The Ponoka Stampede grounds were full last weekend with vintage motorcycle enthusiasts for the annual Central Alberta Vintage Motorcycle Group’s (CAVMG) rally.
This year’s showcase was the famed Honda Cub that is said to be the most sold vehicle of all time.
When it comes to the Honda Cub motorcycle, perhaps the best person to speak on it is Glenn Turple, the founder of Turple Brothers in Red Deer.
Glenn, who celebrated his 90th birthday July 28, took a few minutes to speak on his experience with the Cub and how he enjoyed seeing it showcased at the rally.
“It was nicely finished and it was so easy to ride,” said Glenn of the motorcycle.
The bikes were also inexpensive. Glenn says the first ones they sold were in 1959 and cost $269. “We sold three of them right away and that started it.”
This was just three years after Turple Brothers opened up shop in Red Deer, however, Glenn says they sold motorbikes from their farm in 1949.
The Honda Cub was a great bike.
“They ran a long ways, although some of the kids who had them burned them up pretty fast,” he joked.
Glenn added that Alberta’s tough climate also created some challenges for the motorbikes, but it didn’t take long for the company to adapt the Cub.
Another benefit of the Cub was its long-lasting build, said Glenn. “It was a big seller. We sold a lot of them.”
The Cub is so popular that Honda has never discontinued the motorbike although it hasn’t always been available in Canada. Despite that, Glenn says the company sold more than 100 million of the motorbikes since their creation.
Looking at the motorbikes these days, Glenn says the new machines perform much better than the vintage bikes, plus they last longer.
That doesn’t take away from enjoying the vintage motorbikes, he added. Glenn’s love of motorcycles continues; he now rides a three-wheel Spyder and Honda motorcycle and doesn’t show any signs of slowing down.
As for the rally, CAVMG president Craig “Bentley” Cooksley said he enjoys seeing the large turnout at the club’s rallies. Bentley says members are quite enthusiastic about vintage motorcycles.
What makes a motorcycle vintage? For the most part it’s 25 years, says Bentley, but he added that Saskatchewan has it set at 1986. His hope is to continue to see strong turnouts and a passion for vintage bikes.
