NORTHERN ONTARIO GRAVEL TRAVEL on a plastic Ugly Duckling

[@spudnikkx1112]

BTW, In case you have not found out yet, the trunk holds water with the drain plugs in.........beverage cooler, or ice holder for fresh caught fish.

[@garyives1218]

So good. Really enjoyed. Thank you.

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks gary. Glad you enjoyed it.

[@LorenKroeker]

I enjoyed that, it reminded me of a tour I did in 1992 aboard my 1989 Pacific Coast. We toured northern Alberta, Northwest Territories and northern BC doing thousands of kilometres of gravel road and the Honda handled it just fine.

[@ianaristotlethompson4186]

More enjoyment for us all. Thanks.

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks Ian. 😃

[@anthonymay1280]

Thanks for continuing to give

[@clarson2916]

Nicest thing about a Honda is that the only way you can break it is by running it into something.

[@DuckingAround58]

And here I was thinking my 2005 Suzuki Boulevard was too old to trace on a road trip. Great video!

[@nick949eldo]

Haha. None of my bikes are that new. Check out my series of recent travels (5 videos) on my 51 year old Guzzi kzbin.info/www/bejne/qGWWg3aqgsisoMk

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Great 👍 to see riders doing ADV on old bikes

[@travelingman484]

Brilliant. This is an awesome trip. I’ve owned a cavalcade like yours and I now ride a 1983 GL 1100 interstate. Love the old classics. Carry on sir.

[@nick949eldo]

Underrated old beasts. Ride safely.

[@Tomygfender]

Sometimes feels like your pushing me out the door. It’s coming into the end of the season here but now I’m really looking forward to next year. Thanks Nick, another great video

[@nick949eldo]

Haha. End of season Tom? No such thing.😆

[@spudnikkx1112]

Do yourself a favor in the off season, Install a Ricks stator and regulator / rectifier. Then go out and buy a brand new DEKA agm battery. You have just stumbled on one of the least known gems of back country ADV travel .

[@John_Ridley]

Good to see you have a new book out. Went right over and bought a copy and while I was there a few others I haven't gotten to yet. My experience on the active lumber roads in Ontario was camping beside them, we would sometimes be walking from camp to the boat launch when a truck came by and we would always turn our backs to them, squat and cover the backs of our heads with our hands because they sometimes threw substantial rocks when passing at quite high speed.

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks John - much appreciated. Yes, they sure throw a mess of stuff. I was just glad they were heading to work and were not fully loaded. They really throw the dust and rocks when they have that extra weight - and they travel just as fast. Stay well.

[@capng]

Wow, that was a trip down memory lane for me. Back in the 70's & 80's we made a couple of trips each fall from Kingston to the Elk Lake area for hunting. Done that trip in trucks, cars, a Suzuki Sidekick, a trio of 3 new matching Suzuki 850s, a dirt bike, my airplane, and canoes & small boats on the Montreal River. The paved sections of road are greatly improved I can see, but the gravel section not at all until you hit the section with the trucks - yuck. Anyway, glad you made it there & back safely with minimal mechanical issues as help is not always readily available on those roads!

[@nick949eldo]

Yep. Nice area but heavily logged over (even though it has now grown up again.

[@andrewewan624]

Super scenery.. Great to see these older machines.. putting on some miles Stay safe

[@passinthru4328]

great scenery and a good ride notwithstanding the logging trucks. thanks for sharing your observations and attitude.

[@MrShad73]

Was on a ride a couple weeks ago on a backroad and i rolled up behind another bike which i tailed along behind for several miles. When the road came to a "T" he pulled away after the stop and i thought to myself man that bike sounds good. It was an old Moto Guzzi eldorado. They just have a certain deep mellow sound. Great video on the Honda too look forward to seeing more adventures.

[@drdoolittle5724]

The only phrase to demonstrate my praise, 'true grit' Sir! I have the 'newer' European version of the 'duckling', which Honda obviously learnt a lot from so am expecting years of loyal service from. It will not encounter anything whatsoever similar to your locale if i can help it though UK roads are desperately attempting to get back to their 19th century origins !

[@nick949eldo]

I hope some of these roads stay in their 'unimproved' state. They always feel denatured once they're paved.

[@josephleister9198]

Great video, and a awesome deal on the Honda. I think this bike has quite a following here in the states....inexpensive and reliable. Thanks

[@taebert]

I really enjoyed your most recent book. I own all of them and listen to them over and over again while working in my shop. I was really surprised by this addition to you stable after your earlier experience on your friend’s (I think it was Norm?). I always enjoy your tales of the road. Please keep them coming.

[@nick949eldo]

Haha. Many thanks for the great support. I'm thrilled you enjoy them. You are right. I'd been unimpressed when I rode a PC the first time but when this one turned up I thought I'd give it (and me) a second chance. It turns out that I was too hasty. It's a surprisingly enjoyable machine - not fast, but fast enough, and just quirky enough to be interesting. It just goes to show, we shouldn't always go with our first impressions.

[@seethebutter]

Thanks

[@Stefan_trekkie]

The bike needs more work but you'll get it on the right track. Never seen one of this before but that is the rule for all of your bikes. Big lumpy bikes are rare at it is but old ones even more so. Not panicking on the brake downs is something many people must learn.

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks Stefan. They're not very rare in North America - especially south of the border.

[@Tonecaster]

Thanks! Nice trip.

[@eprohoda]

Nick~ Like it. really top upload- ))

[@henryhawk978]

Logging trucks on a dry dusty road isn't pleasant. Glad you made it home without a major issue. Came close to purchasing a Pacifica once couldn't pull the trigger. Enjoyed the video, it's about time for a hiking video Nick RIDE SAFE OUT THERE!

[@nick949eldo]

Agreed - thanks Dewayne

[@gabrieldelucca8360]

Se comportó la Pacific en la tierra y en esos caminos duros, si me faltó el sonido de Guzzi, me sorprendió el primer camión que apareció, después muy lindo paseó. Que andes bien buenas Rutas para todos!!!

[@nick949eldo]

Gracias. Pronto habrá más Guzzi pilotando.

[@billwelsh7489]

Awesome adventure ride! Going solo makes it a bit scarier! I had a Suzuki Cavalcade for a few years. Loved it. The PC always looked like a scooter to me, but very functional. I'm glad you enjoyed your trip. I enjoyed watching your video. Thanks!

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks. Actually, the 'Solo' in the title was to tweak the noses of people who use all the buzz words to advertise their videos. I always go solo. Not scary at all. I wouldn't have it any other way. Riding with others is scary.

[@davewojcik1854]

​@@nick949eldoI agree 100 percent. Solo is the way.

[@tinytim9413]

Hi Nick My wife's PC had similar charging issues. The voltage regulators on these bikes are known for problems. If I remember it was on the left side under a panel just under the gas tank. I was a quick fix to swap in a new one. I could see where it had gotten very hot just by looking at it. Anyway that could be it. Thanks for another enjoyable ride along. TT

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks TT, I'll check it out. Odd that it worked well after that hiccup.

[@ronl1968]

love watching your videos. you are my hero. yes, seriously.

[@nick949eldo]

Haha. but thanks.

[@sublunacy]

great stuff. please can you include more on navigation. and best ideas on rescue concerning cellular limitations.

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

Great 👍 to see someone doing ADV on a old bike , in Australian we have quite a lot of roads with that sort of dust

[@nick949eldo]

Been watching some Australian riding videos (Joe Ryan - look him up). Great country!

[@itsallabouttheridekeepingi4449]

@@nick949eldo I actually have been watching him as well 👍

[@broadwayFan28]

Nice report. Let us know what the flat battery was about when you fix it. Great deal on the bike, they are a bit more $ here. Thanks.

[@jimksa67]

Up up and away! :)

[@williamnethercott4364]

Quite a difference between the Honda and your Panther! I'm sure it will learn that a reluctant battery is never going to stop you, so it will have to be a bit more creative if the Honda feels like a rest.

[@nick949eldo]

Thanks William - yes, quite a contrast and at only 29 years old, my newest bike.

[@philrulon]

I had a similar issue with my Ambassador. It turned out to be a bad brush in the starter. Sometimes it worked fine, others it would hardly turn over at all.

[@billturner6655]

Only a mother could love something that ugly , but a great video as always Nick. Thanks

[@nick949eldo]

Ugly? Modern ADV bikes are ugly, with their cross-eyed, beaky proboscis. The PC800 is......homely 😆

[@davewojcik1854]

There's something satisfying about taking an old bike and getting her back on the road. Now that I'm 60 my thoughts have changed with age.

[@speece69]

At least once a year perfect strangers have commented that my PC is a beautiful motorbike. Never happened with any other ‘bike I’ve owned. They are usually people who are not motorcyclists and therefore not blinded by childish prejudices.

[@bsc1463]

Interesting bike Nick . I thought they had an hydraulic clutch ? I just got back from the Trans Lab a week or so ago . I had some charging issues also but there is always a way to get your battery to charge . I hope you had a great summer so far . I will be awhile before I edit my trip but you should find it a bit interesting having recently road it yourself . Luv the new bike you got ...who ever said that if you put lipstick on a pig ...it's still a pig . Beauty is in the eye of the beholder .

[@nick949eldo]

You're right. The clutch is hydraulic. The broken clutch cable was on my Eldorado a few years back at the same location. Glad you had a good TLH trip. Beauty is indeed.....😁

[@nick949eldo]

Looking forward to the vid. Keep me posted.

[@bsc1463]

@@nick949eldo Are you going to the Guzzi get together this weekend ?

[@nick949eldo]

No. I will have to skip it this year. @@bsc1463

[@bsc1463]

@@nick949eldo Too bad .....I was going to show you the bike I bought a few months ago . 🙂 .....it has a hydraulic clutch also ...and lots of Tupperware.

[@wdhewson]

Never owned one, too ugly. But what a great bike. Best fairing I ever sat behind.

[@nick949eldo]

Eyes of the beholder etc. Personally, I find modern ADV bikes pig ugly, but I'm a dinosaur.

[@bigjoe4020]

The more the price drops the prett.....ah, less ugly they become. :) I buy it for that money too. Rsm8

[@didierdidier1932]

Now you have to try a Harley on dusty road, because if you like Guzzi like I do you will love it. And yes this plastic Honda is ugly.

[@nick949eldo]

I have no doubt that if I could get over the 'culture' (which I can't), I'd really like Harleys and would have no trouble riding one such places.