This summer, more than one dual-sport motorcycle owner has looked at me and my bike with extreme pity and said, “Too bad you can’t ride that bike off the paved road . . . ” They then proceed to tell me about some beautiful alpine meadow or remote hot springs that can only be reached by traveling down a rough gravel road. I have to sigh and admit that there is no way I am going to muscle my huge, delicate road burner over that terrain. I have ridden in these areas and long to return to the scenes of my youth, down the abandoned logging roads that criss-cross the B.C. back-country. I miss my moto-cross bike, but I had to have a truck and crew of fellow off-road riders to achieve a successful trip, and to quote the Allman Brothers “There’s nobody left to run with anymore . . . ” So, I have turned to street bikes as being a more practical ride and I am looking forward to long distance riding as a new experience.
I have many stories to tell of those days of off-road adventures; discovering abandoned mines, riding to the snow in August and the breathtaking mountain vistas that inspire a connection with the spirit of beauty. This story is not one of mine, but a guest post by my friend and mechanic, Simon. This story is the tale of an actual ride that Simon and Mark experienced, told in Simon’s own words. Please be warned that he uses words as part of his regular vernacular that are not usually found on these pages, but that are familiar to most speakers of the English language. Due to the general nature of the internet audience, I have used some discretion, while still preserving the form.
I know it seems hard to believe, but this is what happened . . .
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ Continue reading Simon’s Yamaha FJ1200 Enduro Experience
