Riding the River - Canada to Florida

[canroc]

Don, that was almost 19 years ago when I met you in Buffalo to hand over the GS1100GK for your ride to Florida... did Muddy River eventually give up the ghost? (I see one just like it for sale here in Rochester.. 1982, brown, 19,000 miles)

[storm 64]

Thanks canroc for pulling this story out of the archives. What a great story!

[Redman]

I am trying to figure out if the GK of this story is the same GK as the “GSResource Project” (of which would be an entire other story).

.

[Grimly]

Wow; that was in interesting blast from the past that was before I re-joined. I'd been a member before but in the earlier times and only came back when I decided to resurrect old Whitey, the '80 bike, in 2012. I'd obviously utterly missed on transcontinental journeys.

[dorkburger]

Great story from the archives. This place really does have a long history.

[Redman]

Don could tell maybe a couple more
stories of buying GSs from long distance, cross country, and riding them home.

He could also tell story of riding mocykl (or scooter) cross country, getting other bike to ride home, then go back to ride original bike home.

[dpep]

Don, that was almost 19 years ago when I met you in Buffalo to hand over the GS1100GK for your ride to Florida... did Muddy River eventually give up the ghost? (I see one just like it for sale here in Rochester.. 1982, brown, 19,000 miles)

Mike, your old GK has woven into GS Resources lore, under different names, until the present day. In 2004 I was leading a GS ride with it down in the Ocala National Forest area when an unmarked curve bit me and crashed much of the plastic work and piping on the bike. I put it back together with parts obtained from several different GSR members which imparted both a sense of community and a motley appearance. I gave it the name Mr Ratley and used it on one or maybe two of the West Virginia rides I organized. Then a few years ago I got all the parts painted yellow and hauled it up to Frank, our administrator. in north Georgia to serve as the GS project bike under the name Yellow Frank.. There it still be.

When I get a little time I will locate and post here pictures of Muddy River / Mr Ratley / Yellow Frank in its different incarnations for you to view.
...

[Rich82GS750TZ]

The Yellow Frank bike story is Documented on the GSR Homepage.

https://www.thegsresources.com/yellowfrank.php

[BigD_83]

I love this forum for the random stories that I never would have seen had it not been for the engagement of members.

DPep, I know you have a penchant for adventures, but to take on an Ironbutt, on a new-to-you ride, more or less sight-unseen. THAT is a whole 'nother level, sir.

[canroc]

Mike, your old GK has woven into GS Resources lore, under different names, until the present day. In 2004 I was leading a GS ride with it down in the Ocala National Forest area when an unmarked curve bit me and crashed much of the plastic work and piping on the bike. I put it back together with parts obtained from several different GSR members which imparted both a sense of community and a motley appearance. I gave it the name Mr Ratley and used it on one or maybe two of the West Virginia rides I organized. Then a few years ago I got all the parts painted yellow and hauled it up to Frank, our administrator. in north Georgia to serve as the GS project bike under the name Yellow Frank.. There it still be.

When I get a little time I will locate and post here pictures of Muddy River / Mr Ratley / Yellow Frank in its different incarnations for you to view.
...

Don, thanks for the update on the old GK! I rode a few more GS bikes after selling that to you, then ventured into Harley territory in 2004 for a few years with a Sportster and later a Superglide... gave up motorcycling in 2017, but looking again. I don't think the thrill of motorcycling ever leaves our blood and I always want to return to it. My first bike was a 1965 250 cc Yamaha Big Bear I had at the age of 15. I enjoyed working on, and riding these old Suzuki GS bikes, so maybe again I will find one in my garage..