As previously reported, our Urban Riders of Vancouver group is made up from an unlikely assortment of bikes and people. Many have motorcycles but prefer to ride their scooters within the city, while others have large touring machines.
Last Tuesday we met at our local Kymco dealer for a quick get-to-gether and a group ride to a local coffee shop. Our engine sizes range from 1,500cc Goldwing to 49cc scooter(s). When other drivers look at us riding in our usual formation they cannot be sure that we are together, or not. Perhaps the motorcycles are only there by chance and happen to be travelling in the same direction.
Shortly, we all arrive safely at our intended destination and notice that Tony has ridden there on his new bicycle, with trailer. Tony is an avid rider and has a Derbi scooter for commuting to work, and a Suzuki Bandit for longer distances.
A lot of us are fairly active on our local scooter forum (VancouverScootering.com) but have never actually met. Today we had a chance to meet some new faces. As is the case with most encounters we are all looking and asking questions about each other's rides.
(Rob, with his new to him, touring Goldwing)
Another Rob in the back on his Yamaha cruiser. Notice the vintage Vespa in the foreground with the Collector plates
It's always nice to see new faces and different machines
Here are my two buddies, Gary and Gerard. Gary operates the local Kymco dealership in Vancouver and we have ridden together to Kelowna with him on his Xciting X500Ri maxi-scoot. Gerard has a Honda Elite 250 which he has been riding since the ice age. I only found out that day that Gerard's birthday is July 8th, and my birthday is on July 9. He always thought that he was the oldest relic in our group, but as it turns out he is only one day more experienced than me, being born in the same year (1946).
Soon it was time to leave and while everyone else was still talking and laughing, no one noticed that Gerard was having a moment of stress attempting to start his antique machine. Now you have to understand that Gerard is very sarcastic in his use of english vocabulary and appropriate choice of words, and we all thought that he was joking. It soon became evident that indead his bike was "dead" . Unlike a motorcycle, you cannot Jump start a scooter due to the CVT and there were no jumper cables to be had. Gerard had a set in his car on the south side of town.
There was a quick exchange of words and course of action and somehow it was my duty to bring Gerard home on the back of my mighty V-strom. All of a sudden I was panic stricken but there did not seem to be any way out of this predicament.
While I had been riding since the late 60's, it was always solo. I had NO experience at all with riding Two-up and Gerard was heavier than a sack of potatoes, or bag of dog food. I told Gerard I would go home to get my car and he said he trusted me, he would be a good passenger and not twitch around.
When I was ready he started to climb on the back and somehow the bike skewed to the right and I nearly dumped it. some how I managed to keep vertical and started the engine and was then frozen. We had to make an immediate sharp right turn out of the parking stall and soon we were traveling down Main Street. Once we got up to speed I zigged and zagged for a bit and was getting used to the additional weight.
After a while when things started to get comfortable Gerard put his arms around my waist and started to make girl friend sounds and told me that he had never been on the back of any bike before and was glad that it was me, to be his first time.
and that night, I lost my Solo Virginity . . .
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Friday, July 9th, my birthday:
It was a regular work day but Robert, the Reverend had scheduled a charity BBQ at the local Vespa Dealer from 4pm to 7pm. It is a struggle for me to leave work from Coquitlam and make it to the downtown core but i managed to get there just after 6pm, which was plenty of time to grab a smokie and beverage
Again we have quite the mixture of motorcycles and scooters in the rear parking lot. Urban Wasp is one of our gathering/meeting places so we are no stranger to their friendly staff. Having a washroom available in the area is a bonus.
Tony came again on his Suzuki Bandit but he must have been in a rush when he left home for he forgot to change out of his pajamas
I didn't need to grab the extra calories since we had planned to go downtown for my birthday dinner later but those smokies were delicious, as was the root beer
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Over the years we have become more domesticated and have gotten in the habit of eating more of our meals at home. There was a time when you would find us on Robson Street nearly every Friday & Saturday nights. Now we find the music too loud, too many smokers puffing smoke into our face, the lighting turned too low . . . But it was my birthday and we eventually found ourselves here.
I am also getting Jack rIEPE eyes and like a magnet we asked for a table for two.
I like to think that we can still get value for our hard earned money, but we didn't. While all the eye candy is pleasing with all the servers in slinky black outfits with high heels, and the food was prepared to a high level, portions were petite and prices higher than the norm. At least this is only my opinion and not a slight at the establishment. What you see in the photo is two appetizers and a BBQ rib sandwich, one water and one coke .
(Cdn $50. including HST @12% plus tip)
We had to go home and top up with ice cream.
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I may or may not post an article on the Bikini bike wash & BBQ last Saturday. I went with the intention of getting my V-strom washed, but didn't. The hamburger tasted good but I got distracted . . .
(bottom view)
(upper view)
