BC Shakedown With Floyd June 2026
Todd Dew
3 months ago
happiness
difficulty
This was a fantastic B.C. Ride. I rode out to Castlegar from Vernon by taking HWY 6 to Fauquier then over Koch Pass to Slocan and Castlegar.
We set out the next day via the KVR from Castlegar to Christina Lake then upto Mt Morrisey and on to Grandforks. Eventually making it into Conkle Lake Prov. Campground.
Next day we continued over Conkle to OK Falls, then more KVR to Princeton and 10 minutes before closing at Otter Lake Provincial Campground. Heads up the operator this year is an idiot. I went to pay him the next morning and all he wanted to do was argue with me that my dirt bike was not allowed. I tried to explain to him but like many idiots, he was stubborn.
Next day we slabbed it to Boston Bar and across the Fraser so we could explore northward towards Lillooet. This first half was awesome great climbs with solid surface. There were some water crossings as a result of previous land slides, those were fun. Then we came across a rider that said as you go north, follow the blue arrows to the left because you won’t make the hill on the right. I think one of us might have had dyslexia as the road to the left took us up a very steep climb covered in deep loose jagged shale. Floyd made it up but with a fully loaded 690 I struggled. After many lifts and pushed we got the unloaded bike to the top. What we noticed in the process was that the retaining nut on the front sprocket was missing! Ooops, so was the rear chain guard and something was buggered with the front chain guide. We suspect the chain guard was broken off from all the whoops in the KVR Summerland to Princeton. We think that caused the (properly torqued) front sprocket nut to vibrate off.
We had to put a zip tie then a hose clamp on the countershaft to keep the speaker on. That got us to Lyton and a campground 8km north.
The next morning the closest motorcycle or mechanic shop was in Merritt. I phoned and sure enough, they had the M20x1.5 but we needed. We just hoped that the hose clamp wouldn’t give way and send the chain hurling into the rear sprocket, likely leading to a crash. So we did 60kmh all the way to Merritt. Shout out to the team at Nicola Valley Yamaha for the timely supply and install. This time with red locktite.
We carried on to Princeton then took the Old Hedly Highway rather than Hwy 3. Then we cut up into the hills over a route Floyd was familiar with that took us straight to Summerland. Highly recommend that route.
We parted ways in Summerland. Floyd bolted for home and I took refuge at Silver Lake for the night. Home tomorrow.
If you get a chance to ride with Floyd Babyiuk take it. He’s very resourceful and a great guy.
You might eventually see this trip on his YouTube channel NVR Ending ADV.
We set out the next day via the KVR from Castlegar to Christina Lake then upto Mt Morrisey and on to Grandforks. Eventually making it into Conkle Lake Prov. Campground.
Next day we continued over Conkle to OK Falls, then more KVR to Princeton and 10 minutes before closing at Otter Lake Provincial Campground. Heads up the operator this year is an idiot. I went to pay him the next morning and all he wanted to do was argue with me that my dirt bike was not allowed. I tried to explain to him but like many idiots, he was stubborn.
Next day we slabbed it to Boston Bar and across the Fraser so we could explore northward towards Lillooet. This first half was awesome great climbs with solid surface. There were some water crossings as a result of previous land slides, those were fun. Then we came across a rider that said as you go north, follow the blue arrows to the left because you won’t make the hill on the right. I think one of us might have had dyslexia as the road to the left took us up a very steep climb covered in deep loose jagged shale. Floyd made it up but with a fully loaded 690 I struggled. After many lifts and pushed we got the unloaded bike to the top. What we noticed in the process was that the retaining nut on the front sprocket was missing! Ooops, so was the rear chain guard and something was buggered with the front chain guide. We suspect the chain guard was broken off from all the whoops in the KVR Summerland to Princeton. We think that caused the (properly torqued) front sprocket nut to vibrate off.
We had to put a zip tie then a hose clamp on the countershaft to keep the speaker on. That got us to Lyton and a campground 8km north.
The next morning the closest motorcycle or mechanic shop was in Merritt. I phoned and sure enough, they had the M20x1.5 but we needed. We just hoped that the hose clamp wouldn’t give way and send the chain hurling into the rear sprocket, likely leading to a crash. So we did 60kmh all the way to Merritt. Shout out to the team at Nicola Valley Yamaha for the timely supply and install. This time with red locktite.
We carried on to Princeton then took the Old Hedly Highway rather than Hwy 3. Then we cut up into the hills over a route Floyd was familiar with that took us straight to Summerland. Highly recommend that route.
We parted ways in Summerland. Floyd bolted for home and I took refuge at Silver Lake for the night. Home tomorrow.
If you get a chance to ride with Floyd Babyiuk take it. He’s very resourceful and a great guy.
You might eventually see this trip on his YouTube channel NVR Ending ADV.