Valves are on order and ought to arrive at the parts counter of the Suzuki dealer in "three to five business days".  A canvass of local parts suppliers and websites indicated that Vesrah doesn't sell exhaust valves for the GS1100.  So instead of the seventeen dollars per valve I was hoping for, each bloody Genuine Suzuki Parts valve is $33 apiece.

I was so hoping I wouldn't have to go that route.

On a brighter note, Paul told me the camshafts were fine.  That saves me $600 right there, so I'm happy about that.

To celebrate the fact, and also because the V-Strom needed an oil change, I buzzed up through the beautiful cool California noon to the Garage for some quality time alone with tools.  A bicycle race was on its way up the highway; traffic stalled in clots moving at 15 mph.  It was time to smell the sage and mustard.

Up at the shop I pulled the drain plug and let the Strom's oilpan dribble for a couple of hours whilst I scrubbed viciously at the 1100's pipes and mufflers.  My gosh 25-year old crud takes forever to get rid of, withstanding various combinations of degreaser, brass bristles and steel bristles.  I was eventually able to penetrate to the chrome, but there is still a lot left - and the chrome underneath is pitted and rusty.  I discovered that the starboard exhaust pipe was actually broken at the bottom clamp mount; probably from that lowside on the dirt road, the one where nothing happened to the bike so it was dusted off and ridden home.  The pipe is not completely broken off; it's hanging there by about an inch of steel.  I hope it can be welded back to utility.  (Yes yes pictures would be nice but my camera is somehow the last thing I think of when planning a mechanic afternoon or morning)

One more thing. I promise not to hog the spotlight here.  Really.  For the current alignment of stars gives me more time to play with my toys right now than my dear compadre who, unlike myself, has a family and an actual life. He'll be around.