Posts Tagged ‘Sportbike’

My Customized Graduation Gift (hint it is a motorcycle)

Posted: January 15, 2014 in Motorcycle
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As I have noted in other posts I am a retired soldier.  I served 25 years and when I retired in 2008 that was more than half my life, longer than I have been married and longer then I lived with my parents…..wow that makes me fill old.

So, as a graduation from the Army gift to ourselves Debbi and I bought a brand new Harley Davidson Heritage Softail Classic. I chose this bike because I knew what I wanted to do with it and its 1940/50’s look was a great starting point!

What I wanted was a bike I could customize to be a tribute for the work that I had accomplished as well as a homage for all those soldiers that had come before me. I wanted a bike that I could stylize as a WWII Harley.

The bike is no trailer queen or show only bike.  We have put over 28,000 miles on the Heritage and it would have been closer to 35K had we not bought a Ultra Classic Limited early this year (we put nearly 6K on that bike in 2013).  But it does show well, we have won two first place finishes (one of which included a Caribbean cruse) and several other awards.

The bike is not quite finished.  There are a few additional pieces of chrome to put on and a couple other finishing touches before I can call it complete, but it is getting there.

The paint and some of the custom parts was done by Hardcore Choppers of Sterling Virginia.  Some of the major items on the bike are:

Dual Tailgunner Exhausts

Sampson Headers

Harley chrome forks and light housing

Harley chrome hand controls

Küryakyn ISO-Grip with throttle boss

Brass Bullet Bolt Handle Bar Clamps (and other bullet items) from innovative-mc-accessories

US Army gas cap covers from American Cycle Accessories

National Cycle CruiseLiner Hard Smooth Back Saddlebags

Bullet Stash Tube

Veteran Challenge Coin timing cover

Motorcycles… Closer then they appear!

Posted: December 14, 2013 in Motorcycle, motorcycle safety
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look-twice-for-bikes-244x300As I have mentioned before, Fox News must have a motorcyclists/biker on their web staff.  They have published an interesting but misnamed article regarding why auto drivers do not see motorcycles.

Titled Insurance Tips the article on the Fox Business website is really about how Texas Tech University psychologists studying how the human brain perceives objects, their size and motion in relation to time to impact.  The long story short is that because bikes are smaller our brains misjudge what is happening thus causing accidents.

A bit of a read but worth it in understanding if, when we are on our bikes, we are optical illusions or human miscalculations.

Hardcore Choppers Christmas Party

Posted: December 10, 2013 in Motorcycle
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harley, harley davidson

Santa’s helpers at Hardcore Choppers Xmas Party

This past weekend I attended the Hardcore Choppers Christmas Party.  Alfredo (the owner) had transformed his garage into the party space for the evening.  He had setup a display area for some of his custom bikes, an area for the “casino games”, and put the bar and bands in the back.

Alfredo had three bands, all of which were good.  Debbie could not come to the party so I brought my buddy Ron (he is not as good looking as Deb).  We played the games, listened to the bands, drank the free drinks, and generally had a great time.    If you are in the Northern Virginia you should stop by and visit Hardcore Choppers and check out Alfredo and crew!

Motorcycle LED Lights… Making them legal

Posted: December 6, 2013 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy
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motorcycle, harley, harley davidson

Journal photo by Erika Elaine Wells

In West Virginia it is illegal to use additional LED lights while riding.  Bob Cunningham, who lives in Martinsburg, WV, did not know that either until a State Trooper pulled him over and handed him a ticket.  But that traffic stop set Cunningham on a mission to change the law.

First, Mr. Cunningham gathered more than 1,000 signatures on a petition supporting the change and then he enlisted his State Delegate John Overington in the cause.  He convinced Mr. Overington of the safety enhancements that come from the auxiliary lighting and gave him a battery operated example of the LED lights that Overington could use in support of a bill to allow the lights.

Long story short, Delegate Overington pushed for the bills approval and it passed the House of Delegates but ran out of time in the State Senate.  Mr. Overington is going to reintroduce the bill in the next session of the WV legislature and work with the Transportation Committee to get the bill into consideration faster.

You can read the news article here.

Brunswick Vistors Center: C & O Canal Motorcycle Ride

Posted: December 5, 2013 in C&O Canal, Motorcycle Rides
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A few weeks ago, just before the temperature dropped (and pretty much stayed) into the 30s (F), I was able to get a late afternoon ride to the Bunswick stop on the C&O.  For background on what I am doing with the C&O please look at this post.

Location – Brunswick Visitors Center 40 West Potomac Street, Brunswick, MD 21716

Mile Marker – 55

Historical Comments –This is all about the history of the C&O Canal.

The visitor center, which is shared with the Brunswick Railroad Museum, has several static displays regarding the canal (in classic National Park Service style), its development and its relation to the town of Brunswick.

Ride to Site – The Visitors Center is located in downtown Brunswick. There is no actual “stop” on the canal.

Amenities – All normal urban amenities are present.

Road Conditions (from main road) – Normal two lane roads.

Railway Situation – If you attempt to ride to the path (not really accessible via your bike) the rail line is on the surface.

Parking Lot Conditions – Typical parking for a small town.

Main Attraction –

My Thoughts – Nice little museum.  Brunswick, MD would make a nice little day trip from Washington DC or the surrounding area. Nice country roads will get you into town from any direction.

Map

c&O canal, motorcycle ride

 

 

Motorcycle TV: Surprise in my mailbox

Posted: December 4, 2013 in Motorcycle TV
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motorcycle, sons of anarchyNot sure why, but I got this cool Sons of Anarchy sticker from Harley Davidson in the mail today.  It will look nice on my tool chest!

Highest Road in the World on a Motorcycle.

Posted: December 2, 2013 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides
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Although this is a commercial for GoPro…. Wow! Watch this.

It is a short documentary of Alex Chanacon’s travel (in India) on the worlds highest road. He is riding a Royal Enfield.

The photography and the editing is just spectacular! I am going to have to get one of these cameras, so I guess the commercial worked.

Winterizing Your Leathers

Posted: November 30, 2013 in Motorcycle
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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

Most expensive motorcycles to ensure

Posted: November 24, 2013 in Motorcycle news
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$$$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!

Motorcycling vs. CDC … I do not have a disease!

Posted: November 23, 2013 in Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news
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Looks like others are taken aback by the CDC and “its helmet study” I mentioned in my last post.  Congressman Tim Walberg (Michigan) wrote a letter to the CDC asking several pointed question about the study and its “findings”. A quick web search finds that the AMA, ABATE and others are taking the CDC to task on this issue as well.

If you have not yet dropped a note to your congressman or women now is the time.  It is not about helmet laws it is about labeling our activity as a health risk just like cigarettes, soda and Trans fats! If they can label motorcycles as a health risk then higher taxes and heavy restrictions will soon follow.

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