Riding in Canada questions
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 551
Likes: 10
From: Toronto, Ontario
A ton of great advice, but your head must be spinning!!
I take it you've never been here- just remember, everything is pretty much the same as in the US, except for gun laws and helmet laws- it's not like we're some foreign country like Mexico....chances are, you won't even feel like you're in a different country.
I take it you've never been here- just remember, everything is pretty much the same as in the US, except for gun laws and helmet laws- it's not like we're some foreign country like Mexico....chances are, you won't even feel like you're in a different country.
Tourer
Joined: Nov 2010
Posts: 268
Likes: 3
From: Sydney NS Canada
Welcome to Canada eh, my American friend, just remember -
1) Speed limits are strictly enforced.
2) Drinking while driving is a very serious offence.
3) Our money is the really colorful paper that looks like it was printed in Disney Land.
4) Guns are bad! (leave all 6 of them home)
5) Don't even think about sex!!!
6) We DO sometimes drive on the opposite side of the road (blame this on our British heritage)
Enjoy your stay!!
1) Speed limits are strictly enforced.
2) Drinking while driving is a very serious offence.
3) Our money is the really colorful paper that looks like it was printed in Disney Land.
4) Guns are bad! (leave all 6 of them home)
5) Don't even think about sex!!!
6) We DO sometimes drive on the opposite side of the road (blame this on our British heritage)
Enjoy your stay!!
Last edited by BayBones; Dec 23, 2010 at 10:48 PM.
Road Master
Joined: Jan 2010
Posts: 881
Likes: 13
From: ONT
One way to improve your chances of a non-eventful entrance into Canada and back into the US is to obtain a NEXUS Card. Very handy for coming and going back and forth across the border. It can be used at all land, some air with restrictions and water border crossings and is very handy at "Nexus Crossings". NEXUS lines are much shorter than the regular lines and delays are relatively short. Southern Ontario Border Crossings can be very slow if using the regular booths and lanes and unbelievably HOT when sitting on an air cooled motorcycle waiting your turn in line. Remember while waiting your turn you cannot get off you bike. Not even for a stretch or a pee. Windsor-Detroit, Port Huron-Sarnia and Sault Ste Marie Mi-Sault Ste Marie, Ontario have Nexus Booths. Only NEXUS Card holder can use these lanes as background checks are done before you can obtain a Card. If interested in obtaining a Card, "Google" "Nexus" and you can find out how to apply etc.
Southern Ontario is busy and very much like Big City America. If you have time travel north and experience Northern Ontario. Here you may just be greeted in French first, however most if not all Francophones speak English as well. Scenery along Lake Superior is bar none pristine and scenic, while the Transcanada Highway winds through the Canadian Shield. It will remind you of riding through the mountains. Encounters with wildlife along the way including Moose is not uncommon. Highways are exciting to ride with passing lanes in many sections along the way. The end of July 2010 Thunder Bay, Ontario, (located on the North Shore of Lake Superior), is hosting the Ontario Provincial Hog Rally. Great chance to meet Harley Owners from all over North American and complete the "Circle Route" around Lake Superior and end up back in Michigan State. I dare say riders will be leaving the Rally and heading to Sturgus.
Southern Ontario is busy and very much like Big City America. If you have time travel north and experience Northern Ontario. Here you may just be greeted in French first, however most if not all Francophones speak English as well. Scenery along Lake Superior is bar none pristine and scenic, while the Transcanada Highway winds through the Canadian Shield. It will remind you of riding through the mountains. Encounters with wildlife along the way including Moose is not uncommon. Highways are exciting to ride with passing lanes in many sections along the way. The end of July 2010 Thunder Bay, Ontario, (located on the North Shore of Lake Superior), is hosting the Ontario Provincial Hog Rally. Great chance to meet Harley Owners from all over North American and complete the "Circle Route" around Lake Superior and end up back in Michigan State. I dare say riders will be leaving the Rally and heading to Sturgus.
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Northern BC, Canada
One word: TIMBITS!!
That's all I've got. I'm from out west; never ridden (or driven in ON); I do 99% of my riding on 2-lane and far away from big cities.
Hope you enjoy your trip.
BTW My wife and I met a great couple from Minnesota when we were riding in the Okanagan valley last summer. Dick had a nice black 09 ultra and his wife Brenda had a Heritage. You might know them, eh?
That's all I've got. I'm from out west; never ridden (or driven in ON); I do 99% of my riding on 2-lane and far away from big cities.
Hope you enjoy your trip.
BTW My wife and I met a great couple from Minnesota when we were riding in the Okanagan valley last summer. Dick had a nice black 09 ultra and his wife Brenda had a Heritage. You might know them, eh?
Tourer
Joined: Dec 2009
Posts: 339
Likes: 0
From: Northern BC, Canada
6) Only when I'm swerving to get around a stupid moose.
Road Master
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 755
Likes: 57
From: St. Augustine, FL
Second this one. Was trying to find a place to store mine in the US, but was at the border before I knew it. Told the border agent and he thanked me for disclosing it, took my gun, brought it back to me 10 minutes later without bullets (because the hollow points were illegal in Canada) and sent me back into the US. The entire drive back to Florida I had a paperweight for protection.
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Road Master
Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 866
Likes: 18
From: Richmond Hill, Ontario
They say you can drive under a moose. But don't try it in mating season when the males are excited. You might get impaled.
Road Master
Joined: Dec 2008
Posts: 787
Likes: 3
From: Central Florida
The Canadian border officials can be extremely petty.
There is a lady who rides with the PGR here who had a DUI 30 years ago. The only time she had been in trouble in her entire life. She's a schoolteacher, for pete's sake, not a hardened criminal.
They refused her entry.
Honestly, as big a PITA as they've gone out of their way to become, I'd keep my travel $$$ in the US.
There is a lady who rides with the PGR here who had a DUI 30 years ago. The only time she had been in trouble in her entire life. She's a schoolteacher, for pete's sake, not a hardened criminal.
They refused her entry.
Honestly, as big a PITA as they've gone out of their way to become, I'd keep my travel $$$ in the US.