If, like unfortunately most gearheads, you’re of the male persuasion, you’re probably now envisioning some lithe young damsel astride a Ducati sportsbike. Well, you’re partly correct- No ducks in the fleet, but plenty of low bars and setback footpegs, with a mix of dual sport bikes, hot hatches, hot pre-hatch, and pickup. Here’s my fleet’s roster:
2007 BMW F800S
2001 Buell M2L
1992 BMW R100GS
1984 BMW R65LS
1983 BMW R80ST
1975 Yamaha MX250 ($25 auction find, just washed the manure off)
2003 VW Golf TDI
1998 Ford Ranger
1986 VW Golf diesel, LUBO (Laid Up Bad Order)
1966 Austin Mini Cooper S, LUBO
2009 Bike Friday folding bike
1987 Santana tandem mountain bike
1975 Teledyne Titan, mostly Campy New Record
1992 Fortress racing wheelchair, LUGO (Laid Up Good Order)
1987 Quickie GP basketball wheelchair, LUGO
Motorvation Spyder sidecar, currently hooked to the ST
Motorvation Formula II sidecar, about to move from the LS to the GS
Boarders:
1979 Yamaha 650 Custom, my brother’s
2000 Mopar minivan (Plymouth Voyager inherited from mom)
OK, so I do have a legit sport bike or two that I can pose on. Unfortunately I’m not young anymore, so don’t expect any pics of me seductively posing on any of the above fleet. But I won’t try to fool you with decades old pics of me or photoshops. I am trying to lose enough weight so that I can pose in a mini without offending the public morals with my hopefully restored by then Mini for it’s 50th birthday in late 2015.
So for 61 years of age, at least I’m not filling my garage (and living room too at times) with Geezer Glides and, worse yet, TriGlides. None the less, seems like every month or so Harley sends me an e-mail extolling the virtues of Sportster Lows and inviting me to darn near hundred dollar “introduction to motorcycling” seminars. No wonder HOG(NYSE) is floundering.
So how does a 61 year old lady end up being a gearheadgrrrl? No, I didn’t accidentally wander into a riot grrrl event on my bike a decade or two ago. Must be in the genes… Two of my four greatgrandfathers were blacksmiths, and if any of my family was game I’d be happy to reopen their ventures as a 21st century blacksmith shop, working with titanium, carbon fiber, etc..
And notice the lack of brand loyalty in my fleet? Being of dutch origin, my families always been wheeler-dealers and would cut a deal with most any supplier if the terms were right. Some of my distant relations in the Netherlands are in the trucking business, operating as Sluyter Logistics, there web page is at http://www.sluyter-logistics.nl/ . Now you would think be loyal Dutch citizens, they’d be buying Dutch made DAF trucks… Not! True to the family traits, they’re buying Renaults, which are nowdays Volvos with a price a few thousand Euros less. I do trucking to, having driven for Hostess Brands, USPS, and UPS until I retired… for now. So I guess it’s inevitable that I’m a gearhead despite being a grrrl…
So expect the fleet and discussion to be eclectic around here. That’s all for now… I’m gonna get some pix posted, including my tool collection that my neighbor the truck mechanic says are “too clean and shiny”.
Very nice collection there, thanks for sharing! I’ll be following this one with interest from Norway.
gearheadgrrl
Nice collection of vehicles.
Lighten up on that torque wrench. All of those sucked out cylinder studs point to the the strong possiblity that too much torque has been repeatedly applied when torquing the cylinder has. Use 25 ftlb max. 23 ftlbs might be better. Also, I don’t retorque the heads at every valve gap check. I torque them once at assembly. Warm the machine up and let it set over night and torque them again, and then at about 500 miles, then leave them alone. good luck.
Old airhead.
Thanks for your latest installment re: truck hardware. The likelihood of me stumbling across this ‘insider’ review of changing transport tech is minuscule.
I look forward to further updates on your fleet. And anything else you care to talk/vent about.
phil
Diana: If you get this message give me a call 239-777-3448. Roger Bush
Your posting on the “Fracking” sand is right on target! Here in northeast Ohio, the drilling companies have gone togeather to add about two miles of new railray tracks south of Youngstown to start a Frack sand depot. Rumor has it that they are planning on 300 rail cars of sand a week to keep up with demand.
Dale Ty
Dont work Roger to hard
My spouse and I stumbled over here from a different web address and thought I should check things out.
I like what I see so i am just following you. Look forward to going over your web
page for a second time.
Love your self portrait in the ” you can’t touch this aerostich ” no excuse for near misses from the cagers now ‘ that thing is briiiight and should let’em see ya . lol
Enjoyed the pics of Roger Bush’s tech. day. Roger is my Nephew and lives just a few miles away from us,at Bonita Springs. Always enjoy seeing him. Love his sense of humor. He sure puts a lot of work into these events.
I’m a 61 yr old too. Followed your link from Madville Times. I used to drive race cars, dirt oval tracks. Dad was a skilled engine builder. I’ll keep an eye on what you’re writing here. I like what I see.
D.E.B.
Stumbled onto this, grinning at this description plus knowing more.
I miss being in on Roger’s Tech Day this year, and your running commentary is a delight! Thank you for setting camera to the event ,Diana. As usual, there is a steady stream of innovation from the participants and a window into the happenings is quite entertaining. Thank You!
I am the great great granddaughter of Isaac & saphronia Fuller, my great grandfather, Wellington Grant Fuller, my grandfather Wellington Earl Fuller(who went by the name Earl wellington Fuller) I to have been to Whitehall in search of family history, been to Fuller Coulee, and in the house where Isaac lived and died. It was a great trip as I live in Washongton State. We are trying to find Ssphronias grave site and any information on her death. We think that she lived with her daughter in her last years. Any info that you have would be very helpful. It was great to find your post.