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Real Bikes, Real People
YEAR & MAKE: 1979 XLH Ironhead sportster 1000 PARTICULARS: This bike was actually manufactured when AMF was running the HD Motor Co. The bike was totally customized by my dad and brotherat the old boy's shop in kitchener, Premier Metal Fab; they work mainly with structural steel. Ont records show I'm the 13th registered owner. The old girl's been around! OWNER(S): D'Arcy AGE(S): 44 (2009) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: I have been riding since my 12th b-day - a day I and the old boy) wont ever forget - he got me a Honda XL100 which I eagerly jumped on, after some verbal instructions from Pa. I proceded to dump the clutch, twist the throttle,and just like that, Presto! Over the front corner of the family ride, a beautiful 76 Olds Cutlass Supreme! (White to boot) At any rate i'm happy to report it 's been all-good from there." LONGEST RIDE: "The longest ride I have been on was a few years ago we got up at 5:30 a.m., hit the Cabot Trail, rode around the "outside" and when we finished that we headed for home. Drove straight through to Grey County. That was quite a haul - 1500 miles give or take." COMMENTS: "I'm just thankfull to be here, by all rights i shouldn't be. So for that i'm sure there must be a reason, mabye someday i'll know. Accidents are just that...hence the name. I believe our time is far too short and precious to waste, whatever your situation. It's up to us all to make the most of it. I can only speak for myself, but at this point in my life, nothing compares to being in the saddle, with some classic Boston in my ears, the open road in front of you, [seeing] places you have not been [to], and [meeting] friends you haven't yet met."
Photo: Dino Petrocelli, Petrocelli Photography D'Arcy's ride Re-arranged was featured in American Iron Magazine, 2007 Spring/Summer Customs Issue. Paint by Vince Goodeve.
Photo: Dino Petrocelli, Petrocelli Photography
Photo: Dino Petrocelli, Petrocelli Photography This shifter happened to be former hardware removed from inside D'Arcy's leg...
Photo: Dino Petrocelli, Petrocelli Photography D'Arcy and brother
YEAR & MAKE: 2008 Softail Deluxe PARTICULARS: Purchased March 2008 OWNER(S): Shelley AGE(S): 55 NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: first Harley…previous bikes: 2006 Star Classic 1100, 2002 Star Classic 650 and 1982 Yamaha 535 Virago (starter bike) LONGEST RIDE: "May 2007 from Tulsa to Ruidoso, New Mexico. A little over 2000 miles round trip. Planning a trip this summer to Montana. We will trailer our bikes to Denver and go North from there. Hopefully hitting the Black Hills in South Dakota before going West to Billings Montana for a “Star” rally. Star is the Yamaha line of cruisers. After Montana, over to Yellowstone and then haul ass back to Denver. I only have a week off work. COMMENTS: "BK Amputee since 5/07. Hit by truck driven by an asleep-at-the-wheel 18-year-old."
YEAR & MAKE: 2006 FLHXI PARTICULARS: Heavily modified. "I do my own wrenching, including motor work." OWNER(S): Blaine AGE(S): Born '59 NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 30+ LONGEST RIDE: Yet to come... COMMENTS: "Live
to ride, love to laugh & meet new interesting people."
Drag racing at Grand Bend, Ontario Canada
Blaine's ride sporting his rare find, a 1970 King of the Road TourPak, which he restored himself.
YEAR & MAKE: 2001 Harley Davidson FXDWG (dyna wide glide) with a side car PARTICULARS: OWNER(S): Larry AGE(S): 67 (in July 2008) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 50+ LONGEST RIDE: about 8,000 miles COMMENTS: "Rode
from home in Calif north to Washington State. Turned right and went
to the ocean; another right turn and went to Key West; back up and through
Miss, Texas to Calif and home again. [All] this when I was 16 and Dad
told me I couldn't go riding that summer. Good thing my mom loved me.
I sure wouldn't want a 16 yr old to try that now!"
YEAR & MAKE: 2004 HARLEY DAVIDSON Dyna Low Rider 1450 PARTICULARS: Hooker mid-slashed Pipes, Luxury Blue paint OWNER(S): Oliver AGE(S): 43 (2008) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 2 LONGEST RIDE: Ontario (Canada) to Rhode Island COMMENTS: "The
more I ride, the more I want to ride."
YEAR & MAKE: 2006 Wild West Dragoon PARTICULARS: OWNER(S): Tammy AGE(S): 48 (2007) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: LONGEST RIDE: COMMENTS: attends events held by local Sundance Ironriders Motorcycle Club.
YEAR & MAKE: 2003 800 Suzuki Maurader PARTICULARS: OWNER(S): Maryse AGE(S): 41(2007) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: LONGEST RIDE: Quebec to New Hampshire summer 2007 COMMENTS: Occupation: hairstylist
YEAR & MAKE: 2004 250 Ultra by Midwest Choppers PARTICULARS: OWNER(S): Paul AGE(S): 48 NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: since age 16 LONGEST RIDE: Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada COMMENTS: Occupation: auto bodyman. "It's the best bike I've ever owned. Believe it or not, for a hardtail, it's the nicest ride I've had."
YEAR & MAKE: 1958 Harley Davidson XLCH PARTICULARS: "My '58 is raked, lowered and has dual disk brakes on the front, although the right front caliper is zip tied on the triple trees [due to a broken mount]. I am curently riding a 2000 sportster. I needed to finance a ride as I am still looking for the parts to get the '58 back on the road. Had a serious motor mishap." OWNER(S): Mike AGE(S): 43 (2007) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 27 LONGEST RIDE: "I have been riding the '58 for the last 14 years. The thing has a small gas tank and rattles itself apart. One hour between gas stations and about 4 hours between wrenchings. I really haven't gone on many long rides but manage to put on thousands of miles each season. I do tour the province, just one cigarette at a time." COMMENTS: "Life is like an old Ironhead. It is slow, needs work to keep it on the road and is easy enough to fix if it breaks. Improvise and ride it like you stole it!"
YEAR & MAKE: 1991 Yamaha FZR 600 PARTICULARS: Michelle's current bike - bought new in 1991 - it now has just over 130,000 km on the speedo. The engine has never been apart and according to Michelle "still rockets around to 220 kph like it's out for a Sunday ride." OWNER(S): Michelle AGE(S): NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 53 LONGEST RIDE: "My
longest ride was from Toronto to Glacier COMMENTS: "
My first bike was a 1949 250 single cylinder BSA with a 3 speed gearbox.
I was 13 years old when I first rode, riding for 2 and a half years
without a license because I was too young to get a license."
"This Photo was taken at Montjuich
Park near Barcelona in Spain during
Safely tucked away for winter...
YEAR & MAKE: 1983 650 Yamaha Maxim PARTICULARS: 33 000 km OWNER(S): Mary AGE(S): 52 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 6 LONGEST RIDE: Ride
for Dad Poker Run, from Orillia to Barrie to COMMENTS: "The
longer I ride the more I love it. During the winter I
YEAR & MAKE: 2006 HD RoadKing PARTICULARS: OWNER(S): Bob and Dolly AGE(S): (let's not forget this is an optional field...) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 20+ LONGEST RIDE: 4000 Km - from Calgary to Vancouver Island (Tofino) and back through Okanagan, Banff/Jasper COMMENTS: Dolly is a computer graphics artist, Bob an elevator mechanic for Otis
YEAR & MAKE: 1997 HD Superglide PARTICULARS: 100 900 km. Old style fenders, wideglide conversion. fishtail pipes, and, as of 2007, added sidecar, and added prosthetic leg! OWNER(S): Roadgypsy AGE(S): 40 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 24 years LONGEST RIDE: "Toss up between Ontario to Alaska, or Ontario to British Columbia, down the California coastline and up through the Southwestern Interior (Arizona, New Mexico) back to Ontario.Both trips exceeded 14 500 Km." COMMENTS: "This picture was taken by my trusty tripod - a girl's best friend - this past summer, 2006. My trip to California was the first one where I wasn't sleeping on the ground - B&Bs are about the best way to travel. You get to meet interesting folks and get a good night's safe sleep...I particularly liked Idaho - I would love just to tour that state next time."
YEAR & MAKE: 2001 Yamaha V-Star Classic PARTICULARS: 26,000 Km. Many customize parts added including slant pipes OWNER(S): Douglas AGE(S): 40 NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 7 LONGEST RIDE: "Two weeks, Greenwood, N.S. to Manhattan, N.Y. during summer 2005. My girlfriend and I drove through Quebec, Ontario, New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, New Brunswick, and Nova Scotia. We really enjoyed the scenery through the Cat Skills and the Andirondack parks. We spent a week in Lake George, NY as well, a total of 6000 km fully loaded with gear. I plan on going to Americade in Lake George, June 2007." COMMENTS: “I love road trips and plan to do a lot more. Nothing beats traveling on a motorbike: the ultimate feeling of freedom.”
Ron's ride, a 1992 Honda Gold Wing Aspencade, before his accident on FJR (2nd pic below)
"At Copetown, Ontario in 1973
racing on a special bike
YEAR & MAKE: Yamaha FJR 1300 PARTICULARS: 580 pounds, 150 HP OWNER(S): Ron AGE(S): 60 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 41 LONGEST RIDE: Oshawa, Ontario to Florenceville, New Brunswick, on a '65 Honda 305 Super Hawk (ouch!) COMMENTS: "I'm going to try and be concise. I started riding on the Super Hawk in 1965. I soon started racing and have been sponsored on, and owned so many motorcycles over the years it would be too hard to list them all. In 1974 I retired from racing as the reigning Canadian Champion. I rode sporadically until 2000 when the bug bit me again. I rode a few years teaching and guiding with Ganaraska Trail Tours and then purchased a 1984 Gold Wing in 2003. I sold it in 2004 and bought a 1992 Wing which I kept until the summer of 2006 when I bought the Yamaha FJR." [on which Ron had a riding accident.] "Two rides stand out in my mind. In 2005 I rode for five days, 10 hours a day through New York, Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and up the coast of Maine before heading back home to Ontario again. From that adventure I wrote a comprehensive article, I'm Goin Alone for Wing World Magazine. The second ride that stands out is the International Six Days Enduro that I rode in 1973. Six days/1200 miles through the mountains of Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York/ one silver medal. This event is referred to as The Olympics of Motorcycling."
YEAR & MAKE:2003 Honda Goldwing - GL1800 PARTICULARS: Dressed with a little chrome (a lot of) and some OWNER(S): Bud & Doreen AGE(S): 65 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: off and on for 20 years plus LONGEST RIDE: Bud travelled from Port Severn to Lake George, NY (Americade x 3) Bud & I towed our bikes on a trailer down to North Carolina in October, 2005. (I know, it is sacrilege to trailer the bikes down but the fact was it is very hard to carry golf clubs on a motorcycle and I wanted to golf as well as motorcycle.) We stayed at one location and took day trips through places such as the Shenandoah National Park, the Skyline and parts of the Blue Ridge Mountains. This was our fifth trip exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains and environs. It was absolutely great motorcycling each and every time we went out. We met a lot of bikers who felt the same way." COMMENTS: "Being able to go to the beautiful parts of our continent and enjoy the fantastic riding a scenery is one of the positives of being retired. We've enjoyed trips to the mountains of Pennsylvannia, the Adirondacks in N.Y. State, the Applachians in the Virginias and Tennessey as well as the sea shore around Chesapeak Bay. All of these trips were about one week in duration and were done in conjunction with another couple from the area. Our next trip is planned, Cape Cod for one week in the spring. Then the summer rides and planning for something special again in the fall. The Port Severn Bash first, of course, will still happen the weekend following Labour Day. Is this a great sport or what?"
YEAR & MAKE: 1988 Harley davidson Sportster 883 PARTICULARS: 23,000 original miles, new paint, new S&S filter, 70's style tailight, forward controls and 3.5 gal gas tank OWNER(S): Tim AGE(S): 38 (2005) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: Since age 14 LONGEST RIDE: From Ontario to Harley's 90th anniversary in Milwaukee, Wisconsin COMMENTS: "I bought the bike when I was 27, and this is her 3rd facelift."
Tim's bike before the makeover
YEAR & MAKE: 1992 Harley Davidson Heritage Softail PARTICULARS: Chrome, chrome, and more chrome OWNER(S): Claude AGE(S): 42 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 26 years LONGEST RIDE: Quebec to Prince Edward Island COMMENTS: "I've had lots of Harleys, and Japanese. My softail is my first ride since my car accident 13 years ago, and due to ongoing health difficulties,I'm just getting back in the wind. I'm lucky I have a supportive girlfriend. I love it!"
YEAR & MAKE: 2004 Yamaha BWS Scooter PARTICULARS: 2-stroke, oil injected 49cc OWNER(S): Stan AGE(S): 75 (2006) NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: off and on for 57 years LONGEST RIDE: "From Barrie to Barry's Bay, Ontario, on an old Harley Davidson 42/45 - an old war surplus bike. In those days that was a long way, for a three speed stick shift/foot clutch. I had that bike for three years. The gear shift was on the left side, the foot clutch on the left and the throttle on the left!." COMMENTS: "After my strokes, I just don't have the physical strength to ride a big Harley. I do what I can to stay in the wind - my wife bought me this scooter for Christmas in 2004. I'm really enjoying it."
Back when Stan was a rebel...on a 42/45,
and a 49/61 series.
YEAR & MAKE: 2001 Honda Goldwing Trike PARTICULARS: RC Trike conversion kit, from Quebec OWNER(S): Bernie and Helen AGE(S): "Over the hill!" NUMBER OF YEARS RIDING: 10 LONGEST RIDE: Prince Edward Island, CANADA COMMENTS: Helen gave up snowmobiling due to artheritis and a hip replacement - and decided to take up motorcycling instead...
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Photo © Sandra McKinney
