Porsche Bike Adventure: February 2018

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Porsche Votec Steve McQueen Edition bike?

What the heck is this!?! I was surfing eBay for Porsche bikes (which I do way too often) when I found this Porsche Bike FS for sale all the way from Budapest, Hungary. This Bike FS appears to be either a custom or limited run Votec made mountain bike with a Gulf/Steve McQueen livery.

Translating the eBay listing from German to English it says: Used but in a good condition. See pictures. Paint has got traces of use but a protective layer.

I have never seen a Bike FS painted like this. But I continue to run into old Porsche bikes I was unaware of. The last one ended up being a custom paint job. This one I'm not so sure. I'll do some more research. But I'll say one thing, this is super cool!

Here are the spec from the eBay listing:

Seat tube: Votec
Brake: Magura Luisi
Handlebar: Votec alu
Suspension fork: Votec GS4
Crank: Shimano XT
Transmission: Shimano XT / 3x9-speed /
Chains: Shimano XT
Damper: Fox Float R
Saddle: Selle Italia Flite Titanium Porsche Gulf Edition
Rims: Spengle Carbon Disc Brake 26 inch
Rubber: swallow nobby nic evo

Hot Wheels Gulf 917

It seems Hot Wheels is on a roll these days with new Porsche models. The latest this year is the Gulf Porsche 917 LH. The Porsche 917 LH is the long tail (Langheck in German) version of the famous Le Mans winning 917K (Kurzheck or short tail).

Hot Wheels produced a 917K some years ago and I have a #2 Gulf livery version. So when Hot Wheels announced a Gulf #18 917 LH delivering in 2018 I was stopping by Toys R Us weekly until it finally arrived.

The new 917 LH model is extremely cool. The shape and casting of this 1:64 scale race car is fantastic and period-accurate back to 1971 to the last detail. The rear wheel covers and long tail with rear wing are all there - features on the actual 1971 high-speed LH version. My only concern is the light blue and red/orange color from the Hot Wheels 917K to the 917 LH isn't consistent. The 917 LH is a little lighter. But I'm not complaining, I'm just happy companies are making so many 1:64 scale Porsches to add to my ever-growing collection!

My Story

I am a fanatical Porsche enthusiast. I love all things Porsche. This has led me to explore the depths of the automobile brand including some of the least known items the marque is known for. My latest journey - Porsche bicycles!

When I was 13 years old, I fell in love with Porsche cars. Delivering the morning newspaper on my Schwinn ten-speed bike brought me face to bumper with a white 911T each morning and from there I was hooked.

Many years later, I have a garage full of Porsche automobiles and a plethora of Porsche paraphernalia including everything from posters, flags, hats, shirts, sunglasses, scale models, a wristwatch and much more; all of the normal stuff any average PCA member has collected.

Some of my more prized Porsche possessions are my three Porsche bicycles. Yes, three. One is a 100% original 1996 Bike S. The other is a heavily modified 1998 Bike S I use for road and mountain riding. And the latest is a touring-style 2004 Porsche Bike X that I turned into a road bike. I have ridden these three bikes over 5,000 miles in the last few years.

In 2016, I rode many training miles in preparation for a 53-mile ride in the California Sierra foothills, a 72-mile ride around Lake Tahoe and the grand finale ride of 100 miles at the Sacramento Century. The 100 mile ride I believe is a world record on a Porsche Bike S.

Then in July 2017, I completed the 2017 Death Ride with the rebuilt and ultra rare 2004 Porsche Bike X. The Death Ride is an extremely challenging 125-mile, 15,000 foot elevation gain bike ride that crosses five mountain passes in the California Alps near Lake Tahoe. I believe this was the first time a Porsche bicycle completed the Death Ride. Another record.

In the fall of 2020, I rode the 184.5-mile Chesapeake and Ohio Canal Towpath across three days on the 1998 Bike S. My first multi-day bike riding tour. Another Porsche bike record?

And this blog shared every mile!

2016, 2017 and 2020 were great years of riding. What could possibly follow that?

In 2021, I completed my goal to ride the 360-mile Chesapeake and Ohio and Great Allegheny Passage on the 2004 Bike X. I converted the Bike X back to a hybrid bike for the six-day epic adventure. And in 2022, the Bike X also completed the 237-mile Florida Coast to Coast ride with eight other Porsche Bike riders.

More Porsche Bike adventures are coming up. And just like previous efforts, I plan to share every mile on this blog!

Wednesday, February 28, 2018

Porsche Votec Steve McQueen Edition bike?

Hot Wheels Gulf 917

Erie Canalway Trail completed