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Motorcycle Road Trip with the Honda Rebel 1100 DCT: Two Days of Adventures with Friends in Centre-du-Québec
An exciting invitation from Honda Canada: two days of motorcycle riding with the new Honda Rebel 1100 equipped with the DCT automatic transmission, suitcases ready to be loaded with adventures, and an overnight stay at the sumptuous Manoir du Lac William in St-Ferdinand. The perfect opportunity to live a memorable experience with friends while exploring the wonders of the region.
This is our adventure!
Hitting the road with the Honda Rebel 1100 DCT automatic:
It’s a start for a two days outing between girls to show Cyndi around my neck of the woods. First step: take possession of the motorcycles directly from Honda Canada, in Boucherville. The garage door opened in front of us, and we immediately felt like VIPs.
We entered a huge, beautiful and spotless garage. In front of us, around ten Honda cars were lined up at the workstations, to our right, the motorcycle area. Our two mounts were presented to us.
My heart soared when I saw them, black, sparkling and completely different looking. One of them was equipped with a front baffle and hard cases, while the other was completely new. The choice was not easy. It was a game of rock-paper-scissors that determined that Cyndi would drive the suitcase version, leaving me the honor of covering the very first miles of the other Rebel 1100.
We packed our luggage in Cyndi’s suitcases, and I carried my trusty backpack containing our camera equipment.
Spoiler alert: after the trip, I was sore but not Cyndi (come and discover Cyndi’s experience HERE)
It’s a start! We give each other a little worried/complicit look. This was our first time with the DCT transmission, so we took a few corners to get acquainted. Nothing more! What a pleasant surprise: it was actually very simple and extremely pleasant.
Everything was in place for our adventure with friends to be a success, with the possible exception of the storms predicted by Mother Nature for the next two days. It was disappointing, but not really worrying. We were heading to an area I knew well, which allowed me to create a fun route to reach our destination at Manoir du Lac William while monitoring the weather radar.
Motorcycling in the region: Discovering Centre-du-Québec with the Honda Rebel 1100
Our first mission was to get off Highway 20. I had already informed Cyndi that we were going to opt for the smaller roads, even if the storm was after us. So, we left the highway to take route 235 from St-Hyacinthe, heading to Rose Drummond for a well-deserved dinner.
This stunning place is definitely worth a visit! Café, tempting menu, local produce shop and the possibility of eating in the greenhouse. And we were lucky, the rain started to fall intensely while we were enjoying our plates!
Once the cloud had passed, we continued on our way towards Notre-Dame-du-Bon-Conseil via Route 122. We took a short detour along the riverbank to follow the Nicolet River, then passed through the village of Sainte-Séraphine, before finally taking Range 13. I really wanted to show Cyndi the Ste-Élizabeth General Store, located next to the cheese factory at the rectory.
It’s definitely a place worth seeing!
Next, we headed towards Warwick to take Route 116 and then a short detour down a small country road for a three-minute detour.
I knew for sure that Cyndi would be blown away for a moment. I knew it because I myself never tire of that second when the view from this road makes you feel like you’re on top of the world.
This moment of bliss happens on Route 11 in Saint-Christophe-d’Arthabaska. Make a note of it if you visit the Victoriaville area (the fall scenery is simply incredible).
Afterwards, we headed to Mont Arthabaska for a short break to celebrate the fact that we had managed to outsmart Mother Nature all day! Now, all that was left was to go to the Manoir du Lac William where we were expected for a gourmet dinner!
A Gourmet Dinner at Manoir du Lac William: A Moment of Relaxation After a Day on the Road
We drove through the villages of St-Norbert d’Arthabaska and Ste-Sophie d’Halifax to get there.
The Manoir awaited us, magnificent and peaceful. Everything was in bloom, and we took the time to sit down upon arrival. The sun was gently setting over Lac William, and we remained there, amazed by the exceptional driving experience the Rebels had provided.
Seeing people returning from their paddleboat and kayak trips on the lake, we decided it was time to explore our room and discover the resort’s amenities. With two hours to spare before our dinner reservation, we were determined to make the most of it.
The room was perfect, with windows overlooking the lake and a ground-floor balcony. I already knew that’s where I’d be having my coffee the next morning!
At reception, we booked a pontoon boat ride for the following morning to enjoy the lake (unfortunately, we had to cancel due to the weather). Then, we headed to the terrace for an aperitif. That’s when we spotted the outdoor hot tub. We didn’t hesitate to go! The evening was cool, and with the breeze coming off the lake, it was just perfect in the hot tub!
So, feeling refreshed, we arrived at the restaurant to enjoy the five-course gourmet table d’hôte included in our accommodation package. How can I put it… everything was delicious, even though making our choices wasn’t easy. Fortunately, the attentive staff took the time to advise us based on our preferences.
We also noticed that the Manoir du Lac William offers several promotions and we made plans to go back for Thursday evenings to enjoy a 3-course fondue dinner and access to the Nordic baths for $45.
We ended the evening chatting late into the night, wanting to make the most of our adventure, knowing full well that Mother Nature was planning to cut our trip short with a violent thunderstorm the next day.
Waking up to a view of the lake…
The sun rose over the lake, our curtains fluttered in the breeze, and we had only one desire: to try the famous brunch at the Manor!
It was impressive! First of all, the service was excellent, the coffee was good, and we’re still dreaming about the homemade apple butter! We took the opportunity to plan our route for the day, knowing full well that the chances of ending our trip soaked to the bone were high.
Honda Rebel 1100 DCT: The Motorcycle That Won Us Over, No Matter the Road Conditions
We were all smiles as we returned to the parking lot to find the motorcycles. It was our last day to test them out. We were really enjoying it!
The day before, we had the opportunity to test the Honda Rebel 1100 DCT’s capabilities on curves, climbs, and rough roads. We were truly impressed by its performance in all the different situations. Today, we’re hopping on our bikes, clad in our rain gear. The sky leaves no doubt: we’re going to test the rain mode programmed into our motorcycles.
We decided to take Route 116 to ride through the villages and towns as long as the weather permitted. Unfortunately, it was short-lived!
The rest of the story could be summed up as two girls on motorcycles in a thunderstorm.
So we opted to take Highway 20 back to return the motorcycles to Honda Canada. Although less scenic than the previous day, this route allowed us to test the bikes more thoroughly. On the highway, wet pavement, wind, and traffic, the Rebels carried us with confidence. Once again, we were won over by their handling, and at no point did I feel unsafe on the bike, despite the conditions.
It was also interesting to note (for her) that Cyndi was less wet than I was when we arrived, probably thanks to her deflector and windshield. And good news: everything in our saddlebags was completely dry.
Personally, I was disappointed to have to return the motorcycle; it’s now one of my favorites. I even found myself considering another purchase on the way home. If you’re thinking of getting this motorcycle, it’s definitely a go in my opinion!
Tips for a Successful Motorcycle Road Trip in Central Quebec
This little road trip with my girlfriends was absolutely wonderful. The Central Quebec region is welcoming and offers magnificent scenery to discover. With autumn approaching, it’s definitely a must-see to enjoy the roads and the vibrant colours of the season.
In my case, knowing the area well, I was able to act as Cyndi’s guide. If that’s not the case for you, here are two tips:
- Plan your route with Google Maps, selecting the cycling option (you’ll find some great surprises on the less-traveled roads), and
- follow the waterways for the more winding roads.
See you soon!
