Suzi, days after I adopted her. |
Back in December of 2007, I picked up a shiny, clean, blue
2003 Suzuki SV1000, with 21,555 miles on it.
Actually, I traded in my HD Sportster for it. Since I still owed on the
Sporty, I had to go to the Harley dealer to get a printout of the balance of the
loan to get it rolled into the Suzuki financing. When the manager wanted to
know why I was switching brands, I told of the many breakdowns I’d had and the
bad customer service I’d received at his and other dealers. He looked at the
papers, and commented, “Well, you did buy a Sportster with nearly 12,000 miles
on it.” My response was “Please! I’ll do double that in a year if the bike
would run.” This isn’t meant to be a knock on the HD brand; I was bitter for a
while, but I’m over it. I just encountered a terrible combination of a lemon
and terrible customer service. It may be worth noting that that dealership is under
new ownership since then. I mainly tell that side story as a preface to the
following.
As stated, the SV had 21,555 miles on it. In the following
days, I decided my goal would be to double THAT in a year. I made my goal in
right around ten months. I successfully did more miles in ten months with no
breakdowns than I did in three years of Sportster ownership. Granted, for a lot
of that year, I was commuting 96 miles round trip, but miles are miles, and I
did them trouble free.
And while I haven’t been able to duplicate the mileage of that first year, I’ve racked up the miles. As several of my club brothers and sisters are fond of saying, “mileage is knowledge”, and Suzi (yes, she developed a name) has taught me a few things about herself, bikes in general, and myself.
And while I haven’t been able to duplicate the mileage of that first year, I’ve racked up the miles. As several of my club brothers and sisters are fond of saying, “mileage is knowledge”, and Suzi (yes, she developed a name) has taught me a few things about herself, bikes in general, and myself.
I put her on a dyno in 2009 at the R.O.T. Rally in Austin. She put out 101 hp and 71 lb-ft of torque. Weighs just a little over 400 pounds. Averages 42 miles per gallon. And puts out that power and gets that economy on regular old 97 octane fuel.
On Friday, January 20, 2017, I finally hit mile 121,555.
100,000 of MY miles on this bike. A personal milestone. I’ve gone through a lot
of bikes in my time – mainly due to lack of funds causing me to purchase used
bikes of questionable condition. Once I started racking up the miles, it became
a goal of mine to hit the 100K mark. I posted milestone mileage odometer phots
on Facebook and Instagram. 50K, 75K, 100K. And now, here we are, the magical “real
100K”. I even measured miles from a specific backdrop for the milestone photo I
wanted to take.
Mileage is knowledge |
I’ve ridden all over the central Texas Hill Country area west of Austin. All in
and around Austin itself, too – I’m a crazy fool who actually enjoys riding in urban traffic. It’s
like a big game of dodgeball. Of course, the stakes are higher, but that keeps
you on your game and makes it fun. Suzi and I have been to Dallas, Del Rio, San
Antonio, the Houston area, down near Corpus Christi, all the way into Mexico,
and over to Louisiana. Of course, we’ve put down some miles in Georgia, too.
I’ve ridden solo, I’ve ridden with a passenger. With another rider, small groups, large groups. Suzi and I have ridden in poker runs, toy runs, parades, and far too many funerals (even running blockade for several of those).
I’ve ridden in temperatures below freezing, and sat in stop-and-go rush hour Austin traffic when the mercury was at 107 (not counting the heat index), and everything in between. Rain and shine.
I’ve ridden solo, I’ve ridden with a passenger. With another rider, small groups, large groups. Suzi and I have ridden in poker runs, toy runs, parades, and far too many funerals (even running blockade for several of those).
I’ve ridden in temperatures below freezing, and sat in stop-and-go rush hour Austin traffic when the mercury was at 107 (not counting the heat index), and everything in between. Rain and shine.
Found her! |
There may have been some practical jokes at her expense, taking advantage of
her light weight in a culture dominated by heavy cruisers. Let’s just say that
I’ve played hide and seek and found her stashed in some rather odd places,
including inside a tent, inside a men’s restroom, and even with the bucket of a
back hoe (or was it a front end loader?) parked on the foot of the kickstand. I
knew the game was on when my brother Jim “Wingman” Hartness would walk up to me
and say the magic words “Where’s Waldo?”
Worse than those "boots" the cops use |
Honestly, trading in the Harley for this bike was bitterness toward the lemon
combined with a touch of midlife crisis. The last couple of years have found me
longing for a cruiser style bike again. Maybe a sport tourer. Maybe both? Heh.
Yes, I’m getting older and looking for a bit more comfort. Maybe I also miss a
certain look to my bike that I used to have, too. So once I’m in a financial
place to do so, I’ll be bike shopping. But I do know this: I won’t be trading
in. Suzi’s earned a permanent place in my stable. I think it’s time to start
planning for the next 100,000 miles.
The Boy astride Suzi |
Starting the Wee Girl out early (despite Mom's objections) |
100K!!!!!!! |
Out by Rex Mill in Rex, GA |
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