thisdadslife
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thisdadslife.bsky.social
thisdadslife
@thisdadslife.bsky.social
320 followers 150 following 590 posts
A 60+ years of age father re-discovering his love of motorcycles after a 25-year hiatus. Currently fostering a Suzuki DR650 and V-Strom 650 and finding a home for a KTM EXC500. Located in the Vancouver area of British Columbia, Canada.
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thisdadslife.bsky.social
I do wish this was a real model kit I could buy.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
October 2, 2025 at 6:11 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Finally got fed up with the Shinko 244 (aka Golden Boy) and replaced it with a Pirelli MT21. The former is a 50/50 tire and I've been doing more technical trails that I expected so I wanted the more aggressive tread of the MT21.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
September 15, 2025 at 11:36 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
How are our southern hemisphere brethren doing? Things are beginning to cool up here in Canada so I guess you're salivating over the imminent start of your riding season?
#moto #motorcycle #motorbike #advrider #motosky
September 12, 2025 at 5:50 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Cut up a crutch to make a portable jack stand for my bike. Being fully equipped for a flat to prevent it from every happening!
#motosky #advrider #motorcycle #motorbike
September 10, 2025 at 6:22 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Between the chemo sessions and post surgical recovery, my wife finally had a pretty normal day today; the first time in a long while. She was able to get on my bike for the first time since the spring. #vstrom #v-strom #weestrom #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motorcycle
youtu.be/Wa6w8MhbYRw
V-Strom Therapy With My Wife
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
youtu.be
September 9, 2025 at 5:21 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Video from Saturday's ride on some Tamihi trails (blue and green levels). This 2 hours east of Vancouver, Canada.
Content warning: STRONG 2nd hand embarrassement danger.
#dr650 #motorcycle #advrider
www.youtube.com/watch?v=6wb_...
Tamihi Trails: Edge of Reason, Reeces Pieces, Kanibis Korner, Milk Run and Windy Knob Loop
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
www.youtube.com
August 27, 2025 at 9:38 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
My short legs made it difficult to sit on the bike and turn, given the concaved nature of this terrain. Fortunately, I remembered the trick of lifting the bike onto its kickstand and pivoting it around. It worked beautifully! #dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
youtu.be/61yA5vZ9aTY
kickstand turn
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
youtu.be
August 27, 2025 at 4:36 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
My fail reel from yesterday. The shame is mine.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky

youtu.be/DmPIOs4Wyos
My Fail Reel
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
youtu.be
August 25, 2025 at 5:28 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Spent most of the day doing deadlifts. In between sets I rode the motorcycle.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
August 24, 2025 at 5:57 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Now that I'm mostly recovered from the ride, I'm having fond memories of single track riding on BC's southwest coast.

#dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #britishcolumbia
August 15, 2025 at 5:22 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Video from yesterday's ride on Vedder Mountain. It was a VERY hot day. The heat combined with the effort involved in manhandling the Mighty Bushpig through the tight single track was exhausting. My riding became sloppy very quickly.
www.youtube.com/watch?v=sGaN...
#dr650 #motorcycle #advrider
Vedder Mountain
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
www.youtube.com
August 12, 2025 at 12:25 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
I love the new D606 on the back. Now I need to do something about the front tire. This is the 2nd time it's slipped sideways in the mud, taking down the bike.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
August 12, 2025 at 10:55 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Short legs syndrome strikes again. I was running my front wheel up the edge of the trail so I could do a backup turn but the trail surface was too concave and my stumpy little legs wouldn't let my feet touch the ground.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
August 12, 2025 at 5:48 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Success. I un-seated one side of the tire, replaced the tube, and re-seated the tire much more quickly last night. Also balanced it today.
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
August 10, 2025 at 6:59 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
I thought I'd remove the K60 and install the D606 using only my trail tools. Took 2 hrs to remove the K60 and another 2 to install the rim lock and D606. But it only took a few seconds to determine that I pinched the tube and will have to replace it. 🤮
#dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
August 8, 2025 at 4:30 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
After the previous weekend's difficulty on loose terrain, I've decided to replace the Heidenau K60 with a new Dunlop D606 I have in my garage. Just waiting for a new tube, rim lock and balance weights to arrive. I also borrowed a tire balancer.
#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #moto #advrider #motosky
Heidenau K60 on the left, Dunlop D606 on the right. Heidenau K60 on the left, Dunlop D606 on the right.
August 5, 2025 at 3:12 AM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
The government of British Columbia estimates that it has 662,000km of unpaved roads available for motorized use.

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #motosky #britishcolumbia #canada
July 31, 2025 at 5:58 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
I love the POV I get from mounting the 360 cam this way but I'm worried that the stick will snap. I should make one out of a single tube. Who else out there has a reliable mount that is similar to this?

#suzuki #vstrom #v-strom #motorcycle #moto #motorbike #yvr #vancouver #canada #advrider #motosky
July 30, 2025 at 7:38 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Had another great weekend ride, this time in Squamish, British Columbia. Many of the trails were rockier and more loose than I expected, resulting in some challenges. My riding was admittedly sloppy that day, too. It was still fun!
youtu.be/ybJu51syyEU

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #motosky
Lava Flow and Brohm Ridge
YouTube video by This Dad's Life
youtu.be
July 29, 2025 at 6:33 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
Sometimes I fail the mighy Bushpig and am forced to turn around.

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #motosky
July 29, 2025 at 6:18 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
After many hours of highway and offroad riding on the weekend, I can confirm that the Mantt DIY seat upgrade kit was well worth the money. I was much more comfortable with this new seat and the extra width wasn't a hindrance when standing on the pegs.

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #motosky
July 29, 2025 at 3:31 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
More progress on the R6. Engine is now re-assembled and in the frame. The photos show the old damaged bearing and the new replacement along with the weld repair.
#motorcycle #yamaha #r6
July 25, 2025 at 6:29 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
The parts arrived so my son is now re-assembly his R6 engine. The chain broke off part of the engine's casting so that had to get TIG welded back on.
#motorcycle #yamaha #r6
July 23, 2025 at 4:49 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
The Bushpig is very cross that I haven't taken it to the woods in the past two weekends. Riding weather is being wasted in a most egregious manner.

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #moto #motorbike #yvr #vancouver #canada #advrider #motosky
July 22, 2025 at 7:10 PM
thisdadslife.bsky.social
I finally decided to deal with my DR650's terrible seat. I installed this CAD$130 Mantt seat kit today. It only took me about 2 hours. It's a luxurious 3" wider than the stock seat and also 1" lower which is great for me.

#suzuki #dr650 #motorcycle #advrider #motosky
The finished product. 11 inches wide. Factory seat is 8 inches wide, max, and 6" wide at its narrowest. New seat is also 6 inches wide at its narrowest but 11 inches wide max. The Mantt kit: seat cover, plastic liner sheet, and seat foam.
July 21, 2025 at 5:47 AM