Source: Bike Bound
[[{“value”:”Four Years in the Making: DRZ Scorpion 434 by Parr Motorcycles…
Back in 2018, we featured a very auspicious Suzuki DR650 “Retro-Moto” from first-time builder Spencer Parr, an Indiana police investigator who’d lost the vision in one eye due to ocular cancer. From the get-go, Spencer’s DR project showcased a great deal of vision and style, and the man himself seemed to have the right combination of grit, humility, and talent to make a real name for himself.
“I hope one day I can have an impact on the motorcycle industry like all my favorite builders have. My wife told me, ‘just go for it’, so that’s precisely what I am going to do.” -Spencer, 2018
Fast forward to 2024, and Spencer has done just that. Parr Motorcycles is one of the best-known names in the customs world, and Spencer has gone from working two jobs to being a full-time builder, complete with his own workshop.
Spencer just completed this Suzuki DR-Z400 “Scorpion 434” after four long years of work, and it’s a particularly special build given where Spencer came from and how far he’s come.
“This bike means so much because it was built in my home garage where it all started six years ago.”
This was also Spencer’s first timing building a bike not for a client, but on spec — meaning it would be the first Parr bike to go up for sale. That meant he could take as long as necessary to produce the best bike he’s ever built…and we’re happy to say he’s succeeded.
Spencer gives us a very detailed build report below, but highlights include a 434cc big-bore kit, Suzuki SP370 tank, 17-inch supermoto wheels, ’01 Suzuki RM forks with RaceTech internals, custom aluminum subframe, custom seat with four-pin latching mechanism and Dane Utech (@plzbeseated) upholstery, bespoke radiator covers with integrated lighting (a Parr signature), one-piece aluminum rear fender and spray guard, Motogadget electronics, and much, much more.
Then there’s the paint and nickname. Spencer couldn’t decide between two designs each inspired by Suzuki heritage: classic Suzuki yellow vs Suzuki blue and white. As Mortal Kombat fans, Spencer and his wife soon found themselves referring to them as the “Scorpion” and “Sub-Zero” liveries.
As you can clearly see, the Scorpion version won out…but that doesn’t mean Scorpion’s icy sibling has been left out in the cold:
“The scorpion logos on the paint and little touches on the bike pay homage to that. So now down the road, it only makes sense if I build a Sub-Zero DRZ now!”
The “DRZ Scorpion 434” is the work of a builder at the top of his game, and we’re thrilled to feature it here on BikeBound…and we’ll be keeping any eye out for the bike’s cool blue sibling to come!
In the Builder’s Words…
This build started in September 2020. I had just finished the Honda XR650R tracker and was on the hunt for a new build. I wanted to build another Suzuki and soon picked up a 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S. The goal for this bike was to be the first “Parr” bike for sale. It would have no deadline so it would give me time to really produce the best bike I have ever built. It also would be the last bike to come out of my home garage where it all started for me.
Going into the build I stripped everything off the bike down to the essentials. First up was the tank and it took me five months to find the particular tank for this bike in good condition. The tank is from an SP370, or DR370 as others may be familiar with. Arguably one of my favorite tanks of all times because it has such a cool design and bold lines to it.
After acquiring the tank and modifying it to fit onto the DRZ frame, the subframe was up next. Made from aluminum, I built the subframe to look like it flows right into the tank. Also incorporated was the electronics box. Subframes are my favorite thing to build, and this one ended up being one of my favorites still today.
After completing the subframe, the radiator covers were next. Covers were made from aluminum to have the radiators be a part of the overall design. They not only hold the radiator fans in place, but also have brake lights / turn signals facing the rear of the bike and signals in the front.
I coin them “rad” lights and this is version #3 as the other two versions are on both XR650R’s I built. Definitely a unique part of the bike that adds some character!
After the rad covers were in place, I could then build a custom exhaust with a center exit in the rear. It started out with a Hot Bodies muffler but ended up with a big mouth cone for more clearance.
After the exhaust came the seat made from aluminum. Same style latching system I have used on all my bikes. Four pins keep it in place and a hood latch on the subframe locks it down. Dubya hooked me up with a set of 17” supermoto wheels as well.
After the seat, the build was on the backburner for a while. During this time so far, I finished a BMW RnineT scrambler, Ducati Scrambler, Honda XR680R Scrambler, and a Honda XR650L supermoto. When I got back into the project, we had sold our home, and I moved everything to my pop’s shop.
Up next was the rear fender. Made from one piece of aluminum, it sits flat underneath the subframe and then folds into a fender when it exits the subframe in the rear. It’s a unique style that I’ve incorporated on three other bikes now. There’s also a small space in between the rear fender and subframe to make sure the exhaust does not heat up the electronics box and to allow airflow in between.
For the front fender, it uses a vintage Honda SL fender, my go-to. For suspension, the front is a fork conversion using ’01 Suzuki RM forks and the rear is using the stock DRZ shock.
For the license plate mount, I built it to sit behind the rear tire and mount to the brake caliper so if the axle moves, it will move as well. The license plate mount also incorporates an integrated light bar underneath the plate just in case the rider blocks the rear facing brake light / signals in the rad covers. Next up was disassembly!
After the bike was dissembled, it was time to send everything out to get painted, powdered, and rebuilt. The suspension was sent to Racetech to be refinished and rebuilt for the rider’s weight. The engine was also rebuilt with a 434 big bore kit.
The seat was sent to Dane Utech (@plzbeseated) and smashed it out of the park like always.
The paint was a hard one to decide because I had two renderings I was going back and forth on. It was a classic Suzuki yellow rendering versus a Suzuki blue and white design. My wife and I soon referred to them as the Scorpion or SubZero designs when we went over them (Mortal Kombat fans). When I made the final decision, I just had to have the classic Suzuki yellow, so the Scorpion design won. Hence why the bike is called the DRZ Scorpion 434.
The scorpion logos on the paint and little touches on the bike pay homage to that. So now down the road, it only makes sense if I build a SubZero DRZ now!
Once I got the paint back from Hired Guns Paint, the rebuild began. Rebuild went smooth with all the bearings and even bolts being replaced. Brakes were also rebuilt and Galfer rotors were added.
For the lighting and electronics, it uses a 7” LED headlight with a high beam button located next to the key switch. The wiring for the buttons on the handlebars run inside the handlebars for a cleaner look. The speedo is a Motogadget Motoscope Mini with the indicator frame as well. Push buttons on either side of the handlebar mount function the information for the speedo and the other starts the bike.
As stated previously, the taillights/signals are in the radiator cover front, rear and on the license plate mount. This bike even comes with a horn in case the owner needs it!
Other items not mentioned include the Scotts steering stabilizer and the Lectron Billetron Pro carb. Easily my favorite carb to run because of the performance and ease of adjusting.
Now four years later, I have been a full-time bike builder for a year now. I have 5-6 bikes I am building at one time, so I am super busy, which is good! This bike means so much because it was built in my home garage where it all started six years ago. During the build the world was still dealing with COVID, I worked two jobs, built four bikes during this build, moved to a shop, and most importantly became a dad again. Been a busy four years and to finish this bike for someone to enjoy, I could not be happier! Hope the world likes the DRZ Scorpion 434 because I sure do!
Lights Demo
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Website: Parr Motorcycles
Facebook: Parr Motorcycles
Instagram: @parrmotorcycles
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