Turning on the nightly news can be a depressing exercise, but here we always aim to deliver some cheer. Not only is this one hell of a bike, but it also comes with a good news story! Six years ago, we met Spencer Parr, a hardworking American who had been forced to give up his career to fight ocular cancer. To provide for his family during that time, he worked many jobs and built some truly incredible custom motorcycles out of his home garage. Well, all that hard work is more than paying off, as Parr Motorcycles is moving into a new workshop, and this 2007 Suzuki DRZ400S becomes the last bike to emerge from the home shed. It has been four years in the making, but the bike Spencer calls ‘DRZ Scorpion 434’ is what he believes is his best bike yet, and we absolutely agree, this Suzuki has a serious sting in its tail.
The first bike of Parr’s we ever featured was his retro-inspired DR Suzuki, and it’s safe to say the internet went crazy for it. Since then, he has built a host of stunning machines, one smash hit after another, which has meant that his home garage has been buzzing at all hours of the night. “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 would also be the last bike to come out of my home garage, where it all started for me,” Spencer tells us.
For a few months, the DRZ sat in a corner as Spencer searched for the right gas tank, finally discovering what he was looking for in the shape of an SP/DR 370 unit from that classic ’70s Suzuki. It’s a shape he loves, and using his formidable metalworking skills, he soon had it sitting over the DRZ backbone with the perfect mounts to hold it in position. “The subframe was up next. Made from aluminium, I built the subframe to look like it flows right into the tank. Subframes are my favourite thing to build, and this one ended up being one of my favourites to this day.” Not only are the lines spot on but there is a visual strength to Spencer’s work that makes his bikes look indestructible.
There is also a great deal of clever thinking that goes into them too, and part of the subframe is an uber-neat electrics box that keeps all the wiring out of harm’s way. The fabrication work continued with the radiator covers, a vital component when you’re no longer using the factory plastics. There is no hiding the big aluminium coolers, so instead, Spencer embraces their presence, and his metalwork is simply stunning. The rear shrouds have neat cut-outs for the fans, which then flow rearward to form small side covers that terminate under the tank. The covers also neatly house the front and rear turn signals, as well as the tail/brake light setup.
“I coin them ‘rad’ lights, and this is version #3, as the other two versions are on both XR650Rs I built. Definitely a unique part of the bike that adds some character!” Time for the exhaust, and Spencer never fails to deliver. This system is like an epic mullet, business at the front, party out the back! The header is a super neat stainless piece that snakes its way to the rear, tight against the engine. Once the shock is cleared, the system runs back and booms from a big cone muffler, with an air gap left between it and the electronics box. Above, a seat was made, featuring Parr’s own design of four pins and a latch to secure it to the subframe.
The build then had to go on pause while Spencer finished four more bikes and the family moved house. Returning to the DRZ, the rear fender is another unique Parr touch, crafted from aluminium; it sits flat inside the wheel well to serve as protection before beautifully bending to the tyre’s shape once out in clear air. The front fender is a vintage Honda SL unit, high-mounted, and with that job done, the bike was stripped. The engine was rebuilt, with the capacity punched out to 434cc and a thumping Lectron Billetron Pro carb used for fuelling. In the meantime, the seat base was sent to Dane Utech @plzbeseated, who has once again nailed the brief.
Parr bikes are built to be ridden hard and fast, so the front suspension was converted to Suzuki RM forks before Racetech was tasked with rebuilding the front and rear to perfection. Galfer rotors are matched with rebuilt calipers to handle the braking, and a Scott’s steering stabiliser keeps things under control. Picking a paint scheme came down to a yellow rendering or a blue and white design. “My wife and I soon referred to them as 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. So down the road, it only makes sense if I build a SubZero DRZ now.”
Hired Guns Paint wielded their wands, and from the main colour to the little Scorpion logos, they’ve done an incredible job. And that’s the only way to describe the level of detail Spencer goes to, with every nut and bolt replaced as he finished out the build. The number plate bracket, with extra taillights, is first-class, as are the custom buttons on the risers, with the wires hidden in the bars.
Dubya USA hooked him up with a sweet set of 17-inch rims, and then it was into the Motogadget catalogue for one of their Motoscope Mini speedos. The finished result is sensational and marks a great way to welcome a new era for Parr Motorcycles, now in their very own shop. So be on the lookout for the Scorpion 434; it might have a flashy appearance, but engage it in urban warfare, and you’re bound to get stung.
[ Parr Motorcycles ]