake effectively. I also love the colour and look of this bike. I'll definitely write more about it in later posts.
Some route and equipment info below with pics to follow.
The trip:
Leaving Toronto heading west via Lakeshore Rd.
A brief stop at the folks house for lunch in the burbs along the way
Back on the road by 1pm and back on Lakeshore Rd through Burlington
Continue onto the Beach Roads through Burlington and Hamilton to Centennial Parkway
South on Centennial Parkway to South Service Rd.
East on South Service Rd to Christie (Town of Lincoln)
South on Christie to Hwy 81
East on Hwy 81 to Niagara Stone Rd
North on Niagara Stone Rd to Historic Niagara-On-The-Lake
Follow Niagara Falls Parkway to the Falls. A beautiful ride along the Niagara River!
Ride past the falls and back up to Clifton Hill to check out the kitch.
Say hey to the cruiser get-together on Victoria at the Golden Griddle Restaurant -- in between the Love Boat restaurant and Imperial Hotel.
Ride up to the Fallsview Casino and park at the Four Points Sheraton/ East Side Mario's across the street for a bite since a friend is a manager there.
Time One Way: 3.0 hours with multiple short stops and two longer Tim Hortons stops (Grimsby and Niagara-On-The-Lake)
The Gear:
Luggage for overnight stuff (just in case): Borrowed Oxford Sport Saddle Bags
Jacket: Icon Overlord Textile Jacket with upgraded Icon Stryker CE back protector.
Pants: Jeans
Boots: Alpinestars Blacktops
Gloves: Standard leather riding gloves
Helmet: HJC black full faced helmet - SNELL and DOT approved (picked this up along with a classic leather jacket at Bob Weaver's Motor Sports during an early spring day trip to the Niagara Falls/ Tonawanda, New York area)
Pics - Group 1
My apartment parking spot, next to my my neighbour, an Aprilia Shiver. Yes, I figured out that the saddle bags were on the wrong way eventually. haha
Pics at the folk's place after a quick stop for lunch. Ok, it wasn't all about the food, it was also to say hi and all that
Just past the Burlington Skyway and lift bridge. Riding over the metal lift bridge in that wind was a bit terrifying....
Well, I had been planning this day trip for two weeks and was definitely a bit nervous to head out on a first long solo ride. I have to say that I got through what I wanted to accomplish--an amazing solo ride to get to know some beautiful wine region roads, get to know my bike and abilities better and end up at one of my favourite places to look at, Niagara Falls. After a crazy few weeks at work, this was something that I was really looking forward to. I couldn't sleep I was so excited! The weather was just amazing and everything just worked out well that day.
Highway 81 was involved, which is apparently a known riding route in Ontario with some twisties that were more than enough for me at my current riding level. The scenery through some of the vineyards was also really cool to see from a bike. I was more than comfortable handling the curves at just above the posted speed limits, on all sorts of great to horrible road surfaces. Definitely a learning experience!
All said and done, the ride really got started around 2pm and I managed to get back by 9:15pm, just after it started to get dark outside.
As far as the bike goes, I love it. It is not only very forgiving, but well balanced and easy to operate. The ride was comfortable and the bike has more than enough power to pass, take off faster than most cars and brake effectively. I also love the colour and look of this bike. I'll definitely write more about it in later posts.
Some route and equipment info below with pics to follow.
The trip:
Leaving Toronto heading west via Lakeshore Rd.
A brief stop at the folks house for lunch in the burbs along the way
Back on the road by 1pm and back on Lakeshore Rd through Burlington
Continue onto the Beach Roads through Burlington and Hamilton to Centennial Parkway
South on Centennial Parkway to South Service Rd.
East on South Service Rd to Christie (Town of Lincoln)
South on Christie to Hwy 81
East on Hwy 81 to Niagara Stone Rd
North on Niagara Stone Rd to Historic Niagara-On-The-Lake
Follow Niagara Falls Parkway to the Falls. A beautiful ride along the Niagara River!
Ride past the falls and back up to Clifton Hill to check out the kitch.
Say hey to the cruiser get-together on Victoria at the Golden Griddle Restaurant -- in between the Love Boat restaurant and Imperial Hotel.
Ride up to the Fallsview Casino and park at the Four Points Sheraton/ East Side Mario's across the street for a bite since a friend is a manager there.
Time One Way: 3.0 hours with multiple short stops and two longer Tim Hortons stops (Grimsby and Niagara-On-The-Lake)
The Gear:
Luggage for overnight stuff (just in case): Borrowed Oxford Sport Saddle Bags
Jacket: Icon Overlord Textile Jacket with upgraded Icon Stryker CE back protector.
Pants: Jeans
Boots: Alpinestars Blacktops
Gloves: Standard leather riding gloves
Helmet: HJC black full faced helmet - SNELL and DOT approved (picked this up along with a classic leather jacket at Bob Weaver's Motor Sports during an early spring day trip to the Niagara Falls/ Tonawanda, New York area)
Pics - Group 1
My apartment parking spot, next to my my neighbour, an Aprilia Shiver. Yes, I figured out that the saddle bags were on the wrong way eventually. haha
Pics at the folk's place after a quick stop for lunch. Ok, it wasn't all about the food, it was also to say hi and all that
Just past the Burlington Skyway and lift bridge. Riding over the metal lift bridge in that wind was a bit terrifying....
