Bike Change Is Necessary

After purchasing my 2009 Suzuki Boulevard M90 in 2017, after 40 years without a motorcycle, it did take me a bit of time to get used to riding a powerful cruiser, however I soon got comfortable and enjoyed many local trips around the area, racking up about 6000 km, before having to have the bike take up residence at the back of my garage for the winter.

In the spring of 2018, as soon as conditions permitted, out came the bike and I was looking forward to a great year, and to travelling further afield as well.

However, there soon developed a problem. After about a month I found it harder and harder to mount my bike. I had developed worsening arthritis and bursitis in my left hip and as a result, was unable to swing my right leg over the bike. As you can imagine, this was making it very difficult to ride, and as a result the M90 was parked (with both the bike and myself looking quite sad about it).

Then one day, a friend and fellow rider, Rob Truscott, suggested to me that I have a look at an alternative, a Suzuki Burgman 650 (a scooter that would allow me to slide my foot over), which I did.

What followed then was: YouTube research, showroom visits, Kijiji searching, Kijiji posting and a few other happenings. The end result was the M90 found a new home and I became the proud owner of a 2007 Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive ABS (with less than 5000 km – bonus).

Happiness ensued, “wind therapy” is such a wonderful thing. Although it was the latter half of June before I was riding again, I was able to get in a number of charity rides, a trip along part of The Rolling Barrage route (this will be a separate story), and put on a total of about 6000 km before the Burgman took up residence at the back of the garage, where it sits warm and cozy today.

The Suzuki Burgman 650 Executive is what’s known as touring scooter, actually surprising a number of folks I have ridden with by it’s performance. Suffice it to say, it is quick enough to be totally unconcerned about managing any posted speed limits.