Spotlight: Coastline Motorcycle Adventure Tours

Interview with David Graham of Coastline Motorcycle Adventure Tours. Vancouver, B.C.

David, how did you get into this business?

My original partner moved to the island we live on and was a Harley rider as are we. One thing led to another and we started trying to attract people to Vancouver Island. It just grew from there.

Tell us about your company.

We just started our 10th year of Coastline Motorcycle Tours. Our team includes my wife, Carmen, son in law Shannon Smith and my tour guide/mechanic, John Bigalke. We have all been together since the beginning.

What tours do you offer?

We have two main tours. “The Totem Tour of Vancouver Island” and “Wild Canada West”, through the Rockies, in and out of Vancouver, B.C. Last year we developed two combinations called, “A Different Wild Canada West” and “The Best of Both” All of these are featured on the Coastline web site. Mostly eight days and eight nights, including fabulous accommodations in three star hotels and resorts (or better). We offer guided and self guided tours. Guided tours require a minimum six participants and we go along, carry everyone’s luggage and give guests the benefit of our expert knowledge.

What is the funniest thing that you have had happen on a trip?

On our very first tour some of the riders got separated from the guide truck and headed in the wrong direction at break neck speed. John, the guide, chased after them but didn’t catch up for fifty miles or so. We were supposed to be heading north but they headed west. Meanwhile, I was in the truck going north and couldn’t find anyone except the two riders who were with me. We made calls to hospitals and police to find out if there had been any motorcycle accidents and we waited and waited. When the original group started heading back east, they missed the turn north and went about seventy miles too far east before realizing their mistake. In the end they met up with the rest of us about four hours later. It was a late arrival to our nights lodging and everyone was happy to get there.

What happens if someone on the tour just can’t get along with the rest of the group?

Well, quite frankly, that’s never happened. Most strangers meeting up on one of our tours remain friends for life.

What is the most rewarding aspect of what you do?

Without a doubt, sharing this beautiful country (Canada) that we love and know so well. There is a great pride in this.

Is there anything else you would like to tell us about the services you offer?

Safety rules are fully explained long before clients arrive. If we’re traveling in a group, we insist on riding staggered duals, zero tolerance to driving under the...

We hope that you enjoyed reading this excerpt from "Coastline Motorcycle Adventure Tours". If you would like to read the entire article and more, you can order a back issue of May / Jun 2006 where this article was originally published.

availabilty: sold out