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I’m pretty sure this sort of behavior will garner a ticket in most places. Sure, its dangerous, but it looks so cool.

Those traveling on the back roads between New York City and Montreal generally fall into two groups: bicyclists and motorcyclists. I’m a fan of both two-wheel forms of transport but a motorcycle was the vehicle of choice for this trip. If you have a few days to spare and a motorcycle at hand, this is a great way to see some of the rural areas of New York and Quebec while passing through some gorgeous mountain ranges and tiny hamlets. What follows is a brief account of a trip I took a couple weeks ago with my friend Jeff. If you are interested in the details, keep reading. If you are really interested in the details of the routes, you will find Google Maps of each day’s travels at the end of this post.

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This is an ongoing list of things I’ve learned to bring along on longer motorcycle trips. Most of the things listed here are luxury items that one can certainly do without. I, however, prefer not to rough it too much. For an exhaustive packing list along with some great moto-camping recommendations, I suggest Bill Johns’ Excellent Motorcycle Camping Guide Also, Hellen Twowheels has some great packing tips.

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A few people on the area moto mailing lists have been asking about where to get motorcycle inspections in Manhattan. Normally, I’d get my done at the dealer, but I didn’t feel like dealing with the dealer today. So I went to Cycle Therapy. They are on 127th Street between 2nd and 3rd. No appointment is needed, just show up. It was no hassle, I was in and out in less than 15 minutes.

You’ll need a valid registration and, of course, your bike. The test is $6 pass or fail and covers the items listed on the bottom of the NYS DMV Motorcycle Licenses, Ownership, Special Rules page.

Hubert, pictured here piloting his motorcycle in Mexico with a new friend, is in the second year of his Ten Years on the Road. He is an experienced motorcyclist that has traveled the world, with and without sidecar. His site catalogs not only his current adventure, but many others leading up to it, not all of which were on a motorcycle.

The camera is important but not as important as the way you look at things!

- Hubert

His current journey does not seem to have a strict itinerary, just some ideas, the road in front of him and the experiences he will have along it. This is about as specific as a road trip needs to be. After all, when we become obsessed with meeting goals or reaching certain destinations by predetermined times, we tend to overlook all of the other opportunities along the way.

Photo from thetimelessride.com. Used with permission.