New member from Detroit area, USA

Hello all,

I'm looking forward to checking out this site...I'm 55 years old and never rode a street bike until last year....I took a riders course with my son-in-law last September and really took a liking to riding. I bought a 2001 Suzuki VZ800 that was not running last October to have some fun with. I love working on cars and now bikes, and I've had a lot of fun working and riding it.

I rebuilt the carbs and synchronized them to get the bike going. I basically went over everything for basic maintenance, checking compression, adjusting the valve lash, replacing oil/filter, air filter, brake fluid, etc. It runs very good and have checked the fuel mileage and its getting around 45 MPG, which I believe is it's factory claims. this tells me it's running good. The plugs look normal, not too rich/lean from what I can see. I removed the air box on the side which got rid of some pinging on decel. The clutch seemed to not catch very well from 4th to 5th gear, so I put new aftermarket springs in which resulted in a nice catch of the drivechain when I release the clutch...much better...

I'm thinking of an upgrade to a Stage 2/3, wondering if an exhaust upgrade may be required...it seems like a real balance needs to be had between the main jets, air filter/intake, and exhaust...I almost would like an engineered solution if it exists...or at least something tried and true based on real data/dyno/vacuum/etc  checks.

Well, I just got in my first accident 3 weeks ago...I've been riding pretty hard, trying to "grind the pegs" around corners and learning how to lean properly...well I took off to chase a sport bike, and was going to fast for a corner and lost it...I was wearing a good helmet, bike jacket and pants...ended up with a nasty gash that ground some bone down on my arm which required an operation to pick some jacket out of my arm bone, but nothing broke...I still have stitches in the arm, bike is gonna' be OK, and its rideable...I rode a few hours last weekend, past my crash site a few times and felt good to get back on it...

I'm replacing my tires this weekend, putting on a new headlight housing which cracked up, and I've got a dent in the gas tank I will take care of...I've repainted the bike a nice deep maroon metallic color with some Wimbledon White (cream) accents, and black pin striping...I'll have to send a pic of it...

Anyway, that's my story...nice to be here..

Hi xz808y and

hello and to the site shame about the crash, but most of us have kissed the tar at one time or other, as long as your still getting your leg over it (behave sim) ride safe and don't chase sports bikes it will only end in tears.

Hi & 

 and  .

Hi and welcome.... that's a heck of an intro story! 

  Dave, and   to the site. Good to see another Yank making the British Invasion! LOL (Live in Ohio meself; not far from Cleveland, so practically right next door to you!). I'll be 50 in January, and just bought my 4th bike (2001 Intruder VS800GL; very similar to yours, but shaft drive and dual side exhaust) back in January 2015. Have been fortunate enough to have never been in a crash (knock on wood), but I can tell you; the more you ride, the more you'll love to ride! Enjoy the site!