Diptenkrom
New Member
Hi, my name is Andrew, and I have been riding for around 10 years. Never got into dirtbikes as a kid, but I rode some quads and 3-wheelers around a bunch (didn't own one, but had family that did). I started on an 80's Yamaha Virago that i borrowed from a cousin for about a month or so, and then I bought a 2001 Suzuki GS500 from a motorcycle mechanic, who kindly gave me a bunch of pointers on motorcycle hauling, maintenance, and some other general tips. I rode that for about a year, and sold it for what I had in it. Then I bought a Suzuki V-Strom 1000 early 2000's with FI. I rode that for about 2 years and realized when I was trying to teach my son to ride just how large of a bike it was, and that I was never going to take it off road. I sold it and took a couple year hiatus. I got the bug again, and I started looking for what I thought I wanted, a GSX-R/CBR/YXF-R - 600cc sportbike. Along the way I found a good deal on a 1998 VFR800fi, and started researching "sport touring" bikes. I decided that that was more my style and bought it. Have had it for a little over 3 years now, and love it. Glad I didn't get a sportbike at the time. About a year ago I decided that I was wanting a motorcycle project and really like the look of stripped down "naked" GoldWings, so I found a deal on a (barely) running 1986 GL1200 Aspencade model and I bought it. It is a good running bike now, and I took it on a trip in full dress, was planning on going to a Radwood event with it, but that got cancelled due to the pandemic. So i started stripping parts off it, and got it down to the bare essentials now, and have been going through the wiring harness with a friend to eliminate what is not needed. I have racetech fork springs and cartridge emulators for it, and will be getting racetech rear suspension as well when i get to that point. I got some handlebar risers and had them modified to fit ProTaper ADV style bars on the bike, and there is a bunch of other stuff that will be happening once I can get the wiring done. I have been tossing back and forth about getting either a supermoto, or building a scrambler from an 80's 2cylinder UJM for a while now also, and I think I have decided on a GS450 as a base for the scrambler project, mainly as I do not need to do wheelies, and the cost of entry is much lower with an older UJM. I have read many build threads on this forum, but just decided to join, as I figure that I might need some tips along the way with the GoldWing or the Scrambler builds. (The R1 in the picture of the GoldWing belongs to my son.)