Will Be Gone For Awhile

I've been gone for awhile because I'm working on my E-store. Hopefully I will be done this week.
Please Keep checking back. Talk to all of you soon.

Super Cycle Show Photo

Meaning Of The Day: Biker - Simply put, a motorcycle operator. True bikers have a passion for the art of motorcycling, and easily get all wrapped up in this passion during even a simple 1/2 mile commute, but they rarely allow their motorcycle to sit for more than a week without taking it somewhere. Anywhere. Just for the simple excuse of a joy ride will do.

Now You Know, Biker Joe

Another Snow Storm Coming

Well just when you thought it was safe to take the old scoot out another snow Strom coming. They say we will get 6 to 9"s of snow today. Last week at this time it was in the high fifties.

I detail bikes and I did my first of the season this week. My customer is not happy he wanted to ride this weekend.

I had a prepaid service contract for my bike that's been no good since February 15. I talked to the service guy at my Harley dealer and he said he would do one more service on my bike because the weather kept me from bringing it in before the dead line. Nice people at Woodstock Harley.

Spring Snow

Meaning Of The Day: Black Ice - Ice that cannot be seen on the road surface as it takes upon the color of the road. Usually found in cold spots on the road like under a bridge. Very dangerous hazard to a motorcyclists.

Now You Know, Biker Joe

Super Cycle Show

I spent my Saturday at the Super Cycle Show at the Renaissance Schaumburg Hotel & Convention Center Chicago, IL. I'm going to visit as many cycle shows and dealer open houses as I can this season. This is my second one this season.

This show is a new and used motorcycle parts Flea Market with some custom motorcycles sprinkled in. This was my first time and I did not know what to expect from this show. If you are looking for that hard to find part for your bike this would be the place to find it.

The thing I was surprised about was that most of the used parts looked like they were sitting somewhere with high humidity. Everything was rusted and dirty. I saw some chrome exhaust pipes lying on the concrete floor with no protection to stop them from being scratched. They were heavily soiled so you could not see if they were damaged.

I'm one of those people, if you want to get the most cash for an item sold the item should look as close to new as they can. I know these sellers could have received more for these parts if they cleaned them up before they put them out for sale.

I saw some new parts for sale that were interesting. If I had some extra cash I would have picked some up. The prices were reasonable and you saved a lot of money by not having to pay the shipping costs if you purchased them on the net.

I did purchase something. I detail bikes on the side and it is a pain in the back cleaning those hard to get places, like under the bike and wheels.

A company, J&S Motorcycle Jacks was selling a lift that lets you jack the bike off the kick stand without ever touching the bike. It was really scary watching the bike being lifted off the ground with out holding the bike. At it's highest lift point 18", the bike was very stable. It was also cool to see the bike come down to the ground and rest so gently onto it's kick stand.

I was sold on this new jack and forked over my $300+ bucks and couldn't wait to get home and try it out. To make a long story short. I got home and took my new lift out of my SUV and rolled it under my bike and sure enough it worked as advertised. It was a little scary at first because the bike looked like it was leaning over to far on the kick stand but then it rolls over to the right and stands up straight.

If this helps me clean and detail bikes faster I'm going to purchase a few more. I will be able to work on two bikes at the same time.

Super Cycle Show Slideshow

Today's Photo

Meaning Of The Day: Bearing - Load supporting part designed to accept the wear and punishment of moving parts while protecting more valuable parts. Three type of bearings are roller ball, tapered and metal collar cap type.

Now You Know, Biker Joe

A Taste Of Spring

Yesterday we had a taste of Spring. The temperature was 60º by 3PM. There is still some snow left over but the streets were dry. So you know what I did, I took the scoot out and road it like I stole it.

In one of my last Posts I wrote about the heated jacket liner I got for Christmas (Post Jan 10, 2008). I wanted to ride so bad I just put on a sweat shirt and my riding jacket. The sun was so warm I didn't even feel the cold. In late summer or early fall if the the temp. was in the high fifties or low sixties riding in that temp. would give a rider frost bite. I guess the body only knows that the temp. is almost 50º warmer then it was a week ago.

Today they say only 50º so I'm going for another ride and will wear my new heated jacket.

Today's Photo

The Meaning Of The Day: Baffle - Sound deadening material that sits inside a muffler and quiets the exhaust note.

Now You Know, Biker Joe

Last Days Of Daytona Bike Week

Daytona Bike Week is over and here are some more photos from the last days. Hope everyone had fun and returns home safe.

The Dyno Room At My Favorite Harley Shop

Mike, The Dyno King

The Meaning Of The Day: Dynamometer, "dyno" for short, is a machine used to measure torque and rotational speed (rpm) from which power produced by an engine, motor or other rotating prime mover can be calculated. In fact, beyond simple power and torque measurements, dynamometers can be used as part of a testbed for a variety of engine development activities such as the calibration of engine management controllers, detailed investigations into combustion behavior and tribology.(The Science of the mechanisms of friction, lubrication, and wear of interacting surfaces that are in relative motion.)


Now You Know, Biker Joe

Did You Drop Your Bike Today?

Did you drop your bike today? I've heard from many seasoned riders that there are two kinds of riders, those who have dropped their bike and those who will.

I am one of those that has. I purchased my new 2004, FXDX in February, 2005. It was the middle of winter so I had the dealer deliver the bike to my home. I've been away from motorcycles for a few years so when Spring arrived I took my brand new bike to a school parking lot down the street from my house. I practiced starting, stopping, slow turning and U-turns in yellow lined parking spacing.

After about a week I felt comfortable enough to venture onto the side streets in my neighborhood. I did this for another week. Now I thought, ok lets hit the road and get into some major traffic.

While I was riding I looked at the gas gauge and saw I needed to fuel up soon. I remembered I needed some cash so I could buy gas. So I rode over to my bank and stopped at the ATM and got some cash. I pulled out of the ATM lane and proceeded to the parking lot and rode to the exit so I could get out onto the road. The traffic was kind of heavy so I stopped at the end of the exit and was waiting for the traffic to clear. There was a car stopped behind me. I think he got a little impatient and went around me. Now he stopped right next to me and was blocking my view so I started to creep up so I could see the traffic coming, so I could pull out if it was clear.

When I pulled out far enough to see the cars were still coming I had to stop. I put my feet down and when I did there was no pavement to plant my feet on. The bike was standing over the gutter between the parking lot and the street. The gutter was so deep my legs were not long enough to reach the street. I started to lean over to the right and I could not save the bike from falling over.

Now my bike was laying on the ground and traffic was stopped because I was blocking the right lane. The guy that drove around me was still there and saw everything and did not come out to help. A driver from one of the cars came out and helped me lift the bike up.

Today's bikes are much heavier than the past. Mine weights out at 650+ pounds. With out this mans help I could have never lifted the bike myself plus I have never dropped a bike before so I had no clue on how to lift it up my self.

The bike had some damage but not bad enough for me not to be able to ride it back home. I will write about the cost of replaceing parts on todays bikes in a future Post.

Now with my first drop under my belt. I thaught to myself that I have to learn how to lift this hog by myself if this ever happens again. So I checked around and found instructions on the net.

The Source of these instructions are from MotorCycle Safety.org. I well have a Link to their site in this post and my Links page.

1. Turn the handlebars to full-lock position with front of tire pointed downward. 2. Find the "balance point" of the two tires and the engine, engine guard, or footpeg. The motorcycle will be fairly easy to lift until it reaches this point because it's resting on its side. Once you start lifting from there, you are responsible for the most of the weight of the bike. 3."Sit" down with your butt/lower back against the motorcycle seat. Be very careful to keep your back straight and your head up. Put your feet solidly on the ground about 12 inches apart, with your knees bent slightly. 4. With one hand, grasp the handgrip (underhand,preferably), keeping your wrist straight. 5. With your other hand, grip the motorcycle framework (or any solid part of the motorcycle), being careful to avoid the hot exhaust pipe, turn signals, etc. 6. Lift with your legs by taking small steps backwards, pressing against the seat with your butt and keeping your back straight. On slippery or gravelly surfaces this technique probably won't work. On inclined surfaces this can be very dangerous. 7. Be careful not to lift the motorcycle up and then flip it onto its other side! If possible, put the sidestand down and the bike in gear. 8. Set the motorcycle on its sidestand and park it safely.

Source:MotorCycleSaftey.org

The Meaning Of The Day: BDC - Bottom dead canter of a piston. Opposite of TDC (Top dead center)

Now You Know, Biker Joe

Daytona Bike Week

Bikers, police and residents hoped this year would be much better than in 2007, especially when it came to deaths during Bike Week.

Last year, eight bikers were killed on Central Florida roads during the event, but there was some controversy over the number of deaths.

Some families said their loved ones were not attending the events when they died, but state troopers said they classify any motorcycle fatality in Volusia County during the 10-day period as a Bike Week death.

During Bike Week, local police officers and deputies said they would be cracking down on careless drivers who are on two and four wheels.

Some of the things police would be looking for include people running red lights, speeding, violating the right of way laws ,and improper turns and lane changes.

Daytona Bike Week, 2008 is in it's fourth day and five riding deaths reported already.

Biker Buds ride carefull out there! Have your fun and come home alive.

Daytona Bike Week

Todays Photo

Meaning Of The Day: Barrels - Another term for Engine Cylinders or Jugs.

Now You Know, Biker Joe