Ducati Monster Forum

Across my motorcycle history...

All because it's rainy and I'm bored.

First bike I ever rode, wheelied, and crashed.  1978 Suzuki TS185.  I was 10 and it was 1986 and the only safety gear I owned was a helmet that came with the bike back in 1978.  Motor seized the next year.  It sat neglected in the back of Dad's shed.  I still have hopes of titling and tagging it and commuting on it.  Fast forward to fall 2004.

The day I rescued it:
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Suzuki0001-1024_zpscd22a738.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Suzuki0001-1024_zpscd22a738.jpg.html)

Loaded up and ready for a little work:
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Suzuki0003-1024_zps0509094f.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Suzuki0003-1024_zps0509094f.jpg.html)

Mid rebuild...  In my dining room too.  I wasn't married or had a girlfriend then.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Partial02-1024_zpsa3f6d45b.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Partial02-1024_zpsa3f6d45b.jpg.html)

Post-cleanup and a .5mm over rebuild.  It still doesn't run right and I can't figure out the lights.  Stupid corroded 6V electrical system.  One day it'll be my commuter...
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Suzuki0004-1024_zps4f1a67a7.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Suzuki0004-1024_zps4f1a67a7.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/DSC_0027-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/DSC_0027-1024.jpg.html)

After the TS seized, and I had been driving a few years, I found my first street bike in the Iwanna (local paper that was basically Craigslist before the internet).  It was a 1981 Suzuki GS650.  I was terrified of riding on the road (so were my parents) and I ran 3 or 4 tanks of gas riding around the 30 acre field adjacent to our house.  However, I don't think any feeling will take the place of the first cool morning I rode to work, on the open road, for the first time.  I didn't take any pictures, but here's an internet photo:
(http://www.motorcycleforums.net/forum/attachments/paddock/4665d1149882142-1981-gs650g-1981suzukigs650g-brianw.jpg)

The very next year, I got my 2002 Suzuki Bandit 600.  That's the bike I should have never sold that gave me a lot of firsts!  I took a girl (that I met on the internet...) on a motorcycle date for the first time, got my first ticket ever, went to Deals Gap for the first time, drug my foot for the first time, put a dent in my Mom's Taurus with it for the first time (stupid center stand and n00b skills)...

Washed & ready to ride!
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0003-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0003-1024.jpg.html)

Go ahead make vroom vroom noises.  I know you're thinking it!  I was either 21 or 22 at the time.  Short hair too.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0004-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0004-1024.jpg.html)

Foolishly (because the Bandit was an awesome bike and I didn't see it's awesomeness at the time) traded for a leftover 2002 GSXR-600 in 2003.  The dealer even tossed in a First Gear Suzuki leather jacket & delivered the new bike & picked up the Bandit nearly 2 hours away.  I think they REALLY wanted rid of the leftover 2002.

Can't say enough about how awesome this bike was.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/GSXR02-1024_zpsddd9bbb5.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/GSXR02-1024_zpsddd9bbb5.jpg.html)

Two Brothers pipe sounded awesome too.  Shame my n00b self totaled it with only 1500 miles on the odometer.  I miss this one a bit.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GSXR01-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GSXR01-1024.jpg.html)

This bike landed me in jail on some serious federal charges.  It was ugly and expensive.  I learned a lot from the crash and the months of various federal courthouse visits.  This was the apex of my "young & dumb" motorcycle adventures. 

Post-crash pics.  The bike was totaled, tweaked frame, busted plastics on both sides, bent rim, busted forks, smashed radiator, etc.  I was more that doubling the speed limit on a popular scenic federal road when I lost the rear and slammed into a wooden guardrail.  I walked away...  right to the back seat of an LEO's car.  Deserving so too.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Crash04-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Crash04-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/Crash02-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/Crash02-1024.jpg.html)

Then came the yellow Monster.  Soon to be named Molly.  My dad was pissed, I thought he was going to punch me when he found out I had bought another bike.  Keep in mind, I still lived under their roof, and didn't bother dropping hints or asking permission to bring a bike in.  This was only July, I had wrecked in May.  However, once I cranked it to unload it, he fell in love with the sound of "Molly" and her Termignoni pipes.  A sound I don't get tired, even a decade later. 

Molly on her first ride & how she looked when I first bought her.  I removed the belly pan & swapped the clip-ons for Moose ATV bars later on.  She was originally a 1999 Ducati Monster 750 Dark.  Darks of the time were the cheapest in the lineup and had soft, non-adjustable suspension.  However, that is where the black frame & wheels come from.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/Molly/Molly01-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/Molly/Molly01-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/Molly/MonsterView003-Crop.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/Molly/MonsterView003-Crop.jpg.html)

After the belly pan removal (damaged it beyond repair between deep lean angles, super soft suspension, and lots of 2-up rides) and clip-on removal, and painting the engine cases black to match the frame & wheels.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/Molly/DSC_0093-1200BW.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/Molly/DSC_0093-1200BW.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/Molly/DIW003-1200.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/Molly/DIW003-1200.jpg.html)

Then came another Suzuki.  A 1984 GS1150ES.  Hell of a bike.  One of the biggest motors of the time with possibly the worst brakes (twin slotted disc with twin opposed pistons on each side) and suspension (air pressure adjustable) of any bike in 1984.  The motor became the mill for the first ever GSXR-1100.  It was loaded with torque, even had a 630 (yea, 100 larger than the 530 used on modern powerful bikes) and had a drag racing cam too.  After 1 ride, this is the only bike my wife has EVER refused to ride with me on.  That should tell you something considering she's been on Molly many times on Deals Gap when we were dragging parts.

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0375-1024_zps3232e048.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0375-1024_zps3232e048.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0374-1024_zps3e98c96d.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0374-1024_zps3e98c96d.jpg.html)

Sold the 1150 for way too little, but I needed the money and it was best logical decision considering some of the problems I had discovered the the PO didn't know about or simply didn't share.

Ever since I missed out on a killer deal on a 2002 Ducati 750 Sport (bought the 2002 Bandit instead), I had regretted it.  Ebay happened to have a 2000 900 Supersport listed nearby one cold January night.  I placed a bid, well under KBB and won that bike.  A MLK day roadtrip, a snow/ice storm, and an ice-encased 900SS later, I had another Duc in the garage.

Meet Syreena.  She's a 2000 Ducati 900 Supersport.  Lots of fun to ride, wheelie-on-command seems to be standard equipment on the air-cooled 900 motor!  We went a few places.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/900SS/DSC_0007-1200.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/900SS/DSC_0007-1200.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/900SS/WolfLake01.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/900SS/WolfLake01.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/900SS/DSC_0085-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/900SS/DSC_0085-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/900SS/DSC_0063-1200.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/900SS/DSC_0063-1200.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/900SS/DSC_0096-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/900SS/DSC_0096-1024.jpg.html)

Sold the 900SS after replacing the clutch at 16,000 miles and wanted a fun car instead of two bikes.

Still have Molly, she's pretty special.  I showed up to my wedding on that bike.
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0370-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0370-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0371-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0371-1024.jpg.html)

We even left on Molly. 
(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0613-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0613-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0621-1024.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0621-1024.jpg.html)

(http://i304.photobucket.com/albums/nn168/the_journeyman/GenMoto/DSC_0622-1200.jpg) (http://s304.photobucket.com/user/the_journeyman/media/GenMoto/DSC_0622-1200.jpg.html)

Cliff Notes:  I'm a Suzuki guy that loves to ride an Italian.

JM

Some great pix. Thanks for sharing!   [thumbsup]

  I enjoyed this, thanks JM!

Do you miss the SS? that was a niiice looking and fun looking scoot.

OK it's Friday cocktail hour so here goes:

Enjoyed your story. Understand about the rain, does it ever stop make the beast with two backsing raining there?

Ok your taste is hairstyle and jackets, so-so.  Choice of bikes and roads, well we'll look past the other stuff OK?

Damn your wife looks like a good sport.

Jesus when is someone going to add some nice bags and itsey-bitsey risers to a SS to tour on? Damn that's a nice looking bike.

Glad you survived your federal road mishap.
Thanks again for the awesome route recommendations, shit you got some redonk-u-lous
roads.

My first bike was an '03 Bandit 600 that my dad bought, but I ended up riding more. I doubled his mileage, and when I finally decided to buy my own bike, he said to just take it, since I obviously enjoyed it more. Perfect bike to learn on. Nothing too powerful, spectacular or expensive. Comfortable for the 2-hr rides I took down the coast to visit my then-girlfriend.

Sold it and ended up buying an '03 DRZ-400. All my buddies were big into dirt bikes, so it was great because I could put around with them (albeit a lot slower and further behind them) but still ride around town. Definitely a fun hooligan bike. Felt funny riding around town wearing a dirtbike helmet, but nothing was in my way.

Sold it just before joining The Navy to help cover bills while I had no job until I got my first check. 3 years of no bike got me more and more bummed everytime I saw riders pass near me. I missed the wave of all things. Finally bought my '10 696 in Seattle. Transferred to CT and don't plan on getting rid of it. Ever.

Nice JM  [thumbsup]

It's cool that you still have the TS185 - every bike I sold..... I wish I still had. 

Yup, agreed.
I also wish I had pics of all my bikes.

I do miss it, but the Monster is much more practical for the majority of my riding.  I'm a slower, adventure oriented rider and the Monster (especially with the dirt bars & risers ((thanks dp)) and the minor mods) is more suited to my "let's turn down this road and see what happens" solo riding style.  If I was a wealthier man, the SS would have stayed around.  It was really an awesome bike


Every one I have owned has scratched some kind of itch, and those are the kinds of itches that come and go all the time.  The GS1150 was all about serious power and torque and convinced me I would likely eventually die riding it if I bought a Hayabusa for a ST type bike.  The TS is nostalgia all the way, but I still want to get it right and use is to putter around town.  The Bandit I certainly have never sold, would be the best 2up ride for my wife and I.  The GSXR?  I'll take the 900SS anyday over it, even though it wasn't "bad" I just never felt quite the same link to it while riding the others.

Glad folks have enjoyed this!  I rarely put pictures of me on the internet, but got inspired one night.

JM

Great story, thanks for sharing!

Now I wish I was incorporating my Monster in our wedding...

I was scrolling down seen a yellow jacket and long hair, thought " That must be his foxy wife" Oh oops thats you! [laugh]

Looks like you are enjoying yourself, keep up the good work in that department.