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

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.

Out On The Road

I decided to go for a little drive-

The weather was perfect and I really needed to get my mind off of college. I ended up putting about 100 miles on the bike, and during that trek I broke the 8,000 mile mark. I traveled through the local counties and visited the various rivers, creeks, and parks that surround the area.  Traffic was minimal, and I was able to pull off the road and take almost any pictures I wanted.  One of the prettiest places I discovered was a farm on West County Road 18 headings towards Ft. White.  A massive green field with a white and red two-story house, and a large barn.  I pulled off the road, took a picture, and circled back to take another.  The owners were probably thinking I was crazy, but I loved the view.  I spent some time in Ft. White, Worthington Springs, Booker, and High Springs.  I stopped at the Santa Fe River boat launch just outside of High Springs and tried to get some good shots, but there was too much activity.  I also visited my old, old stomping grounds, my middle school, to see what has changed.  It is nice to see the Corsair is still out front, at least the Democrats haven't had it removed yet.

While in High Springs, I found an old service road that shadowed an abandoned train track.  Nature had overgrown the tracks to the point that they couldn't be seen, and the grass was as high as my handlebars!  I could only imagine how frequent those tracks were used at the height of the railroad industry.  The service road was a great "off the beaten path" ride.  I've checked out the Northern areas enough, so the next time I hit the road, I want to head in a different direction.  Maybe towards Newberry/Bronson.  We shall see.

-J

This is Why I Hate People

This post is dedicated to the real assholes of the world.

Look at how this asshole parked his motorcycle.  He crammed his little rice rocket into a tiny gap between my bike and a Harley Davidson.  The Harley driver and I parked at the same time and we both said we had enough room to mount our bikes and drive away any time.  What we didn't plan on was this worthless prick pulling off this stunt.  Whoever this guy was, he wasn't even able to pull the back of his motorcycle out of the road, so on top of causing other vehicles to swerve around him, he prevented me, the Harley rider, and two other motorcycles behind ours from leaving the parking lot (as cars were parked around us).  At first I was pretty pissed off, but then I became more furious when I discovered that this jack off decided to lock his steering column so I couldn't move his bike out of the way.  I could not even get on my bike, so I sat there for 30 minutes just fuming.  Every rider that came to the parking lot I heatedly asked "is this your bike!?".  I never discovered who owned that piece of shit, but a fellow rider was nice enough to lean that bike over far enough so I could get on my DRZ and drive away.  The guy who helped me told me I should have pushed the rice rocket over on its side.  I really, truly wanted to do that, but I'm a better person than that.

An Afternoon Cruise

After my classes last Thursday, I decided to take the long way home and hit some back roads and open fields.  I wanted more content for the blog, but I also wanted to take a break from my normal routine and tear up some ground.  Since I do drive a Dual Sport, I am required by Man-Law to go off-road to make me and my motorcycle happy by tearing up some back country.  The weather called for 60% chance of severe thunderstorms in the afternoon (typical Florida), so I wore my heavy weather gear.  What happened instead, was clear blue skies with a high of 94 degrees and no rain whatsoever. The humidity was high, and it did rain later that night, but certainly not when The Weather Channel predicted.  A heavy leather jacket, rain proof steel-toed boots, and Wrangler jeans caused me to sweat horribly, but I was able to enjoy myself, despite the hot, heavy gear.  It was a beautiful day, perfect for taking the pictures I wanted, and the traffic also cooperated.  Along the way I decided to visit my parents and revisit the nearby fields and dirt roads I used to ride when I was kid.  I had a really great time, and I will definitely be doing this again soon!

-J

St. Augustine Beach

Good afternoon, readers!

I decided to take a ride to the beach with my dad for a mini family get together.  The weather cooperated beautifully for the 200 mile round trip adventure.  We stuck to the back roads (as any motorcyclist knows, that's the only way to do it!) and really enjoyed the drive.  This was the farthest trip I've ever taken on the DRZ and surprisingly, my ass didn't hurt until I got off the bike!  Putting 200 miles on a single cylinder motorcycle does indeed sound like quite a feat and truth be told, it really was!  But with brand new chain and sprockets, I really had a comfortable, smooth ride.  I was really enjoying myself and it felt great to share this experience with my dad.  My DRZ 400 did struggle with keeping up with his Triumph 675, but dual sports aren't built for speed.  The traffic was marginal until we hit Palatka, after that I really had to keep on my toes.  The most pleasurable part of the drive was A1A.  A great stretch of highway that runs along the coastline all down the Florida Atlantic Coast.  Speed limit wasn't more than 45 mph, but the setting of a coastal highway with all of its sunshine, coastal breeze, beach goers, and restaurants was really enjoyable.  We met up with family and friends and enjoyed a beautiful day in the surf.

After 4-5 hours at the beach, we decided to grab some lunch before heading back home.  This is Florida, and there's no guarantee that it won't rain on you.  Leaving the beach was quite an experience.  I was on a dual sport and even I struggled in some of the areas of soft sand.  My dad had an even more difficult time on his Triumph.  We never lost control, but the transit back to pavement seemed to take forever.  We had lunch at the World Famous Oasis Restaurant.  If you haven't been there, make it a point to!  Amazing food and a great menu selection.

The weather had turned sour, but luckily for us we managed to stay behind the storms as the passed through, so only the roads were wet.  We never got rained on directly.  Typical of Florida, once we returned home the sun began to shine again.  I stripped out of my sweaty, sand-filled clothes and proceeded to wash down the motorcycle (and myself).  So much sand everywhere but it was certainly worth it.  I forgot how much fun the beach can be, especially if you enjoy it on a motorcycle.  For me, the journey was just as enjoyable as the destination.  I will certainly be making that trip again.

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.  

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.