No better place for reunion of two-wheeled enthusiasts than upcoming motorcycle show
By Lethbridge Herald on January 24, 2025.
Al Beeber – LEAVE IT TO BEEBER –
In December when I announced my final column of the year, I wrote to you readers that it would be appearing bi-weekly in the new year. With a couple weeks straight of Friday columns, you can see that’s sort of changed.
During my break, I figured I would play it by ear now that I have more time on my hands. I wasn’t sure if I’d be motivated to produce a column every week or have enough source material. But so far so good from this point of view.
I was inspired to write this week’s after talking to a few pals about the upcoming Motorcycle and Powersports Show in Calgary that runs from Jan. 31 to Feb. 2 in the BMO Centre at Stampede Park.
At the gym late last month a long-time rider and show visitor and I began chatting about it before we’d heard it was coming back. And as you’ve read in the story I did last week it is – later than it used to before COVID-19 restrictions temporarily shut down the world as we knew it.
Hitting the show became an annual affair for a group of us who grew up together after the early and unexpected death of close friend Doug Bassett before he’d turned 50. It prompted us to think about our own mortality and make an effort to rekindle old friendships.
The motorcycle show became a perfect avenue for that and three or four of us every year made the pilgrimage to Calgary for that January event and the boat show that was staged a few weeks later.
We were on most years at the bike show joined by my dad and his best friend Mel from Strathmore. Even in their advanced ages, dad and Mel still rode motorcycles – dad a Kawasaki 500 cruiser and Mel a Suzuki 800.
They became part of our crew and our annual tradition which always started with breakfast in Claresholm and ended with an early dinner at Kane’s Harley-Davidson Cafe or other place that tickled our taste buds.
Our last trip to the bike show was in 2019 and that was the last time I saw dad alive outside of a hospital. He turned down a chance to join us at the show but instead met us for coffee afterwards. I could tell he wasn’t well and within a couple of weeks, dad was in hospital after suffering a heart attack and soon was gone.
That memory of my last visit him had me telling the guys I wouldn’t be doing the 2020 show, which I never would have guessed would have been the last one for several years.
But the show is back and so will we next weekend. It’ll be fun to hit the highway with Bruce and Roger and pick up Fred at his place in Calgary like the old days. The four of us haven’t been together for years and there is no better place for a reunion of two-wheeled enthusiasts than the motorcycle show.
With so much time having passed since our last visit, I’m looking forward to the new bikes and technology being employed in them. I’m particularly excited to see what kind of electric offerings are now available from motorcycle and scooter manufacturers alike.
While electric bikes don’t have the range of their four-wheeled counterparts, for use in the urban and suburban settings I think they could be a good alternative if a person’s main intention is to ride them for commuting purposes or for short city scoots.
Scooters themselves for an aging person are a good alternative to a traditional motorcycle. I’ve always had a fascination with them from Vespas to Suzuki Burgmans and the bigger displacement models can easily cruise at highway speeds with better fuel economy and less weight to deal with. So those offerings will also be intriguing.
Even though I’m an official senior, I still have an affinity for motorcycles such as the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 which is my dream bike. My back and knees would probably protest loudly if I ever bought one but I much prefer the style of a sport bike to a cruiser or standard which are the only bikes I’ve ever owned.
And at my age, a lighter, smaller displacement cruiser such as a Honda Rebel 500 or even 1100 would probably be the smarter choice for me but I’m not averse to living a bit dangerously.
I’m curious to also see if the preferences of my pals have changed and what types of bikes tend to draw the biggest crowds in Calgary. Motorcycling is an inclusive sport that attracts people of all ages. And the diverse range of cycles available means there is something for a diverse audience.
I’ll be covering the show as always so stay tuned for the story in a couple of weeks.
20-19
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