We’ve all started motorcycle season with the best of intentions, only to see them slowly get knocked to the back burner as lawn mowing and minor family obligations take over.
This year we’re challenging every rider who rides in Ontario to take our bucket list challenge. It’s not an easy one—but it’s one that we guarantee will leave you with better memories than lawn clippings ever will.
If you're willing to take the challenge, snap a selfie of you completing one of the items on the list and we'll add you to the digital wall of fame on the What a Ride Facebook and Instagram accounts!
The Ontario Motorcycle Bucket List Challenge
1. Do at least one bucket list-worthy tour
Ontario is home to a good dozen motorcycle routes, spanning from Kenora to Mattawa, Niagara Falls to Kapuskasing. Long, short, twisty, scenic—we’ve got ’em all. Is this the year you make more excuses or the year you hit the open road and discover what freedom is all about?
Ontario has some great routes, but sometimes you just want a quick thrill. The top 30 roads in Ontario offer a great way to get started. A lot of these roads are on our bigger tours, but they can easily be sampled on their own, or strung together to make your own route. Get moving.
4. Go to one Bike Meetup Night
There’s perhaps no brasher form of motorcycle culture than the Ontario bike night, organized all over the province. Canada is a polite place, so you’ll usually find Harleys mingling with Hondas without batting an eye—in the end, it’s all about having a good time together.
5. Check out a motorcycle film festival
We’re probably all going to be riding come October, so there’s good cause to ride out and check out films about motorcycles, right before we put the roads to sleep for winter. Now in its third year, the Toronto Motorcycle Film Fest is getting pretty damn good.
While we don’t ride just to eat—maybe we should. At least once in a while. Wherever you ride to in Ontario, there’s bound to be a killer place known by riders as a great place to stop when doing a tour or just out for a boot. We’ve listed a few of our faves here, but check out the full list at the “Big Belly Tour”
All over Ontario, there are hundreds of motorcycle shops that all have their own class and character. Ask any rider here—they have their favourite and least favourite shops, and with good reason. Each one is a microcosm of all the motorcycles and riders that have passed through their doors. So ride out, and make your own decision about your favourite shop in Ontario.
A lot of us tend to ride alone, or if we go for a group ride, it’s just a day thing and we’re all back home before the sun goes down. There’s something distinctly different on a trip where you spend a few nights away with your rider friends. New connections are forged, and the soul is recharged. In many ways, riding with others gets better the longer you do it—so head out with your riding buddies, and make a weekend of it.
9. Learn to dirt bike (or if you already know how, get out on the trails)
It’s long been known that learning to ride in the dirt is good for your street-side skills as well, but Ontario is also home to some of the best off-road motorcycle trails in the world. We routinely hear from U.S. riders how great the trails and their maintenance are—and we can personally vouch for many of the training schools throughout the province. We’ve done them, and they have an amazing mix of teachers, equipment and landscape. Treat yourself.
If you get through all that and you're still not satisfied get in touch and we'll set you up with more Ontario to explore!
Edited Body Text
We’ve all started motorcycle season with the best of intentions, only to see them slowly get knocked to the back burner as lawn mowing and minor family obligations take over.
This year we’re challenging every rider who rides in Ontario to take our bucket list challenge. It’s not an easy one—but it’s one that we guarantee will leave you with better memories than lawn clippings ever will.
If you’re willing to take the challenge, send us your address (ian@thenewbusiness.ca) and we’ll mail you a bucket list postcard. Tag your photos and posts with #ontariomotoroadschallenge so we can see your progress. Take a photo of the completed list on the back of the postcard and we'll add you to the digital wall of fame on the What a Ride Facebook and Instagram accounts!
The Ontario Motorcycle Bucket List Challenge
Do at least one bucket list-worthy tour
Ontario is home to a good dozen motorcycle routes, spanning from Kenora to Mattawa, Niagara Falls to Kapuskasing. Long, short, twisty, scenic—we’ve got ’em all. Is this the year you make more excuses or the year you hit the open road and discover what freedom is all about?
Ontario has some great routes, but sometimes you just want a quick thrill. The top 30 roads in Ontario offer a great way to get started. A lot of these roads are on our bigger tours, but they can easily be sampled on their own, or strung together to make your own route. Get moving.
Go to one Bike Meetup Night
At one of the MotoSocial's in Toronto last year. Photo: Virgil Knapp
There’s perhaps no brasher form of motorcycle culture than the Ontario bike night, organized all over the province. Canada is a polite place, so you’ll usually find Harley's mingling with Hondas without batting an eye—in the end, it’s all about having a good time together.
Check out a motorcycle film festival
We’re probably all going to be riding come October, so there’s good cause to ride out and check out films about motorcycles, right before we put the roads to sleep for winter. Now in its third year, the Toronto Motorcycle Film Fest is getting pretty damn good.
Travel to One Motorcycle-Friendly Restaurant
Motorcycle Parking at the Redneck Bistro on the Highlands Loop. Photo: Chris Hughes
While we don’t ride just to eat—maybe we should. At least once in a while. Wherever you ride to in Ontario, there’s bound to be a killer place known by riders as a great place to stop when doing a tour or just out for a boot. We’ve listed a few of our faves here, but check out the full list at the “Big Belly Tour”
The most fun place to find gear in Toronto: Town Moto. Photo: Viktor Radics
All over Ontario, there are hundreds of motorcycle shops that all have their own class and character. Ask any rider here—they have their favourite and least favourite shops, and with good reason. Each one is a microcosm of all the motorcycles and riders that have passed through their doors. So ride out, and make your own decision about your favourite shop in Ontario.
A lot of us tend to ride alone, or if we go for a group ride, it’s just a day thing and we’re all back home before the sun goes down. There’s something distinctly different on a trip where you spend a few nights away with your rider friends. New connections are forged, and the soul is recharged. In many ways, riding with others gets better the longer you do it—so head out with your riding buddies, and make a weekend of it.
Learn to Dirt Bike (or if you already know how, get out on the trails)
Back to basics at Trail Tours Dirt Bike/ATV School in Kawartha Lakes
It’s long been known that learning to ride in the dirt is good for your street-side skills as well, but Ontario is also home to some of the best off-road motorcycle trails in the world. We routinely hear from U.S. riders how great the trails and their maintenance are—and we can personally vouch for many of the training schools throughout the province. We’ve done them, and they have an amazing mix of teachers, equipment and landscape. Treat yourself.
If you get through all that and you're still not satisfied get in touch and we'll set you up with more Ontario to explore!
About Staff Writer, What A Ride
What A Ride covers stories, events and perspectives from the worlds of motorcycling, snowmobiling, ATVing and boating. Motorized adventures, full-tilt, 24/7.