Sorry, boss!

Today at noon I got a call from a local dealership where I had signed up for a test ride on the BMW F800ST as soon as available. This motorcycle has everything my heart desires:

1. Feet flat on the ground (and it isn't even the lowered model)
2. Decent wind protection through windshield and fairing
3. Just enough cc's to keep me grounded
4. No more spokes!
5. Belt drive - no more chain lubing!
6. Heated grips
7. ABS
8. Nimble, easy handling

At 3PM I packed in and told my boss I got to go because I had a motorcycle waiting for me... besides we had nice weather and I had worked enough for a week (or two) anyway. I was gone before he could say stop.

The friendly salesman Stewart saw me arriving on Paolo and waved with the keys. After quick introductions he kindly requested to keep it a small loop, because the bike was brand-new with only 17km on the clock.

And off I went. The bike certainly loves to be kept in high revs. The throttle reacted a tad bit more aggressive than I was used to. Handling and leaning was easy, the F800St reacted instantly to the moves of my body. Gear shifting was reasonably smooth, but a little clonky into second. What bugged me was the distance of the lever to the handle. I could hardly reach the lever, and it required a lot of muscle in my finger tips to actually pull it. Unfortunately it is not adjustable.
After a few miles down the road I felt my wrists getting sore, I tried to shift around a little and played with the seating position but got no relief. Not much later my shoulder and neck started to bug me. Now stuck in rush hour the motor emanated an uncomfortable heat, something I never felt when riding the F650.
When I returned to the dealership I was a bit disappointed. I thought I had found the perfect next generation model to my current two-wheels, and technically the F800ST certainly is, but it is just not the right bike for me. I wish I could simply upgrade my Nella with a belt drive and give it a second cylinder. That would be the perfect ride.

VIP = Vespa Ideal Parking

Usually I don't bother with finding legal parking for my Vespa, but this park actually provides a designated motorcycle parking area, actually it is ONE bike parking spot.

The park is almost empty. The Stanley Cup final game is on. I find that the colours become Paolo.

I am not a gardener myself, I never owned one, but that doesn't mean that I don't appreciate vegetation.

And while the Vancouver's population sits on the edge of their seats in front of their screens cheering for the Canucks I scoot along empty roads, for once safe and not constantly attacked or overlooked by cagers, and end up giving Paolo a well deserved wash.

Eis hier jemand?

Auf einer kleinen Tour durch das Fraser River Tal halten wir wie so oft im Städtchen Fort Langley an. Diesmal geniessen wir dort Italienisches Eis bei Marina's Gelato.

Roland ist zufrieden mit der Ausbeute.

Um uns die Kalorien wieder abzulaufen, machen wir noch einen Spaziergang auf McMillan Island, einer Insel, die vom Fraser River umspült wird.

Das Wetter ist schön, mit T-shirt Temperaturen.

So pitoresk Fort Langley auch ist, der Güterzugverkehr ist wie im ganzen Lower Mainland auch hier präsent.
 
Die Stege am Fluss sind derzeit gesperrt, da der Fraser River durch die Schneeschmelze Hochwasser führt.


So kehren wir um, und bummeln noch ein wenig durch das Dorf.


So ein Sonntagsspaziergang ist doch nett.