Gertrude Goes In For Surgery

[GrandpaDenny]

Did you happen to notice which jets Mr. Leo installed?

No idea. He might've said in an email, I'll have to look later.

[VoyagerCraiger]

OMGoodness... THIS IS ALL JUST INSANE!

My '00 w 45K mi (new to me at 39K) was clean at Engine/Carbs 1st time I went in/around there (coupla stains, etc),
Carb Boots were PERFECTLY clean (did some work around there this Summer), and
My Carbs don't leak save for some dry-rotted hoses (replacing all soon).
She was pretty quiet though powerful as all get out and
She only recently started wallowing in Sweepers below 80mph, (my ginger hold on grips makes for no wallowing at 70mph though she sometimes can and almost always does at 80mph Sweepers).

WHAT THE HECK DID YOU BUY (OR WERE 'GIVEN' HOPEFULLY) GERTRUDE FOR!!!

I'VE NEVER SEEN BOOTS LIKE THAT!!!
I CAN'T BELIEVE IT POSSIBLE SHE RAN!

Okay, no more screamin'...

You must be HAPPY AS CAN BE with your New Bike!!!

And consider this a BUMP for a BikeNameChange...
something slicker 'n Gertrude (no Eunice or Margaret either!).

BEST!

[GrandpaDenny]

Yeah, no kidding. Eight hundred bucks, that's what I bought her for. The things we discovered along the way, right Gene?

1. Hole burnt in upper air box.
2. Missing frame bolts.

OMG I can't even remember all the DSPO stuff we uncovered over time. She ain't perfect yet, and gets ridden too much, too hard, to ever be perfect. But man oh man what a hooptie she was. If I'd'a known then what I know now...

But, y'know, there has been a special bond forged between me and Gertrude, as I've steadily been fixing stuff, and making her better, and better, and better. I've also forged some really good friendships along the way, and learned a lot. If it wasn't for Gertrude, I wouldn't have found the AVA, and would never have met Gene Kapuszinski (hope i spelled your name right, Gene - that's why I usually refer to you as "Gene Kap"), or Carl Leo, or so many other fine people here on the AVA that I haven't met in person yet, like Nails.

I've also run into some truly shitty "mechanics", er, excuse me, they're called "technicians" now. The DEALERSHIP said my front wheel bearings were fine. They were DESTROYED. Man, the gods watch over fools and sailors...

I've had fun riding her, I've had fun working on her, and I've had fun making friends with her. Man you can't beat that at any price.