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Alan Szymanski ver.2

Hello Everyone !!!

My name is Alan Szymanski and I am a 46 year old Cleveland, Ohio native, born and raised. I have been married to my wife, Susan, going on 24 years this August 2000. We get along well and enjoy the sport of Motorcycling together, among other things, such as Target shooting with Hand-Guns, Nature Walks, and just driving to different locations to see the sights (traveling).

I got into motorcycling in the late 1970’s when I used to ride a friend’s 1968 Triumph Bonneville 650. I purchased my first bike, a 1971 Honda CB-750-K1 at around 1980. Purchase price was about $800. and it was in excellent condition. I have included a photo of this Metal Flake Orange bike.

I experienced a couple of mishaps on the Honda. At one time while riding through the country; the kickstand fell down and when I went to lean the bike into a left hand curve it bounced me off the road to the right. The next thing I knew I was riding through a corn field. Luckily there was no farm equipment lurking in the area of the corn field which I rode into. I soon broke out of the corn field and was heading straight for the farmer’s house, a distance of perhaps 25 yards. I swerved the bike sideways in the gravel driveway and came to a stop about an inch from hitting the house. I stopped for a moment to regain my composure and to pull out all the corn stalks which were sticking out from various locations on the Honda.

Another time, the tires slipped on a slick spot on the road half way through a curve of a major road. The next thing I new, I found myself sliding off the bike and tumbling down the road after my bike. Upon every rotation of my body I could see the Honda ahead of me grinding and sparking its way down the road. When we both came to a stop it turned out not as bad as it could have been. The clutch lever had broken off to a small nub and a hole had been ground into the left side alternator cover. I limped the bike home in second gear and replaced all the needed parts from J.C.Whitney.

After about three years, I sold the 71 Honda in 1983 and purchased a 1981 Kawasaki 1000 LTD. It was Black in color and very fast. It would do wheelies without hardly even trying. I turned a 30mm military ammo can into a backrest bag. I painted it black and fabricated my own homemade clamps out of sheetmetal.

At the same time, I purchased a motorcycle for my wife, Susan. It was a 1981 Kawasaki 305-CSR. She learned how to ride on this bike and got her license.

A few years later we sold both Kawasaki’s and took a break from motorcycling. In the early 1990’s I purchased a 1982 Honda Nighthawk 650. It was a pretty blue with chrome decal striping. I used a couple of backrest bags and turned them into Mini-Saddlebags. It was adequate in power and size while I was riding by myself, but it was a little small with two people on it.

I sold the Honda Nighthawk and purchased a 1995 Honda Magna 750 in February of 1996. It was about 1 year old and only had 1000 miles on it at time of purchase. It was a beautiful Candy Red and had loads of Horsepower. It came with a backrest and pad. I added engine guards and highway pegs, and Willie & Max Saddle Bags, Backrest Bag, and Fork Bag. The only thing I can say mildly bad about the Magna, is that it didn't have that nice V-Twin Sound that I craved.

At the same time I also bought my wife a brand new 1997 Kawasaki Vulcan 500-LTD. This was the first brand new vehicle we had ever purchased. It was a gorgeous Turquoise Blue (Kawasaki actually called this color a Luminous Blue). I added Willie & Max Saddlebags and a Fork Bag. I wanted to add engine guards, however except for the worthless guards offered by Kawasaki, I couldn’t find anyone who offered them to fit this bike.

In 1999 we thought we were going to get out of motorcycling again. We sold both bikes and I bought a brand new 1999 Ford Ranger XLT pick-up truck with V6, automatic, Class-3 Hitch, and more. It turned out neither my wife or myself rode the truck very much and after a year we only had 700 miles on it.

So in April 2000 I traded the Ford Ranger in on a 2000 model Suzuki VL-1500 Intruder-LC. It’s Green and Black. I looked at all the big cruisers and I kept coming back to the Suzuki. I especially like the cast aluminum wheels, the comfortable seat and the great ergonomics. Although I was a little leary about the non-standard location of things such as the Gas Tank.

So far I have added the Suzuki engine Guards, the Short Suzuki Backrest and Pad, and LeatherLyke Cross Country SaddleBags, a Rifle brand 20" windshield, The Studded Suzuki Backrest Pad, Luggage Rack, and Suzuki Studded Leather Windshield bag..

I am planning on possibly adding a Mustang studded seat, and perhaps a Mustang Backrest Pad (If I can find one to fit the Suzuki Short Backrest. I recently purchased the DG / Hard-Krome "Double-D" Straight Pipes and a Carburetor Jet Kit. In fact I am scheduled to take the bike into the dealership on June 1, 2000 to get them installed.

I will try to send in new photos when I have them showing the new accessories.

I have included photos of my dogs: "Brandy", who is a female about 10 years old which appears to be a mix of "Spitz" and "Miniature Collie"; and also of our new acquisition: "Rambo" a male who is about 3 years old and part Rottweiler and part Labrador Retriever. Both dogs are smart and very loveable.

Happy Trails from Cleveland, Ohio (USA)

Alan - eMail

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