VMOL SPOTLIGHT - Lazarus Motorcycles
On the night I met Darrell at the local Cruise Night here in Scottsdale Arizona, he was riding this slightly tweaked 1977 Suzuki GT750 and also has a cafe' Kettle in the works. The latter will be for sale when completed. His modern bike is a mid-80ʼs Honda ST1100; the same model favored by riders of the legendary Iron Butt Rally.11,000 miles in eleven days...or something insane like that. I was riding my ʼ83 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans-III and while admiring each others bike, we talked and instantly connected on many levels as hard-core vintage motorcycle enthusiasts often do.
He handed me his card which read: Lazarus Motorcycles and I thought...what a cool name then instantly knew what he did for a living! For those of you who even occasionally read the Bible, you might remember Lazarus became famous for being raised from the dead by Jesus. You get the connection going forward...
Delving into his history, Darrell told me he worked in the Civil Engineering industry for 20-years as a designer / drafter and started working on motorcycles in about 1971. After being laid-off several years ago, (very common by the way, for those of us past the age of 55...) he decided to start hang out his own shingle and Lazarus Motorcycles was born.
Officially, Lazarus started out in 1999 “as a dream” to rebuild classic motorcycles and offer them to the public for sale. Since then, of course, Darrellʼs dream has expanded. Recognizing a need or “niche” for vintage riders who may not have the time, tools or experience to work on their own vintage bikes, Darrell made himself available to those riders who are more than happy to pay for quality service.
In todayʼs busy, rat-race corporate world, riding motorcycles (IMHO) is still one of the best soul-enhancing therapies I can think of. Especially for middle-age men who know the clock is ticking and who want to recapture a bit of youth but never want to forget what itʼs like to be 'in the wind'.
Another common fact today is that modern motorcycle dealerships often shun vintage or classic bikes as they donʼt have the parts / inclination / experienced mechanics to work on these bikes anymore. There is also the liability issues, and they would rather have the factory deal with warranty issues. In fact, I have even heard and been told many motorcycle dealers today wonʼt even look at motorcycles that are more than ten years old! That means that if your motorcycle is older than 2001, you probably have a 50-50 chance getting good, reliable service these days. Whatʼs wrong with this picture? But as Darrell discovered (and VMOL, if I can interject...) herein lies an opportunity.
Making the investment of time and money, Darrell attended the MMI (Motorcycle Mechanics Institute) here in Phoenix. He graduated from the one-year program in 2002 and admitted he learned a lot; especially in the area of general motorcycle electrics / electrical wiring - a sometimes frequent source of gremlins for vintage motorcycles.
Since 2009, Darrell tells me he has been working full-time out of his garage. He reports that his business is primarily a referral-based, and he takes exceptional pride in going the extra mile in showering his customers bikes with the kind of attention and TLC these classic machines deserve.
Lazarus Motorcyclesʼ abilities and range runs from simple tune-ups to complete basket-case rebuilds. Estimates and advice are always free and Darrell says he's more than willing to help any vintage rider. Another point is that because Darrell is working from a home-based workshop, his overhead is not like a multi-million dollar dealership. Naturally, these savings are passed onto his customers.
I can personally give Darrell and Lazarus Motorcycles a proud VMOL Thumbs Up for his expertise and service. Using my own machine for purposes of this review, Darrell recently completed work on my 1983 Moto Guzzi 850 Le Mans-III, including the rebuild of both master cylinders, adjusting and synchronizing the carbs, valves and other routine maintenance chores. I had forgotten, but checking my own records, it was last serviced almost 3 years ago, when I lived in northern California, so all of the work he accomplished was overdue.
He test rode the bike, and admitted it brought back fond memories of a old Moto Guzzi he once owned. He also commented on the intense “torque” of the Italian v-twin. I told him: “That's why the Moto Guzzi Le Mans is often nicknamed “The Racing Rhino!” Of course, he is coming from a 2-stroke triple engine point of view, and as we all know, a two-stroke triple Suzuki and a four-stroke V-twin Moto Guzzi are two very different breeds of animal.
He also took the time to point out other little small items that he “corrected” while going over the bike. Like re-routing wires that were rubbing against the rear tire, and replacing defective or worn seat cover rivets, etc. Now, do I appreciate a guy like this working on my vintage classic? Oh yes...
When I rode the bike home, I could instantly feel the difference of a well-tuned, synced engine. It was noticeably smoother, especially at 75-80 mph on the highway. Yes friends, there are few things in life more satisfying than a well tuned classic bike at speed, on the highway, and on the pipe!
In closing, if you want a competent, honest, and experienced vintage motorcycle mechanic who is also a fellow rider, give Darrell a call at Lazarus Motorcycles in Phoenix, Arizona. Tell him “JJ” from VMOL referred you! You wonʼt be disappointed. So until next time and as always, RIDE SAFE and keep those vintage motorcycles on the road. Sorted, serviced, and in circulation. As they were always meant to be. JJ Cerilli
Lazarus Motorcycles Renovation * Restoration * Resuscitation
• Repair / maintenance of most pre-Y2K motorcycles
• From tune-ups to total restorations
• Specializing in Suzuki GT series and Kawasaki H series street bikes
Darrell Prestage - 602-296-4238 - lazaruscycles@cox.net
P.O. Box 31146 * Phoenix, Arizona 85046