Reasoning for my sad loss is begging of next month i am going on a big family bike trip.  See myself and my older brother owe a lot of our love for motorcycles to our mother who has had a passion for motorcycles her entire life.  She helped both me and my brother learn and let us use her own motorcycle when we wished.  But despite this we have NEVER all ridden together for one reason or another.  Well my mother is getting older and is in NOT the best shape SEVER arthritis in both knees Diabetic her whole life and most recently a heart issue docs can do nothing to fix.  Long story short her days on the bikes are not gona go on forever.

So the desision was made this summer me and my mother would ride from south western Ontario to the coasts of British Columbia (AKA across canada) to visit and ride with my older brother who lives out that way.  

I would be riding my new 2010 Honda CBF600sa and my mother would take a her 2000 Yamaha V-Star 650 classic.  The yamaha was originally my first motorcycle but was my mothers dream bike (she loved that style bike but at 5'0 the yamaha was the only one she could manage).  So when i inevitaby wanted bigger and faster bikes i gave the good old Yamaha to my mum for a christmas present.  

Well i leave on the trip in three weeks and have been busy prepping the bikes getting the maps kits sorted and such and figured id send the yamaha into the dealer for them to do the final service and front brakes.  While i did the needed work to my bike.  

Last monday i get a call from the dealer apperently the old Yamaha decided to puke 5th gear sheared a tooth and well made a royal mess.  Yamaha says they dont think its worth fixing and they dont have the staff to do the job.  I personally can do the job but dont have the time (i working crazy hours just to make this trip happen work does not want me to take the time off).  

So the only solution i had left was GET ANOTHER BIKE FAST that would be relaible small enuff my mother could comfortably ride and easy enuff to get set up for touring in the 28days i have left before the trip.

After quick research and a god scouring of all the local classifieds i came home with a 2003 kawasaki Vulcan 500ltd.  Pretty neat little bike much quicker than the yamaha 650 as the 500 is the same parralel twin found in the Ninja500.  Its alot lighter than the yamaha as well and the seat seams more comfy too boot. 

The plan is my mum will ride the kawasaki for the trip and i will be rebuilding the yamaha when i get back.  Then my mother can choose to keep the kawi or the yamaha and i will custom the other bike to my taste.  

But what thread on bikes would be complete without pics right.  

First the Yamaha Seca now going to my older brother to complete his old bike

Next up is the poor old yamaha all ready to go untill 5th gear went boom .  I will rebuild her though i love this bike lots of good memories on it.  Have had this bike right down to a bare frame before due to a bad accident so i know it inside out.

And lastly the New Kawasaki.  Kinda a fun little bike to scoot around on peppy for a 500 easily walks away from the 650 and even some 900 cruisers.  VERY light an over all just a decent SIMPLE little bike.  Will see how she does on the trip.  But this things a BABY only has 16,000kms on the clock 50,000less than the yamaha.

 

I still need to get a bike. One day.

 

Take pics, it sounds like one hell of an adventure.