|  | Topic : Great Lakes Loop |  |
| | | RatDog | | Chaac |  |  | | Reg. Date | : | 09/12/2012 | | Posts | : | 516 | | Location | : | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 18 Jan 2016 - 18:40 Post title : Great Lakes Loop | | | Hey All.
Me Harley buddies and I are planning our annual summer tour. Considering a route we have dubbed "The Great Lakes Loop". See image posted below. Google says it is 1800 miles or so. Wondering if anyone here might be familiar with the route and able to offer any tips...?
Woof
| Paul
2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS (stealthy and fastest matte black!)
Previous Bikes:
2001 Suzuki Bandit GSF1200S
1981 Yamaha SECA XJ-750
| | Post edited by RatDog on 18 Jan 2016 - 18:41 |
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| | | Atikokan | | Set | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 14/01/2015 | | Posts | : | 53 | | Location | : | Halifax, NS, Canada |
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| | Posted : 18 Jan 2016 - 18:47 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: RatDog) | | | I'm very familiar with the route from Sault Ste Marie to Thunder Bay, lots to see if you take all the offshoots. Lake Superior park is spectacular, lots of twisties and elevation changes. Has a fair amount of look-offs as well. It's about an 8 hour run around the lake. I don't recommend any night travel through there, lots of moose at night, and you'll never see them. I would take a couple days, it's a nice ride for sure.
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze T-Bird 1600 ABS.
Still Stock!
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| | | RatDog | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/12/2012 | | Posts | : | 516 | | Location | : | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 18 Jan 2016 - 19:01 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: Atikokan) | | | Cool. Appreciate the reply. So it looks like the road is Rt 17 between Sault St. Marie and Thunder Bay. How would you describe it... a super slab, a two laner, something else - will we need knobbies  ?
We took a spin up to Bay St. Paul & Saguenay fjord a few years back. The beware of moose signs were unforgettable!
| Paul
2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS (stealthy and fastest matte black!)
Previous Bikes:
2001 Suzuki Bandit GSF1200S
1981 Yamaha SECA XJ-750
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| | | Atikokan | | Set | | | | Reg. Date | : | 14/01/2015 | | Posts | : | 53 | | Location | : | Halifax, NS, Canada |
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| | Posted : 19 Jan 2016 - 22:34 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: RatDog) | | | When you leave SSM, there's a lot of elevation changes, it follows the lake. You're in the hills a little, then descend to the lake multiple times. Once past Pancake Bay you hit the park and get into some long grades, both up and down, and some sharper corners. I would stay pretty close to the posted signs when rounding corners. Lots of rock cuts and very little forgiveness for mistakes at higher speeds. Roads were in good condition last time I was through, pavement all the way, with some rougher sections, but generally in good shape. It's no super slab, lots of trucks, all two lane with the odd passing lane (usually on long grades). Once past Wawa, you head inland for a while and it's generally flat and endless forest...make time here, but only in the day time, there could be moose around every bend. It does come back along the lake around Terrace Bay. Can be lots of traffic in the summer time, but there are lots of passing lanes to open 'er up  . Overall, well worth the trip, it is truly spectacular scenery-wise, so I recommend taking your time and taking in all the canyons and sights.
| 2013 Blue Marble Haze T-Bird 1600 ABS.
Still Stock!
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| | | fasteddy | | Chaac | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 16/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 962 | | Location | : | Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Feb 2016 - 16:59 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: RatDog) | | | I do this trip annually and take folks around it from Europe (and US) so I am very familiar. I think the mileage is very lean as the Superior Circle tour is 1000 plus depending upon the route you take in Michigan and Wisconsin. The North Shore of Superior is spectacular, South Shore routes is where it can get boring if you stay away from the Lake. I recommend from your starting point to go counter clockwise and enjoy the north at the beginning of the trip, on the last half is when folks get more road weary and tend to burn it up and you have more options and alternate routes to take to burn miles.
Now having said that, here is what you MUST do.
Plan for easy days, stop often every 50-100 miles. Why? a 5-10 minute break every hour, will allow you to have longer days and your body will appreciate it. Instead of watching your speedo miles tick because your butt and legs are hurting, you will pay attention to places as you go through.
Be flexible, allow time on the other end a full day or two days that you do not have to be back. In doing this you will never feel compelled to push and you will have time to stay and see something you were not expecting. You have to be flexible with your friends too, talk about expectations before you leave so you can stay friends! If someone wants to peal off and burn up miles and meet down the road, allow them the flexibility. It will keep the peace and keep friends, as friends! People along the way, take the time to stop and talk, enjoy the adventure!
I recommend this site. I know the folks personally as I work directly with them and have stayed at recommended biker friendly places. The lodgings are chosen because of how they relate to bikers, and must meet criteria to be on the list.
Ride Lake Superior
Dress for any type of whether, like 40-80F Rain and sun, fog an clear. Superior does what it wants!
Uploaded some photo's: Some Lake Superior Circle Tour Photo's
Eddy
| www.fasteddysports.com
| | Post edited by fasteddy on 29 Feb 2016 - 17:13 |
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| | | MotorMac | | Jupiter | |  | | Reg. Date | : | 29/08/2010 | | Posts | : | 1,790 | | Location | : | Nor Cal, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Feb 2016 - 17:33 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: fasteddy) | | | Great advice, Eddy! I wanna ride with you - why don't more people have that kind of common sense?
Looks like a spectacular trip...
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| | | RatDog | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/12/2012 | | Posts | : | 516 | | Location | : | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 29 Feb 2016 - 19:02 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: fasteddy) | | | Thanks for that reply Eddy. Will definitely be sharing that with the group. They are a good bunch. As usual with the blessings of families and jobs we always have trouble coordinating availability - it is the same story every year. I wonder how we ever get it together to do anything!
| Paul
2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS (stealthy and fastest matte black!)
Previous Bikes:
2001 Suzuki Bandit GSF1200S
1981 Yamaha SECA XJ-750
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| | | fasteddy | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 16/10/2008 | | Posts | : | 962 | | Location | : | Wisconsin, United States |
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| | Posted : 11 Aug 2016 - 14:09 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: RatDog) | | | Rat, you gonna make the trip?
I have been home for a week and I am getting antsy!
Eddy
| www.fasteddysports.com
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| | | RatDog | | Chaac | | | | Reg. Date | : | 09/12/2012 | | Posts | : | 516 | | Location | : | Valley Forge, Pennsylvania, United States |
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| | Posted : 12 Aug 2016 - 12:33 Post title : Re: Great Lakes Loop (Re: fasteddy) | | | I wish! Guys here can't get our *!#@ together to plan a ride. Sigh. For now it remains on the bucket list. Someday....
| Paul
2012 Triumph Thunderbird Storm ABS (stealthy and fastest matte black!)
Previous Bikes:
2001 Suzuki Bandit GSF1200S
1981 Yamaha SECA XJ-750
| | Post edited by RatDog on 12 Aug 2016 - 12:35 |
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