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Hello from Montreal, Canada

Discussion in 'New Members Say Gday' started by Canadien, Feb 10, 2013.

  1. Canadien

    Canadien Active Member

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    Hello everyone,

    I have a post already in this section, although I thought I had put it in the "for sale" section.  Anyhow, let me introduce myself formally.

    I live in Montreal Canada, so you can guess that this is not a very active riding season.  In fact, we're having a real winter this year with lots of -20C temperatures and quite a bit of snow.

    I ride a new 2012 Yamaha VStar 250, which is my retirement gift to myself.  I worked as a mechanical engineer for a consulting firm and before that as a plant engineer for the Goodyear tire co.  Before my XV250 I owned a Yamaha LS2 (2 cyl 100CC), a honda CB360, a Yamaha SR500, a Yamaha XS 650 and a Norton Commando 850 (my youth's dream bike along with the BSA 441 Victor Special). 


    I like riding by myself, exploring new places, taking my time to look at the scenery and appreciating new acquaintances.  Well, that's it for now.  Bonne route!

    [​IMG]
     
  2. GreyImport

    GreyImport Administrator Staff Member The Chief Contributing Member

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    *Kawasaki ZXR250C *Yamaha FZR250R 3LN1 *Yamaha FZR400 *Triumph Bonneville 750 T140V *Triumph Daytona 675 *Triumph Tiger 800XC
    Greetings ....welcome to the forum!

    Sounds like u have retirement all sorted out  :Thumbs_up: .....must be difficult having a down season ,especially when your riding is for pleasure ....I guess u can catch up on maintenance and read forums  :laugh:

    Im a big fan of the old British bikes and I have this waiting patiently to be ridden on a regular basis...

    [​IMG]

    What made u "downsize" to the 250 ? ...... and what happened with the beautiful black Norton ?

    Look forward to see some photos of the Canadian countryside on your ride outs ....Ive only seen Montreal thru a bus window but spent alot of time in Nova Scotia and Cape Breton ...stunning place  ;D
     
  3. Canadien

    Canadien Active Member

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    Hi Greyimport,

    I've always liked small bikes for their nimbleness, frugality and price.  I suppose speeding tickets in Australia and elsewhere get people on a fit, so what's the use of having a bike capable of 200 Km/h?  I liked the Norton but I could never get used to the right foot shift and at age 60 kick starting is getting a bit tough...

    I will surely send nice pictures of our countryside...you know our country is so big, I've never been in Nova Scotia!
     
  4. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    Your Norton is one of my dream bikes,  Japanese collectors are buying them up in droves and shipping them back to Japan, prices for a good condition 73-74 850 Commando are now $14 - $15k AUD  :Thumbs_up:
     
  5. Canadien

    Canadien Active Member

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    Hi Kiffsta,

    I sold my Commando for 6000$ a few years ago.  There are quite a few old british bikes club in Canada.  Here is the link for the Quebec club of which I was a member when I had the Norton.
    http://cvmaq.com/public.html/viewforum.php?f=2&sid=7297417fe781eede8100d47db3c49c63

    The site is all in french however.  The is a 1970 BSA lightning for $6000 and a 1968 BSA Royal Star for $3000.  If ever someone was interested, I could serve as a middleman between the seller and the potential buyer to get the conversation going. 
     
  6. Phil

    Phil Senior Member Contributing Member

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    Bien venu Canadien
    Welcome to the forum, nice to have you on board. To be honest I was half expecting to see a snow mobile rather than an 850 Commando posted.
    I am curious, how much of the year are you able to ride knowing how severe your winters can be. Many moons ago I landed in your fair city to refuel on my way from California to Paris, so knowledge is ZERO.
    Have visited the west coast of your beautiful country.
    Totally agree with you on the subject of kick starting a bike, electric starters are the go. Look forward to seeing pictures of your current ride.
    As for the Norton Commando, in my opinion the most beautiful British bike ever made, from that era!  :Thumbs_up:
     
  7. Canadien

    Canadien Active Member

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    Merci Phil,

    Actually, I was born in the same village as the inventor of the snowmobile which we call affectionataly Ski-Doo (the name was supposed to be Ski-dog but the clerk at the registry office miswrote it as Ski-Doo and luckily the inventor Bombardier liked it better).

    Usually we store away our bikes mid-November and take them out again at the end of April.  There are however lots of bikes on the road in the summer, I would say many more than in Texas and Florida where I have been.  Maybe, it's just too hot down there, they would rather be in their air-conditionned car?? H-D's are most popular here, I guess mostly because of the puut...puut sound??

    I agree with you that the Norton had incredile style due mostly, in my opinion, to the upswept pipes and forward-leaning engine.

    While waiting for the summer riding pictures, you can admire the view from inside my garage of a 30Cm or so snowfall.  The snowblower in the foreground is ready to take on the chore (I actually like snowstorms, contrarily to a lot of people, which we call "snowbirds" who fly down to Florida for a good part of winter.  Aurevoir!
    http://i372.photobucket.com/albums/oo166/habitantphotos/tempte9mars08001_zps1ad1618a.jpg

    [​IMG]
     
  8. kiffsta

    kiffsta Senior Member

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    damm, that looks cold, Im in Australia, here's a pic of our Winter  8)

    [​IMG]
     
  9. dynaryder

    dynaryder Active Member

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    Hi, I live across the country from you - in the Kelowna, British Columbia area....that is quite a selection of bikes you posted pictures of... The Triumph appears to be mid 70s...I have an old hard tail chopper with a 1977 T140 (750) motor stuffed into it....the bike started life as a '70 or possibly earlier frame.

    I see that your winter view can look like mine....

    Ride safe....
     
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  10. my67xr

    my67xr Bike Enthusiast Staff Member Premium Member Contributing Member

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    Welcome to the forum,
    it's an old thread you've bumped but nice bike's :thumb_ups:
     

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