IN the 1970’s, I was manager of Radio Station KTW and KTW-FM in Seattle.  One of our air personalities, John Dayl, sold some commercial advertising time on his radio program to a local Suzuki Motorcycle dealer.  John made a deal with the client to purchase a 750cc Suzuki “Water Buffalo” touring motorcycle.   Then he started organizing rides with listeners to his program, who owned motorcycles. 

 I was invited to go on a couple of rides with a loaner motorcycle.  Very soon, I was at the Suzuki dealer making an advertising trade for a new “Water Buffalo” of my own.  This was my first true touring bike and it served me well for several years.  I started organizing camping tours on motorcycles to the Canadian Rockies National Parks.  On alternate years, I’d lead a tour to Yellowstone Park.

In 1982, I traded up to a new Gold wing.  With the larger 1100cc engine, I could pull a trailer and pack my tent and sleeping bag, out of the weather.  Through the 1980’s, I continued my tours into Canada and explored roads and highways throughout the west, from the Alaska border to Mexico.

In 1989, it was time for a new motorcycle.  I still had an abiding fondness for the Suzuki motorcycle.  Honda had just introduced the new-look Gold Wing.  I thought it looked too much like a Ford Taurus.  It was a new design, which is never a smart buy, when you are obtaining a new vehicle.  I thought the Suzuki Cavalcade was a much superior motorcycle, even though Suzuki had quietly stopped producing the 1400cc giant.  There were still several unsold 1986 models.  I found a very nice two-tone blue LXE with all the goodies.  I added the factory CB / Stereo / Intercom sound system, a trailer hitch, extra chrome and replaced the factory seat, with a custom made Mier “Day-Long” saddle.  A few weeks later, I had my blue beauty pin-stripped.  It has been my pride and joy ever since.

One summer afternoon in Vancouver, Canada, I stupidly took my eyes off  where I was going.  When I looked up, I didn’t have enough room to stop.  I hit the brakes hard, but still rode my Cavalcade into the back-end of a pick-up truck.  It has taken me several months to arrange the rebuilding of my beloved Cavalcade.  I finally found a matching two-toned blue 1986 LXE that I bought for parts.  The northwest’s best Cavalcade mechanic, Rick Gervasi, is rebuilding my machine, using parts from the acquired bike and new parts purchased from Suzuki.  The re-born Cavalcade will be back on the roads of the Northwest Exploring the countryside in a few short weeks.