SuzukiSavage.com - My First Ride In Four Years.

Midnightrider

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Winston Salem, NC

My First Ride In Four Years.
08/15/09 at 18:15:51

Four years ago I had a stroke and I went blind in my right eye. I had ridden motorcycles all my life. With no vision in my right eye I decided it might be best if I quit riding. I sold my Triumph Trophy and Thunderbird. Several months later my vision started coming back but the best it ever got was 20/100 with glasses on. I'm a guitarist so I put together a rock n roll band to take the place of my bikes. Jan. this year I came down with Lupus. I got rhuematoid arthritus in my hands from the Lupus. A lot of days I can't play guitar so there goes the band. Depression set in and I decided the only way to overcome the depression is to get another motorcycle. I'm living off disability now and money is tight but I found an 03 Savage with 4,700 on the clock and I got it for $2000. I rode it home (about 30 mi) and it cut off twice. The second time I put the petcock on prime and had no more problems. I've been cleaning on the bike for about 2 weeks. The headlight bracket was broken, had to get another one. Replaced the vacuum line to the petcock, changed oil and basically went all over the bike. Today I decided to go for my first real ride. I had forgotten how much fun riding is. I climbed a couple of mountains with the Savage and she did great. I rode about 85 mi. Most of it was twist and turns, one of my favorite old runs. I was probably grinning from ear to ear the whole trip. When I go to bed tonight I'll probably still be smiling. No more depression. The Savage is a great bike and I'm extremely happy with my new purchase. I'm 5'7" and she fits me like a glove. At my age and my health condition she has all the power I need and she even does pretty dang good in the twisties. Today is one of the best days I've had in the last four years. Just had to share it with you guys and gals. Ride Safe!

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"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

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Toymaker Serious Thumper Offline Dragon Rider Posts: 1534 Granite Falls, NC Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #1 - 08/15/09 at 18:44:06 Congrats.......... Well done Glad to hear you are "back in the Saddle"
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PTRider Senior Member Offline Posts: 397	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #2 - 08/15/09 at 19:34:39 MNR, Thank you for a very inspiring story. It is interesting how Suzuki's low cost entry level cruiser from the mid-eighties had so much right. Our Savage/S40 bikes are easy to ride, fun to ride, perform well, and are very moderate cost.
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Midnightrider

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Winston Salem, NC

Re: My First Ride In Four Years.
Reply #3 - 08/15/09 at 19:49:23

I agree PTRider. I was friends with the owner of the local Suzuki Dealership. I grew up watching him race. When I started racing he helped me with my bike and when my son started racing he helped with his bike. My friend passed away last year. The last bike he owned was a Savage. He told me once "Mike this little bike right here will do anything I ask it to. Its not great at nothing but its good at everything." That statement came from a man that could ride any Suzuki he wanted to. Thats why I started searching for a Savage.

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"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"

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Pabst 2006

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Rochester, NY
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Re: My First Ride In Four Years.
Reply #4 - 08/15/09 at 20:51:03

Midnightrider wrote on 08/15/09 at 19:49:23:

"... My friend passed away last year. The last bike he owned was a Savage. He told me once "Mike this little bike right here will do anything I ask it to. Its not great at nothing but its good at everything." That statement came from a man that could ride any Suzuki he wanted to. Thats why I started searching for a Savage.

That's an inspiring little paragraph there! Glad you enjoyed your ride in the twisties... keep the rubber side down

-Pabst

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2008 S40 - Red

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Bear

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for 43 yrs

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Central Washington State
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Re: My First Ride In Four Years.
Reply #5 - 08/15/09 at 21:33:39

You are indeed fortunate to ride again. I have a good friend that had a stroke 10 years ago. He looks almost fully recovered, but walks slightly sideways. Barely noticable. He went on vacation to Long Beach, Washington where they rent scooters to run up and down the beach. He didn't know it, but something about his stroke affected his balance and he kept falling over in the sand. Luckily, a sandy beach is almost the perfect place to fall over on a bike. You never know what you can/can't do until you try. Keep testing the limits. Smile at your sucesses.

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Duane Senior Member Offline Creatively Maladjusted Posts: 335 Terra Plane Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #6 - 08/15/09 at 21:58:10 Good to hear
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Skid Mark Serious Thumper Offline FSO Posts: 1216 Calgary, Alberta Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #7 - 08/15/09 at 22:44:17 Way to go!!!! Good to hear you are enjoying life again. Life is short and we need to get the best we can out of it. Ride safe.
Back to top	2008 S40 , Windshield, Sigma Cycle Computer, after market backrest & luggage rack, Tkat Fork Brace, saddlebags, 12v power supply, Garmin GPS '09 C50SE, '09 C90 Shoulda got into this years ago IP Logged

PerrydaSavage Serious Thumper Alliance Member Offline Riding "The Rock"! Posts: 3522 Republic of Newfoundland Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #8 - 08/16/09 at 02:16:41 Reading your post put a smile on my face midnightrider! Way to go man ... you are an inspiration!
Back to top	Before you diagnose yourself with depression or low self-esteem, first make sure you are not, in fact, just surrounded by arseholes! IP Logged

drharveys - FSO Serious Thumper Offline Greetings from San Luis del Norte! Posts: 1776 St Louis MO Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #9 - 08/16/09 at 04:13:42 Welcome back! The best "therapy" is to get out there and live your own life!
Back to top	Every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. Thomas Jefferson When I look fast, I'm not smooth and I am going slowly. And when I look slow, I am smooth and going fast. Alain Pros IP Logged

cursal Full Member Offline Daily Savage Rider Posts: 175 Eugene, OR Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #10 - 08/16/09 at 08:13:02 Great to hear you out having fun on the 'new' machine. Even better to hear your enjoying life more fully. Enjoy the ride!
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Toymaker Serious Thumper Offline Dragon Rider Posts: 1534 Granite Falls, NC Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #11 - 08/16/09 at 09:09:48 I like to call it...Asphalt Therapy
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FreeSpirit Serious Thumper Offline Joy is my Compass ! Posts: 3823 North Georgia Gender:	Re: My First Ride In Four Years. Reply #12 - 08/16/09 at 21:26:30 Ahhh...another good person comes to the forum! And a very inspiring story indeed. May you have many happy riding days!!!
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