No Age Limit - Piaggio MP3

We pulled into Chuck & Melanie Barber’s Piaggio dealership in Orem, UT at 0800hr MT and first thing I noticed was a woman - who turned out to be Melanie - polishing the front windows. It’s obvious Chuck & Melanie love this business. Their pride in the Barber team and Piaggio’s products (Vespa, MotoGuzzi, Aprilia and the MP3) shows throughout the dealership.

As husband and wife they have merged their vocational & avocational interests: Melanie drives her Vespa scooter & Chuck races in the Utah canyons on his Aprilia Nordocap. For these two work is also their hobby. Their enthusiasm and graciousness are infectious, making the Barber’s my single best dealer experience. When in the outskirts of Salt Lake City, visit Chuck & Melanie in Orem to see what a dealership visit should be like.

Our MP3 500’s were delighted with their long overdue service. They were treated with great TLC by Eligio, whose maintenance skills were clearly inspired by "Zen & The Art of Motorcycle Maintenance".

Rather than having some down time during the servicing, we were interviewed, photographed and videotaped by Salt Lake City’s Deseret News, followed by the Provo Daily Herald. I think I worked harder than when I actually worked.

It was nearly 1400hr MT, and we really needed to get moving.

Chuck expressed a wish to join us to Times Square, Melanie thought the business should be the priority, and Chuck reconsidered.

Photographers followed us out-of-town as we took the MP3’s through the sweepers of a canyon road. The bikes responded to their long overdue service by gracefully leaning into every turn we powered through. After only one morning off the bikes, it was great to be back.

On route to Evanston we found Coalville, an original Lincoln Highway town. The local market was celebrating it’s 100th birthday. It may not have been a Wal-Mart, but it was a lovely place to shop. An old Levis sign on the side of a brick building was promoting "waist overalls". We’re loving these finds.

In Evanston we were greeted within minutes by Diane Rossiter, the Associate Director of the Illinois Lincoln Highway Coalition. She was looking for "the guys on three wheels" and seemed as excited by the MP3s as she was about the Lincoln Highway.

Tomorrow (Today - ED) is a "rest" day. We’ll attend some sessions on the Lincoln Highway’s history in Wyoming, learn more about the role and history of Evanston, and attempt to determine why people come from across America to attend a conference about a road. Who are these people? Stay tuned for tomorrow’s report.

Buddy out.