As the days get longer, many motorcycle enthusiasts are beginning to ready their steeds for the upcoming riding season.
That’s no different for members of the Greater Vancouver Motorcycle Club (GVMC), based in Surrey’s Port Kells.
For club president Ron Benderski, tinkering with his 1200cc six-cylinder 1984 Kawasaki touring bike – one of his five bikes – is a labour of love and a way to keep busy.
Pointing to the full instrument panel that looks more like the cockpit of a small plane, Benderski’s enthusiasm for motorcycles shines through as he describes how the bike, in its day, was state-of-the-art.
“It has all the gauges, even a complete stereo with a cassette player,” he says. “It was a limited edition bike too. It had absolutely everything.”
Currently he’s using one Kawasaki as a parts bike to rebuild another back to life.
“It gives me something to do in my spare time. I just wish I had spare time,” he says laughing.
He currently rides a 2007 Honda Goldwing, but it was the Honda 50cc dirt bike that he bought in 1965 that helped kickstart the obsession.
“My dad always told me that if you need to borrow money, you can’t afford it, so he’s wasn’t happy that he found out my uncle had co-signed a loan for me.”
After retiring from the banking industry himself, Benderski and his wife Lillian, who only recently bought her own bike, have been able to fully enjoy the open road.
Recently he took on the role of president of the GVMC, a club originally started in the 1920s in Vancouver by longtime Vancouver motorcycle legend and businessman Fred Deeley, who owned a motorcycle dealership in Vancouver.
Over the years, the club has participated in numerous rides around North America – all with the goal of promoting motorcycle riding while building a strong sense of community among its membership.
Currently the club has 130 members, with about 40 being actively involved, riding everything from mopeds to full-sized road bikes.
Since the early 1990s the club has raised nearly $200,000 for the BC Children’s Hospital and other charities, and annually hosts five major rides that are open to the public, along with on-road and off-road events.
The Surrey club will be offering Thursday evening rides for beginners.
Members of the club will be at the annual BC Motorcycle show at the Tradex in Abbotsford this weekend, Jan 23-25.
For more info about the club, visit www.gvmc.ca