Hello Hubbers,

My name is Dave and I go by "Stovebolt" and my other forum friends call me "Stovey." I live in the Tetons, in Southeast Idaho, USA. I've never been on really long distance rides before and never left my continent. But one day I hope to travel bigger on a motorcycle. I favor the off-road element and currently ride a 2010 KTM 450 XC-W Six Days which is street legal.

I love reading about other people's journeys on their blogcasts and through the many tremendous ride reports, here and on Adventure Rider. It's such an inspiration to me when I gather in all the adventures and much of the back stories that so many eloquent writers post up! Many life lessons learned and shared by so many from near and far... the shear determination through so many trials on RTW and remote excursions always leaves me inspired.

The longest ride I've ever done was in Baja on my 2006 KTM 640 Adventure in 2008, when and where I had a chance to sample some small adversities myself. I crushed 3 ribs and re-dislocated a previously injured shoulder and had to ride it out. That was after the 3rd day and I had to hole up for a couple of days to assess and reconnoiter, but I finished the ride out and spent almost a week again on the bike and got back under my own power - 1621 miles all tolled.

I work a day job in the motorcycle industry as a fabricator, for a company supplying a major manufacturer. I also manufacture on my own with a small boutique business in plastics making accessories. Last year I also published a book containing some of my best motorcycle ride reports. It has been my honor and pleasure to host a few people traveling through my area from far away on their own bigger journeys. Most from CONUS, but some from as far away as Australia who were on their way from Prudhoe Bay on the Bering Sea to Ushuaia!

I appreciate the Ted Simon Foundation as well as other good causes and I help out with my local dirt bike club. I just joined my local/regional HUBB Community so my contact info should be available if anybody needs anything, I can try to assist.

Good luck to everybody in their travels. Many incredible miles beneath our wheels, and good journeys to you all!

Sincerely,

"Stovey"

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Team Ruptured Buzzard "Never Give Up"

Welcome matey, glad to have you here. Write often and ride even more.

How in the world did you get your nickname? I don't mean to be nosey but it always fascinates me how these things come about

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That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...

Hi Senno,

I'll copy the explanation of my nickname from my website and reply with this;

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"Stovebolt"
I am "Stovey" but you can call me whatever you want. I go by Dave, "Janks" and "Janko" too, and of course I didn't pick any of these names - they have been bestowed upon me. When I was a young motorcycle enthusiast, I lacked proper funds to support the motocross racing habit I desperately wanted to form. My weekly pre-race rituals included repairs with whatever nuts, bolts, tape and wire I could find laying around, and many an empty hole where a part had fallen off my Suzuki was stuffed with either carriage or stovebolts. Mystery gone there on that. I won't let any of the other guys write my bio, it's not happening here.... Some of them know way too much for my own good. Suffice it to say, I am a grand fellow, a supreme adventure companion and the humblest one of the group. I am also married to the only female buzzard so far, (only "female" so far, not "married" so far,) Dorothy. She says I am handsome, but that's only because I am. I have this website. I love my dogs.
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My website is for fun and decidedly not streamlined for commerce, but there is a place for people to buy things there, so I will not be posting the url or a link - that's not what I'm here for. After I pay for the advertising privilege to the site owners Grant and Susan, I'll have a url in my sig line.

Here's a picture of me after dismounting with some assistance and getting my gear peeled off me outside of San Francisquito in Baja California Norte after wrecking my ribs and shoulder. It puts a face to my name. It also humbles me every time I look at it.

Nowadays, I'm not only "Stovey" from the old days of being poor with handfuls of stove bolts to repair my motorcycles, but as it turns out, from being all "stoved up" as well. Appropo providence. hehehe

Many thanks for the kind welcome!



All the best,

Stovey

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Team Ruptured Buzzard "Never Give Up"

Hi Stovey

Interesting stuff. Being from the UK we don't, as far as I know, use the word 'stovebolt' and my only knowledge of the term was in reference to Chevy engines. I was rather hoping you got the name because you managed to squeeze a Chevy inline six into a bike frame, but nevermind...

Anyway all the best for your time here, See you around...

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That concrete whizzing by five inches below your foot is the real thing...

Thanks Senno....

...much appreciated!




Stovey

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Team Ruptured Buzzard "Never Give Up"