Ducati Monster Forum

So little brother finally got his first bike this year, a Aprilia Shiver 750, a nice liquid cooled L twin, it handles nice looks ok and is at least Italian so I'll cut him some slack for not getting the Ducati 696.  Anyway he decides that a road trip is in order and suggest Cleveland on July 16th, to see a ball game.  Cleveland is about a 5 hour ride from Toronto so that is a nice quick run, well I leave him with the idea that 8 hours on a bike isn't going to kill him so now the trip is Cleveland then Pittsburgh the next day for a game and then back up to Toronto, apparently this is going to take us through Allegheny National Forest anyone every ride through this area?   Any suggestions recommendation on places to eat in Cleveland or Pittsburgh?

 [beer]

Man vs food just did an epsiode on Cleveland.  I'd check out the grilled cheese place "Melt" looked amazing. 


If I were you I would try and fit in a day at Cedar Point in Sandusky.  The best roller coasters in the world (if that is your thing)!  Has more than any other park in the world.

Spent a weekend at Sandusky two years ago, gf ended up with bellspalsy for her first week of teaching at a new school ..... ahhhh good memories.  Thanks for the suggestions I'll check it out and report back.

If you head to Melt - the one in Lakewood is a long wait for a table or bar spot. The new expansion in Cleveland Heights is much more manageable (It's nice - located a block from where I work, which is great for me) and the food is the same. Also, Great Lakes Brewery has a great brewpub on W. 25 near the West Side Market. I'd really recommend that if you have the time/ability to take in a couple beers. It's not far from the stadium, either. It's not Steam Whistle or Upper Canada Lager, but the Great Lakes beer is some of the best the area has to offer. Enjoy Cleveland!

Have a great trip!!!

Back before he rolled his, my brother and I would take road trips in our respective Miatas.  Good times...

And If I were your brother, I too would have chosen a Shiver over a 696.  If I could trade my S2R for a Shiver 750 straight accross, I'd be all over it.  An orange one...

Hope you and your Bro get along better than me and mine.

Too many years around each other.

Dolph       :)

I have 2 younger brothers both of whom are interested in riding but neither can afford to.  I hope to ride with them one day.  +1 to Cedar Point.  Awesome coaster park.

I would recommend stopping for food at the Hofbrauhaus in Pittsburgh.  It is the first one in the country.  You might be forced to spend the night after a few hours there though  [drink].  Let me know if you are looking to do anything else in the Burgh, we have it all  [thumbsup]

Hofbrauhaus  [drink] cool, we are hoping to get there early Saturday and have the full aft to bum around and maybe see some sights, then off to the game for 7:00 or so.  Any suggestions of things that shouldn't be missed would be greatly appreciated.

Oh yea where can we go after the game and grab a beer maybe watch the local talent stoll by?

Inbetween PNC park and Heinz field there is a building with 3 bar/restaurants that would probably be what you are looking for.  Theres McFadden's, Bettis' Grill, and one other that I can't remember the name of.  Any of these should provide a satisfactory showing of skirts  [beer].  Just be ready to pay for parking!

It's almost time to ride;

As I have to work today I packed everything last night, little bro is an overpaid under worked teacher and has the summer off so is packing today.  The bikes are prepped and ready to go, the new front end on the S2R 800 is working perfectly (replace it with a set of adjustable Showa's from a S4R with radial calipers and the 10 spoke wheels to match, this winter it will get a power commander and a rear shock replacement) it commutes much better at least, so this will set the bar now for real riding.  The Aprilia Shiver is about to get its first shakedown on a longer trip, I'm excited, this will be the first trip little bro and I been on together in 26 years (last trip was a familly trip to Europe that got me out of summer school!).  Leaving Toronto tomorrow by 8:30 am, hope to be in Clevland by 3:00pm, I'm hoping - expecting some detours along the way to break up the freeway riding and hopefully see something other than just the traffic we're passing.  I'll post the experience when I get back and hopefully we'll manage some time to get some good photos.

Cheers and thanks to those who have made suggestions of places to try, I'd bring some Steam whistle, or Upper Canada down but I'm fully stuffed so it will have to wait till next years ride.

Cheers [drink]

Have a great trip!  Post pics or this trip never happened

Have a safe trip! The toll on the NY Thruway will be the only booth other than the border. The toll is less than $5. Other than that, it's a pretty straight shot. I've ridden from Buffalo to Akron without hitting much traffic or detours. I'd like to ride to Toronto at some point, but that will have to wait. Enjoy the cheap petrol down here!