‘Couldn’t believe what I was seeing’: B.C. man reunited with late father’s motorcycle after almost 50 years

A B.C. man has emotional reunion after finding the motorcycle his late father was forced to sell to support his family.

DUNCAN, B.C. — If you ask Richard Bales about his dad, he’ll show you a picture of him on his beloved motorcycle.

“Pretty damn cool,” Richard smiles at the photo of his father holding the handlebars of his Honda that were customized to look more like a Harley.

“His pride and joy.”

Richard’s dad never wanted to sell the bike, but he did because he was a single father with two kids to raise.

“It was probably pretty hard,” Richard says. “We all make sacrifices for our family.”

While they never saw that motorcycle again, Richard and his dad did bond over a shared passion for bikes.

“My dad was always super involved,” Richard says, fighting back tears. “It’s his birthday today.”

His dad died from a rare health condition when Richard was a teenager. Besides his father’s old knife, Richard had nothing tangible to remember him by.

“Everything is just stuff,” Richard says. “It’s just how that stuff makes you feel.”

But then, one day, Richard saw a post on social media about the old swap and shop were his dad sold his bike and decided to join in the conversation by posting that picture of his dad with his motorcycle.

Eugene Hutson recalls happening upon the post.

“I was literally shocked,” he says. “I couldn’t believe what I was seeing.”

Eugene saw the motorcycle he’d bought off Richard’s dad when he was 17 years old.

“I just love that bike beyond reason,” Eugene smiles. “It’s just a part of me.”

Eugene had had it for almost 50 years, before inviting Richard and his family to come see it.

“And it was a really, really moving, tearful reunion,” Eugene says.

Despite Eugene having countless wonderful memories wrapped up with the bike, he saw how Richard was missing even more.

“I just knew it in my heart,” Eugene says. “This has to go back home.”

So, although Eugene was never planning to part with the bike, he offered it to Richard.

And Richard gratefully accepted.

“Man, it was an honour that this guy felt I was the right human for his girl,” Richard says.

Now, the bike is on display in Richard’s dining room, where Richard and his family will be gathering for a special dinner in honour of his dad’s birthday.

“It’s cool that they’re going to be able to see that, and it’s history,” Richard smiles.

And knowing that Richard’s grandkids will be able to grow-up to ride their great-grandfather’s bike couldn’t make Eugene happier.

“The way I look at this, I’m just a caretaker for this (motorcycle),” Eugene smiles. “I’ve had my life with that bike. I have all the memories still locked away. (Now), its story can live on.”