Wilsons Sandbox

Bought my Suzuki TDM 400 in 1972 at a dealership in Minneapolis - on Lake Street near the St. Paul border - for $800. Can't remember the name of the dealership and doubt that they still exist. It wasn't nearly as nice looking as the Huskys, Bultacos, and Maicos of that era but not bad for a Japanese bike. Second day out that crazy power band launched me off a banked corner on the Crosby Farm trails down by the Mississippi river. Never touched the ground as I sailed over the cliff and landed about 30-feet down the embankment. Bike landed on my head and left a nice yellow streak on my white Bell. The Suzook bounced from my head into the river. I ended up in an ambulance and spent 4 days in the hospital with a seriously bruised spine. (Still bothers me 33 years later.) After waving good-bye to the ambulance my buddy fished the bike out of the river and trucked it to the College of St. Thomas where he sneaked it into my dorm room, disassembled the motor, dried everything off, and oiled the parts. A month later, when I was able to move around again, I put the bike back together and sold it for $500. Kid who bought it from me hurt himself popping wheelies on the first day he owned it. (I used the money to pay the $400 St. Thomas fined me for the oil-stained carpet in my dorm room.) --------------------------------- Start your day with Yahoo! - make it your home page [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]