Posts Tagged ‘Harley’

Amid all the different post on getting your bike ready for winter (I wish I was some place warmer) here is an article about getting your leathers cleaned up.  LeatherUp.com has some great tips on cleaning and protecting your leathers, click here!

Don’t forget your boots.  Now I am sure there are as many different ways to clean and protect your boots as there are people.  But for 25 years in the Army I had to clean and shine my boots on a regular basis.  Sometimes I came home with more mud and junk on my boots then you could even imagine.

For me the best way to clean my boots (bike or army LOL) is to use a high quality saddle soap and water as hot as your hands can stand.  Before you start put an old wash cloth or paper towels inside the boot to absorb any water that might get in.  Next use a soft brush to clean the grime using the saddle soap, you may need to do this several times depending on how dirty your boots are.  Rinse with the hot water, making sure to heat up the leather (I do this so that the surface of the boot will dry faster), wipe dry.

The last step was always the most time consuming, the spit shine.  Now with my bike boots I only have to give them a good bush polish.  I do put on several coats of black (or whatever is the matching color) polish followed by one or two coats of clear.  For my army boots this was about every two to three weeks.  For my bike boots I apply the polish about twice a year and give them a good cleaning each winter.

Now results will vary depending on the age and quality of the leather, but this is what works for me.

motorcycle leather

…. the Task Force’s presentation to the CDC in October 2013 “links the adoption of universal helmet-use laws to a potential reduction in motorcycle riding, which would help meet the CDC’s goal to reduce injuries and fatalities”….

I am so happy that the AMA is jumping in this issue! They have sent a letter to the CDC asking for meeting to discuss the issue. As I noted in earlier posts (here, here, and here), it is my opinion that this is the first strike to make motorcycling a bad health choice just like cigarettes, soda and trans fats.

The AMA has created a FAQ that attempts to inform us of what they are concerned regarding this issue.

As a community we need to make sure that motorcycling stays out of the health care debate. Please contact your congressional representatives (202-224-3121) and ask them to keep the CDC out of motorcycle safety issues. Motorcycle, motorcycling, Harley, Harley Davidson, café racer, café motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle advocacy, congress, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, hog, hd, custom motorcycle, harley owners group

Aerodynamics, motorcycle art,Motorcycle, motorcycling, Harley,  Harley Davidson, café racer, café motorcycle, motorcycle safety, motorcycle advocacy, congress, Motorcycle, Motorcycle Ride, motorcycle riding, harley davidson, harley, hog, hd, custom motorcycle, harley owners group

Airodynamics as Art

They say that art is in the eye of the beholder, will I behold art.

This was a small picture on page 65 of the current issue (# 23) of HOG magazine (the scan does not do it justice).  The moment I saw it I began searching the web for this or similar photos, I did not find anything as nice as this.

Harley Davidson, if you were to offer framed versions of this for sell I think you would get a few takers. HOG how about making this available as a wallpaper for our computers/laptops/tablets.

picture by scott massey

DOT Approved? Not likely.

I just ran across another congressman who has sent a letter to the CDC (back in September, obviously I got to this late).

Congressmen Tom Petri of Wisconsin has written the CDC telling them to stay out of motorcycle safety issues and to focus on their mission of disease prevention. The congressmen said this:

“Given the demands on your budget and the unique ability of the CDC to address such pressing issues as heart disease, diabetes, cancer, Alzheimer’s, and a host of other conditions and issues, which afflict millions of Americans and others around the globe, we encourage you to direct your attention and resources to areas that are not currently already being addressed elsewhere in the government.”

ABATE of Wisconsin and the Motorcycle Riders Foundation is working with the congressmen, who is apparently a motorcycle fan, on this and other biking related issues.

As I mentioned in my other posts about this issue, allowing the government to label any part of motorcycling a health cost risk is to open the door to the elimination of what we love. I am personally in favor of helmets, and think we should all use them but using the new health care laws will, eventually, slowly, eliminate motorcycles “for the safety of the children”.

Make sure you contact your congressmen about making the CDC stay out of transportation issues! You can call your representatives by calling the US Capitol switchboard at 202-224-3121.

custom motorcycle, harley, harley davidson, motorcycle

Rideapart.com Weird Motorcycles!

Following up on my post about odd bikes now we have weird motorcycles. Ridesapart.com posted an article that has six new candidates for the WTF award. My “favorite” from their list is the one displayed above. If you follow the link to their webpage make sure you look at the comments, fellow readers have posted several more weird motorcycles for your consideration.

Buell Blade

Buell Blade

Apparently Eric Buell is inspiring designers, even though the Buell line is currently closed.  Following “Buell’s engineering rules”, Brad Mitchell of the College for Creative Studies has developed “the Buell Blade”.

This is one cool design!

The cop was fired, but later reinstated with a probationary period.

flyer3_finalIf you are live in the Northern Virginia area check this out.  Hardcore Choppers is having a holiday party at their shop on Saturday December the 7th.  I have had a bunch of work on my bikes performed by Hardcore Choppers and it has all been top notch.

Check out their website to see the many custom bikes they have turned out!

I have a lot more than 25,000 miles on my bikes. Heck, Debbie and I put on nearly 6500 miles on the bikes this year. But I just got around to submitting the paper work for the 25K award to the Harley Owners Group a few weeks ago.

This is the patch that you receive for this milestone. There is a matching pin that you can use as well. So now I have to update my biker/pirate vest! 😉

photo by scott massey

HOG 25,000 Mile Patch

$$$Motorcycle.com has a list of the most expensive motorcycles to ensure.  You can see their list here, it has all the details on the following ratings.

10. Harley-Davidson Ultra Classic Electra Glide

8. Tie Ducati 848 EVO and Ducati Streetfighter 848

7. Ducati Diavel

6. Ducati Panigale

5. KTM RC8R

4. Honda CBR1000RR

3. Suzuki GSX-R1000

2. Kawasaki ZX-14R

1. Suzuki Hayabusa

Of Couse I have one of those, the Electra Glide.

But to help you out Motorcycle.com also provides a TOP TEN WAYS TO SAVE ON MOTORCYCLE INSURANCE article!