Oz_guy does the TT. 7/1/2006
Oz_guy is someone I made my acquaintance with online. He rocked into the bike forum run by the club one morning, and posted that he was planning on visiting the country, and wanted to meet riders who owned a ride like his. His ride? Something that even for the motorcycle world was rather special. A Suzuki Katana 750 with flip up light.
He expressed a wish to meet other owners of this Japanese rarity. I used the word rarity, because in my entire riding career of 2 decades plus, I’ve only ever seen 3 of these things in real life, being ridden on the road. This machine was an extension of the original Hans Muth designed Suzuki Katana GSX1100SZ, which debuted in the Munich Motor Show in 1980. The intense interest generated by this concept machine prompted Suzuki to make it a production model, and they gave it special engine internals, to differentiate it from the standard GSX series 4 valve per cylinder engine.
The swoopy styling was ahead of its time, when riders were used to the basic light, instrument cluster, fuel tank, side covers, tail piece cum mudguard, which was standard design for motorcycles going back to the 50s. You can see the harbinger of various styling and design cues used in every motorcycle produced ever since the Katana.
So, Oz_guy rocks into town, and we meet up for a beer and fish and chips, and start trading bike stories. We are of about the same era, and he raced side cars round about the time I started taking bikes to the edge of the envelope. Mind you, he raced side cars as a passenger, which makes him even more nuts than I am, and fucking hard as nails. I make a bad car passenger at the best of times, and an even worse pillion rider. And Oz_guy went racing side cars as a passenger! The words “balls”, “steel” and “made of”, come to mind. No, we didn’t know anything about titanium in those days, aside from the fact that the Honda factory NSRs were bristling with the stuff.
After a couple of brews, which went down extremely well in yesterday’s heat and humidity, I tossed the keys to “Old School”, to Oz_guy, and we rode in to meet the troops . More bench racing ensued, and Oz_guy made friends with the club’s Friday night regulars. And we made plans for a ride the next morning, to do the TT.
No, not the Isle of Man TT. Our local version of the TT, i.e. Titi Kong. A small town located south of the city, about 80 kms away. I am not going to tell you how to get there. We try not to divulge the location of the town, because the road leading to the town is a brilliant bike road. Tight decreasing radius bends, sweepers, fast corners, straights, great scenery. A little something for everyone. So we don’t need more tourists and clueless drivers on this road, which is becoming something of an unofficial “proving ground” for the club’s newbies.
We got there early, and waited for the rest of the group. I had 3 cans of coffee in rapid succession. I needed the caffeine jolt, because I was yawning something chronic. Oz_guy and I shot the breeze for a while, and our friendship had reached that comfortable stage where you don’t really have to say much to each other. It’s a guy thing I guess. Guys can be comfortable with total silence in each other’s presence. And also taking the piss out of each other, which is a way of showing we care.
3 other riders turned up. One of them was bikerwannabe. And we shot off, to do the TT. And Oz_guy acquitted himself well. He went rushing with Old School after C. on his VFR, and that was about the last I saw of him, aside from catching up at the usual stops. The road was good today, aside from a patch being repaired, and sand and monkeys in the usual places. None of us rushed the pace. We stopped for breakfast, and more bench racing ensued.
I didn’t rush things on today’s ride. Small bike, with small engine, and squid tyres meant that when I was pushing the lean angle, as I did a few times in certain corners, she wasn’t too happy with it. Especially on right turns. As Hmax and I discussed a while ago, the tyres he put on the ZZR were to suit what he wanted to do with her, which was touring and city riding. On the other hand, my definition of touring is, shall we say, a little more “spirited”.
At the end of it all, another ride was organised for Oz_guy tomorrow, before he leaves the city tomorrow evening. And we welcome another brother to the club.
- Posted in : On the road, Reader's Bikes
- Author : thesnark
Comments»
so, did you toss him the keys to the Buaya bike? She needs a ride ler
Buaya : Nah, we tried starting the Buaya bike. She wants to start, but the carbs are stuffed. Needs a service.
Eh Buaya… ride the bike yourself ler…
OK so is it me or has Friday come & gone without a girl Friday? I know the Snark’s got a bit on his plate, but it spoilt my day - I had to actually do some work this morning!
this post is so “HURRR! MANLINESS!”
haha
cool post. my dad use to have a Honda CB250. but your katana looks waaay cooler.
Landy : Girl Friday is late. Sorry. Wasn’t in the mood. Reasons to follow in another post.
Lainie : Of course it’s manly. I’m a man. At least I think I am.
sure you’re not some hairy lesbian in disguise?