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#Post#: 128--------------------------------------------------
Mighty Nuovo Falcone loose in Northern Ontario
By: nick949 Date: November 18, 2014, 7:28 am
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(I believe a version of this may appear in RealClassic at some
point - but for your entertainment now.....)
Mighty Falcone loose in Northern Ontario
...................but first, a map.
[img width=800
height=401]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/map.jpg[/img]
(to look in detail:
HTML http://goo.gl/maps/RNdsk
HTML http://goo.gl/maps/RNdsk)
I now know why the Italian Military were content to use such a
slow bike. It’s tough! It may not have speed, but it has a
kind of relentless, soft power that makes going virtually
anywhere a practical proposition. On the roads, it hums along,
setting it’s own agenda, regardless of what you try to do with
the throttle. Once the pavement ends, it’s soft suspension and
endless torque eat up trails where $20,000 ‘adventure’ bikes
would fear to go.
I left home at 5.15AM. I packed the NF the night before, so it
was just a matter of kicking it over and rolling. The first few
hundred kilometres were familiar territory for me, so I stopped
at all the regular haunts:
[I]....for gas and coffee (near Denbigh)[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate1.jpg[/img]
[I]....for a leg stretch and nature break (south of
Eganville)[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate2.jpg[/img]
until I reached the bridge across the Ottawa River at Rapides
des Joachims and the Swisha Road.
[I]....Ottawa River Bridge[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate3.jpg[/img]
The Swisha Road leads to the Dumoine ZEC. ZEC’s are:
[I]“A zone d'exploitation contrôlée (in French; acronym ZEC) is
a "Controlled harvesting zone". ZECs are a system of territorial
infrastructures set up in 1978 by the Government of Quebec to
take over from private hunting and fishing clubs (following
Opération gestion faune). They are non profit organisations
managed by honorary administrators whose primary responsibility
is to manage fishing and hunting activities and see to wildlife
conservation on their respective territories.”[/i] (Wikipedia).
.......which, in the common tongue, means you have to pay a
small fee to use the road.
Since the section of road I intended to use is 206 kilometres
long and unpaved the whole way, I filled my tank and spare can
with gas, and my tank bag with consumables (cheese curds,
Cheetos and Fanta - I’m a bit of a health food freak) and headed
up the Chemin Dumoine which follows the Dumoine River.
[I]....gas stop in Swisha[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate4.jpg[/img]
The first part of the road wasn’t too bad - as long as you
ignore the little micro-burst which had demolished a section of
shoreline tree and virtually blocked the road.
[I]The fallen trees had been cut back to keep the road clear[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate5.jpg[/img]
Beyond the blow downs, the road was a mix of cobbles, sand,
puddles, sand, more sand, cobbles and gravel. Just a typical
northern Canada cottage road really.
[I]Chemin Dumoine[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate6.jpg[/img]
After about 25 kilometres, the road crosses the Dumoine River.
From this point on, you are travelling within the ZEC, although
there was no noticeable difference before or after. It’s all
just forest and lakes.
[I]Rapids of the Dumoine River[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate7.jpg[/img]
[I]Rapids of the Dumoine River[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate8.jpg[/img]
Did I mention lakes?
[I]Whatanotherbloody Lake[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate9.jpg[/img]
....and multiple small stream crossings.
[I]Stream crossing[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate10.jpg[/img]
[I]I love these rustic bridges[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate11.jpg[/img]
The mighty Nuovo Falcone took at all in it’s stride, chuffing
along happily. If I missed a gear (which, astonishingly
sometimes happens) any old gear will do. As long as the motor’s
actually turning over, it will pull. I know we love to use the
word ‘tractor’ when referring to our beloved Guzzis, but with
the Falcone, it really is true.
The road conditions were highly variable, changing from sections
of soft sand,
[I]Sandy section through a logging area[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate12.jpg[/img]
to gravel and loose cobbles
[I]just chug up the slope in whatever gear you happen to be
in[/i]
[img width=800
height=443]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate13.jpg[/img]
to water............
[I]just a wee puddle[/i]
[img width=800
height=444]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate14.jpg[/img]
There were dozens of these puddles. Some it was possible to
skirt around the edge, some not.
After 100 kilometres or so of the Chemin Dumoine, the route
joins a more well developed logging road that heads generally
west. The gravel surface is well maintained - for logging
trucks - which means for bikes, it’s a squirmy, squirrely
experience of washboard, loose gravel on hardpack and soft
spots. Mercifully it was free of traffic, so I could ride along
somewhere just right of centre (on the road, not my politics!)
along the best line.
just another typical logging road........
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate15.jpg[/img]
........past forest and bogs
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate16.jpg[/img]
[ii]......for another 100 kilometres or so......[/i]
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate17.jpg[/img]
The Nuovo Falcone in it’s natural environment
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate18.jpg[/img]
Eventually this road spits you out at Temiskaming, at the north
end of Lake Temiskaming, near the pulp and paper factory.
Where they turn these into toilet roll etc.
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate19.jpg[/img]
Time now for a gratuitous picture of the mighty Nuovo Falcone.
The Nuovo Falcone - beating heart
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate20.jpg[/img]
That night I stayed in a motel in New Liskeard. I arrived at
8PM - just in time for the beer and liquor stores to be closed -
damn!
Fortunately my arrival didn’t coincide with the ‘Biker’s
Reunion’. I don’t think I could have stood the strain of being
around all those real bikers. I would have been embarrassed: my
Guzzi has virtually no chrome and is devoid of tassles.
Day two and I headed for Elk Lake, then onwards to Gowganda,
Shining Tree and the junction of Highway 560 and Highway 144
where I was expecting to fill up with gas.
Near Elk Lake - I just liked this farm
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate22.jpg[/img]
The megalopolis of Elk Lake - pop. 463
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate21.jpg[/img]
Heading towards Gowganda
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate23.jpg[/img]
Just before getting to the gas station, the bike started to
miss. At first I ignored it, hoping it would go away, but
eventually it got to the point where it would hardly get me to
the top of the next hill and could only maintain a reluctant 50
kph on the flat. I pulled over.
The plug looked fine - although it looked as though the bike was
running a bit lean. The points looked a bit dirty, so I scraped
them off as best I could and carried on. At first it ran as
usual, but after a couple of kilometres was start to hiccup and
burp again.
This time I removed leg shield and filter box and took the float
bowl off the carb. There was a bit of junk in the bowl, so I
cleaned that out, blew out the main jet and put it all back
together. To my delight, the bike started and ran well, and the
symptoms didn’t reappear.
Running fine again.......
[img width=800
height=451]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate24.jpg[/img]
Running fine again......for now....
[img width=800
height=410]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate25.jpg[/img]
The gas pumps at the ‘Watershed’ gas station at Highway 144 were
out of action. Cars and trucks were lined up waiting, like me,
unable to make the next 100kms or so to the next gas station.
We had no alternative but to wait until they got the pumps back
on line.
Fortunately, it didn’t take too long, so I was able to resume my
journey - this time down the Sultan Industrial Road and another
70 kms of gravel and dust.
Sultan Industrial Road
[img width=800
height=450]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate25a.jpg[/img]
I’ve ridden this road a few times on my 72 Guzzi Eldorado, and
at the risk of being disloyal (and I don’t think she can quite
hear me), the Nuovo Falcone handles these conditions a bit
better. It’s not the tyres - if anything they grap the loose
stuff in all the wrong places and throw the front around. No,
it’s probably just the difference in overall weight, the Falcone
being easy to throw around and to catch when it starts to head
off line.
Sultan Industrial Road
[img width=800
height=457]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate25b.jpg[/img]
Towards the end of the Sultan Road, the Falcone started to
hiccup again. I thought I’d fixed that problem, but
no..............
Bike troubles
[img width=800
height=412]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate26.jpg[/img]
I stopped and fiddled.
....more bike troubles
[img width=800
height=470]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate27.jpg[/img]
I headed south down the Chapleau Highway. Chapleau was 50 kms
behind me - Thessalon about 200 kms ahead. Inbetween........a
single gas stop/tourist lodge.
I was still convinced that the main problem was the mucky
points. Every few minutes I would have to stop and play, and
each time thereafter, the bike would run perfectly for about 4
kilometres then start to baulk and stutter. What was I missing?
After about 150 kilometres of stop-start-splutter I’d had
enough. I always carry all the necessary tools to fix just
about anything at the side of the road (I may ride older bikes,
but I’m not entirely devoid of common sense), so I stopped,
hauled my took kit off the back and decided I wasn’t leaving
until I’d fixed the problem.
First I checked the electrical system. All seemed fine. Spark
good, points gapped and working well. I hope the coil isn’t
dodgy, but put that thought aside for a while.
Next check carburation. I had to remove the leg shield and
filter box again, but this time the whole damn carb was coming
off. So..........I emptied the bowl, cleaned all the jets then
a single unwavering thought struck me. What about the little
screen filter between the fuel line and the carb? Predictably,
I’d left the most obvious thing until last.
Needless to say, it was cludged up with gunk. I gave it a quick
cleaning in fresh gas, blew it out (don’t you love the taste of
gas in the evening?), and reassembled.
Bingo! All fixed.
happy riding again
[img width=800
height=399]
HTML http://www.adamsheritage.inf
o/images/swisha/plate28.jpg[/img]
Once I got in cell phone range I called Ken (a Panther / Guzzi
friend), and on the promise of beer, cadged a night in his
trailer. I arrived at 9.30PM, after a tiring, but enjoyable
day.
The journey home was long and uneventful. The Trans-Canada
Highway has posted speeds of 90kph (55mph), so of course, most
people drive at least 10 above. Except me. The poor old Nuovo
Falcone is happy at an indicated 80kph (actual about 77), and is
comfortable at 90kph (56mph) as long as the road is dead flat
and well paved. Throw in a head wind or any kind of incline and
it starts to lose momentum. As you can see from the shot of my
GPS, the maximum speed I managed, downhill with the throttle
mostly open was 61.2mph - a staggering 98.5kph and acres above
the posted limit. No - I recorded that speed on the Sudbury
by-pass officer, where the posted limit is 100kph........whew!
It sounds awful, but it’s all a matter of getting your head into
the right space, moving over to let other vehicles pass, even
when there’s a double yellow, so they don’t get frustrated and
you don’t have them breathing down your neck, and enjoying the
ride.
Between 85 and 90kph, the Falcone is humming, with no signs of
stress or discomfort. As you can see from the distances I
covered, as long as you have an iron constitution, it is
possible to put in long days on the road. Indeed, the bike did
not suffer at all on those long highway miles. It dropped not a
single spot of oil, always started first kick after a brief stop
and never showed the slightest signs of mechanical distress.
You can try twisting the throttle to the stop but it will get
you precisely nowhere. The Nuovo Falcone has the speed it’s
prepared to go and nothing more. Additional throttle just
results in more noise with no additional forward momentum.
When it comes to hills, the NF is going to go at it’s own speed.
It matters little if you try to gun it on the downslope. The
revs are going to drop anyway. No point changing down - as I’ve
said before, just more noise and revs, but no additional speed.
My technique, which, over the miles I began to really enjoy, was
to just hold the throttle steady (almost wide open, of course)
and the bike would find it’s optimum.
At first it’s a bit disconcerting to see your road speed
drop.....85.....80.....75.....70.... until somewhere between 60
and 70 kph, it hits that magic place where speed no longer
diminishes and forward momentum is steady. No matter how steep
the hill, the NF just chugs away at what feels like about 1000
rpm, until after a suitable eternity, you breast the rise and
speed gradually increases again. The darn thing is, you can
tell it’s happy doing it!
On one long hill out of Mattawa, I actually got a friendly wave
from a speed cop in a cruiser, as I chugged past at about half
the posted limit. I wonder if he realised I was pinning it.
On another hill I was overtaken by an old Dodge camper van
towing a newish Corolla, with bikes, boat and other sundry jumk
strapped on board - a mobile road block if ever there was one.
He sailed past me as if I was standing still.
To those of you of the speedy crowd, it must sound horrendous,
but really, as long as your head is in it, it really is
engaging. Exciting - perhaps not, but it certainly gives one a
chance to enjoy the scenery.
Ironically, on the gravel logging roads, I rode quite a bit
faster than I usually do on the 72 Eldorado, and far faster than
I would dare on the 2007 Breva.
So there we have it. My first real trip on the Nuovo Falcone.
Did it put me off taking it on long trips? Not at all. On the
way home I found myself thinking....now if only I could find a
route across the country that didn’t involve the Trans-Canada
Highway............................hmmmm!
Nick
#Post#: 129--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mighty Nuovo Falcone loose in Northern Ontario
By: banquo Date: November 18, 2014, 9:49 am
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Mmmm Summer. I remember summer.... 8)
#Post#: 132--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mighty Nuovo Falcone loose in Northern Ontario
By: nick949 Date: November 18, 2014, 10:03 am
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-8c and windy here today with 2 inches of snow. Suddenly I
remember summer with fondness too.
#Post#: 136--------------------------------------------------
Re: Mighty Nuovo Falcone loose in Northern Ontario
By: banquo Date: November 18, 2014, 4:09 pm
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Great ride report though Nick, and good to see it up again.
Thanks for that; I know what an effort goes into it.
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