May 28, 2008 by David.

Thanks to my buddy Jon’s recommendation on the Airhawk seat for motorcycles by the ROHO Group. When planning our upcoming rides, I knew we needed to get something for our butts - especially for my wife who’s little butt goes south after about an hour’s ride. Jon has taken numerous LONG bike trips - much longer than some of our planned trips - and swears by Airhawk.

The seat pad is air bladders (a little over an inch square), inflated very low (to just get your butt above the seat), with a cloth case that has a sticky bottom (can also use the included straps to hold it down, but I don’t find them necessary) and a top that circulates air freely. Hey, a sweaty butt isn’t all that comfortable either. It is seriously heavy duty and reports are that it has a very long life.

Sharlet and I have found them to work great and highly recommend them for longer rides.

You can check out the Airhawk  systems on their site, but it doesn’t hurt to browse around; you may be able to get better pricing on eBay or with other retailers.

Note that they also make similar products for trucks, office chairs, and healthcare.

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April 23, 2008 by David.

Want to show off those fancy wheels on your scooter? Hate covering them up with brake rotors? 360 Brake comes to your rescue. They’ve created a brake that is self contained in a hub that is just a few inches in diameter - about the same size as your existing wheel hub. It’s good for both front and rear wheel applications. It utilizes a circular piston and pads activated by hydraulic pressure which delivers complete 360 degree braking power to the rotor.

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January 30, 2008 by David.

My favorite looking Harley engine is the “knuckle head.” Well, check out what S&S is up to. They’ve bought Flathead Power, their first purchase in 50 years, and will be shipping in a few weeks. Meanwhile check out www.FlatheadPower.net. A 120″ knuckhead! Holy Cow! Now that would look fucking good in my planned redo of my springer (a.k.a. Bad Boy Bobber).

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November 24, 2007 by David.

The rear swingarm on a HD bagger isn’t the most stable thing in the world. Glide-Pro has an improved pivot shaft to tighten things up. Stronger, more heat resistant metal (yes, it gets so hot you can’t handle it) and polyurethane bushings replace the stock rubber bushings. Reportedly a big improvement, although I haven’t put one on my bike yet. Runs $400.

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November 20, 2007 by David.

There are only two magazines dedicated to baggers that I know of.  I subscribe to Hot Bike Bagger, but they don’t have a website for the magazine. There is also American Bagger Magazine, which I may try a subscription to after my Hot Bike Bagger runs out.

American Iron Magazine is what I like best, though. It isn’t dedicated to baggers but they cover a lot of them and I like their hop up and other technical articles. I’ve had a subscription to it for years and it keeps getting fatter and fatter, dang near a book every month. Their subscription revenue must be doing well.

Now get out there and customize something!

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October 15, 2007 by David.

Can’t believe I haven’t heard of this product even though it has been out a couple years. It is an impact jacket that inflates when the rip cord attached to the bike is pulled. Credited with saving the life of a guy in Baltimore (who now says he is giving up crotch rockets for cruisers…).

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September 25, 2007 by David.

I’ve only been to Street Vibrations once before, nearly a decade ago. I had ridden my springer down to an annual meeting outside of Sacramento and after the meeting I met up with my buddy Gary and we rode over the hill to Reno. We checked out vendors that evening and the next morning I headed back home. Before leaving, however, we had one of those free motel breakfasts - and that’s where the fun began. Gary and I were dressed in full leathers and everyone else in the dining room were, well, definately not bikers. Mostly older folks there for the gambling. First off, I dropped one of those stainless lids over the scambled eggs and it fell with a rambunctious, echoing clatter to the floor behind the serving table. That aparently was just to warm me up for the next event. I picked up the ketchup bottle and, as is my practice, I shook it before opening to get the goods broken loose to come out. Well, upon opening the ketchup bottle I learned an important lesson: Never shake - or better yet, never open - a multi-colored ketchup bottle. The bottle was mostly red with a little yellow at the top. Yes, the ketchup had gone bad. Very bad. And the shaking primed the contents to spray all over everything in a ten foot diameter. My leathers were covered in yellow and red stinking rotton ketchup. Let’s just say the blue hairs downing their eggs didn’t seem very impressed with my antics.

Fortunately on this trip there were no exploding ketchup bottles. Weather was unseasonably cold and rainy, but we had a good time. I rode to Gary’s Thursday night and Friday morning a dozen bikes headed out, riding back roads beside Hwy 50. We came home Sunday. For some pics, go to HawgRides.com.

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July 24, 2007 by David.

It is Harley Davidson’s 105th anniversary and the 2008 Harleys are out. Of course what I’m interested in is the Road Glide.  Now with a black engine (something I sorely missed when I got mine), fuel tank increased from five to six gallons and Brembo brakes with optional ABS. Harman/Kardon stereo wouldn’t be bad either.  Good stuff. 

For something different from the motor company, check out the Rocker Tail with a 240mm rear tire.

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May 29, 2007 by David.

Over Memorial Day weekend, we did some Harley riding.  [Duh.]  We stopped by this little restaurant/bar in Rio Vista, CA (you know, where those whales have been in the news for hanging around in the Sacramento River) called Foster’s Bighorn.  It is a showcase for the hunting exploits of Bill Foster from the early 1900’s.  There are over 300 trophy heads mounted on the walls, including some no longer legal to hunt such as an elephant. 

I had their bison burger for lunch.  If you are ever in the area, you have to at least stick your head in and look around.  Even if you aren’t a hunter, you will find it truly amazing.

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April 30, 2007 by David.

Just got back from my first Laughlin motorcycle rally.  Naturally, went with Gary and a dozen of his friends.  Was lots of fun.  Dang hot.  Took rides to Williams, AZ and Oatman, AZ.

 
Our campsite.  Three RV’s and a dozen bikes - almost all Road Glides.

View of downtown Laughlin from our camping area.

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April 5, 2007 by David.

Larry got his 2007 Road Glide on April 1.  Black Cherry.  Check it out!

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March 20, 2007 by David.

Interested in custom boots made from high quality materials?  Check out boots from West Coast Shoe Company.  The quality of materials is second to none and make my boots made by Harley Davidson look like, well, cheap imports.  They are made by hand, and have been for a couple generations.   You have the option of customizing the boots and/or customizing the fit.  Their online site allows you to step through the options and pricing for each of their boot models, selecting the sole, leather, color, height, hardware, etc.

I’ve always liked extra tall black boots with serious, slanted heels ever since I was a teenager stomping around the corral.  That’s not the big seller, however, so finding a place that would make exactly what I wanted is nirvana.

The boots I ordered were the “Jobmaster” lace ups, 16″ high with Read the rest of this entry »

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January 29, 2007 by David.

Today my cousin Larry ordered a new Harley Davidson Road Glide.  Black.  This is his first Harley and he’s been badgering the sales guys at Latus Motors in Portland, Oregon for months now.  It paid off.  He got it for a grand under list.  This is the shop I bought my two Harleys from and I thought I got a great deal on my 2005 when I got it for list price, but Larry got his for a grand under what I paid two years ago.  Nice going, Larry!  Now he’s faced with the challange of what to do to it right off the bat, but he’s got a month ’till it arrives.

So, be like Larry.  Getcha one er dem oh sevens, ya hear?

Ok, I’ll spill Larry’s secret.  The Albany, OR dealer is offering a grand under list till the end of January and Larry got Latus to match it.  Actually, the Albany dealer is one of the most agressively priced Harley dealers you’ll find, so if you are within driving distance, I’d check them out.  However, I can’t personally vouch for them as I haven’t ever been there myself.

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January 19, 2007 by David.

Motorcycles are in my bloodline.  Click “About Dave” on the side bar and read how I was Born to Bike!

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January 14, 2007 by David.

One of the best discount resources I’ve found for saving on stock Harley parts is Chicago Harley Davidson’s web site.  They like to make it look like there is a limited time offer to their discount, but I’ve never seen their site without it.  If you know the part number (those annual fat Harley catalogs are useful for something besides catching drool after all), ordering is really easy.  When I ordered, the price didn’t show the 20% discount, so I called to ask why and was told they take it off after the order is placed.  Sure enough, my bill came through for 20% less.  Other than the occasional and rare dealer sale, this is the only way I’ve found to consistently get HD parts at a discount.  Highly recommended.

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