The Last Sarris Suzuki & More

[Sarris]

I thought I'd post some photos of my last Suzuki. It was a slightly modified 1996 VS1400 Intruder. :lol:







This was my last Yamaha. 2005 1700 Roadstar w/ about 120 hp.



Also had a 2005 Kawasaki Drifter 800.







Also did a black & white. Cool, huh?

[jonathan180iq]

Holy crap. I always thought that photo in your avatar was fake...

[warlock2008]

waw! nice "collection"!

[LilNinja77]

You actually RIDE that suzuki? How big of a turning radius does it require? Pretty bike, but looks like it would scrape hard parts if it even thought of taking a turn, definitely not for me....meh, to each his own. I really like the Kawasaki though, she's purdy
Ride safe

[Sarris]

Thanks guys. Those bikes are all long gone. I have two Harleys & my GZ now (see photos under "Member Pics"). Also, FYI, the Intruder chopper front end is a bolt on kit from Germany. All TUV (the German DOT) approved at autobahn speed and although it had a fairly large turning radius (you could do a u-turn in (2) 12'-0" wide lanes), it handled and rode amazingly well. I had it almost 10 years and won a herd of Best Import Trophies for it. They make a kit for the Savage 650 also. I plan to put the same kit on my Sportster about $2000 from now!

You can see the kit at: http://www.seegercycle.com/

The Kawi was a very dependable & good looking bike, but was not very inspiring to ride. Kinda slow & generic.

I totalled the Yamaha in early 2006 and spent 6 months in a wheelchair due to a brainless butthole in a cage. Another story for another time.......

[Dupo]

Slightly modified .. lol. Great job you did on that Intruder.

I am getting a similar kit @ 6 degree rake for my shadow. I can get 9 or 14 degree at twice the cost of the 6 (yikes).

[Sarris]

Dupo;

Thanks for your kind compliments. The chopper kit for the 1400 Intruder was 13 degrees (total head rake of 50 degrees) with 10" over tubes and retailled for $1699. It was a labor of love (stupidity). I loved the bike, but as usuallly happens with used bikes, I lost my ass when I sold it. S**T Happens! Also, the guy who bought paid $1200 to have it crated and shipped from Tampa to Spokane, Washington.
Go figure.....
:rawk:

[Graydog]

Sarris, ok you hooked me. I'm ready for the wheelchair story. What happened? Have you already posted it?

[Sarris]

In April 2006, I was riding my 2005 Yamaha 1700 Roadstar (120 hp Barons modified) with another biker, enjoying the ride and just minding our own biz. We came around a blind corner onto a cage that had come to a full stop in an area where it is illegal to turn. She had no turnsignal on, but was turned slightly to the right. My buddy was on my right. He swerved between a power pole and a sign, and thought he was going to hit her. I swerved left to go around her (there was no oncoming traffic) and just as my front wheel got beside her left rear tire, she made a left, and I t-boned her at 35 mph. The momentum made made the bike snap sideways to the right, crushing my right foot and ankle (from about midcalf down) between the cage and the bike. After 4 hours of orthopaedic surgery and 7 days in the hospital, I was relegated to a wheelchair and was totally non-ambulatory for 6 months. I now have a 12" long scar on the outside of my right ankle where a titanium plate and 10 screws was inserted and there is a bunch of miscellaneous metal bits and pieces holding all my foot and toe bones together. Every bone in my ankle and foot was broken, as well as both leg bones that were broken off just above the ankle. The surgeon commented that had this happened 10 years ago, I would have lost my foot. I was wearing riding boots, a leather jacket, gloves, and a 3/4 helmet.

The woman driving the cage never saw me. She also had just enough insurance to get a tag in Florida, and no other assets. I got nothing. My $18k bike was totalled.

It was was only time in 35 years of riding that I got clanged, so I got it out of the way. I don't limp and I can still ride. Just another very valuable life lesson.

Shit happens. End of story.

:oops:

[patrick_777]

Sarris, you should post that story in the Lessons Learned forum.

Also, have Alan write it. :lol: :neener: