My first motorcycle show

February 5, 2011

1982 Yamaha "Yama hopper"

My son called late yesterday afternoon and said, "Hey, just wondering if you'd like to go to the Motorcycle Show in Minneapolis tonight?" and I said, "sounds fun" and he quickly replied "I'll be there in 45." 

The phone call took just about that much time.  I scooted to the kitchen and turned of the soup pot, dashed upstairs and tossed my evening sweats aside and tried to imagine what I'd wear...I do not own a single Harley Davidson or Viking or Dukati or Yahama signature shirt or hat or scarf or pin or jacket or boots.  How can I go and not stick out like a total nerd? So I settled on jeans, dress boots and a boring black vest over plum turtleneck shirt.  Boring!  I do not even own any bling.

We had so much fun!  I learned the difference between chain and belt drive bikes between tires for straight riding and those that hug corners and so much more.  There were bikes customized for exhibition that were wildly expensive and shiny with over the top paint jobs, some sitting near the booth that contained antique bikes dating back to 1918.  Of course my son was shopping for after-market options, looking at heated winter gear and imagining what his next Harley Davidson option will be.

When I said yes I had no idea that I would be plunged back into my own love for all things "bike."  My cousins had bikes (as in bicycle) so I learned to ride on a farm driveway that sloped down into a part time pasture where I quickly learned you either learned to balance and peddle or risked falling on a "cow pie."  No amount of begging and pleading got me my own bike.

So of course, I described my plight to my high school friend and her dad overheard.  Little did I know that he would go to work and find a bicycle at the dump, bring it home, fix it up and give it to me for free! It was an amazing gift. I don't know who was more excited, her dad or me.

Several years later one of my brothers got a Lambretta scooter.  As the years passed my brothers moved up to motorcycles so of course I had to hit the road.  I found myself on one of those cycles rounding a corner on a rural blacktop road at 80 mph (ya, it is easy to get lost in the experience and there was NO cruise control).  Utterly shocked I shut it down, turned around and swore I'd never drive a cycle again that could exceed 30 mph. 

My next cycle was a 1982 Yamaha "Yama Hopper."  Perfect!  With a top speed 30 mph it controlled me so I didn't need cruise control. Of course, I usually drove it maxed out.  We lived in a small town so I ran errands, drove it to work and dubbed it my grocery getter.  I haven't ridden it in more than 20 years but it has a special spot in my garage.  I recently found a Yamaha shop in South St. Paul who services them so I planned to save the money and have it restored so Icould ride again (I still have the original manual in my files).

2011 Can Am three-wheel cycle

Then came last night!  Holy cow within moments of walking into the cycle show I saw the Can Am.  At the urging of my son, I climbed  the closest one.  Geez Louise, I need to retire, sell my car, buy cycle gear and a wee little camping trailer to pull behind and hit the road.  This thing is SO cool.  And it has cruise control. 

I signed up to win a Harley Davidson motorcycle.  Gosh, I could trade that in for a new Can Am...I just gotta win that drawing!

As we walked back to his car - me walking with the aid of a Nordic Trekker to ease pressure on my deteriorating left knee - we talked more about different kinds of bikes I might need to consider realizing that knee replacement is somewhere in my future.  My orthopedic doctor does not recommend people with joint issues especially those with replacement joints ride bicycles on city streets or busy trails saying that the risk of serious injury is just too great in the event of an accident.  But I love bicycles.  My son wondered if I might need to consider a three wheel bicycle for safety. I admitted I might.  Drats anyway.

But my mind went directly back to the show, the image of me on the three-wheel Can Am motorcycle.  I could feel comfort and the wind and the sun and see the astonishingly beauty of earth revealed in every blink on every trip.  I can walk for exercise and bike safely on a Can Am! 

Just to be sure that what I experienced while sitting on the Can Am and listening to the saleswoman was real, I brought the catalog home to study the specs. Gas mileage - good.  Stability - good.  Reliability - good.  Cost - doesn't matter I don't have that kind of the money.  These things are so new there are few that are used. But then the drawing will take place tomorrow.  I will wait for the call announcing me the winner.   

The "it is time to ride again" bug is BACK as sure as once dormant chickenpox can return late in life as shingles! From what I have learned from my elders, it appears that the biking bug has been biting members of our family since the 1930's... ...