My 1991 Suzuki GSX600-F "Katana",

Rick's 1997 Ducati SS900CR,

and AWESOME 1998 Ducati 748

I bought the bike new in 1991 and had the choice of two colors.  Either black or red.  Since I like to be seen when I ride, preferably by all the drivers in cars, I chose red.  I figured the red would stand out the best and be easiest to see.  I think that it has fulfilled that roll.  So far, I have not be run over by anything yet.  I've had, like most motorcycle riders, a few close calls.  I just figure that everyone is out to run me over, so I just try and avoid them.

I left the bike stock until the spring of 1996.   The bike was running poorly after sitting out the wet Texas winter.  The gas in the carbs gummed up the innards and needed some help.  I took my bike to Texas MuscleBikes in Austin, Texas.  Brent had never upgraded a 600 Katana and wanted to spend a little more time on it to make sure it was right and a learning experience for him.  I decided to put a new header and muffler to improve flow.  I didn't want a really loud pipe so I followed Brent's recommendation.  I bought a Micron exhaust system.  Chrome headers, and a polished aluminum canister.  My request to Brent wasn't for top end power, but midrange with no loss in either the top or bottom end.   The result was more midrange and a loss of torque just off idle.  Texas MuscleBikes has motorcycle dyno to measure rear-wheel hp and torque.  Just past 7000 rpm, there was a 12 hp gain that tapers off to the stock hp level of 84 at about 10,500 rpm.  As the tach sweeps past 7 grand it feels like I was just hit in the back by a car.  The bikes starts to accelerate like crazy.  Although it won't embarrass an F2 or ZX6, it scoots my 150 lbs around town and country side just fine.  Along with the pipe installation, Brent put a stage 3 carb kit in to improve carberation in the HOT Texas summers.  When the temp is 95degrees or better, the bike runs great.  When it is cool, like 70 degrees, the idle is a little lumpy.  Nothing is ever free so I accept the trade offs.

My Katana has almost 16,000 miles on it and has been garaged kept all it's life.  Right now it is sharing the garage with my other baby, a 1993 Pontiac Formula.  I have had a lot of fun with the bike and I am glad I bought it.  In the years following my purchase, I have started to outgrow the bike.  Now I'm ready to buy something newer, larger, faster, etc.   Something like a ZX-11!  Yeah!  My riding partner, Rick is now a die hard Ducati fan.  He's steering me toward a Duc. 

I particularly like riding in the Hill Country.  My best friend Rick and I try to get out as much as possible in the spring and fall to ride.  Here's a photo of us when we stopped at a rest area on between Johnson City and Blanco.  Click on the thumbnail to see the larger image.

My bike is in the foreground and Rick's 1996 Ducati 900 SS CR is in the background.  That's me trying to read the map to see where we were going next.

Here's a couple of more images of my bike.

Pictures of my bike after an elderly lady turned left from the right lane in front of me.

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This is Rick Scott's 1996 Ducati 900 SS CR.  Guess what?  It isn't stock either.  He had Kassans do some carb work, install a new rear sprocket, and cut  the top out of the airbox.  The Duck rides a little harsh but it pulls hard all the way through the rev range.

Ducati 748

Rick has recently purchased a 1998 Ducati 748 with fuel injection.   This bike is beautiful!  I finally got some images of Rick's 748.  Here's what it looks like with the new the flames on it.   How about that Kamakazi Duc on the side?  Questions or comments to Rick?   E-mail me and I will put you in touch with him.

Rick sent me a list of modifications he has done, has had done or came with the bike when he bought it.  They are listed below.  Rick has only let me touch the bike, but I can't you really blame him. 

E-mail me