Archive for the ‘Product Reviews’ Category

Motorcycle Move Review: 21 Days Under the Sky

Posted: September 18, 2016 in Motorcycle TV, Product Reviews, Uncategorized
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“My life lives inside me… that is what riding an old Harley teaches you.”  A quote from the movie that is what “Easy Rider would had been if it were a motorcycle documentary.

21-bThe premise of “21 Days Under the Sky” is four friends riding old school Harley Davidson choppers across America and the fun, trouble and adventure they find.  By old school I mean vintage Sportsters, Shovel and Knucklehead motorcycles. Their bikes have small tanks and more then a few break downs during their cross-country trip. This film interspaces vintage pictures and film clips from the 1960-70s with the travels and troubles of these friends as they ride US Route 40.

Broken frames, flat tires, running on empty and the age of their motorcycles plague 21-cthe riders.  But they also have some great times along the way.  Deviating from their planed route they stop by the Bonneville Salt Flats only to find it under a few inches of water.  They don’t allow the water to dampen the fun and the ensuing frolic makes for some beautiful and fun photography.

I have to say I loved the cinema photography of 21 Days Under the Sky.  But that was offset by the pretentious of the narration. While much of the movie’s narration was perfectly fine there was just enough ostentatious, almost pompous, sections of the script to gag a goat.

At 70 minutes the movie highly compresses their 21 day trip from San Francisco to New York City.  If you do the math they really did not ride that far each day, unless you count the time and distance they had to make up for each problem that put them to full stop. It would be very interesting to see what was left on the cutting room floor.

Currently on Netflix, 21 Days Under the Sky is worth your time.  Vintage motorcycle, old school choppers, a motorcycle ride across America is a formula for success, right?! I give it 4 out of 5 stars and I will watch it again.  Also, remember that this motorcycle movie claims “The next new thing is just ahead”!

4 out 5 stars

 

Motorcycle Product Review: Viking Cycle Enforcer Motorcycle Jacket

Posted: September 10, 2016 in motorcycle safety, Product Reviews
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Viking Enforcer Motorcycle Jacket by MotorcycleHouse.com

MotorcycleHouse.com  has asked me to review one of their jackets, the Viking Cycle Enforcer Jacket.  Below is the unboxing and first impressions video.  Over the next few weeks I will be wearing the Cycle Enforcer jacket and will provide a full review in the near future.

 

Motorcycle Product Review: Bone Dry Seat Covers

Posted: July 30, 2016 in Motorcycle, Product Reviews
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I bought a Bone Dry Motorcycle Seat Cover for our 2014 Harley Davidson Ultra Limited just prior to our nearly 3700 mile vacation.  The impetuous for this purchase is the fact that it always rains on us when we ride and we do not really enjoy putting our butts on wet seats, especially after a good night’s sleep. We also knew that a hot seat, after stopping for lunch, can be a real pain in the butt.

I looked at several different manufactures and no one product jumped out more than another except for Bone Dry.  Their product comes in different colors other then all black and that is why I purchased their product.  We have a blue bike and the blue striped cover matched, simple as that.

In operation the cover worked as expected. The Bone Dry Motorcycle Seat Cover kept our seats dry through several storms and keep the seat cool in the hot sun.

CONS

Now there are a some drawbacks that would apply to any cover of this type.  The first drawback is that in the deep south of the United States there is a LOT of humidity. There was always some condensation under the cover, especially after a thunderstorm. This was expected so no big deal.

The second drawback was what to do with a wet seat cover after a storm or early morning condensation.  Our solution was to “spin” dry the cover a much as possible before stowing.

Lastly, just like most covers of this nature, Bone Dry makes the seat covers in generic sizes.  I am sure that their covers for a pre-2014 Harley would be perfect fit, but Harley Davidson slightly changed the seats on the “Rushmore” bikes.  This change forces the cover to be tightly stretched to fit the seat.

PROS

The cover looks great on the bike!

The cover folds into itself for storage, no need for a separate case to loose.

Made in the USA.

It worked.

The ONLY reason I am giving it 4 and not 5 stars is that we had to stretch the cover to fit our seat more than I would like.  Over time, I really think that the stitching will become strained because of the difference in the pre/post 2014 seat sizes. But, I am willing to bet that this is an issue with many, if not all other covers  so this should not restrict you from buying the Bone Dry Motorcycle Seat Cover.  If you are in the market for a motorcycle seat cover, I suggest you consider Bone Dry.

4 out 5 stars

New Motorcycle Tires! Trying something different.

Posted: June 16, 2016 in Motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, Product Reviews
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I just had new motorcycle tires installed.  This time I chose to go a different route then my normal Dunlop OEM tires.  I bought Pirelli Night Dragons for the Harley Davidson Ultra Limited. 

I did a lot of research on the different tires that are available for my motorcycle.  I looked at Michelin, Metzeler and other brands motorcycle tire stats, reviews etc.  I went with the Night Dragons as it was the only motorcycle tire that seemed to get better reviews in an area that concerned me quite a bit, grip in the wet.  As much as Iijustwant2ride.com love riding, it always seems to rain when we go out and a good “wet tire”, all things equal, got my attention. 

Now I do have concerns about not using the Dunlop OEM tires.  Those motorcycle tires are available at all Harley Davison dealers and would likely be in stock should a worst case scenario occur.  While it would not be optimal to run to different brands of tires on the motorcycle, I am sure worse things occur every day.  

The wife and I will be leaving soon on a 2,000 mile vacation ride so I am sure we will get to try these motorcycle tires in the wet and dry!  I will post a more in-depth review when we return.

I LIKE TO DRAW ATTENTION TO MY REAR END! Product Review: Custom Dynamics HD LED Tour Pak GEN2 Magic Brake Light Flasher for Harley Davidson Motorcycles

Posted: April 18, 2016 in Motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle touring, Product Reviews
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“Baby got back” and I cannot lie that it fits the Ultra Limited and I want to try to get drivers to see my motorcycle’s rear end. OK.. that is Ultra Bad.

In the age of distracted driving I want folks to have a better chance at seeing me when I am stopped, breaking, or slowing.  So I looked around for a device that would cause my rear lights to flash when the breaks are applied.  There are more than a few of these devices for nearly any motorcycle on the market but I went with the Custom Dynamics Magic Brake Light Flasher.WP_20160417_11_44_23_Rich

I will admit that my section of the Custom Dynamic product was influenced by my earlier purchase of their  LED Turn Signals .  That product was easy to install and has worked well.

The installation of the break light flasher was easier than I expected.  Once the seat was off and you can see the Tour Pak wiring it was almost a no brainer.  Once the device was installed we had to choose the flash pattern.  It comes with 10 patterns of varying complexity.  The video shows you all the patterns, and while it might be less than evident on the video the lights are quite bright. We went with the “Blaster X Consistent” pattern.

When I showed our upgrade to my daughter, as she pulled into the driveway, she stated “that’s distracting”.  I took that as a job well done!

Now it is hard to review whether or not this is a good safety product, if I never get rear ended did the flasher help or did I just get lucky.  But I can review it on ease of installation and my subjective thoughts.  This product does what it says it is going to do, it was easy to install, and I think it is going to help draw attention (thank you daughter).  Based on that I am giving the Custom Dynamics HD LED Tour Pak GEN2 Magic Brake Light Flasher for Harley Davidson Motorcycles 5 out of 5 stars.

5 star

 

 

Motorcycle Product Review: Harley Davidson Battery Charging Extension

Posted: January 15, 2016 in Motorcycle Rides, Product Reviews
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To make it easier to connect the battery tender to the battery of my 2008 Heritage Classic (The Army Bike) I added a new part to the bike.

Harley has a Battery Charging Extension (part 99821-09) this $14.95 (that’s right not HD (hundred dollar)) product that not only lets me more easily charge or maintain the battery but also flashes a red LED when the battery reaches a level that it requires charging.

To connect my battery tender, before buying this product, I have to remove both seats and attach the clamps to the battery. As often as not the clamps would slip off and the battery fails to maintain charge. This device attaches to the battery and snakes down to the swing arm. I zip tied the business end to the swing arm to keep it in place and looking neat.

Installation was straight forward and it is working as advertised!  I am give it 5 stars as it does what suppose to at a non-HD price.

5 star

ijustwant2ride.com

Battery charging extension installed on HD Softail

 

The motorcycle chrome bug got me again.

Posted: October 8, 2015 in Motorcycle, Product Reviews
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Several weeks ago I bought the Kuryakyn Faring Vent Cover and installed it on the bike. Shortly thereafter Harley Davidson came out with color matched covers for the flat black maw.  Had I known that they were coming out with the part I would have waited to get the Daytona Blue cover vice the chrome part. Don’t get me wrong, I like the look of the chrome on the fairing, but I think that the color matched would be better.

A few days ago I bought and installed the  Kuryakyn Tri-Line Gauge Trim.  I have the color matched inner-faring and it looks great but I just thought there was not enough contrast to make it really “POP”.  I looked at the “carbon fiber” insert from Harley but decided that just did not look good next to the blue.

Then I saw Tri-Line Gauge Trim on a Street Glide with a red (crimson?) painted fairing and tank.  Wow, because the chrome reflected the red it looked great to me.  I made the leap of faith that if it worked for a red bike my blue would be even better, LOL.

So following the same routine I used to prep the surface for the fairing vent (see this post) I installed the gauge trim. The photos really don’t do it any justice; in the garage it looks ok.  Out in the sun it look very nice and so far I have not had any issues with reflected sunlight and I ride away from the sun on both my morning and evening commutes.

 

Long Term Product Review: Nolan N104 Evo Helmet

Posted: September 29, 2015 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, motorcycle safety, Product Reviews
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Ijustwant2ride.com

The wife and I have had the Nolan N104 Evo motorcycle helmets for about half a year now. We have worn them in a large variety of conditions including 100+ degree (F) days, monsoon rains and cool but not yet frigid temperatures (I am sure we will get that soon here in North America).

OK…so what did we like about the helmet.

1) Fit was good. Tight but not uncomfortable. As we wear it more, the padding is conforming to our heads well.

2) Easy to use “controls” (sun shield, buckle system)

3) Ventilation was good, up to a point (see below).

4) Communications, the speakers could be of better quality but they work. The microphone is good, people could not tell I was on the bike when I made a phone call.

5) Not too heavy on our heads…at the end of a long ride we were not unduly tired.

 

Now what did we not like.

1) Ventilation, when the temps hit the upper 90s(F) and above the vents were not enough. Even locking the chin bar up (creating a ¾ helmet) it was not enough as the tight padding would not allow air to flow around our heads. Up to those temps the vents worked well and I had no issues. During one of our trips the temps were over 100 for many days… we had to get new half-helmets to compensate.

2) Fogging was an occasional minor issue. I am not a big fan of the pinlock system in general and I know this would fix my problem.

3) There is an occasional wind induced rattle that I cannot find or recreate…it just happens for no apparent reason at weird random times. The wife has not had this issue. UGH!!

 

Overall we like the helmet. Other than during high temps it is comfortable and works as advertised. At this point I would recommend the Nolan Helmet to friends with the caveat about the ventilation. I give the Nolan N104 four stars.

4 out 5 stars

 

6 Things to consider in choosing a motorcycle Jacket!

Posted: September 20, 2015 in motorcycle safety, Product Reviews
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BY: Ania Todua

After helmets, biker jackets are the essential accessories for the motorcyclists’ safety. Thankfully, while protecting you, these armors accentuate your style quotient as well. Of course, like most other niches, the biker jackets market is also swarming with immense styles and designs. Making a buying decision is often very confusing. Here are some basic things you should ensure about your jacket:

  • Material: This is the first thing you need to check in a jacket. Leather – genuine or synthetic – is the most common material used to make these jackets. Cowhide leather is the most popular choice and lasts long. Your region of travel is the decisive factor here. In a hot climate, a leather jacket can be quite uncomfortable. Breathable fabrics like synthetic (Tri-Tex Fabric, polyester mesh, etc.) have nearly all the qualities of leather.
  • Protection: Do not compromise quality for cost. Your biker jackets should provide weather and injury protection to you. Apart from insulating you from the weather, a good biker jacket prevents you from getting the scratches, drags, and any other injury in case of an accident while riding. The jacket should have a detachable quilted lining and elbow & shoulder padding. Though they add to the weight of the jacket, but are greater protections for your very important joints. And, anyway, they are removable.
  • Size: Try to pick a size bigger. This helps facilitate the body movement comfortably and covers your upper body properly. You can even wear more clothes inside you plan to drive through a cold zone. Make sure the cuffs of your jacket end at your wrist and your palms are free from any hindrance.
  • Comfort Feel: It is essential that you are comfortable in your jacket. It should impart a soft, cushiony feel, while freely allowing your hands movement. The biker jackets should not be heavy, as they tire the biker. Removable armors, lining, sleeves, etc. are a great relief when not needed. Also, see that the fabric has good absorption. Basically, do not compromise on comfort and safety.
  • Waist Band: It should be adjustable. The Velcro or the belted ones work out the best here.
  • Style: Look for a style and color of your biker jackets complementing your personality. Whatever you choose make sure you are visible to the other drivers at night when you wear your biker jackets.

Some of Ania’s other works:

My newest CHROME

Posted: August 30, 2015 in Motorcycle, Product Reviews
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As I have noted in the past I really have not liked the appearance of the flat black maw that is one of the most noticeable features of the “Rushmore” motorcycles.  On the pearl/metal flake finish of the Harley Davidson Ultra Limited Daytona Blue paint, that flat black just plan sucked.

I finally got around to purchasing the Küryakyn Chrome “Fairing Vent Cover” to cover that atrocity. 

The installation was, for the most part, quite straight forward.  Clean the surface and press on the part so the 3M adhesive can adhere to the surface.  But, from past experience the key to making it stick long term is a “SUPER” clean surface.  The way I handle the cleaning of any surface that will be stuck with 3M adhesives is:

            1) Wait for a WARM day.

            2) Vigorous wipe down with soft clean cloth.

            3) Vigorous use of a glass cleaner and a clean cloth.

            4) After drying, a second vigorous use of glass cleaner and a clean cloth.

            5) Use of supplied alcohol wipes for final cleaning. 

After the cleaning I test fitted the part to make sure I understood where and how it was going to fit.  The instructions suggested using masking tape to mark where everything aligns but, in my case, that was not necessary.

The hardest part of installation was getting the little strip covers off the adhesive.  I don’t have the longest fingernails but I doubt that many folks could have peeled these cover off with ease.  I ended up using jewelry sized flat end screwdrivers to get the strip loose then tiny pliers to pull them off…. It took over 15 minutes to get a few strip off .

I am quite pleased with the appearance of the cover on my bike.  MUCH better than the OEM standard!

 

 

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