Has it been 20 years already?

[Charles Scappaticci]

I've been thinking I'm coming up on 20 years of ownership with my GPZ.
It's been a lifetime of adventures that have involved four trips to the
Pacific Ocean, including two to Alaska and one across western Canada.
There have been many trips around Colorado, a trip to Arkansas and rides
with some of the wonderful people I have met on this list in New England
and eastern Canada.  I'm actually a little sad as I write this, as its
become time to sell the GPZ and move on.

At 60, I'm not getting taller or stronger and that last trip to Alaska on a
big, heavily loaded bike made me think it's time to get something smaller.
I looked long and hard at the BMW 800GS, but the seat height along with the
top heavy feel made me think twice, and as this may be my last big bike
purchase, I want to get it right.

Although Kawasaki makes some nice stuff, I'm not over the long distance
trips yet, and comfort combined with storage and lighter weight over long
distances is an important factor to me.  So, with that in mind, I went out
today and purchased a very clean, low mileage 2013 BMW 800GT that has all
the nice factory accessories already installed, including all three hard
bags, an Akrapovic exhaust, the BMW comfort seat and ESA, or Electronic
Suspension Adjustment.  It is located in Illinois, so it will be a few
weeks before I get it to Colorado.

All that said, in the coming months I will be working on selling the GPZ
and all the spare parts I've put in the basement over the years, and I have
a crap load of them though all the body parts are long gone except a
scratched up right lower and a dirty but usable front fender.  I'll be
putting a list up in a few weeks of all my spares, and trying to figure out
a price to sell my much loved, but well used, 95 GPZ which has a salvage
title thanks to the POS that hit and run me a dozen years or so ago.  If I
can't sell it at a decent price, I'll keep it and just ride it around when
I feel like having some big bike fun.  Potentially I will sell it and my
WR450 and buy a KLR650 for those off road trips, I certainly saw enough of
them on the roads to Alaska.

Though the list has mostly gone silent these days, I will be staying on the
list for the foreseeable future.  And, since my ex has moved to Florida, I
have two empty bedrooms should anyone come through Denver and need a place
to stay, and I'm always willing to act as a guide if anyone needs one.  I
can't wait for summer!

Charles S.
1995 GPZ1100
2013 BMW F800GT
2003 Yamaha WR450
1999 Kawasaki KX250