A little bit over a yr in the past I requested Paul Johnson of Vintage Cycle if I may just borrow a Kestrel for the 5 Boro Motorbike Excursion. I did so most commonly for irony’s sake. Right here was once the motorcycle he despatched:

I’d by no means been in particular fascinated about Kestrels. If the rest, I had unhealthy associations with them; but even so the entire “Vengeance Motorbike” backstory, again when I used to be a Cat 5 there was once additionally this man who raced one and concept he was once scorching shit. Like such a lot of different Cat 5s who concept they have been scorching shit, he in the end disappeared with out ever upgrading as such a lot of Cat 5s who suppose they’re scorching shit do. So yeah, I by no means in reality cared for them.

Unpacking the Kestrel, the glossy C-File parts in addition to the sheer whiteness of the object made it appear extra unique or even seductive than I anticipated. On the other hand, I nonetheless didn’t be expecting to in reality like the object. This began to switch after the primary few rides, as my preconceptions began to soften away:

The motorcycle was once each relaxed and speedy, and I surrendered totally to its antique poshness. In the end I hung onto it longer than some other street motorcycle Vintage Cycle has despatched me to this point, an august listing that comes with machines such because the Teledyne Titan:

The Davidson Impulse (now the valuables of a fortunate reader, after all):

The Colnago Bititan:

And naturally the granddaddy of all of them, the 1950 Drysdale Particular:

Word that I’m now not together with my Litespeed–oops, I imply my son’s Litespeed–in that listing:

Whilst that still got here from Vintage Cycle, I traded it for this, so it was once by no means going again anyway:

[Photo: Classic Cycle]

I’m additionally now not together with the Normcore Motorbike, as a result of I feel if I despatched it again Paul would refuse supply:

Nor am I together with quite a lot of observe, mountain, and miscellaneous motorcycles Paul has despatched, together with the only whose identify we dare now not utter lest it appea–ah, shit:

I notice I haven’t discussed this motorcycle a lot lately, however oh I will be able to once more quickly sufficient, simply you wait. Muah-ha-ha-ha-ha-ha, and so on.

Anyway, whilst I’d at first deliberate to ship the Kestrel again proper after the 5 Boro Motorbike Excursion final yr, I saved driving it and I grew to find it irresistible increasingly more–such a lot in order that once I were given a last-minute invitation on the very finish of the summer season to do a large journey in Switzerland, I wrapped it in bubble wrap and a foam bed topper and fixed it in a $30 motorcycle bag I were given off a web based store named after a big river:

The motorcycle made it simply advantageous:

I made it simply advantageous too, 42×21 low tools and all:

Unfortunately I didn’t organize to stay alongside of this man, although:

I additionally were given a large number of enjoyment and delight out of tinkering with the C-File parts, and I spent a number of time understanding some slipping shifter problems and doing derailleur phase transplants:

Nevertheless it was once for final yr’s 5 Boro Motorbike Excursion I at first borrowed the motorcycle:

[Photo: Elliott Weiss]

So it simplest turns out becoming that when this yr’s 5 Boro Motorbike Excursion it will have to fly away house:

Up to I’ve loved my time with this motorcycle there are nonetheless too many voids in my revel in, too many motorcycles I haven’t attempted, too many quirky parts to which I will follow my mechanical ineptitude. And so I’ve packed the Kestrel and shortly it’s going to start its nice migration westward. Who is aware of? In all probability sooner or later, when I’ve ridden the entire motorcycles there are to journey, my fondness for it’s going to be undiminished and I will be able to ship for it another time. Or, a lot more most likely, I’ll fall for any other motorcycle, perhaps even one I already personal.

However, the Kestrel will at all times be the traditional plastic weblog that carried me throughout Switzerland, and our time in combination will at all times be bookended via the ones two Motorbike Excursions with my elder son. And most likely most significantly, I’ve realized that now not all crabon motorcycles are evil.

I imply certain, the entire different ones are. However now not this one.