THE FIRST HONDA WE SOLDKarl Sprandel of Kendallville purchased the first Honda from Hayden Welding Company in 1965. It was a Trail 90. His wife, Edith, soon purchased her own Trail 90.
t was the dawning of the age of motorcycles,Edith says, explaining Karl interest in Kendallville then-new motorcycle dealer. arl always wanted to explore new things.Motorcycling was one of a string of interests that included sailing, ice boating, gunsmithing, and flying.
Russ Hayden and Karl were friends, and Karl often hung out at the welding shop. Karl was always interested in the best. It likely that while Russ was considering selling motorcycles on the side, Karl encouraged Russ to choose Hondas.
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 | Karl, Edith, and family spent great times riding throughout Indiana. ne of the happiest periods of my life was when we were riding motorcycles,says Edith. This was especially true in the fall. She notes that in the 60, there was less traffic, which was conducive to riding on bikes as small as the Trail 90.
Their son, Jim, rode the Honda Trail 90 when his legs were too short to reach the ground. He would honk the horn when he was ready to stop riding, and his parents would catch him. He later worked at Hayden Honda for a time.
The family hauled their Trail 90 to Maine, Wyoming, Florida, Canada, and Alaska. In Alaska, the truck tire went flat in the middle of nowhere. They removed the tire, placed it across the back of the Trail 90, and drove it to the nearest gas station, where it was fixed.
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On a trip in Maine, climbing Cadillac Mountain, Edith Trail 90 conked out. She pushed it up the rest of the way, the line of cars behind her cheering. But when she reached the top, the Trail 90 tarted with one kick of the starter! That not the only kick it got!
The old bikes still run, now ferrying Karl and Edith children on trips. Karl bike has had the front fork replaced twice due to xuberantriding.
iking is an adventure,Edith explains. f youe open to life, youe open to adventure. |  |
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