It sported several innovations that were quite impressive for the time. The already mentioned rotary valve was one, but you also had quick-adjusting snail type chain adjustment, aluminum shift lever, and a unique fork mounting system that allowed you to change the steering rake which caused the chassis to turn better in the turns or increase its stability over high speeds.
It was a very comfortable bike to ride, though considerably heavier than the Elsinore by design. The tank and fender decals wore off quickly, so I took an SOS pad and removed what was left. The result was the all-white bike you see here.
The bike had a six-speed transmission and a very smooth clutch. The seat was plush and comfortable, which also nustled you up next to the tank and put you in a good riding position. The bars were steel and chromed, which were common for that era. It bosted steel footpegs and brake peddle, and shifter. The Bombardier engine was a two-stroke design with an oil injection system. It had a unique oil reserve for the two-stroke oil inside the frame tubing underneath the fuel tank. For some reason, CanAm decided to put a silencer on the end of the exhaust that was huge and shaped like a tea kettle. This bike was a blast to ride, carried a lot of unique features, and was just an overall excellent bike. I would put it in one of my favorite bike categories.
I suppose in our youth we are searching for an identity, motorcycles became mine. I posted their pictures all over my walls at home, put their brand patches on my denim jacket, and even had a biker doing a cross-up wheelie designed in my class ring. It was what I thought about, it was what I talked about. We see people like myself a bit eccentric about their earthly interest, yet, when we see someone take Christ for their identity in such a way that it's all they think about and talk about, many times we label them a religious fanatic. Must we not consider, how much more is Christ than any earthly pleasure? Motorcycles gave me a lot of pleasure, through them I met many wonderful people and developed many long-lasting friendships. I am very thankful for all they brought into my life.
However, there is much more to life than friendships and pleasure, life is not always kind to us. I have crossed some difficult bridges in life, though friends helped, they could not give me lasting peace and hope. I find that only in Christ. It is through the scriptures I have come to understand no matter the lot in life I have been given, there is hope in Christ. There is lasting peace here on earth and the hope of Heaven where all that evil and ugly about this world and myself will forever vanish. The light of the Lord and the Glory of God will shine forth forever.
2Co 5:13 For whether we be beside ourselves, it is to God: or whether we be sober, it is for your cause.
2Co 5:14 For the love of Christ constraineth us; because we thus judge, that if one died for all, then were all dead:
2Co 5:15 And that he died for all, that they which live should not henceforth live unto themselves, but unto him which died for them, and rose again.
May God bless you all,
David
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