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Well, I haven't been around here much lately due to my job, and the lack of a broadband internet connection. Neither seem likely to change soon, so I'll just have to make due.

Those of you who know me know I enlisted in the U.S. Army last September. I'm now living in Wasilla, Alaska. my first duty station is 45 miles away at Fort Richardson. I sold my beloved FJ 600 to my brother-in-law down in California, thinking I would get another bike here in AK.

To shorten the story, finances have been much tighter than I anticipated, largely due to a higher than expected closing cost on my recent home purchase. So my bike buying prospects looked rather bleak.

I just happened to be looking through an on-line classified site this morning though, and found a bike that was just screaming "FIX ME AND RIDE ME!!!!!" I went and looked at it, talked the guy down to $200 bucks, and loaded it into my truck and drove it home. It runs, and needs a little tlc. But it's the perfect bike to keep me supplied with my daily dose of moto until I head to the "sandbox".

Here it is, my 1984 Suzuki GS 550E: (click for full-size.)

nice looking bike.... and glad to hear alls going well, was wondering where ya got yourself too.

If your in the army why did you buy a house? Most military folks I know move every few years.

on the upside you should be able to buy any bike you want when you get back from the sandbox.

those things are super sexy. and you cant beat 200 bucks...and if you could ony move the dent in the tank back 3 or 4 inches...

jmillheiser wrote:If your in the army why did you buy a house? Most military folks I know move every few years.

on the upside you should be able to buy any bike you want when you get back from the sandbox.

I bought a house because it's actually cheaper than renting. My mortgage is just over $1K per month, but a rental big enough for my family would be between 12 and 15 hundered per month. I'll be staying here at least 6 years, possibly longer. On my first reenlistment, I'll get to choose my next duty station, so I'll just opt to stay in AK. Then if I decide I don't want to leave I can always reenlist in the AK guard, or get out and go civilian.

As far as getting any bike I want.....I've already started dream shopping.

Hey Matt. Good to see you back on 2 wheels.

Enjoy the ride, Buddy.

Hey, that's great a $200 bike that runs and looks decent too! I bought my 1978 Suzuki GS550E for $350 and it didn't run so you did good.

The Engine was as strong as an ox, the electrics were horrible. So watch out for those electrics as they are not very good, especially the alternator and stator.

I'm sure you'll have it looking pretty in no time. Everything, all parts are cheap on eBay, I bought about $800 of parts to make mine decent, but it never really was happy as I think it really wanted to go to the bike graveyard...

Good to hear from you and how are you enjoying Alaska?

Mike.

About time you showed your face again. Missed you!

Glad to see you have a set of wheels, and it's probably even warm enough up there to ride on it. Keep in touch.

Nice bike. I bet you'll have a lot of fun riding it.

As for buying a house when military, it's pretty easy to do. Regardless if you're moving a lot, you still have to pay monthly and move your stuff in and out of a place. Sure, you're at the mercy of the markets when it comes time to buy or sell, but you deal with it. Usually though, buying a house at most stations is easy and is a financal advantage somewhere along the way.

Good luck with the bike! Hope you'll have fun on the project and let us know how it's going.