Magical Mystery Tour of the DR

frank12

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Sep 6, 2011
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I'm a major motorcycle enthusiast who has driven around Scandinavia, the USA, and the Dominican Republic. I currently own four bikes, but at certain times of the year, i've been known to possess six or more. My current bikes are these: 1). 2006 KTM 950SM, 2.) 2008 Husaberg 550SM, 3.) 2003 Honda CBR954RR, 4.) 2011 Yamaha Zuma 125 (scooter).

I love all my bikes--including the scooter--however, recently i got to participate in one of the most amazing motorcycle tours available on this side of the Milky Way galaxy. No, it did not involve the Tail of the Dragon--the Tail of the Dragon wouldn't touch this tour in any way, shape, or form. Only one small section of this tour had twice as many curves as the Tail of the Dragon in North Carolina on US129.

No, what i'm talking about here is something much more majestic, much more stunning, much more visually stimulating, and much more hair-raising then the Tail of the Dragon could ever offer or provide--it involves hundreds of curves, tons of switch-backs, and offers more adrenaline rush than any synthetic drug on this planet could ever provide you with--i'm talking about a combination Magical Mystery Tour meets Easy Rider--but only if Evil Knievel was riding lead and Peter Fonda and Dennis Hopper were riding shotgun.

Yes, i'm talking about motorcycle Nirvana.

What bike did i take for this Magical Mystery tour of the galaxy? It's a bike i had never ridden before, a bike i knew very little about, a bike that had never crossed my path...a bike that somehow escaped my realm of knowledge, experience, and expertise. This bike defied every categorization known to man, but when i was through riding it for four days and nights, i didn't want to ride anything else, nor did i want to give it back.

Before i give you the answer about the bike, however, i want to state this for the records: on this bike, I was perched on a chrome horse with his diplomat, who carried on his shoulders not a Siamese cat...but instead one Contour Roam camera, and one FLIP video camera. See this video for a short glimpse of the tour: Motocaribe tour 1 - YouTube

See this video for a new record i set on this bike for 15.5km, 46 curves, in 8:26: Atlantic Coastal Highway, Suzuki DL 650 - YouTube

Ok, by now you know the bike that i was perched on was a 2010 Suzuki 650 V-Strom. This bike impressed me so much that it defied all categorization in my mind; it left me feeling as if i was missing something very important and life changing in my life. And yes, this bike will undoubtedly be my next bike in my arsenal of weapons for when either Armageddon comes, or the Zombies come storming through the front gates--which ever comes first.

Allow me to tell you a little about this island: we have no rules to speak of--we have no speed limits, no off-road riding rules, no such thing as "points on one's license". This island is motorcycle heaven. It's the second largest island in the Caribbean--with thousands of mountain roads, trails, and paths. We have the highest mountains in the Caribbean: Pico Duarte is 10,000ft; we have more mountain chains and mountain curves than any other island in the known universe; we have more rivers and mountain streams, and hence...more bridges then Madison County, US 1, or the Rocky Mountains combined. Ok, maybe not more than the Rockies.

I heard about a guy running motorcycle tours of this island. Occasionally, over the years, i heard more and more about him. It got to the point where i finally said, "Ok, enough is enough, i have to meet this guy." I rode up to his house---which sits in one of the highest mountain towns on this island--known as "Jarabacoa." He lives high up in the mountains in a venue i would describe as Daniel Boone meets the Beverly Hillbillies meets the Playboy Mansion. No, i am not kidding. He has a beautiful place surrounded by a dozen or more nearly new Suzuki 650 V-Strom's. What is Daniel Boone's real name: Robert Cooper.

Robert lead me on a magical Mystery tour of mountain villages and one horse towns; he took me down steep embankments with off-camber turns and 90 degree hair-pins; he took me across wild mountain rivers with wild flowers draping over our heads, and hundreds of bridges and streams; he took me on steep mountain climbs with amazing descents into oblivion; he took me to all-inclusive hotels and restaurants and watched me devour whole buffets in one sitting, as i pulled my seat up to the edge of the buffet table--after riding all day--and scooped whole plates of food into my mouth in a rapid, but graceful "food shoveling action." Yes, I'm a professional eater. Yes, i can get into a squat-like stance and put my mouth gracefully up to the edge of any dining room table and scoop whole turkey's and pumpkin pies into my mouth without the need to either breath oxygen or chew.

Robert's tour company--known as "Motocaribe.com," is without question the best, most organized, first class run operation i've ever seen, heard of, or experienced. And no, i know what you are thinking right now...I must know Robert Cooper well, am friend's with him in some way. No, and No. I do not know him well--first, he lives way too far up in the mountains for me to hang out with; secondly, he looks funny (he played professional football) and doesn't eat enough junk food for me to be a close friend of mine. Still, he's a nice guy and he and his wife, Alida (a beautiful person), run a first class show that is as professional and well organized as anything i've ever seen or experienced in my life.

To give you an idea how well organized Robert and his tours are...his wife, Alida, follows the tour around in a big Ford 350 van that pulls a trailer with an extra Suzuki 650 V-Strom should anything go wrong along the tour. Inside the van, they carry lots of beverages, food, snacks, first-aid kits, riding gear, towels...you name it...the van is the John Madden RV of motorcycles. It really is amazingly equipped, and you can leave your personal belongings in the van without fear of them getting wet or damaged. I left my fiance and our daughter, Dasha, in the van and they followed us and met us at every stop along the way--beaches, mountain passes, waterfalls, cliffs, restaurants, buffets...every where. Occasionally they rode with me, and i let them gave them the recording duties as i concentrated on riding. Everyone got to participate in the action. It was fun, and it was exhilarating for both them and me.

Now, i want to own a Suzuki 650 V-Strom, and i don't think i'm going to get much sleep until i figure out how to acquire one and put it alongside my arsenal of weapons for Armageddon. In order to acquire a V-Strom, I've considered robbing banks, but i don't think i would get enough food in prison; i've considered asking my boss for a raise, but i think this would only make him notice how little work i actually do, which would then make him see how worthless i am. I considered going to the casino and trying my luck there, but we know how great that usually turns out; i considered putting my fiance and our daughter up for sale on Ebay, but who ever bought them would only bring them back within 4 hours and i would have to feed them.

Right now, i'm at a crossroads...do i take a loan out and enjoy the Suzuki 650 V-Strom for a few months before the bank comes and takes repossession, or do i wait until i have enough money to purchase one, which might be when i'm 50yrs old. Wait, I'm almost 50 yrs old. Shouldn't be too long now, but first, i have to figure out how to get on one of Robert's motorcycle tours of the southwest corner of this island...it's one of the most beautiful, most visually stimulating regions of the Caribbean.

Motocaribe.com, here i come!

Sincerely, Frank
 
May 29, 2006
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Frank have you ever seen the 70's documentary, On any Sunday? I think Steve McQueen is featured in it.
 

frank12

Gold
Sep 6, 2011
11,847
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48
Frank have you ever seen the 70's documentary, On any Sunday? I think Steve McQueen is featured in it.

No, i haven't, but i will check it out. Here is it is: On Any Sunday (1971) - IMDb

It's called "On any Sunday" (1971). "Documentary on motorcycle racing featuring stars of the sport, including film star Steve McQueen, a racer in his own right. A documentary following the lives of motorcycle racers and racing enthusiasts, including actor Steve McQueen. First asking the question "Why do they do it?" this film looks at the people who devote (and sometimes risk) their lives to racing on tracks and off-road courses around the world."

Thanks, Frank
 
Feb 4, 2013
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Frank

How do you like your KTM? Considering buying a bike to bring to the island. My girlfriend of course wants one too. I have been reading lots about the KTM's. We are considering 250 enduros, I can buy two Hondas for the price of a KTM. In your opinion is the KTM worth the extra $
 

frank12

Gold
Sep 6, 2011
11,847
29
48
Frank

How do you like your KTM? Considering buying a bike to bring to the island. My girlfriend of course wants one too. I have been reading lots about the KTM's. We are considering 250 enduros, I can buy two Hondas for the price of a KTM. In your opinion is the KTM worth the extra $

I love the KTM and have owned quite a few: KTm 525EXc, KTM 450EXC, KTM 640 LC4, and now my KTM 950SM, so, yes, i love KTM's, but down here, unless your racing and are loaded with cash, i would just buy two Honda 250's. Honda's are built tough, easy to fix, and parts are readily available. There's a Honda dealership and in Santo Domingo, Santiago...you name it, but there is even one right here outside of Sosua--down a dirt road--it's a Honda & TM dealership.An

Anyway, i would go with two Honda 250 Enduros (Lights, electric starter, etc.). You can't go wrong with Japanese. They're built to last.

Frank