- Thread starter frank12
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Motorcycling around the DR
22.) Ok, i'm late too work, but, i will travel so fast that i will go back to the future in order to arrive on time.
i also have the video of this ride here: Cannonball Run: Santiago to Puerto Plata - YouTube
Damn, so what kind of bike was this, Frank? Is it you on that video?
Gerald, from Austria is doing the video taping--he's on a Suzuki 2004 GSXR 1000 (He's in several pictures; we race around the island together); i'm directly behind him on a 2003 Honda CBR1000RR; directly behind me is his 63 yr old father on an identical 2004 Suzuki GSXR 1000 (there is several pictures of all three of our bikes throughout this thread.)
All our bikes our meticulously maintained...and i mean religiously and meticulously maintained--oil change every 3000km, oil filter changed every other oil change, air filter thoroughly cleaned every 2 months, brake fluid changed every year and a half, Dual & Triple-compound tires with plenty of thread on them, Premium gasoline, proper air pressure a must, new brake shoes, steel braided brake lines, radiator fluid flushed once a year, etc, etc...too much too mention.
The problem with buying a motorcycle on this island is that 99% of the people here are "reactive"--they wait for something to break down before they fix it. Me and the small group i ride with are "Pro-active"--we are constantly doing pre-maintenance because we cannot afford for anything to fail and we need the bikes in tip-top shape because of the road conditions here.
Do yourself a favor, before you buy a bike here, just check the air filter--that alone will tell you how well the bike has been maintained. I have to laugh...i cannot tell you how many people here do not change their air filter, and some of them just throw it out when it gets clogged and dirty; they don't even replace it. I've seen it happen on $20,000 Ducati's Suzuki's, Honda's...you name it...people here are not of the mindset to be vigilant about maintenance until something breaks down; we Dominicans are not "pro-active" with anything. Well, don't take my word for it...just look at the tires on vehicles here and the amount of thread on them...that tells the whole story.
Frank
99.) Other than my Brembo 330mm brake calipers on my KTM 950sm, these are the best brakes i've ever experienced on a motorcycle. these are on a 2010 BMW 1000RR--when you apply the brakes they engage both the front and the back brakes. they were amazing.
100.) Airforce Rob--previous owner of the KTM 950SM, and ex-calculus teacher from Carol Morgan school in Santo Domingo; Retired Airforce pilot and Airforce instructor--one of the smartest guys i've ever met, and hands down the most knowledgeable person on this island on airplanes, physics, and poontang. Currently in southeast Asia testing out different varieties of poontang for military research.
101.) One of the most scenic, uninhabited ocean drives you can find on this island--southwest of Barahona
102.) Me in my motorcycle body armor and gear.
103. Airforce Rob, Danish Jesper (245lbs), and me taking the picture after going up the back service road up to El Teleferico on three bikes--before it was paved!!
104.) Danish Jesper and me riding around Las Terrenas on Supermotos
105.) Jesper and I taking a break in-between Las Terrenas and Samana
106.) Me crossing the river after you take a left at the bottom of Charimicos (the road has a name but i forget it) and then driving approximately 10 miles before reaching the river, then crossing it and coming out at Jamao Norte--the town.
100.) Airforce Rob--previous owner of the KTM 950SM, and ex-calculus teacher from Carol Morgan school in Santo Domingo; Retired Airforce pilot and Airforce instructor--one of the smartest guys i've ever met, and hands down the most knowledgeable person on this island on airplanes, physics, and poontang. Currently in southeast Asia testing out different varieties of poontang for military research.
101.) One of the most scenic, uninhabited ocean drives you can find on this island--southwest of Barahona
102.) Me in my motorcycle body armor and gear.
103. Airforce Rob, Danish Jesper (245lbs), and me taking the picture after going up the back service road up to El Teleferico on three bikes--before it was paved!!
104.) Danish Jesper and me riding around Las Terrenas on Supermotos
105.) Jesper and I taking a break in-between Las Terrenas and Samana
106.) Me crossing the river after you take a left at the bottom of Charimicos (the road has a name but i forget it) and then driving approximately 10 miles before reaching the river, then crossing it and coming out at Jamao Norte--the town.
107.) On the way to Higuey or La Romana--i can't remember, but i liked the bridge enough to stop
108.) Just like the sign says--Telefericos and San Marcos--on the backside of the mountain--before it was paved, in Puerto Plata
109.) Behind a coconut truck on the way to Samana
110.) On the way to Las Galeras and Playa Rincon.
111.) Refrigeration express delivery in Puerto Plata
112.) Somewhere northeast in what looks like the European Alps
113.) Private Junkyard in Sosua, right beside where i used to live--behind the TM/Honda dealership (i can't think of the name right now.
114.) In-between Cabarete and Sosua--trying to save wear and tear on the front tire.
115.) Up El Choco, on the right hand side--about 2 miles up the road.
116.) Outside of Nagua, on highway 5--one of the most scenic roads that run parallel to the ocean--stunning and beautiful, and almost always a police check/stop on this part of the highway. you got to have your papers in order before you even think about venturing through this police check black hole on a motorcycle. the police are there nearly every morning and afternoon, but they always take a lunch break between 12pm to 1pm and they leave the black hole open for the kind of Back-to-the-Future speed-of-light traveling i like to do on this stretch of highway.
108.) Just like the sign says--Telefericos and San Marcos--on the backside of the mountain--before it was paved, in Puerto Plata
109.) Behind a coconut truck on the way to Samana
110.) On the way to Las Galeras and Playa Rincon.
111.) Refrigeration express delivery in Puerto Plata
112.) Somewhere northeast in what looks like the European Alps
113.) Private Junkyard in Sosua, right beside where i used to live--behind the TM/Honda dealership (i can't think of the name right now.
114.) In-between Cabarete and Sosua--trying to save wear and tear on the front tire.
115.) Up El Choco, on the right hand side--about 2 miles up the road.
116.) Outside of Nagua, on highway 5--one of the most scenic roads that run parallel to the ocean--stunning and beautiful, and almost always a police check/stop on this part of the highway. you got to have your papers in order before you even think about venturing through this police check black hole on a motorcycle. the police are there nearly every morning and afternoon, but they always take a lunch break between 12pm to 1pm and they leave the black hole open for the kind of Back-to-the-Future speed-of-light traveling i like to do on this stretch of highway.
117.) Up El Choco--only about a half a mile, on the left, there is Quarry with dump trucks constantly going in and out of it. on Sunday's, you could open the fence and drive in--there were no security guards back then--and you could drive around the Quarry and have it all to yourself. it was perfect for enduro bikes.
118,) Way up El Choco--in the deep countryside; both serene and surreal--it's like traveling back in time where only donkey, horses, and rubber boots are the only form of transportation...and then us Time Bandits show up disturbing the peace and tranquility of yesteryear, where time moves slowly and people work and then come home and sit on their front porches all day.
119.) Jeff taking the dog to Dr. Bob's in Sosua, but coming from Cabarete with the dog seated upright, with a woody, because, well, let's be honest...dogs and chicks love motorcycles!
120.) David getting some air on the motocross track in Cabarete
121.) Jeff getting some air on the same motocross track
118,) Way up El Choco--in the deep countryside; both serene and surreal--it's like traveling back in time where only donkey, horses, and rubber boots are the only form of transportation...and then us Time Bandits show up disturbing the peace and tranquility of yesteryear, where time moves slowly and people work and then come home and sit on their front porches all day.
119.) Jeff taking the dog to Dr. Bob's in Sosua, but coming from Cabarete with the dog seated upright, with a woody, because, well, let's be honest...dogs and chicks love motorcycles!
120.) David getting some air on the motocross track in Cabarete
121.) Jeff getting some air on the same motocross track
122.) Jeff and I on our way to Las Terrenas
123.) near Luperon, coming down a muddy dirt road.
124.) Bread delivery on a bike
125.) Ladder delivery along the Malecon in Puerto Plata
126.) Me and Austrian Gerald near Punta Rusia--where cannibalism is still routinely practiced--and a big pot filled with Yucca, onion, carrots, and assorted spices and cilantro sits simmering until some dumb, lost half-gringos show up asking them, "take us to your leader."
123.) near Luperon, coming down a muddy dirt road.
124.) Bread delivery on a bike
125.) Ladder delivery along the Malecon in Puerto Plata
126.) Me and Austrian Gerald near Punta Rusia--where cannibalism is still routinely practiced--and a big pot filled with Yucca, onion, carrots, and assorted spices and cilantro sits simmering until some dumb, lost half-gringos show up asking them, "take us to your leader."
127.) Somewhere near Punta Rusia, but completely lost.
128.) A group of racing from Puerto Plata to Playa Grande
129.) Stopping in Rio San Juan for gas, coffee, beer, and girls
130.) A car having some engine trouble after heavy rains in Bonao, right across from the park.
131.) driving through Cabarete, 2007
132.) My uncles Mercedez Benz Unimog.we bought it new in 1976, and this was the vehicle i learned how to drive on. it used be military green--it came that way from the factory. it was sold sometime in the late 80's and is still in Bonao to this day. Amazing, it never left the Cibao valley.
133.) Taking gas back out of a rental car. you never give back a rental car with more gas then you rented it with on this island.
128.) A group of racing from Puerto Plata to Playa Grande
129.) Stopping in Rio San Juan for gas, coffee, beer, and girls
130.) A car having some engine trouble after heavy rains in Bonao, right across from the park.
131.) driving through Cabarete, 2007
132.) My uncles Mercedez Benz Unimog.we bought it new in 1976, and this was the vehicle i learned how to drive on. it used be military green--it came that way from the factory. it was sold sometime in the late 80's and is still in Bonao to this day. Amazing, it never left the Cibao valley.
133.) Taking gas back out of a rental car. you never give back a rental car with more gas then you rented it with on this island.
Great photos and captions Frank, I enjoyed the trip
I pictured you SO differently!
Thank you. My pleasure.
Frank,
How long does it take to do the new road in Las Terrenas, starting from the Nagua/North Coast turnoff of the Samana Highway?
Is it an easy ride, or fairly technical?
134.) Somewhere near Playa Bonita, Las Terrenas.
135.) Near Playa Bonita, Las Terrenas
136.) Near Playa Bonita, looking West
137.) The back road--between El Limon and Las Terrenas--up in the mountains.
138.) Twins sitting on my KTM at Rancho Arriba--on the way to Constanza...it took us around 4 hours to reach Constanza that day.
139. Me and a Swiss guy, Kurt, racing around on Supermotos. He is on a KTM 520.
135.) Near Playa Bonita, Las Terrenas
136.) Near Playa Bonita, looking West
137.) The back road--between El Limon and Las Terrenas--up in the mountains.
138.) Twins sitting on my KTM at Rancho Arriba--on the way to Constanza...it took us around 4 hours to reach Constanza that day.
139. Me and a Swiss guy, Kurt, racing around on Supermotos. He is on a KTM 520.
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As you can see in the pictures, it's a brand new toll highway which costs cars and trucks $500 pesos to get on (Motorcycles are free on toll highways here). As a result of the high price, its an empty highway.
It's not technical at all, but has 48 curves from the beginning of the toll booth--next to the entrance to the Samana airport-- to the end of the toll road--where there is a round-about. However, once you get to the end where the round-about is at, you're still a long way from Las Terrenas--that's another 20 or 30 curves and, i don't know, maybe 10 or 15 more kilometers? That's also a beautiful and uninhabited stretch of highway for most of the way to Las Terrenas. It's also newly paved.
But no, it's not technical at all...just asphalt and curves. Just make sure you don't come into the curves too hot and over shot them...that's where people get into big trouble and end up in the hospital or morgue.
frank