The Opening Gambit - Denver Snowstorm

We touched down in Denver after 27 hours flying and transiting, hitting the ground running by meeting our kind host Alex Lafleur for lunch and going straight to Sun Enterprises, the dealer for the first of two Honda CB500X motorcycles we were purchasing. After jumping through the relatively straightforward loops of signing paperwork for the motorcycle purchase and handing over USD$7200 in cash, we had a heart stopping moment when the staff processing the insurance paperwork declared that we couldn't be insured after checking her workstation computer.

Thankfully, we had the Progressive Insurance covering us for USD $300 for the first month for 2 people, and a monthly recurring charge of USD$250 for the subsequent months. We would terminate the insurance payment once we were out of the United States. When the time came to renew the insurance for annual registration which was necessary for the issuance of Carnet De Passage, we would get a policy for a month again. 

We quickly realized our plan for installing the equipment ourselves was going to consume more time than we originally estimated, given the social activities lined up and kit we still had to purchase to be ready to ride. Furthermore, our maintenance skills learnt was enough to perform routine servicing, but we really had little confidence in improvising on installation works ourselves. There are no dry runs, no shakedowns, and a snowstorm was coming to Denver soon. 

This was the morning view when we woke up the next day. I'm 34, and I have never seen snow in my life. So it was perhaps time for a bucket list item moment - throwing snow. I couldn't feel my fingers after I did this the second time.

We brought our purchased Pelican luggages, Oxford heated grips and K&N Air Filter, and sponsored Puig crashbars, windshields, handguards and fender extenders to the dealers to install them for us, and also completed the paperwork for the 2nd motorcycle dealer, Fay Myers. The labour cost at Sun Enterprises was USD$330 for 5.5 hours, after a 50% discount was thrown in as the bike was purchased from them. However, at Fay Myers, my eyes went wide open when Debbie and I were quoted USD$1100 for the installation of the same parts on the 2nd motorcycle.

My mind was telling me this was a daylight robbery and the stress levels were racketing up, but I also knew I had no leverage in this negotiation. I didn't had the time to find another shop to finish the job. So, I took out the newspaper article written by Zaihan Mohamed Yusof and explained to Chris Ortega, the sales staff our itinerary and the labour prices we paid at the first dealer, Sun Enterprises, persuading hard for a discount and appealing to his kindness to do us a favour and consult his superiors. After some tense moments waiting, we were informed they would bring the price down to USD$660, matching the labour hours quoted by Sun. We paid up in relief.

This meant that on day 2 in Denver, we could leave in the afternoon for Granby, Colorado where our host, Alex and his wife Carli had a home in the mountains, with stunning views.

The Colorado mountain silence is etched in my memories, and the walk in the woods cleared the fog in my mind. There is something healing about walking on snow in silence, with no ambient noise, nothing but woods ahead of you and on the sides. Alex explained how he tracked elk and deer, with a grin about his successful kill last year. We spent the weekend cooking, chatting over meals and soon it was time to fly to Vancouver, Canada, where 2 special people were going to pick us up from the airport. The motorcycles can wait in the Denver snowstorm in -9 celcius (16F). We were not going to ride anywhere in that weather. Denver was facing record cold weather that came early.

Written by Kelvin

In Partnership with Singapore Kindness Movement

We are glad to announce our partnership with Singapore Kindness Movement, and would like to thank its General Secretary Dr William Wan, for giving us 2 of his autographed books 'Through the Valley: The Art of Living and Leaving Well' and 'My Best with Honour'.

Media Coverage: The Straits Times and The New Paper Feature

The Straits Times Front Blurb (17 Oct 2019)

The Straits Times Article (Click on the picture for a clearer view)

The New Paper Feature (21 Oct 2019)

These two look curiously familiar on The Straits Times and The New Paper! Thank you Zaihan Mohamed Yusof (The Straits Times/TNP journalist) for the feature on these two national newspapers.

Societal pressure on adults to own expensive mobile phones

I was momentarily taken aback when asked this question by the helpful saleslady, as I handed over SGD $656 (USD$475) for two Samsung A30S at a mall. "Are these for kids?"

Recovering my composure, I suggested that I was trying to avoid attention over a flashy phone in South America. I asked if adults these days didn't use such 'cheap phones'. The saleslady, who was in her late 20s said most adults purchased more expensive phones. She owns a S9+ which cost her SGD $1298, and admitted that as a salesperson, there was pressure if she did not buy one. It was maybe half her monthly salary, or close. I felt self conscious as I pulled out my SGD$50 Samsung J5 which was 3 years old.

She was helpful with testing the phone, and explaining the warranty was local, not global. She asked if I was overseas a lot. I didn't know what to say, so I said I was going to travel for a few years.

Why must an adult's phone cost 2 to 3 times the laptop Debbie and I are using? Whose perceptions are these, and what is the cost of such consumerism?

Sometimes it's the kids who use kids' phones who have not lost the simplicity of mind to dream. Or is it the other way around?

We leave in 2 weeks.

Written by Kelvin

Cardo Comm Set Sponsor: Chong Aik International Pte Ltd

We are super excited with Cardo Freecom4+ sponsorship by Chong Aik International Pte Ltd. These bluetooth comms sets allow communication in a Star Wars like manner up to 1.2km between riders with boom mikes tucked sleekly behind the helmets' chin guards and I can even make and receive calls while riding! I've never used voice activated commands to manage JBL audio equipment before, or communicate with my other half to co-ordinate navigation. Playing with these sets at their showroom made me realize what Debbie and I have missed out on these past years while technology for rider's gears have accelerated with gear like Cardo.

We also want to thank Steven for the unexpectedly good discounts on Debbie's new Shoei X14 Marquez4 and my Z7 Philosopher helmets at the point of sales, Dominic for going the extra mile in communicating with us and facilitating this collaboration, and Sze Min, Jerome, Deneyvi, and Shirley for their helpful and kind assistance in setting up our comms kit. We've been Shoei customers at Chong Aik for the past 10 years, and will continue to support their stores!

Written by Kelvin