tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-72823237685765730972024-09-14T16:46:54.220-07:00Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.comBlogger31125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-43756976728987331212010-05-03T07:13:00.002-07:002010-05-03T09:05:17.503-07:00

When I first met the Wrench Wench I was actually done with dating! We had met accidentally and, although I was attracted to her, I figured I would be safe from getting into a relationship, or even going on any meaningful dates for that matter by asking her questions I was sure she would say no to.  Things such as "Ummm, do you wanna go on a motorcycle ride?"  Ooops she says she loves

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-13958700736953699852010-03-21T18:34:00.019-07:002010-04-11T15:22:55.473-07:00

So, in the early afternoon of another dark winter day, mechanic #1 and mechanic #2 (myself) piled into the aforementioned truck with the aforementioned questionable motorcycle and headed east into the wilds of the Santa Fe National forest. Our spirits were relatively high beginning our journey on NM 285 which climbs sharply into the high desert mountains, yet once we leave the main road at the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-30311389023033560962010-03-14T19:21:00.031-07:002010-03-21T18:41:11.615-07:00

There are some stories that cannot just be made up. This one started with the onset of winter 2009-2010 in northern New Mexico. Things were getting slow at the motorcycle, shop, pay was about to be cut back, and worst of all hours and hours of boredom loomed ahead. My partner in the shop had come into a little bit of money and was looking for a project to fill the time.My co-worker who I will

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-36841917126631966492009-06-20T22:43:00.028-07:002009-06-25T07:20:52.547-07:00

The back box or "trunk" of the Road Show Beemer has been the subject of this column before, but the fun continues. The "trunk" box and bracket that it mounts to is actually made by Honda and is superior to anything manufactured specifically by/for BMW in its sheer capacity and its value as a safety mechanism/backrest for my faithful pillion. The previous owner had a custom rack welded together

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-7613180465140128202009-05-09T19:57:00.028-07:002009-05-13T06:28:34.471-07:00

Along with the 360 degree workaround, it is a good idea to inspect cables regularly. Two clutch cables of my recent acquittance have brought this point home to me rather bluntly.The first belonged to a '99 Suzuki SV650 which I was working on to sell. The bike had been sitting for a while and the clutch required significant renewing. That particular bike requires the cable to be adjusted in two

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-27651226808232653042009-05-02T17:24:00.009-07:002009-05-02T19:41:34.050-07:00

All motorcyclist know that horrifying sound of expensive plastic breaking. Replacements for fairings, painted body parts, boxes, etc. are extremely high. Thanks to my partners brief career working in a Hollywood special effects model shop, she knows a lot about bonding plastics, and this is our second successful experiment using non-standard techniques to repair plastic motorcycle parts.This

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-67402804931331726592009-04-30T20:12:00.019-07:002009-05-02T15:17:16.486-07:00

End of the day in clinic 7Of the many residential groups who are temporary transplants to Phoenix, some of the most interesting are the MMI students. I happen to be currently be a student, so it is also the group that I know best. Since there are only two places in the U.S. where one can get basic factory training, Phoenix, AZ and Orlando, FL, there are people of all ages from all over the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-16287596681198524932009-04-11T18:34:00.012-07:002009-04-17T00:39:50.498-07:00

Last week we talked about the two most important parts of a motorcycle brakes and tires which are two of the checks performed during a 360 degree walk around. This week we will finish the process. A 360 walk around is not the same as a full safety inspection but it will make your ride safer and possibly avoid damage to your machine. 1) Tire Pressure Not only does incorrect tire pressure

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-74587657406983338592009-03-28T18:48:00.011-07:002009-04-12T08:35:06.921-07:00

What are the two most important parts of a motorcycle? I am quite sure that question would elicit a lot of different responses from different people. I can tell you though as a technician in training who has been drilled in these matter extensively, the correct answer is BRAKES and TIRES. These are the two things that, if they fail, can take you down and hurt you or kill you!Brake pad

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-49433017564195484902008-12-26T19:22:00.012-07:002008-12-31T19:10:00.034-07:00

For me, this has got to be one of the best Ghetto Garages yet. Here in Phoenix, AZ, home of Motorcycle Mechanics Institute (MMI) where they train "best of the best," homegrown techniques are alive and well. Just before Christmas vacation one of the projects in machine shop was a practice top end rebuild. Some of it was pretty awesome like boring the cylinder and measuring all the clearances.

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-62495331422808942552008-12-09T19:15:00.000-07:002008-12-09T19:50:26.035-07:00

Ghetto Garage has been on an extended adventure. One different than the usual. Usually we travel around and do stuff. I guess we have been traveling of late, sort of, looking for a new home and a new life. Things have been stressful, particularly financially, but our higher power has been looking out for us. Always at the last minute it seems but nevertheless looking out.We have been in

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-4078570155011526072008-10-29T11:12:00.000-07:002008-11-03T20:38:31.419-07:00

Three things that kill batteries.1) Improper Maitenance2) Improper Setup3) VibrationWhile there is little one can do to prevent the third and the second is often out of our control number one, maintenance is the one thing we do have some control over.One of the most common misconceptions is that simply riding your bike will keep the battery in a full state of charge. This is not necessarily true

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-59379946330203637172008-10-23T08:24:00.000-07:002008-10-23T09:33:38.007-07:00

Bikes the Run on Just About Anything...The Wave of the Future?Kawasaki KLR650 Modified by Hayes Diesel TechnologiesTo try to predict the future...ahhh...now there is a concept! Those of us in the power sports industry would like to believe that our beloved two-wheeled machines are going to be a big part of the ongoing transportation revolution. Oddly enough, the good old U. S. Military may be

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-63310242696025124082008-10-05T23:16:00.000-07:002008-10-09T04:08:56.398-07:00

When you think of Octane, what is the first thing that comes to mind? If you are anything like me you think of the proverbial "Tiger in the Tank." Well ladies and gents and other sentient beings, I am here to tell you that it just 'taint so.Saving you the technical details, what the octane number is gas actually refers to is its "resistance" to explosion. Now trust me, this is a desirable

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-54027163385317415982008-08-29T20:22:00.001-07:002008-08-29T22:13:44.399-07:00

For those of you who follow Ghetto Garage you might remember a few posts back I related how a few weeks back I had my own minature Exxon Valdez disaster, which leaked significant amount of oil onto our small apartments even smaller patio.Since then I have tried various methods to remover, or at least significantly reduce, the damage.Here are some of the methods we have tried.1) Dishwashing

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-28878303240100666292008-08-23T16:59:00.000-07:002008-08-23T17:31:49.081-07:00

Couple of long overdue tips from the Ghetto Garage here.Tip #1.If you are going to tie down bikes in the back of a U-Haul or similar conveyance, PLEEAASE do a couple of things.A) Take off any tall or non retractable windshields. The new Road Show Beemer had a beautiful after-market windshield on her, which was actually one of the reasons I did buy here, and it got trashed in the move from

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-2298767933350452472008-08-19T03:51:00.000-07:002008-08-19T05:00:06.324-07:00

It has been a while since I posted here, but certainly not from a lack of material. In fact, it has been exactly the opposite, too much has been going on on the wrenching front.A whirlwind of activity started sometime last week when our next door nieghbors Corvette broke down. Long story short, from my understanding the steering columns on some 'vettes have a tendency to lock up and there is

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-76492743422043408772008-07-04T12:44:00.000-07:002008-07-05T05:04:59.045-07:00

It has been an interesting few days. For reasons which are beyond the scope of this post let's just say the stress level has been through the roof. Since we are going to Roswell Tommorow the bike needs a little attention and there was also the issue of screening in our new micro-patio. What I am leading up to and the point being that I had to go to the hardware store for the first time here in

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-56658558807864818232008-06-29T03:14:00.000-07:002008-06-30T12:50:21.594-07:00

Since our move to New Mexico a couple of weeks ago I have been delighted to hook up with some cool beemer people and more importantly the Survivors and these cats ride.The reason I bring that up is because my bike needed some serious service and I no longer have a garage. Since we only have one assigned parking space here I have two bikes crowded into it and wrenching is frowned upon upon the

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-1532087994211906912008-05-26T02:26:00.004-07:002010-01-10T13:21:13.264-07:00

Ok, I admit it. Much has been said over the last couple of years about being able to patch tires on the road; and yet have I ever done anything beyond give a cursory examination to the instructions on a bottle of all in one tire sealant, re-inflator stuff.Well, as you may or may not know I recently purchased a cherry condition R1100R which actually has all the goodies it is supposed to have.

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-66222736285428067782008-05-22T18:05:00.001-07:002008-05-26T20:22:30.353-07:00

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-44503353373654190572008-05-22T17:56:00.001-07:002008-05-22T17:56:17.225-07:00

Make a game | Share | Free games | Pictogame

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-77770880442729298442008-05-21T16:15:00.000-07:002008-05-21T21:59:25.507-07:00

This is what the Ghetto Garage looked like today....I am not proud of it but thi is how it is - it is partially a function of my natural slovenlieness, partially due to the fact that we had had too many biked in for urgent surgery at the same time.--------------------------------------------Later now...and what I didn't say was that how much I hear my mothers critical voice in my head when I am

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-19115444852496242042008-04-25T00:47:00.000-07:002008-04-25T01:11:02.050-07:00

Of all the people I have had to deal with during this last year add half of stranges goindg on and odd recoveries, the one person I have been able to rely upon is Dr. Longwirth PH.d and clinicle psycholist. Someone that I have identified as Shark for his uncanalyabiliyt to cut through red tape. Even though I have been so mad at Dr. Memdoza I am grateful to him for turning me on to this guy.

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7282323768576573097.post-64652481350844005682008-04-24T12:22:00.000-07:002008-04-24T23:07:42.624-07:00

It always starts out something like the following...Here is my buddy Randall starting to wrench on his pretty oilhead, oblivious to the destruction that lies ahead.See how nice and clean the garage is...well

Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02784207799673515791noreply@blogger.com0