Central Alberta adventurers?

madjak30 · 05-15-2013, 08:22 AM

Just wondering how crazy it would be to try to ride the Forestry Trunk Road from Rocky Mtn House down to Canmore on a street bike...I've heard of guys doing it on Goldwings & cruisers, so are they just nuts...or is it not that bad?

I will eventually get a second bike, but I have a few things to figure out on a personal level first...the road looks like it would be more scenic than the Icefield Parkway, so let me know...

Later.

Lycan1 · 05-15-2013, 10:10 AM

I used to ride an FZ 600 on gravel, but the 17" front wheel and street tire had a tendency to "plow" and it was an adrenaline rush trying to steer her straight with the narrow clip-ons. The body work takes a beating from the gravel as well. If you can handle that, then have at it. It can be done, and maybe the bike swimming around in the (sometimes) deep gravel will be a rush for you. It is just easier on a bike designed for it, that's all. Hell, I saw a guy driving his Mini Cooper "S" down the trunk road last weekend, and it surely was not designed for gravel. I would never do that to mine!

madjak30 · 05-15-2013, 10:32 AM

No body work involved...naked standard/sporty kinda bike...

If there's lots of loose gravel sections, it would probably be pretty damn spooky to ride...I guess I could have paved adventures until I get a better equipped bike. I'll be going for a ride to the coast this summer, so that might just be my adventure for the year. Most of my family lives in the Kelowna area, so that's some pretty interesting roads too...but there's just something about the Trunk road that intrigues me.

Later.

where2next? · 05-15-2013, 10:45 AM

There is lots of loose gravel and not a lot of places that you can bail out if you decide it's a bit much. The weight would also be an issue that would likely contribute to the plowing. Also lots of fast moving recreational and industrial traffic that will make going slowly a bit more dangerous than one might initially think.

madjak30 · 05-15-2013, 07:39 PM

Maybe I will hold off until next year...I'm hoping to buy an older KLR as an explorer...for now, I do have paved options!

Thanks for the input.

Later.

blkhrt81 · 05-16-2013, 06:16 PM

As long as the road was dry, it wouldn't be that bad. Trouble is, if it's dry and there's much traffic it'll get pretty dusty.
Try the stretch from west of Caroline down to the Sundre turn off maybe and see how you feel about it.

05-15-2013, 08:22 AM	#1
madjak30 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Central Alberta, Canada Oddometer: 71	Central Alberta adventurers? Just wondering how crazy it would be to try to ride the Forestry Trunk Road from Rocky Mtn House down to Canmore on a street bike...I've heard of guys doing it on Goldwings & cruisers, so are they just nuts...or is it not that bad? I will eventually get a second bike, but I have a few things to figure out on a personal level first...the road looks like it would be more scenic than the Icefield Parkway, so let me know... Later. __________________ -=-= If you're not having fun, you're doing it WRONG!! =-=- Riding since May 2010 2006 Yamaha MT-01 2003 Suzuki GS500 (SOLD)

05-15-2013, 10:10 AM	#2
Lycan1 Grizzly herder Joined: Feb 2010 Location: Calgary,Alberta Oddometer: 1,042	I used to ride an FZ 600 on gravel, but the 17" front wheel and street tire had a tendency to "plow" and it was an adrenaline rush trying to steer her straight with the narrow clip-ons. The body work takes a beating from the gravel as well. If you can handle that, then have at it. It can be done, and maybe the bike swimming around in the (sometimes) deep gravel will be a rush for you. It is just easier on a bike designed for it, that's all. Hell, I saw a guy driving his Mini Cooper "S" down the trunk road last weekend, and it surely was not designed for gravel. I would never do that to mine! __________________ http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=595530 http://www.advrider.com/forums/showthread.php?t=702314 Uhaul, it's part of the KTM experience. 09 KTM 990 Adv

05-15-2013, 10:32 AM	#3
madjak30 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Central Alberta, Canada Oddometer: 71	No body work involved...naked standard/sporty kinda bike... If there's lots of loose gravel sections, it would probably be pretty damn spooky to ride...I guess I could have paved adventures until I get a better equipped bike. I'll be going for a ride to the coast this summer, so that might just be my adventure for the year. Most of my family lives in the Kelowna area, so that's some pretty interesting roads too...but there's just something about the Trunk road that intrigues me. Later. __________________ -=-= If you're not having fun, you're doing it WRONG!! =-=- Riding since May 2010 2006 Yamaha MT-01 2003 Suzuki GS500 (SOLD)

05-15-2013, 07:39 PM	#5
madjak30 ^OP Adventurer Joined: Nov 2010 Location: Central Alberta, Canada Oddometer: 71	Maybe I will hold off until next year...I'm hoping to buy an older KLR as an explorer...for now, I do have paved options! Thanks for the input. Later. __________________ -=-= If you're not having fun, you're doing it WRONG!! =-=- Riding since May 2010 2006 Yamaha MT-01 2003 Suzuki GS500 (SOLD)

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05-15-2013, 10:45 AM	#4
where2next? Map guy Joined: Mar 2008 Oddometer: 64	There is lots of loose gravel and not a lot of places that you can bail out if you decide it's a bit much. The weight would also be an issue that would likely contribute to the plowing. Also lots of fast moving recreational and industrial traffic that will make going slowly a bit more dangerous than one might initially think.

05-16-2013, 06:16 PM	#6
blkhrt81 Studly Adventurer Joined: Aug 2007 Location: Bowden Alberta, Buguruslan Russia Oddometer: 586	As long as the road was dry, it wouldn't be that bad. Trouble is, if it's dry and there's much traffic it'll get pretty dusty. Try the stretch from west of Caroline down to the Sundre turn off maybe and see how you feel about it.