Went to Montreal last week for the 2012 annual Salon de la moto. In the goal of beating the weekend crowds, Jason, John, Dennis and I decided it would be smart to attend on the Friday afternoon. We all skipped out on work for the day and left Ottawa around 9:30am for the 2-hour drive to Montreal. We drove in style -- Jason's new top-of-the-line, custom-order Volkswagon Touareg TDI, with its freight train turbo diesel engine. It hauls ass on the highway with ~ 230 hp and insane ~ 420 ft-lbs of torque.
The weather was nice as we rolled onto the 417 but we heard that a snow storm was on the way. We'd be driving ahead of it as we drove east but it was sure to catch up with us.
We arrived at the Palais des congrès around 12:30pm and parked in the underground. We spent about 3 hours browsing the bikes and bling. Pretty ordinary. A few nice bikes, but nothing terribly exciting.
When we decided we had our fill of the motorcycle show, we set off in search of the famous Bar-B-Barn for a big feed of pork ribs. By the time we finished stuffing our guts it was relative early: 5:30pm. By this time it was a full on blizzard with several inches already on the ground. So, here we were, in Montreal's downtown core -- in the middle of evening rush hour -- on a Friday -- in a blizzard. Sweet! It took 2 hours just to get off the island of Montreal. We pulled in for coffee at the Tim Horton's near Hudson. Shit. The entire drive home took just over 4 hours. While the motorcycle show was nothing special, it was, nonetheless, a day of looking at motorcycles -- which sure beats hanging around the office any day.
The weather was nice as we rolled onto the 417 but we heard that a snow storm was on the way. We'd be driving ahead of it as we drove east but it was sure to catch up with us.
We arrived at the Palais des congrès around 12:30pm and parked in the underground. We spent about 3 hours browsing the bikes and bling. Pretty ordinary. A few nice bikes, but nothing terribly exciting.
When we decided we had our fill of the motorcycle show, we set off in search of the famous Bar-B-Barn for a big feed of pork ribs. By the time we finished stuffing our guts it was relative early: 5:30pm. By this time it was a full on blizzard with several inches already on the ground. So, here we were, in Montreal's downtown core -- in the middle of evening rush hour -- on a Friday -- in a blizzard. Sweet! It took 2 hours just to get off the island of Montreal. We pulled in for coffee at the Tim Horton's near Hudson. Shit. The entire drive home took just over 4 hours. While the motorcycle show was nothing special, it was, nonetheless, a day of looking at motorcycles -- which sure beats hanging around the office any day.
$13.50 smackers to get in the door
Gasgas two-smoke
The new Kawasaki Versys 1000. It didn't do much for me.
The 650 is way more interesting and probably a lot more fun.
Touratech has lots of nice bling. Need a fat wallet, though.
BMW K1300R - If this bike was around back in
the 80's then I'm sure this would be the bike
Arnold Schwarzenegger would have ridden in The Terminator.
These things just have a mean look about them.
I like the paint/colours of the R1200GS
Dennis and Jason checking out the Bombardier side-by-side
I don't understand these... get a station wagon.
WTF is that? Battleship gray? That is one ugly colour.
I wish Suzuki would make some real upgrades to the old DR.
...like a comfy seat and a larger fuel tank. Better suspension??
Oh well, they're cheap, bullet proof, and they get the job done.
the newly redesigned V-Strom. Mostly cosmetic changes,
and not an improvement in my book
another V-Strom
Nice
Aprilia Dorsoduro 1200
I could get into serious trouble on this thing.
KTM 990
If I had $10,500 lying around, this is probably the bike I would buy.
The newly released 2012 KTM 500EXC dual sport.
~ 250 lbs, and street legal. There is also a 350cc version but I didn't get a photo.
Triumph Tiger 800XC, and behind it, a glimpse of the XC's big brother,
the new Tiger Explorer 1200 (somehow, I forgot to take a photo of it).
Both are sweet machines, British knock-offs of the F800GS and R1200GS Beemers.
Ducati 1199 Panigale
The outrageous T-Rex models are always fun to look at
Zero electric bikes...more offerings in the lineup every year.
They've made some serious improvements in the last few years.
Still rather expensive, and no so practical unless you stay in the city.
Chatting with Dakar rider and friend, Pat Trahan.
He's lucky to be alive after his horrific road crash in Nigeria last April.
MV Agusta F4RR
Driving home in the bizzard. There was no snow whatsoever
on the ground when we arrived in Montreal, and about 10cm
by the time we left. Driving conditions were shit.
The one bike I was disappointed not to see:
2012 Husqvarna Nuda 900R.