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Where Suzie Q came from

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    Where Suzie Q came from

    You can call me Vince or Gustov, which ever you prefer. My first Suzuki was an 1982 GS 1100 GL that I bought around 96 and rode it home in the rain. After 3 years and 20,000 miles, The bike picked up a vibration on the way home from a trip, and as the miles progressed so did the vibration. I managed to limp home and parked the bike. A few days later I started taking it apart and found that the flanged end of the drive shaft had been loose on the splines from the transmission, the bolt holding it tight had broken. After inspecting the cone gears in the outlet of the transmission, I found them and the bearings to be totaly shot. At the time I couldn't find any replacement parts, so I ended up giving the bike away.

    In search of a new ride I came across a 1979 Gs 850 G for a few hundred bucks. It ran, but not good and ended up adjusting the clutch several times on the way home with it. I rode this machine for 2 years, but was still looking for another 1100.

    While searching the web, I ran across an ad for my Gs 1100 LT on the Internet. It was located in Fresno CA. had only 1027 miles. I dickered with the fellow and we came to an agreement.

    So on the second Friday of January 2002, I climbed onto the back of my brothers 1976 MOTO GUZI police spec. for the ride down to Fresno. We left at 330 in the afternoon to overcast skies and temps in the low 50's. We jumped onto I5 and headed south. Around 130 am. we arrived at a rest stop in Yreka Ca. just a few miles across the border from Or. The temp. was well below freezing and we had a fitful nights rest.

    Rising around 6 and grabbing a bight to eat, we headed south again and arrived in Fresno around 330 in the afternoon, 24 hours after we started.
    We inspected the bike and started it, ran like a Swiss watch. I immediately adjusted those huge handle bars, attached a small windshield and my tank bag. Paid for the bike and we were on the road by 4 pm.

    We filled up with gas in Sacramento and about 15 miles later the motor quit starved for gas. In the dark alongside I5 I drained the 4 carbs of the water pumped into the gas tank at the last fill up. Along with the water was quite a quantity of rust. After stopping several times to drain water out of the carbs, we finally decided to spend the night at a camp ground.
    Yes my brother also had water in his gas but no where near the quantity that I did.

    We headed north again the next morning, with continuous carb problems. When we arrived in Yreka I decided to remove the tank and drain it completely. Nice orange color to the gas and much rust. Now with a drained tank, and carbs I refilled the tank and we were off. The old girl ran fabulously for the next 20 miles then had starvation issues again. After a few more stops alongside the road, I finally figured out that if I traveled no faster than 65 mph. I could keep going.

    We arrived home on Monday morning at 130 am. wet and tired, but we made it. It was a trip which is forever burned into my memory.


    V
    Gustov
    80 GS 1100 LT, 83 1100 G "Scruffy"
    81 GS 1000 G
    79 GS 850 G
    81 GS 850 L
    83 GS 550 ES, 85 GS 550 ES
    80 GS 550 L
    86 450 Rebel, 70CL 70, Yamaha TTR125
    2002 Honda 919
    2004 Ural Gear up

    #2
    Wow - what a great story! All of that rough living out of the dedication to bring home a bike and bring her back to life. Hope you'll be posting some pics soon too!

    Comment


      #3
      here ya go




      Gustov
      80 GS 1100 LT, 83 1100 G "Scruffy"
      81 GS 1000 G
      79 GS 850 G
      81 GS 850 L
      83 GS 550 ES, 85 GS 550 ES
      80 GS 550 L
      86 450 Rebel, 70CL 70, Yamaha TTR125
      2002 Honda 919
      2004 Ural Gear up

      Comment

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