Tip #1 Spare Key

There is no worse feeling than reaching into your pocket and finding out your key is missing, that is until your friend points out that you left it in the ignition of your bike.  Phew!  Just in case, bring a spare.  You might even want to give your spare to a riding buddy.

Tip #2 Border Crossings

A little digging on the internet found these sites.  These contain the very good info on the Canadian border crossings.

The skinny of all of these is that to get into Canada you need proof of citizenship.  A driver's license will do for this, though a passport (not required) is supposed to be better.  Other forms of proof are:  Birth Certificate, Voter's Card, or other form of Government ID.  Keep in mind that one of the id forms must be a photo id.  You may also need your vehicle registration if they suspect anything amiss with the vehicle belonging to you.  Before entering Canada you should also be sure your motorcycle insurer provides Canadian coverage and have some sort of proof of it.  In addition it appears that the access to Canada is being more actively restricted to persons with any sort of criminal record.  This does include DUI convictions.  If this does pertain to you there are ways around it.  You should contact the Canadian Embassy ahead of time to work it out.  Also, no firearms are allowed. 

Most border crossings are uneventful, but there have been times where some of us have had a routine check done.  This means standing in a line for a few minutes and then talking to a customs agent.  They are just doing their job, and it's only a few minutes of your time that they require.

With regards to the proof of Canadian insurance, while we typically have never had anything more than just our regular insurance cards with us, you may want to contact your insurance agent to see if you can get proof of coverage while in Canada if you don't have it already. This especially holds true for the LEO magnets...you know who you are.  Just remember to be as polite as possible, follow all the rules of the border crossing (like stay behind the line until motioned forward), and be honest to all questions asked.  Then all you will have to worry about is remembering that the speed limits are now in Km/H and not MPH.

A two minute call to your insurance agent is usually all it takes to get a proof of coverage card.

Tip #3: Comfort

Comfort on a motorcycle can be challenging at times, but it's also an important factor in overall enjoyment.  Here are a couple quick hints and suggestions:

1. Have a good set of warm clothes, and rain gear.  Nothing is worse than being cold on a bike, except being cold and wet.
2. Spend the $20 and get a Vista Cruise throttle lock.  This will hold the throttle open and allow you to take your hand off the handle bars to stretch.
3. Go out for a couple weekend rides beforehand, and get in "riding shape." You'll find that you use different muscles riding a motorcycle than you use sitting behind a desk, and despite the amount of time you find yourself exercising your buttock muscles at work, you'll need to get some riding miles in before your posterior is in good riding shape.  We will likely organize a few day rides in the weeks leading up to ATL2003.

Tip #4: Convenience

If there are little things that you can do to help yourself out, do them.

1. If you use soft luggage, pack your clothes in garbage bags.   Rain covers often fail, and after a rainy day in the saddle, nothing is worse than finding that your dry clothes are no longer dry.
2. Know your motorcycle.  At times, things may go wrong, and simply knowing where your fuse box is can get you back on the road quickly.  Have your common tools handy.
3. If you are into photography, have your camera handy.  You need not go overboard like some (MJ) but having your camera easily accessible will allow you to stop more often, even if just for a few seconds, to snap a picture.

Tip #5: Ontario Police Excuses

If you should get pulled over by the Ontario Police for speeding, I would not expect the 'I was trying to get to the hotel before the moose came out' excuse to work.  It is amazing that it did work one time already.

Tip #6: Grab a quick lunch

While we're not doing extreme miles, you may find it better to grab a quick gas-station lunch rather than sitting down to a seven course meal.  Better yet, grab a gas station sandwich, find a quiet lakeshore, and enjoy your lunch outdoors.   By doing so, you might lower the odds of having to use Tip #5.

Tip #7: Know your motorcycle

Today's motorcycles are very much bullet proof, but problems do pop up from time to time.  Before the trip, take a few minutes to locate the key parts of your motorcycle.  Know where your fuse box is, know how to adjust your chain and check your oil, and know your tire pressure.  Have any tools handy that you might need for day to day maintenance.

Also, know your motorcycle's range.  Some motorcycles have fuel reserve switches, and on some, a fuel reserve light comes on.  If you are the type that likes to run your tank nearly dry in between fillups, you may want to bring a length of hose, or wear a Camelback....Mike... :-)   Seriously, know your mileage, and when in doubt, fill up your tank.  There are times in Canada where gas stations are few and far between.  Better to fill up than sit stranded on the side of the road.

Tip #8: Fill up at the same time as your group

Speaking of gasoline, if you are riding with a group of motorcycles, unless you can go 2 tanks of gas on their bikes for one tank of gas on yours, fill up at the same time - even if you're only 1/2 empty.  This will lead to less time standing around in gas station parking lots since you'll now run out of gas before they need gas again.  This can also help to minimize the possibility of having to refer to Tip #5.