My Rides
09 HONDA ST1300 Continent Crusher – 36,000 kms In the summer of 2019 the stars aligned for me and I got opportunity to take 3 weeks off work in a row. After doing the math calculating time, money and daily distance on scrap of paper I concluded that I could finally make the journey to the deep south and visit a few destinations that were on my to do list. The goal was to complete all the southern states and to visit the famous Barbar Motorsports Museum in Birmingham Alabama with the final turnaround point being New Orleans. The BMW R1200C Cruiser I was riding at the time was not the ideal mount for pushing consecutive 600-700 kilometre days across the country (however I would have taken it if necessary). Fortunately I was lucky enough to find a clean low kilometre 2009 Honda ST1300 sport tourer. The bike of choice for Iron Butt Riders and a good match for my riding buddy’s Yamaha FJR. I put a deposit on it over the phone as it seemed as if it was meant to be! The stage was set for a much anticipated road trip. It took three days of hard riding through some pretty nasty, wet and cold weather to reach new uncharted territory in Arkansas and happen upon the historic town of Eureka Springs. On the way to Birmingham who could pass up a night clubbing in Memphis on Beale Street, Sun Studios where many great musicians got there start and Elvis’s place, unfortunately he had left the building, but he was definitely there in spirit at Graceland. With no days to spare it was off to Nashville Tennessee where the KOA has a bus that takes you down to Broadway Street where live country music reigns supreme and you can stand centre stage at the Grand ol Oprey (speaking from experience). I loved Nashville but we pushed on to Birmingham but could not miss the opportunity to stop by Jack Daniels place in Lichfield for supplies before heading south to New Orleans
1976 HONDA CB550-4 – 88,000 kms This was my second new motorcycle. It was a 1976 Honda 550-Four that was still in the crate so it was on sale. For those of you that think you need a 1000cc bike to get started and all kinds of high tech equipment to go touring this is proof that you don’t. I alway say go with what you have and be inventive and make it work. The important thing is that you get out and explore! This 550 was my daily rider for a number of years, I toured all over the east coast with it and took it on a long journey with my girlfriend across Canada and and back looping down through Washington State to see the after effects of the eruption of Mount St. Helens and back in 1980. It was six weeks after the eruption and the grey matter on the ground is ash that spewed from the volcano. This photo was taken somewhere around Spokane Washington. It was amazing the see the devastation from the blast. It’s not everyday you get close to an event like that.
Somehow we managed to find our way without a GPS or a Cell Phone or the Internet! Imagine that!
In Calgary I had to have the chain and sprockets replaced, I guess it wasn’t up to the wind and the load and it looks pretty bad. With all the dust around from the eruption they recommend tying a cloth over your air intake as a second line of defence against the dust but the little 550 struggled up mountain passes with it on so that modification didn’t last long.
When I look at this photo I can’t image how I thought that big yellow suitcase was a good idea? The Canadian Tire bicycle saddle bags worked well along with the two heavy rubber construction rain suits. There’s also my tent tucked under the rack and two sleeping bags on board. Money was always tight and I had to improvise a lot to get the bike kitted out. Somehow we managed to find our way without a GPS or a Cell Phone or the Internet! Imagine that! After 88000 kms I traded my trusty 550 in a new (off year) CB900F.
2002 Honda Shadow Aero – 66,000 kms In 2002 I was at the end of a period after arriving in Kelowna buying and renovating a house, starting a business I was not riding and I had just finished a large government contract project. I decided reward for all the long days and nights I spent burning the midnight oil. I wanted a reliable, affordable bike that I could tour on and I purchased this new 2002, Honda Shadow 1100 Aero and started planning trips around BC and the western states. It was a great ride for trips to California, Mount St. Helens, Montana, the Black Hills of South Dakota and Sturgis. I loved the retro styling and white walls but looking back now I can’t believe I owned a purple bike. I eventually traded it for a BMW 1200C because I took sales position selling BMW’s and wanted to ride the brand.
2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure – 110,000 kms Of all the motorcycles I have owned I think the 2008 BMW R1200GS Adventure was the one that best fit me at this point in my life. It was the do it all, go anywhere machine, refined and comfortable. My life fit on it and I enjoyed long days in the saddle with many road and back road trips down down to the southern states, California, Montana, Washington, Oregon and more. I ended up in some pretty crazy places off the beaten path and I sometimes wondered what I was thinking travelling with all my worldly belongings along ridges and trails occasionally finding places almost to narrow for the bike to fit. The GS Adventure never failed to amaze me on just how capable a motorcycle it was at climbing up broken forest service roads to consecutive 600-700 kilometre days in the saddle for weeks on end. I clocked over a 100,000 kilometres on this bike before it was time to move on to something different.
1982 Honda CB900F – 60,000 kms I remember this moment like it was yesterday for some reason after three weeks on the road touring the eastern provinces and a week detour south to Boston I think I was in the zone. It was pouring rain with a lot of miles ahead to get back to Toronto and there was no place I would rather have been.
This was my 1982 Honda CB900F with the optional (rare) factory fairing and Krauser Luggage I had two of these (well actually three) of these bikes. The first one met an unfortunate end on the QEW in Toronto when a senior driving a Trans Am decided I was in his lane. This one however made it coast to coast. It was considered a fast sport bike in its day and it made a pretty good touring mount.
BMW R1200C – The James Bond Bike – 50,000 kms This was my first BMW I traded my trusty 2002 Honda 1100 Shadow Aero for this bike when I started selling BMW Motorcycles. I wanted to ride the brand and when this low kilometre cruiser came in on trade there was just something so unique about it I had to have it. It looked awesome in Matt Metallic Silver with a black seat and black Leather saddle bags, high handlebars and a windshield. It wasn’t the most powerful bike but it had to be one of the best handling cruisers out there. My co-workers thought I was crazy for riding it but it was a great bike overall and it made a pretty good touring bike and it was just fun to own and ride. I did a number of tours on it including Sturgess and the Black Hills. It might have been the fastest (only) BMW R1200C to take on Bonneville fully loaded!
Another BMW R1200C It was hard to imagine that I would ever own one of these bikes but I had a chance to buy another one for a very good price with only 4000kms on it! It was a beautiful Metallic Blue with a matching Blue Leather Seat and Saddle Bags. I figured I like the first one a lot and managed to tour in it so why not again. I did a number of road trips on this bike including one down to Washington to have a custom seat made at Rich’s. His work is legendary (and not cheap) but the ride and the seat were worth it. In 2018 I had a 3 week window of time and I set my sites on the Barber Motorsports Museum in Birmingham Alabama and New Orleans. For this adventure I needed something more capable for the timeframe and distance I needed to cover. Sadly I parted ways with this bike to purchase an 09 Honda ST1300 Sport Tourer. The up side was the fellow who purchased my BMW was ecstatic to have it and so it went to a good home.
2005 Honda ST1300 I bought this bike shortly after selling my R1200GS Adventure. I wasn’t intending on buying another bike until the following season but reality set in that I was bikeless and I had to remedy that situation. I always liked the ST’s and this one was a low kilometre bike that was priced well. These bikes are known for having good long distance capabilities and a sweet 1300cc V4 engine. I took a number of good trips on it including a September ride to California thru Carson City looking for winding roads and cool towns. It was good have a full fairing bike riding out of John Day Oregon on a frosty morning with temperatures at 0 degrees for the first few hours of the day. I sold this bike because I told a friend of mind if he was going to sell his low kilometre BMW R1200C to let me know. This ST was a great bike but like all the others the mileage was climbing and it was time for change and the R1200C was certainly that!
1993 Honda Goldwing 77,000 kms I think I was the youngest guy in Toronto to ever buy a new Goldwing Interstate but after checking out ST1100’s and Goldwings at the Toronto Motorcycle Show the Goldwing won the comfort test for two up touring. This bike was a big step up from the the 1982 Honda CB900F. Trips on this bike included weekend trips to Upstate New York, Old Forge, Pennsylvania, the Blue Ridge Parkway and the Honda Homecoming in Marysville Ohio to visit the Honda Plant where the bike was made. It was the perfect mount for cross country trips including a ride from Toronto to San Diego with stops at Zion, the Grand Canyon, Arches, San Francisco, Pacific Hwy 1 and more. It was the adventures on this bike that convinced me to move out of Toronto and find a smaller town and different life. It was a sad day when I sold it and watched it ride away but I was on to bigger things at the time after moving to Kelowna.
I always wanted a simpler Gold Wing and Honda delivered when they made the F6B. So downsizing would have to wait!
2013 Honda F6BGoldwing After my cross country trip to visit the Barber Motorsports Museum and the southern states I decided it was time to retire the ST1300 before the mileage got to high. My plan was to get another adventure bike and with no long distance plans on the horizon I was going to trade my ST for a Honda Africa Twin. An then I saw this bike a 2013 Honda F6B Goldwing. I always wanted a simpler Gold Wing and Honda delivered when they made the F6B. So downsizing would have to wait. I got this bike at the start or COVID season so most trips including cross border touring were out. Not to be deterred it had been a long time since I had been way up north and it really was the only direction I could go so I headed for Watson Lake hoping to loop down the Stewart Cassiar but land slide cut off that route so the Icefields Parkway was the next logical way home! With closed borders, a broken collar bone and COVID I’ve only managed limited riding on the F6B but I have to say I love this bike! The comfort, power and handling are hard to beat.
Honda MT250 Elsinor 8,500 Miles This bike was the answer to reliable transportation while I worked on building my first car a $500 1965 Chevelle SS. It was the second bike I dreamt about owning the first was a CT70 Honda Mini Bike which is still on my list of bikes to own someday. This 250 served me well, I bought it new for $1200 in Toronto from Cycle World a off year model still in the crate. Although it would be considered an early dual sport and it was tamed down from the track version but it mattered not because there was no dirt in Toronto to ride on. I bounced around in the field next to where I lived to learn to ride it and eventually took my motorcycle road test on it. It was a two stroke with a kick start and it fouled plugs tapped out at 70 MPH on the 401 in Toronto often for no reason but I loved it just the same. I usually taped my goals in life on the the wall in those days and this bike hung there for quite some time before I could afford to buy it. It was not a touring bike by any stretch, you had to carry 2 stroke oil with you everywhere you went but I loved riding it and everyone loves their first bike!
Honda XL600 Ever buy a motorcycle a plane ticket? I had a few weeks to work with and I flew this one from Toronto to Edmonton hoping it would give me enough time to ride to Inuvik and back to Vancouver where my return flight back to Toronto was booked, timing was tight. I make a custom windshield for it and my only luggage was a back pack strapped on the seat. I figured it would be easier to carry my gear if I needed to pack it in somewhere to camp and this turned out to be a good option in Tofino. The bike was loaded onto a pallet and lifted into a 747 for the journey west. I boarded the plane with my helmet, wearing a motorcycle jacket and a few curious passengers asked me why the helmet. Upon arrival in Edmonton my bike was unloaded and unstrapped, I kicked it over (no electric start or bluetooth for that matter) and rode off the pallet and into the night in search of a cheap motel. After a few unexpected delays in Edmonton and some long days in the saddle I was short on time and decided Inuvik would have to wait. Plan B was to continue to Prince Rupert and take the ferry to Port Hardy and explore Vancouver Island from the top down. I was impressed by how well the 600 worked it was truly a great adventure bike and I spent my time checking out villages like Telegraph Cove and towns like Namaimo and Tofino along the way. Sadly I think flying a bike these days would be cost prohibitive so I’m glad I took the opportunity when I had the chance. I did eventually drive the Dempster years later it’s a long way to Inuvik by bike or Jeep but worth the effort.