UK / Canada older bike swap?
 

Hi,

I am wondering about a bike swap arrangement with someone from the UK?

Ultimately, I'd like to tour the UK without the expense of bike shipping, renting or temporary purchase, swapping seemed the next logical avenue. Trouble is my bikes are not all new shinny and perfect.

I offer either of two quite worthy old Yamaha XVZ12 Ventures, of 1984 vintage for my side of the swap. I am located about 70 kms north east of Toronto Ontario and could deliver a bike to anywhere in the south central Ontario area given sufficient notice.

http://home.powergate.ca/~lah/pix/DSC00281-600.jpg

The XVZ12 is a big comfy old highway cruiser, a bit heavy in down town traffic but not too bad really. There is lots of luggage space and power to spare.

The blue one is my daily driver and has 56,000 miles on (US import). Blue had a bit of a hard life before me, but I have her in sound if not perfect state now. This is blue's seventh season with me so I feel pretty confident aboard her these days. She has never let me down.

The red one is a new acquisition from the fall of '08, with only 20,000 kms showing on the clock. I am still getting to know Red, but I have most of her issues dealt with and a good handle on the rest. I worked on her all last season and licensed her for the first time this season. I'll be putting some miles on her to develop confidence with her. She seems to be in very sound shape overall and has always been ready to go whenever I have asked.

Aesthetically, both bikes are a bit challenged but you have to get up close to notice.

I was wondering if everyone would run away screaming at the prospect of a swap for use of 26 y.o. bikes this side, or if there are brave souls out there?

Well ?

Thanks,

Brian H.