When I look back on it now, I can see where it all started. It was in January of 2009 at the annual Motorcycle Show. A younger, muscular, handsome interloper began intruding on her dreams. She did her best to fight it, blocking the image from her mind, but each time we entered a certain dealership, the temptation - casually and confidently leaning on the showroom floor - faced her again, steadily wearing down her resolve to remain faithful to her first love. Yes, months and happy times intervened, but they could not extinguish that mid-winter flame that had been lit.

Maybe, after 4 years and 84,000 kms (50K miles) on the Sportster, it had to end sometime anyway. We could not afford to own both the Sportster and this incredible example of an '09 Softail Custom. And, it being late fall now, the dealer was in a good mood to make a deal!

This was that same bike we had seen at the Motorcycle Show when we had our two grandsons along. Gladys had returned to sit on it so many times that Brody (age 5, the youngest) finally tugged on my sleeve and remarked, "Etsay. That's Etsu's imagination bike!" ("Etsay" and "Etsu" are grandfather and grandmother in Gladys' native tongue).

A few more views of the bike

The Canadian winter held off for us, so there was time to take this new bike for some rides before the snow came. At the bottom of this page is a video, taken when we picked up the bike (her first ride on it) and rode it home.

Late fall ride on the new bike

Near Salmon Arm, B.C.

With the new quick-detach saddlebags added

When I look back on it now, I can see where it all started. It was in January of 2009 at the annual Motorcycle Show. A younger, muscular, handsome interloper began intruding on her dreams. She did her best to fight it, blocking the image from her mind, but each time we entered a certain dealership, the temptation - casually and confidently leaning on the showroom floor - faced her again, steadily wearing down her resolve to remain faithful to her first love. Yes, months and happy times intervened, but they could not extinguish that mid-winter flame that had been lit.

Maybe, after 4 years and 84,000 kms (50K miles) on the Sportster, it had to end sometime anyway. We could not afford to own both the Sportster and this incredible example of an '09 Softail Custom. And, it being late fall now, the dealer was in a good mood to make a deal!

This was that same bike we had seen at the Motorcycle Show when we had our two grandsons along. Gladys had returned to sit on it so many times that Brody (age 5, the youngest) finally tugged on my sleeve and remarked, "Etsay. That's Etsu's imagination bike!" ("Etsay" and "Etsu" are grandfather and grandmother in Gladys' native tongue).

A few more views of the bike

The Canadian winter held off for us, so there was time to take this new bike for some rides before the snow came. At the bottom of this page is a video, taken when we picked up the bike (her first ride on it) and rode it home.

Late fall ride on the new bike

Near Salmon Arm, B.C.

With the new quick-detach saddlebags added