Cedar Key For My Birthday

For my birthday in April, my wife surprised me by suggesting we take the bike over to Cedar Key for a birthday lunch and a nice ride.  It was the first time the Versys had ever been to the coast, and also the first time my wife has ridden with me for a long period of time.  We had a great time! (though we both agree that the Versys is NOT a bike that's comfortably built for two, haha!)  It was a little warm outside, but we survived.  The last time I went to Cedar Key, I took my DRZ-400, which you can read about here.

We had lunch at the Pickled Pelican Restaurant, as I wanted my wife to try one of my favorite spots.  We stayed until the early afternoon and then headed back to Gainesville.  It was a really nice day, and we definitely enjoyed ourselves.

My next trip to Cedar Key, I hope to take my dad's Triumph, and I would like to spread some of his ashes, as I have fond memories of family trips there.  We loved Cedar Key, and I know he wouldn't mind being spread there.  I think of you always, dad. I love you.

-J

Bigger Changes Than I Thought!

As I posted yesterday, my plan was to convert my DRZ400S into a Super Motard by changing out the tires, and adjusting suspension.  After doing more research and talking to good people, I came to the conclusion that an S-to-SM cross-over requires too much time and money, neither of which I have enough to invest.  My bike is a daily driver, I cannot afford to not have it.  The bike is just too beautiful as it is, changing it would only devalue it.

 

Two grand ladies. DRZ (left), Versys (right).

What ended up happening was something I really did not plan on.  I stumbled upon a 2008 Kawasaki Versys 650 at a local dealership.  The bike was in great condition, and I could not take my eyes off it! The previous owner took great care of it.  After a test drive, and a few hours throwing numbers around, I traded in my 2006 Suzuki DRZ400S and drove home on the Versys.  I was able to get a great deal on the bike, and got excellent trade in value on my DRZ.  I am certainly going to miss my DRZ, it was a gift from my dad and I love that bike very much.  However, bikes like that are meant to tear up the dirt and grass on the weekends, and I just couldn't do that anymore.  I wanted something light, but powerful and comfortable.  It took about a year, but I found a good replacement bike.  It even came with a removable storage box that attaches to the back!


Now with the Versys, I can take longer trips, feel more comfortable navigating the local highways and city streets, take my wife for a cruise, but still maintain the quickness and "snappyness" of a Dual Sport/Enduro.  I ordered a new set of tires, and a few other replacement parts.  I think I found a great motorcycle that will last me a long time.  I hope my DRZ goes to a good home with someone who will care for it like I did.

The last picture taken of me and the DRZ before I drove home on the Versys.

-J

BIG Changes Are Coming!

Hello readers! 

I do apologize for the lack of posting, the weather has been rainy for weeks & I haven't had time to do anything. I hope this weather isn't a preview of the upcoming winter!

As the title of this post states, big changes are indeed coming! The past 12 hours have been very exciting for me. 

For the past year, I've been researching how to convert a DRZ400S into a DRZ400SM. While it is possible, it can become very expensive. Because of that, I pretty much canned the idea. I don't go off road anymore, my DRZ is a daily driver in the city, and I love to cruise on the weekends. My bike is in such great condition that I couldn't fathom the thought of selling or trading it for an actual SM....they're the same bike anyway. 

So last night, my dad called me up and put me in contact with a guy a few hours away who wants to trade stock DRZ400S tires (18" rear & 21" front) for 17" SM Excel tires. He wants to surprise his son. No cash involved, a straight up trade! 

THIS. IS. A. GOLD. MINE. 

Tires & rims are what make this conversion so expensive. Also, Excel rims aren't stock, they are blacked out after market custom rims...beautiful. I really hope this exchange works out, we're both interested and it saves me HUNDREDS of dollars! 

Adjust the front forks, the suspension, cable lengths, & a few other minor things.  I am getting a custom seat that is wider and fits on the stock frame so I can further enjoy the ride. 

I've also wanted to change out body plastics to go all black, but that requires painting the tank...I know I'm getting WAY ahead of myself and investing all of my hopes and dreams on a "what if", but I'm so pumped!! I really hope I can get the SM tires, that will set everything else in motion. I can't focus on anything else. 

That's what it will look like (more or less) when the tires go on. 

The weather finally cleared up for today (it's supposed to rain again tomorrow), so I was able to take the bike to class. 

Have a good day!

-J

Halloween Down Time

While most Americans my age are out having crazy Halloween parties with their college friends and fraternities, I decided October 31st was the best time to cook some steaks on the grill with an old high school friend.  We discussed the typical religion, politics, sports, local news, etc., and enjoyed cold beer and good food.  What I didn't take into account was the idiocy of Trick-Or-Treaters and their parents.  My friend and I were not in costumes, the exterior lights were off, and there were open containers of alcohol in plain sight.  Normally, that would indicate that a particular house is not participating in Halloween festivities for children.  Nothing against kids.  We were always polite towards kids that would walk up.  But if you are a parent walking your kids around the neighborhood and you notice a house with this kind of environment, use some common sense and don't send your kid to someone's garage asking for candy.  Use your head.

A cold front moved into North Central Florida on November 1st, so the weather has been very cloudy.  It finally cleared up late yesterday afternoon so I couldn't pass up the opportunity to take a few pictures of the DRZ.

-J

Fall Photoshoot

I've said it countless times so far this year, but Fall is my favorite time of year.  It is my favorite time to ride, and it is my favorite time to photograph.  I'm an amateur photographer at best, but the best thing about Fall is that the weather is so beautiful, nature cooperates with the camera almost by default.

Living in Florida, we don't have the wide variety of beautiful trees that explode colorful leaves every Fall, but we do have the Sycamore.  Sycamore's are the quintessential "Fall tree" for the Sunshine State.  When their leaves fall, I just want to stop what I'm doing and just take it all in.

The neighborhood I live in is a golf course community.  When the economy tanked, the course owner cut his losses and left.  The course has not been operational for many years, and it wasn't until the past year that landscapers started a monthly bush-hogging of the fairways.  No idea when the course will re-open, but in the meantime, the overgrowth allows for great photo opportunities.

Turkey Creek is also a beautiful natural water feature that courses through the neighborhood.  The way the light hits the water in late afternoon makes it difficult to pass up taking some pictures.  I wanted to drive down into the creek bed for some great shots, but I did not want the attention that came with an entire family that lives next to the creek.  They all happened to be outside and wouldn't stop starting at me.  People in this neighborhood have become very rude and nosy.  The last thing I want is for someone to call the Golf Cart Police (Homeowner's Association), even though I wouldn't be doing anything wrong.  Just isn't worth it.

Perhaps I'll get window that gives me a chance to spend more time in the creek bed.  Only time will tell.

-J

Motorcycles & Cooler Temperatures: What You Need To Know

As Fall kicks into high gear, and the weather gets cooler, a number of concerns arise this time of year.  Be sure to properly use the choke on your carburetor as the temperature dictates when starting your bike.  Also, it is imperative that riders maintain as full of a tank of gas as possible. With the fluctuating temperatures between the outside air and inside the tank, condensation can easily form inside the tank and that is a real problem.  The engine will spit and sputter, and die frequently. Water in the fuel is a simple fix, but inexperienced and uneducated riders will think something is terribly wrong and will let a motorcycle waste away because they don't want to spend hundreds or thousands of dollars that they think it will cost to repair their ride. 

Drain the carburetor. Takes 5-10 minutes to do and you can do it yourself.  You should not have to remove your carburetor from your motorcycle.  Find a clear cup or Tupperware container that is the proper size to fit under your carburetor.  If your motorcycle has an accessible pepcock (valve that can turn on/off your fuel), turn it to the "off" position.  Place the clear container underneath your carburetor where the drainage port is located. Directly above that port, is a small screw.  Ensure that you carefully loosen the screw (my carb doesn't require the complete removal of the screw) and the fuel should begin to drain into your container.  If you have water in your fuel, it will be obvious to see.  The water will settle to the bottom of the container and collect in a bubble.  Do not add the contaminated fuel from your carburetor back into your tank, dispose of it properly.  Re-tighten the screw on the carburetor, return your pepcock to the "on" position.  Top off your tank with fresh gasoline, and ride.  Your motorcycle will return to normal with time, the best thing you can do is ride frequently to run clean fuel through your engine.

Another very important aspect of motorcycle maintenance involves your tires.  Cooler temperatures causes air to compress, so keeping an eye on your tire pressure becomes increasingly vital during Fall/Winter.  It is a normal safety practice to check your tires before every ride, but this becomes a true necessity this time of year.  Riding a motorcycle with low air pressure can be deadly.  A simple 30-second pressure check before you ride could mean the difference between life and death.  Use a tire gauge.  Do not use the "kick the tire" technique, as it does not give you an accurate reading on tire pressure, and it can also be misleading as rubber tires tend to stiffen in cold weather.

These simple (and basic) checks are very simple, and very vital.  Keep an eye out for a future post regarding Winter riding and proper long term motorcycle storage!

-J

Fall is Upon Us

While the official start of Fall was last week, the weather in North Central Florida hasn't made any drastic changes until the past few days. Typical of Florida, a rainy day brings along a cold front that stays in the area until another the cycle repeats. As a result, riders have to dust off their warmer riding gear.

Riding in the early weeks of Fall is my favorite time of year to ride.  The leaves are changing, the skies are a beautiful blue with few clouds.  There's almost always a nice breeze that causes the leaves to fall from the trees.  The outside temperature is cooler, but not cold enough to make the experience a hassle.  With the season change comes a reduction in bugs, pollen, dust, dirt, and the overall grime that is associated with the Summer months.  Washing and detailing the bike can be done much less often as a result.  I love detailing my DRZ.  The bike just seems to ride better when it has that showroom shine.  People assume my DRZ is a brand new, but when I tell them it is a 2006 their reaction is always priceless.  "No way!" or "Oh, wow!". That never gets old.

Seeing Double??

I do apologize for the delay in posts, Midterm exams are coming up, so needless to say I've been occupied with that. Not to mention, Grand Theft Auto 5 came out, and I was one of those poor individuals who pre-ordered the game in September of 2012 in anticipation of a Spring 2013 release. Well that obviously didn't happen, so when it did finally come out, I had to play it to release a years worth of built up anticipation. Hey, a gamer has to get his game on, right?

Anyway.

The weather has not been very conducive for motorcycle riding for the past week. Unfortunately, I had to keep the bike in the garage all week because the rain wouldn't stop. Today however, the Sunshine State has begun to live up to its motto once again, the rains have stopped.  I decided to take the bike out today, and I'm glad I did. With a high of 86 and a 0% chance of rain, it is perfect riding weather. Clear blue skies and a light breeze. My DRZ's twin, a DRZ 400SM parked right beside me today. I probably looked like a would-be criminal because I was really checking out the SM. I've wanted to do a full SM conversion to mine for some time now, but the cost of doing so almost equates to the value of the bike itself. I do like the off road clearance/capabilities of my DRZ, because it allows me to go places I couldn't go with a bike that has standard street clearance.  I will try to stay on top of my blog, but it's going to be tough until after midterms. 

-J

Florida-Georgia Line

I want to take a break from the "world traveler" aspect of my blog and feel the wind in my face!

I recently took a fun ride to the Florida-Georgia State Line.  Initially, my plan was to drive some of the county roads and dirt roads in Alachua County and neighboring Colombia County.  However, once I realized how close I was to the state line, the rider in me couldn't resist the cruise.  I ended up putting a little over 120 miles on the DRZ at the end of the day.  I rode on various back roads until I reached Lake City.  I could not have asked for better weather for the drive!  Temperature around 85, nice and sunny with few clouds, no wind, along with little traffic.  For those who are familiar with Florida's summer weather, you know that those "perfect days" usually don't last all day.

I stuck mainly to US 441, so in the event I had motorcycle trouble or the weather turned against me, I would have a direct path home.  One of the towns that I traveled through was a little one called Like Oak.  The road through town had a lower speed, but a few nice curves and on a dual sport, it was a really enjoyable strip of road.  As the name leads on, Live Oak was full of beautiful Oak trees that lined the road.  As I ventured closer to the state line, population density decreased.  There was a 10-20 mile stretch of road that if something were to happen, I probably would have been in trouble because cell service was hit and miss.  

The ride home was mostly as pleasant as the ride up.  Mostly.  Like I stated previously, perfect Florida summer weather doesn't last.  A rain shower is 99% guaranteed to happen.  I did have lady luck on my side as the rain shower didn't hit until I was 4 miles from home.  However, I was in shorts and a shirt when I drove into a wall of water.  I had to pull off and wait an hour for the rain to let up enough for me to get home.  

Beauty is Only Skin Deep

Good morning, bloggers!
I plan on posting a couple of times today, I have a ton of content I want to catch up on.
Before the semester started, I was hell bent on either buying a new body kit for my DRZ, or painting the one I have. The flashy yellow, white, and blue just screamed "dirt bike", and since my dizzer had become my daily driver around town, I wanted the bike to not be so "loud". So one Sunday I decided to remove every body panel from the motorcycle to see about changing the color....and I must say that the title of this post explains it perfectly: Beauty is only skin deep. It looked like something you see in a post-apocalyptic world, just thrown together like a rat rod.
My ambitions turned out to be larger than my budget at the time, so I kept the current body kit (Ebay/ Amazon had a few listings but quality was lacking) and I've pretty much accepted the bike as is. I wanted to make it as "super motard" as I could, but the cost of a proper conversion is way more than I want to invest.
**The bike still has the radiator shrouds on in this picture, I failed to get a complete "naked pic" haha.**

The Dizzer

I believe my first picture added should be of my DRZ. This bike is more or less why I have this blog. Florida doesn't necessarily have beautiful scenery, at least not where I live. But here's a nice clean picture of her.