Courtesy of MotorcycleCourse.com we took part in an M2 Motorcycle Rider Training Course at the Durham College campus parking lot in Whitby, Ontario. M2 stands for ‘Motorcycle Class 2′ and is part of a Graduated Licensing System that exists in the Province of Ontario. Similar to new car drivers, motorcyclists start out by writing a test granting them a restricted learner’s permit called M1. The only way to upgrade to a nearly unrestricted M2 licence is by either passing a driver’s test conducted by the Ministry of Transportation or by enrolling in a ministry approved rider training course.

Considering that the average passing rate of a ministry conducted M2 test is between 20-30%, it’s a safer gamble to take a weekend long motorcycle rider training course that guarantees a near certain M2 exam passing rate. The way it works is as follows: one 3-hour classroom session on Friday evening that teaches us about motorcycle ownership, rules of the road, hazards, and what to expect in the coming few days, one 8-hour Saturday session and one final 9-hour Sunday session where we finish off by taking the M2 test on Sunday afternoon as well-trained, confident riders.

[From the MotorycleCourse.com website]

As a result of successfully completing this course in only 19 hours of theory and basic/advanced manoeuvres, you:

• Will be eligible for the M2 Licence.

• May benefit from reduced insurance rates.

While Friday’s classroom course was quite basic but necessary, most people were eagerly anticipating Saturday morning when we’d get to pick out our bike and start riding. We’d eventually get to pick from 200 cc or smaller dual-purpose bikes that ranged from small to large. One of the taller bikes, a handsome black Suzuki DR200, was the bike we picked to tackle the weekend with.

What most of us expected was for Saturday to be a quiet and slow day where we’d all gingerly get accustomed to the controls and feel our bikes, while Sunday would prove to be the more hands-on, excitement-filled day. However, Saturday actually proved to be the most action-packed day of the weekend that saw all of us go from motorcycle rookies to what quickly looked like experienced riders.

At 10 AM we were pushing each other around on our bikes to hone important balancing skills. By 11 AM we were already finding the clutch friction points and trundling along in 1st gear. We couldn’t believe the progress we had all made in only a few hours time when by the early afternoon we were shifting through the gears and riding around the parking lot course at good pace. But the truly extraordinary part was that the entire group made up of women and men of all ages all reached the same skill level by the end of the Saturday session.

Looking back at the almost unbelievable amount of progress that was made in one day, we realized that it wasn’t just our collective bravery, patience, and enthusiasm that got us there, but the top notch quality of instructors. Not only were they excellent communicators and teachers but also an entertaining and welcoming group of friends. Everyone was having a great time which translated into great morale and a comfortable learning environment. At the end of the day, none of us could have experienced the kind of progress we did if it weren’t for the streamlined curriculum and seamless guidance by the instructors.

While Saturday was all about getting comfortable and building up speed, Sunday centred around emergency techniques. The morning session consisted of emergency braking, collision avoidance, and push steering exercises, while the inevitable M2 test loomed in the back of everyone’s minds. We would line up in groups and attempt the various challenges one by one as instructors provided instant individual feedback. Cruising through the challenges we eventually felt prepared to tackle the M2 test which nearly all 50 of us ended up passing with flying colours.

With a healthy sunburn on our foreheads we were all happy to walk out of Durham College, M2 paperwork in hand, a smile on our face, and the happy thought of soon hitting the open road on two wheels.

Enjoy the pictures and don’t forget to check out http://www.motorcyclecourse.com to find out more about the world-class team of instructors that make these invaluable courses possible at various locations around the province.

Thanks again to legendary instructors at MotorcycleCourse.com!

We were told to meet in a Carpool Parking lot 20 clicks north of Clarington at 8:45 AM where we’d be met by an instructor from ‘Trail Tours and Dirt Bike School.’ The instructor then led our group through the morning fog and towards what can only be described as a little slice of heaven – a wide open space encircled by Ganaraska Forest and carved out with challenging practice trails and obstacles.

After filling out a few insurance forms, we were each given a 230cc 4-stroke Honda CRF 230L dirt bike and told to follow the instructor through some increasingly challenging tasks including balancing acts, riding over stacked logs, and eventually a single track beginner’s parcour. After spending the morning at the training grounds we felt optimally prepared for the afternoon adventure session on our own BMW Enduro bikes.

But first, lunchtime! Once we parked our dirt bikes we were welcomed by a delicious spread that covered everything from home made pulled pork sandwiches to delicious thick-cut slices of banana bread.

Once lunch was over, we saddled up and split into two groups, one for intermediate riders and another for those wanting to push the limits. As soon as we were organized, we set off to explore the 11,000 acres that make up the beautiful Ganaraska Forest. With hundreds of kilometres of trails, this is the ultimate playground for off-road machines. No matter your choice of ride, you’ll find everything from steep and challenging single track trails to high speed ATV friendly twisty bits to give you one of the best off-road riding experiences ever.

To ensure everyone received a meaningful introduction to the sport, the instructors would often split us up according to our skill levels and even provide individual mentoring. We would then be encouraged to utilize our newfound skills and confidence through the challenging forest trails. At the end of the day we all noticed significant improvements in our off-road skills that would also make us better prepared on-road riders.

When the tour came to an end around 4 PM we mutually agreed that this had been one of the most exhilerating and entertaining days of our lives. Getting to experience the dirt bikes, honing important skills, and then pushing our own BMW machines later in the day made for the perfect experience.

We therefore tip our hats to the highly skilled and knowledgeable gentlemen at Trail Tours. But aside from being experienced riders, the instructors knew exactly what it takes to entertain a group of men looking to have simply have a blast on a beautiful Spring Sunday. For more information about Trail Tours you can visit their website  http://www.trailtour.com/ or give them a call at 1-877-939-5267.

For anyone who is interested in joining us on our next ride at Ganaraska Forest on Sunday, May 27th give James or Adam a call at (905) 619-5522.

Details

• - Ganaraska Forest is located roughly 50 kilometres from the dealership and is located just off Hwy 35/115.
• - The curriculum is based on fundamentals then goes on to other more advanced techniques and skills.
• - This is a bring your own bike event. The exercises in the morning on this day we will be using their training bikes, in the afternoon you will be using your own.
• - Cost is $150, tax included. Lunch is also included.
• - Only 10 spaces are available for this Endras Motorrad exclusive day.
• - Next date: Sunday, May 27, 2012.

If you can remember last year’s spectacular showdown at Mosport between Brett McCormick and Jordan Szoke, you’ll surely also remember that Andrew Nelson was the one who took third place. We were there for all the Motorrad Summerfest festivities as we witnessed Andrew’s talents first hand. The man can ride, and there’s no one as excited as we are for the upcoming 2012 season.

Check out Andrew’s talents from a GoPro mounted to his helmet at Atlantic Motorsport Park in 2010. You’ll also see a few familiar bikes and riders in what turns out to be quite the heated battle.

For those of you who are going to our annual track day we’ll go ahead and let the cat out of the bag – Andrew Nelson will be there to both teach and give us a show. If you haven’t already signed up than I’d suggest you immediately book a spot as they’re filling up quickly. To do so, give Motorrad Sales Manager James Collins or Motorrad Co-Ordinator Adam Hancock a quick call and they’ll be happy to help.

James Collins
Motorrad Sales Manager
Telephone: (905) 619-5531
Email jamesc@endrasbmw.com

Adam Hancock
Motorrad Co-Ordinator
Telephone: (905) 619-5522 ext.5551
Email adam.hancock@endrasbmw.com

Day 11

Waking up just before sunrise, I began packing up and reorganizing my gear while still inside the tent. With over 1000 kilometers on my schedule today, I would need to get riding as soon as possible to arrive at my target destination tonight.

Upon stepping out of my tent, the Arizona desert quickly greeted me with frosty morning air. The sun began to rise in the east, slowly revealing the landscape surrounding me. Large rock formations in the distance turned red as the shadows retreated from the sunlight and towering cacti lined the desert floor as far as I could see.  Unlike my previous experience in Arizona (see Day 4), this was the positive experience I had envisioned Arizona to offer. I could not have asked for a better morning to take in this vast and breath taking scenery.

Departing Apache Junction, 700 kilometers of desolate interstate would lead me to El Paso, Texas.  I passed by several signs warning not to pickup hitchhikers as several state and federal prisons were operating in this isolated area of the country.  A more interesting sign along my route indicated that I was entering an area where Army Drone Aircraft were being tested. To my disappointment, I did not witness any in use.

Approaching El Paso, I could see the large wall separating Texas from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico. I watched as the boarder agents slowly patrolled the area along the wall, scanning for individuals attempting to illegally enter the country.  Fueling up one last time for today I departed El Paso and headed towards Carlsbad, New Mexico.

The sun was going down and I still had 380 km to go before reaching Carlsbad where I would setup camp for the night. Traveling along a rural two-lane highway, the road guided me into what appeared to be a truck weigh station.  As I approached the building structure, two armed border patrol agents signaled me to stop.  After a brief questioning period from the agents, I asked them what this was all about.  They informed me that it was a United States Border Patrol Interior Checkpoint.  These checkpoints are positioned throughout the southern states that are within 75 miles of the Mexico – USA border and are used to deter illegal immigration and smuggling activities.  Once cleared to pass through the checkpoint, I quickly carried on my way.

With roughly 60 kilometers remaining before reaching camp, day had turned into night and, due to the change in elevation, the temperature had dropped to -3 degrees celsius.  To add to this excitement, I had not seen a fuel station, or anything for that matter, in the last 2 hours and my fuel light just came on.  The onboard computer displayed my range at 70 kilometers remaining and dropping rapidly.

With 33 kilometers of range displaying on the dash, a road sign indicated there was a fuel station 10 miles ahead!  This fire of hope was quickly extinguished as I pulled into the fuel station. Due to the late hour of the night, it was closed.  Even paying at the pump was not an option as the pumps were turned off.

Feeling defeated, I sat down beside one of the fuel pumps. Sitting in the dark and cold, stressing about my fuel situation, I noticed a sign for a campground… ¼ mile away! In this moment, I realized luck was on my side tonight. I had a safe place to camp tonight and would be able to fuel up in the morning.

]]> http://www.bmwbikes.ca/entry-11-1000-kms-along-the-mexican-border/feed/ 0 http://www.bmwbikes.ca/entry-10-lessons-learned-in-malibu/ http://www.bmwbikes.ca/entry-10-lessons-learned-in-malibu/#comments Thu, 26 Jan 2012 20:58:31 +0000 UltimateBlogger http://www.bmwbikes.ca/?p=973

[In November our Endras Motorrad Sales Advisor, Adam Hancock, took off on a 12,000 kilometer journey through the United States. Adam has decided to chronicle his journey exclusively for Powershift.]

Day 10

Awoken by the sound of a lone coyote howling in the distance, I unzipped the door to my tent and stepped outside.  It was 4:00am and the temperature had dropped from 24 degrees celsius to 4 degrees.  The howling echoed through the rolling Malibu Hills and sounded as though the coyote was right beside me.  In a matter of minutes, this coyote was joined by many more. Yipping and howling in the full moonlight, they must have found breakfast.  After enjoying this impromptu performance for a few minutes, I stepped back into my tent, got huddled back into the sleeping bag and listened to the carnivorous orchestra for a while longer before drifting back to sleep.

Once showered and packed up, I headed back down the Malibu Creek Canyon Road. Curve after curve, twisting and turning all the way down to the Pacific Coast Highway #1 for some scenic morning… gridlock?  In most cases this would be a problem, but here in California lane splitting is permitted.

The white line separating traffic lanes on the Pacific Coast Highway #1 had now become my unobstructed path, immune to the congested traffic conditions of Malibu and Los Angeles.  Most California motorists are courteous by leaving enough space for motorcyclists to use these lines as a lane in traffic.  On the other side of the scale, there are motorists who become frustrated with how motorcyclists are able to navigate freely past those unable to free themselves from the brutal grip of morning traffic.  These motorists will often try and make it impossible for you to pass.  One particular frustrated Mercedes CL550 motorist learned two things about BMW Motorrad this morning.  First he learned that BMW hand guards are much stronger than driver side mirrors on luxury coupes. Second he learned BMW Motorrad’s slogan… UNSTOPPABLE!
Unaffected by my morning commute, I continued to ride along the Pacific Highway #1 taking in the views of Santa Monica, Long Beach, Huntington Beach, Newport Beach and Laguna Beach.

Departing the Pacific coast today was an unexpected emotional experience.  As I headed east towards Phoenix, I watched the coastline become distant in my mirror and couldn’t help but think about how much I would miss California.

Arriving in Apache Junction, just outside the Phoenix city limits, I setup camp at the Lost Dutchman State Park where I would end my day the same way I started it. Huddled up in my sleeping bag with coyotes howling and yipping in the distance.

The International Bike of the Year (IBOTY) jury praised the BMW K1600GT as “blending comfort, performance and the excellent use of innovative technology. The glorious six-in-line engine offers power, refinement, and plenty of fun. Boasting every feature that you can dream of, from traction control, ABS, sat-nav, electronically adjustable suspension and adaptive headlight to ride modes and much more make the BMW K1600GT the pinnacle of two-wheel touring.”

Expect BMW Motorrad to continue dominating as 2012 brings about several new and exciting models such as the C600 Sport and C650GT Maxi-Scooters, the new G650GS Sertão, the 2012 F800R, and the unbeatable 2012 S1000RR.

• If you’d like to place an order or inquire about any BMW Motorrad bikes please call (905) 619-5522 or send an email to info@endrasbmw.com to be put in touch with a sales advisor.

[In November our Endras Motorrad Sales Advisor, Adam Hancock, took off on a 12,000 kilometer journey through the United States. Adam has decided to chronicle his journey exclusively for Powershift.]

Day 9

This morning I awoke to the sound of waves crashing against rocks found at the bottom of the cliff, only footsteps away from the door to my tent. As the sun began to light up the Santa Lucia Mountains, my eyes followed the crashing waves out to the distant horizon where the ocean met the sky. Even though I was on the coast of California, in this moment it felt as though I was on the edge of the earth. A truly surreal experience.

Back in the saddle, I was in search of the next fuel stop and sit down local restaurant for breakfast. Lucky for me, only 20 kilometers down the highway was the Whale Watcher Café along with a fuel stop right next to it. The restaurant was nicely decorated with coastal décor, had a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean, and served the best blueberry pancakes I have ever tasted.

The rest of the day I continued south along the Pacific Coast Highway #1, riding alongside the ocean, enjoying the breath taking scenery and twisty coastal roads. Ragged Point, San Simeon Bay, Cayucos, Morro Bay, Pismo Beach, Santa Maria, and Santa Barbara were some of the places I visited today before reaching the Malibu State Park where I would setup camp for the night.

After setting up camp and unpacking my motorcycle, I decided to start a campfire and relax with a cold Corona and some snacks I had picked up before entering the campground. It wasn’t too long before the temperature began to get cooler so I sat my drink and bag of Funyuns down on the picnic table while I retrieved a hoodie from my tent. Stepping back out of my tent, I saw the glimmering eyes of a raccoon. He and I were equal distance away from the picnic table. My Funyuns!!! Our eyes met and in a split second we both knew the race was on. I sprinted the best I could, but was no match for the quick and fancy footwork of the raccoon. I watched as he ran off into the night with my bag of Funyuns. Shuffling back to the campfire defeated, I enjoyed my drink and watched the flames dance as the campfire fire slowly went out. Another perfect day of riding.

• If you’d like to place an order or inquire about any BMW Motorrad bikes please call (905) 619-5522 or send an email to info@endrasbmw.com to be put in touch with a sales advisor.

Closer to home, Brett McCormick won the Canadian Superbike Championship by beating Kawasaki’s Jordan Szoke in the second last race of the season at Mosport Raceway. Not only was this the first Superbike Championship for BMW, it also happened on the day of Brett McCormick’s birthday. Look for BMW Motorrad to have another strong year in Superstock and Superbike championships across the world.

2011 also saw the unveiling of two BMW scooters. A company first, the C 600 Sport and C 650 GT are said to be agile enough to cut through city traffic but large enough to also take on a weekend trip. We were able to catch the first glimpse of the scooters during the Toronto Motorcycle Show and we can barely wait to get our hands on them in early 2012.

Earlier last year the BMW K1600 GT and K 1600 GTL were introduced as the new touring benchmark. The K 1600′s mighty 6-cylinder in-line engine, extensive range of standard features, and impressive appearance has managed to win over some of the most die-hard Harley and Honda customers. For your viewing pleasure, we’ve put together an informative video review of the K 1600 GTL.

But enough reminiscing on an eventful 2011, let’s face the music and enjoy a promising and exciting 2012.

[In November our Endras Motorrad Sales Advisor, Adam Hancock, took off on a 12,000 kilometer journey through the United States. Adam has decided to chronicle his journey exclusively for Powershift.]

Day 8

Seven eventful days and 5,500km later, I have made it to the California coast. The Pacific Coast Highway #1 was the reason I rode here. It is the most scenic, twisty, cliff-side, two-lane highway North America has to offer with some of the most beautiful coastlines in the world. From San Francisco I will follow this historic highway 850km south to Malibu with many stops along the way.

Shortly after leaving the campground this morning, I headed towards the Golden Gate Bridge. The traffic on Highway 101 was traveling at a steady 65mph in a 45mph zone, the sun was shining, and I was very excited to ride across the famous Golden Gate Bridge, only a few short miles away. My energized state was quickly foiled as a highway patrol officer ahead was directing one vehicle after another onto the shoulder, of course I was also directed to the shoulder.

This traffic stop was unlike any I have ever experienced, and very well organized. One officer was catching speeding motorists on radar and directing them to the shoulder. Once on the shoulder, you would wait in line with your vehicle where two officers quickly moved down the line of vehicles processing the offenses and issuing traffic tickets. Express drive-thru traffic tickets? My usual method of avoiding such fines was not an option as there were five police cruisers and two BMW R1200RT police motorcycles patiently waiting for any motorist to attempt escape.

When it came my turn, I immediately played the ignorance card and asked why I had been directed to the shoulder. Traveling 24mph over the posted speed limit was his irritated response followed by a pause. It was my turn to speak. Slowly and calmly I indicated that the speed I was alleged traveling at was in line with the current flow of traffic. By traveling at a lower speed I would have been impeding traffic, which would have created many dangerous passing situations for other motorists. At this point the officer was buying it… I mean he was listening to me and appeared to be accepting the justification behind my story. I carefully shifted the roadside interrogation to a conversation about how I ended up in California and where I was traveling to from here. The once irritated officer was now amazed by the challenges I had overcome the past seven days and was now hanging on my every word. I’ve seen this look in people’s eyes before. He had slipped into a motorcycling adventure daydream and it was clear he had forgotten all about why we were both on the side of the road right now.

Unfortunately it was time to bring the officer back to reality so I could deal with the very real situation at hand. I politely excused myself from the conversation and thanked him for not issuing me a traffic ticket. For a moment he looked a bit confused, struggling to remember what the ticket was supposed to be for and if he had said I was free to go. As I pulled my helmet on, he wished me good luck with my travels and moved on to the next motorist.

With that minor inconvenience out of the way, it was now time for breakfast and a quick fuel stop before continuing down the Pacific Coast Highway #1. While crossing the Golden Gate Bridge I laughed about my convincing and successful performance, celebrating with a wheelie also seemed appropriate.

Heading down the coastal highway I could feel the ocean breeze, smell salt in the air and watch as waves rolled onto the beach. For the rest of the day I explored the coastal highway and many destinations along the route including Moss Beach, Half Moon Bay, Santa Cruz, Monterey, and the highlight of my day being Big Sur where the Santa Lucia Mountains rise abruptly from the Pacific Ocean.

There were many small campgrounds along the coastal highway, my choice for the night was Kirk Creek Campground allowing me to pick a site on a cliff overlooking the Pacific Ocean. This campsite provided me with a view of the spectacular sunset and the sound of waves crashing against the rocks.

Despite only having ridden 300km today, it was a day of riding I will remember for the rest of my life. Tomorrow I will continue my ride south along the Pacific Coast Highway #1 towards Malibu and expect the historic highway will take my breath away again, the same way it has today.