Andreas W. Matthes

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Kawasaki

closeup from Kawasaki ZRX 1100

Kawasaki ZRX 1100

I have bought the ZRX 1100 in February of 2006 second hand in Saint Augustine, Florida from a private individual. I did found and bid on the bike at E-Bay. The Kawasaki was built in 1999. I bought the bike to drive it to Mexico and convert it into a Streetfighter style custom bike.

The bike was stolen from me in November 2006 in Gilchrist County, Florida while parked on the side of the road 11:00 am with a flat tire. The bike was recovered by the Police around Gainesville, Florida in March of 2007 while someone was riding it at 02:00 am without a license plate. The bike was then fixed with the help of a friend.

In June 2007, days before I was going to drive the bike to Mexico a lady in Lake City, Florida did not yield a stop sign, and rammed me square in the side, causing me to crash along with the bike. I got busted up a bit, as was the bike, making it impossible to drive it to Mexico two days later, so I left it with a good friend one more time, buying the parts needed for the repair on E-Bay and will get it fixed sometime soon ... and then drive it to Mexico.

In March of 2008 I finally drove the bike down to Playa del Carmen. After visiting bike week in Daytona Florida I went on to Texas and New Mexico to visit Carlsbad Caverns for my birthday. Copper Canyon in Mexico was on the list with all the twisty roads and awesome scenery. Following the Pacific coast through Puerto Vallarta up to Acapulco then crossing the country to Veracruz via Mexico City and Puebla to hug the Gulf coast through Ciudad del Carmen and Campeche, on to Merida and through Valadolid finally to Playa del Carmen. Distance covered was 8500 kilometers.

In May and June of 2008 I converted and changed my Rex a bit toward a Streetfighter type bike. There is still room for improvement but she will stay like that for a while to be ridden and enjoyed.

Kawasaki ZRX 1100 during motorcycle trip in central Florida August 2006

ZRX1100 in Florida December 2007 after being fixed from the crash in June 2007

During the trip along the Mexican Pacific coast March 2008

ZRX 1100 in black, June 2008

ZRX 1100 in black, June 2008

ZRX 1100 in black, June 2008

ZRX 1100 in black, June 2008

Kawasaki KLR 650

closeup from Kawasaki KLR 650

I did buy the KLR 650 in mid 2006 for my brother Robert to have it fixed up and ready to go for our planned trip in February and March 2007 to Costa Rica. I found the bike in Playa del Carmen, she was made in 1999 was looking cosmetically not to good but mechanically sound.

The trip to Costa Rica went well but on the way back the chain broke the second time in Bacalar, without being able to fix it. First time the chain broke in Guatemala.

After the bike got back she sat for a long time untill the new chain and sprocket arrived in August 2007. When my brother decided to sell her end of September 2007 I could not resist and bought her.

the KLR 650 after she got fixed up right before the central America trip in spring 2007

KLR 650 in Costa Rica in front of the active Arenal Vulcano