Biker World

It still amuses my family that I own, ride and love my motorcycle. I spent all day yesterday on it, riding up to Wingham, picking up a friend and riding around to various spots in the town with her, and then returning home.

And I had a delightful opportunity on Friday, to take my first bike, the original Bernice, to the home of her new owner just a couple of kms away.

My sister-in-law had her for a while but she apparently lost interest in riding, at least for now. So she sold her to a friend of a friend named Max who is exactly where I was 3 years ago. He has his M2 license and is excited and petrified about getting out on the road. The bike formerly known as Bernice will be perfect for him. It’s light enough and yet has enough spunk to get him where he wants to go. He has already purchased various accessories that will make the bike unrecognizable to me, its original owner, and that makes me happy! I hope he has years of fun with it.

Now there’s B2, my Honda Shadow. Since I’m going hither and thither and people take notice of a chick on a bike, I’m starting to feel like it’s time to customize her. She feels too “stock”. I don’t want to get her painted although I have considered a vinyl wrap. Her body is silver with a black band surrounded by a red pinstripe. It’s classy but it’s also kind of blah.

So I’ve ordered some new diamond-patterned grips to match the highway pegs. I’m looking at different kinds of mirrors because the stock ones make B2 look a bit like a cop bike, to me. But they have to be practical as well as pleasing – mirrors are important! So far I haven’t found my perfect set. Beyond that, I’m not sure what I’ll do but whatever it is, it won’t involve skulls or kitties. I’m looking for accessories that fall somewhere in between scary and adorable. Kind of like the woman B2 was named for I suppose. My Grandma was a formidable force but she seemed mild and almost bird-like in her frailty. Mess with her, and you’d find out what she was capable of. That’s what I’m looking for.