“Chasing Sprockets”
By Dan Karns aka: sprbeast

With a few miles under my belt with the new bike I was getting pretty comfortable with the new ergos and power. Yet while I upgraded my steed, my brother also his. Though he had his prior to my purchase. A 1987 GSXR1100. WOW! That thing was amazing! The tach numbers started at 3,000rpm. You didn’t have to work the motor at all and you were well into the triple digits. Once you got it to lean into the turns......it would stay there....all day. No questions, issues, or otherwise. I just handled great. Was light and somewhat comfy. However not as comfy as my Fizzy 700. I might of had more power than my RZ but the improved handling was just marginally there above it. The front was still very soft with lots of bottoming. The

brakes were also mediocre. At least I thought they were. I am now thinking that this was all in my head and just seeing the capability of what the GSXR had might have skewed my thoughts a bit.

As we were toying around the back roads of central Pennsylvania I pulled up to a stop sign and my buddy points to a puddle of oil accumulating on the ground below my bike via my shifter shaft seal. Oh joy! Ok no biggie, just a stupid seal right? Little did I know in to replace that simple seal, the engine needed pulled the head and cylinders removed and the cases split to fix it from the inside. Now things aren’t so great.....woe is me....well things will have to wait for that now I gots me a girlfriend. (now wifey)

While on my first trip to Florida (the first of many) visiting her family, my brother took it upon himself to play around with my bike. Let me restate that, took it upon himself to sprinkle his magic upon it. He has now been working at the suzuki dealership for a few years he figured he would surprise me and fix it while I was away. Which he did but....after he fixed the seal, he was giving her a bit of a tune on one of those fancy dyno thingys and while replacing the intake boots after rejetting. The dang rubber had gotten hard and wouldn't stay seated on the carbs. FUG! Well he was calling me to tell me that he fixed the seal but now it was going to cost me an extra couple bills to keep it going on the road to recovery. With my approval he moved forward with the project. At least I had a ridable bike to look forward to upon returning from my trip.

It was time to go on my first ride after a few months (of course summer months and good riding weather, would you expect otherwise?) Holy crap! This thing wasn’t the same bike. Not even close. I know it wasn’t that long that I couldn’t remember what it rode like. There was some serious changes done. I got back after a bit of a jaunt and Jason was standing there with a big smile on his smug face. “What do ya think?” He says. Then tells me he put spacers in the forks to stiffen up the front a bit and told me there were already some progressive springs in there. He also put in a set of EBC brake pads, and got an additional 7hp or so with the rejet. Boy what a difference. Now lets ride!

The following spring we had the bright idea to take all the money we had and ride down skyline drive and hit the blue ridge parkway. All the while sleeping under the stars and going as far as our dollars would let us. MISTAKE! That’s what I thought at the time anyway. Now I am glad to have experienced it. We each had a week off work. Me on my FZ and him on his 1100 loaded and ready to go.

That Saturday morning was cool and crisp as we head south to Front Royal where our adventure was suppose to begin. However the heavens above had other plans. We pay our entrance fee to get into the park known as skyline drive and as I put my change into my tankbag the rain started to fall, steady and heavy. Did I mention we had no rain gear? That ride was 110 miles of nothing but turns and views that couldn’t be taken advantage of. Not to mention now Jason’s GSXR was cutting out and back firing. We did stop at the halfway point to eat lunch and ended up meeting a nice guy who was in the military. He was also riding and sleeping under the stars. We finished eating and parted ways. I was now cold, wet, and getting somewhat miserable. One thing that did amaze me, despite the wet roads, there was unbelievable traction.

We got to the end of skyline drive and after a very brief discussion, decided it was best to get a hotel for the night so we could warm up and try and dry our selves off. After we found a place that had a vacancy, I remember pulling off my glove to sign the registration sheet at the front desk and a large pool of red water ran out of my Teknic jacket sleeve. Hmmm, sorry. Back in the room we got hot showers put our stuff over the heater and called for pizza. Now we’re in business! This is what vacation is all about right?

As we opened the door for the pizza guy. He was also delivering to the room next door. Turns out, the guy rooming next door was the one we met at lunch who too, was going to be roughing it. Well after scarfing down some pizza and saying good night to our new friend, it was time for a new game plan. After deep thought, calculating our current financial situation due to the high hotel bill, Jason’s bike not running right, and our lack of preparation, we decided best to head back home in the am. WUSSIES! Sunday morning brought beautiful skies and crisp morning temps. We wished our new friend luck as he headed south and we were northern bound.

Such is life. Turns out, the reason for the GSXR’s issue was a cracked coil. Doesn’t much matter, he soon upgraded to the bike that changed the face of the sportbike world. The 1996 GSXR 750. And I’m left dealing with my aging yammie, But that’s another story.....cheers