Suzuki DRZ400s

Swapped my desert prepped RM250 for a sat too long and wouldn't run DRZ400. Some good parts on it, but was pretty porky. This was my third DRZ, so I knew what to do. 

Stripped and ready for love! All unnecessary tabs and pieces (chain guard, passenger pegs, etc...) were cut off. Ditched the short guy seat, added some real rubber and ditched the giant tail light assembly. Also went to RM from fender and black plastic in the back. Taller bars and Race Tech love for the suspension made for a solid and fun to ride bike. 

Easily on of my favorite places on the globe. Cleveland national forest behind the house. This was the day before Easter a few years back and it had rained the evening before. Had a rough week and needed to blow off some steam. Both DRZ and hill were ready for the job. 

This was DRZ #2. Motard seemed like a good idea at the time. Inverted fork and street rubber made it handle nicely, but 400cc motor was barely up to the freeway part of the job. I'd time my exit from work to hit as much traffic as I could so I'd never have to run it at freeway speeds. After 6 months I go bored with that plan and sold it. 

The Suzuki years. DRZ400S, DRZ Motard, V-Strom, LT250 quad and kids RM65.    

Final pic of the DRZ. Was great bike, but not used enough to keep around. 

1998 Ducati Monster

Not sure if everyone should own a Ducati, but it seemed like a good plan to me. Bone stock with 600 miles on it, it had been sitting and randomly been tuned up throughout the eight years prior to my owning it. Fun bike, handled like it was on rails.Super short wheel base and low CG made for probably the best cornering bike I've ever owned. 

Shot of miles before I sold it. Job change came with a commute change and the 8 miles of twisties that I bought this for was now a 35 mile slog down the 91 freeway. Unfaired and without luggage it was no longer the right tool for the job. 

I think I miss this one a little. 

1974 Honda XL350

1974 was the first year for the XL350 and it was well received. Stone reliable, torque that made it feel like a much bigger bike, it was easy to ride and would go just about anywhere. 

This one has something of a lengthy and tragic story. Prepped by Mike Bell for the owner of Long Beach Honda, it and an identical twin pre-ran the Baja 1000 in 74. Afterwards it was relegated to hanger shuttle at the Torrance field and eventually fell into disrepair. It then sat for 15 years until the owner passed. His widow gave it to a friend who was something of a vintage bike fan (BSA) with the caveat that he never sell it.  He got it running well enough for he and his college age son to get their MC license and it was then passed onto the son for a future restoration project. The son died tragically in a pole vaulting accident and dad could no longer take the motorized reminder of his lost son. Sad, sad and sad. It came to me with the same promise and I vowed to keep it. A first for me as I rarely hang onto any machine.  

Still sporting much of the baja prep it was in pretty rough shape. 19" front wheel, S&W suspension and Preston Petty fender and box are nice touches! 

Double cabled so racer could do a quick cable swap without having to reroute them through the bike. 

Preston Petty box, had never seen one before. 

Notes from Mike Bell as where the spares where. 

Shifter still duct taped to the frame. Had a set of Honda bars from a previous resto, so those went on, but otherwise not much has changed. 

Found a spanky fresh NOS carb! Thanks Ebay. Runs much better now. 

The evening it came home my oldest asked to ride it, I said sure if you can get that heap running, go ahead. Half hour later it fired and he was blasting around the block. Made him wear the period helmet. He hated that.  He's now college bound and making noises about taking it with him. Probably needs some exorcism first.