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2006 Dear
VTwin
Mama, Dear
Jody, Wednesday, January 11 For Jody who got a new windshield and needs to cut it down: Any good plastics shop can do this for her pretty inexpensively. I think I paid about $15 when I had mine done. The best way to determine the correct height is to draw a few lines at different heights on the mounted windshield. Then, ride around and decide which one really is the best in riding conditions. Over or through is always a personal choice, and I like to look over the top, myself. I think my shield is cut just about perfectly, but on a steep downhill I am still looking through. When in doubt, cut too high, since you can always have more material removed! Marina (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) I too have a Softail Deluxe (and loving it). I bought the HD detachable SHORT windshield and it works pretty well. I am 53" on a good day. I do look thru it but if I sit up real straight I can look over it. The only thing I will advise about cutting your windshield is to make sure you dont cut it too low. If you do, the wind will come off the windshield and hit you in the eyes or make your helmet (if its not a full face) jump around or push your helmet back and feel like its gonna take your head off. This was my experience. My boyfriend is 61 and has the exact same bike but with the HD detachable REGULAR height windshield. When he rode mine, it did exactly what I mentioned above. The 3 height difference on the windshield made all the difference. He wont ride my bike with my windshield on it. Hope this helps. If you have any other questions about your Softail, email me. I love to talk to other Deluxe riders!!! Chopper.girl@sbcglobal.net Thanks, Kelly from Palmdale, Southern California (note from Mama: good points to keep in mind!) Monday, January 30 For Jody who got a new windshield and is considering cutting it down: Congratulations on your Softail Deluxe. I ride an '05 Deluxe and absolutely love it. Regarding the windshield: I have the kingsize windshield and have to look through it. My Sportster windshield allowed me to look over it, so I was very hesitant about the bigger windshield on the Deluxe, but have had no problems with it at all. I'm finding that the bigger shield actually provides a lot more protection from the elements. When I first got the bike with the windshield, I thought I would take it in and have it cut down, but after putting 4,500 miles on it, I'm pretty much thinking I'll just leave it alone. I was nervous about distortion with rain . . . but that hasn't happened at all. I do use the HD rain treatment on it and haven't experienced any distortion from water, etc. I kind of like not having the wind blowing in my face. Do whatever you are comfortable with, but you might want to ride with it for a while and see what you think. Diane in Michigan (note from Mama: I think it's wise to ride a bike with windshield "as is" because although cutting it down is cheap enough, a totally new one is not!) Dear
VTwin Mama, Also, need some help on gel seats. Has anyone purchased one and loved it? Kelly Dear
Kelly, Ok readers, any pant leg clues? How about input on inserting a gel seat? Mama Wednesday, February 8 For Kelly who was looking for input on gel seats: Hi, I got a gel pad for my seat for Christmas. It's called a Buttbuffer and I actually got to try it out once. I rode about 50 miles on it and think it's the best thing ever. I got the one that just gets strapped to the top of the seat. It's black with a wolf stitched on it with fringe around the edge. It looks great, and better yet it felt great riding. I ride a Sporty with a stock seat and 50 miles before the gel pad was about all I could do without a break, I didn't feel like I had ridden at all when I rode with it. Hope this helps. Linda (note from Mama: thanks for sharing this seat add-on gel solution!) Thursday, February 9 More for Jody who got a new windshield and is considering cutting it down: I had mine cut down for my Deluxe . . . I am short so the regular sized one for me was just too large and bulky for me to be comfortable with. However, I had to pay $100. Not cheap considering the windshields are expensive. This person came highly recommended by Harley so I went there. He actually made the shape better for the bike and for me -- a little wider and not so tall. Nice look and the wind is cut out. Its works out well and I love it. He actually gave it a better finished edge that it had originally. If you go, just make sure the person is HIGHLY recommended or it can cost you more in the long run. Kathy H. (note from Mama: while more expensive than we had previously heard, it sounds like you got your money's worth in overall functionality!) Monday, February 13 More for Kelly who was looking for input on gel seats: Gel seat - never did an insert but did do the kind that rides on top of current seat, has two elastic bands that slip under the seat to keep it on (plus the underside is a rubbery material). I really like it, for those days when my hip acts up, gives it a little more cushion. I gave my old one to an older friend of ours, and he absolutely loves it. I will caution you that most of the gel pads for the seats will raise your seat height up about an inch, so for those of us vertically challenged, it may be a slight problem. Claire (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Tuesday, February 28 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Neal, From what I could find online, the official model number of your bike is a VT750DC Shadow Spirit. Is that right? If it is, then you can do a better search using that more specific nomenclature. For instance, I found this Cycle Stuff USA page which might be of interest. If it's made for the year/make/model bike, it should come with installation instructions, but I would double check with the vendor for specifics. Mama Friday, March 10 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Guy, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Cathie, So, I hopped online and found this Motorcycle Tire 101 article from Motorcycle Cruising magazine. And now I'm going to send you to WebBikeWorld and their directory on all things "tire." You'll see links to the main manufacturers and if you scroll down, there is a All About Tires sections, with more links to Tire 101 stuff. I also found this motorcycle tire site which suggests that if the majority of your riding is high-speed, you may wish to consider the "performance" category of tires (softer rubber, better traction, but faster wear) rather than the "all season" tires (a design balance of comfort, performance and yuck weather handling). Me, myself, and I (all three of us, in schizophrenic synchronization) have been a Metzler fan for some time, including a lot of years riding the Sierra Nevada mountain range. Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Tashes, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Toby, Friday, April 28 For Toby who is searching for Virago parts: Accessories International is a great source for Virago parts. They import a lot of their stock, so it's worth the phone call to make sure the part you want is not on backorder, as they don't update their website with this information. Lisa (note from Mama: thanks for sharing this!) My wife has a '95 535 and we discovered it was difficult to find parts too. One site I found is in Europe and its called bikercom.com (yes 2 com's). It seems the Virago is big in Europe. One of the problems you will have is that the turn signals will have to be relocated. It really isn't that difficult to do. The saddlebag supports I found had a place to relocate the lights. I added another extension (flat piece of metal painted black) to move the lights a little bit further back. The saddlebags will need to be the small ones too. I think the brand of the backrest/ sissybar I found was Mapam. Don't recall the brand of the supports. Kurt (note from Mama: I took a look at this site and liked the search features and also noted many Mapam and HAC Products items. If you don't want to order from Europe, because what if you have to return something!, search that site, note the product source name(s) and then search for a U.S. source.) Monday, May 1 Even more about shielding legs from bike heat: I just spent 6 days and 1750 miles
with the Cool Thigh. Its a keeper! However, one day we spent riding the
Tail of the Dragon and the Cherohala Skyway, and it was
fabulous on the curves for protecting the thigh. We hit 5 miles of
stop and go traffic in downtown In short, its flexible (easy on
easy off) and does the job it was designed to do. Dear VTwin Mama, I just graduated from my Buell Blast to a 2000 883C Sportster. I've only had it since Friday but I love it! I spent 2 hours on Sunday riding around a large parking lot and I'm feeling really comfortable with it. I do need to do some adjusting though to make the fit better. I can put both feet on the ground but I sit quite a bit forward on the seat when I'm riding so I'd like to get a new seat (I'm 5'3, 28" inseam w/ boots). I've considered both the Corbin Close Reach and the LePera Up Close seats. Are there any other ones to consider? I live in NH - are there any places I could go to see these seats and see which one might work best for me? Anyone with experience with any of these close reach type seats? Thanks everyone for your input. I really love this site. Thanks Petra! Judi Dear Judi, Readers with 883 Sportys are encouraged to chime in now
if you've switched to another seat with specific details on how you liked
that!
Mama Wednesday, May 3 For Judi who is seeking a new seat for her 883C Sporty I too have an 883 Custom, and I'm barely 5'1" (28" inseam barefoot). I ordered a custom seat from LePera and am VERY happy with it. It was pricey but I'm glad I did it. They'll take some basic information from you on the phone and give you some instructions on how to measure how big you want the seat to be. For example, I needed to be as close to the tank as possible, and I needed a short "bucket" with a raised back to ensure that my butt would be held in place by the seat. They'll send you the seat uncovered to try, at which time you can make any adjustments to the dimensions, then send it back to them and they'll cover it and send it back to you. Fortunately I didn't have to make any adjustments to my prototype, it was perfect. I'd be happy to send her a picture if she'd like to see it. Petra, your website is awesome! Denise (note from Mama: glad you're enjoying the VTwin Mama site and thanks for the specific input for Judi! ) I too started out on a Blast, now I have a Sportster 883C. I was not able to put my feet flat on the ground (I'm 5'2") until I made several changes. I changed the seat out to a Corbin Close Gunfighter, it brought me forward about 1 1/2" and is narrower in the front. I also changed the shocks, which gave me another 1 1/2" and changed the angle that the bike sits. Turning is much easier now, the bike does not feel as top heavy with the new angle. I was also having problems with my elbows hurting, so I put on pullback bars. I feel a lot more comfortable riding now. Steph (note from Mama: I appreciate you sharing details!) Dear VTwin Mama, I could get off the bike and insist my hubby back it in for me, or else cruise around until I find a better place to park. Does anyone have any other suggestions on how to remedy this situation? LW Dear LW, Friday, May 5 For LW who burned her calf on the exhaust pipe and wants to avoid that: I wear a "harness" style riding boot (mine are Harley) that comes to my knee and have found many benefits riding in this style of boot. Obviously it's much harder to get a pipe burn through that thick leather! I had the opportunity to test this theory when I had an oopsie and laid my bike down on the right side (at low speed thank goodness) in the parking lot at work! (Yes, you CAN pick up that 600lb bike yourself!) Other than a bruised toe (and a bruised ego) I was fine, and the bike only got some minor chrome scratches )-: I'm convinced those boots saved me. The damage to my foot and leg could have been much worse considering I landed under the pipes! Additionally, I've found that boots with laces and or zippers tend to leak if you get caught in the rain. These don't leak. Also, I've found that the "cowboy" style boots fit under the shifter better than the lace up "round toe" boots I had been wearing. I found I can actually ride better in them. Heather Oakes (note from Mama: thank goodness for reader response . . . I totally missed that solution, and a stylish one to "boot" ! ! ! ) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Living to Ride, If you really like the current seat size/styling, you
may wish to consider having the seat opened up and a gel pad insert added
(they shave out some foam), or simply adding a gel pad exterior to the
seat (stylish models are available!). Just type in "motorcycle gel
pad" to get started on research.
Mama Tuesday, May 9 For Living to Ride who is exploring new seat options for her Honda 750 Aero: We had Russell seats built for us. My husband has a teeny tiny butt; mine is more the Rembrandt type. Both Russell seats were perfect. We love them more than the Corbins. Anonymous (note from Mama: excellent, another option to explore! ) Dear VTwin Mama, My question is about motorcycle tires. I currently have Dunlops and I am not real happy with them. A friend recommended Metzler ME 880s and someone else recommended Avon Venom. I was wondering if you had any recommendations or could tell me things I should consider when buying tires. Thanks, Carol Dear Carol, The question is though, what exactly is it that you don't
like about your current tires? This could encompass a number of issues, so
I'm going to point you to a previous
letter that came in and my response has links to Tire 101 basics with
explanations, links to manufacturers, etc. I think if you read up on the
different styles of tires, why riders choose one style over another, the
importance of a proper fit to the exact make/model bike, etc., then you'll
be able to confidently go to the main manufacturer sites and explore.
Mama Friday, May 19 For Carol who is considering a different tire: I am a Harley rider and understand how you feel about the Dunlops. I especially dislike the way they tend to "track" along seams, cracks, even painted lines or letters (like turn arrows). I can recommend the Metzlers from personal experience, and very highly, too! I put Metzler ME880s on my '04 Sportster and the difference in handling was immediately noticeable. The Metzlers don't track like the Dunlops, grip better in all conditions, and I'm told they will last at least as long as the Dunlops (about 10-12K miles). I had asked on a Harley forum for recommendations, and the Metzlers were the overwhelming favorites. I hope this helps with your decision! Ride safe, Li in Florida (note from Mama: sharing is caring . . . thanks for doing both!) Saturday, June 3 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Abimael, From Judi who is working on her Sporty for a better fit: Just wanted to update you on my seat. I called LePera and spoke with Ashley. She was so helpful with how to take measurements and in choosing a seat that would work for me. The seat was sent to me uncovered so that I could try it and it was perfect! Now I'm waiting to get the finished seat back. I also put 11" shocks on the back and my son is going to lower the front for me also. I'm really looking forward to having all the adjustments made and see how much more I like my bike! Thanks for all your help. Judi (note from Mama: glad to be of help and happy to hear that you're making changes that will make this motorcycle fit you!) Wednesday, June 14 Hi Mama, Dear Barb, Dear VTwin Mama, We found a way to ride into the city without going on the Interstate. I love the 2 lane highways, traveling 50 - 60 mph is so much fun! But, it takes an hour or more to get into the city to wherever we want to go, with all the starts and stops. Anyway, now I am feeling pressure to learn to ride on the Interstate. Going in to bike night and other events would be so much quicker, and my husband loves it because he loves to ride fast, and he is not intimidated at all by traffic at high speeds. At this point it scares the 'you know what' out of me. I realize that there is probably more danger of a crash going through all the traffic lights, but so far I am still terrified. Of course, riding on the back of my husband's Harley was also extremely unnerving at first, so is this something I will get over? I have a VStar 650 Classic which has been lowered 1 1/2 inches front and back, but I am still not flat footed because I am only 4'10" tall. But I am riding with the help of 2 inch heels on my boots. I am thinking about getting the Corbin seat but am unsure of which one. They are very expensive. I would like to be sure it would be worth the expense before I buy it. Linwebs Dear Linwebs, If necessary (and I recommend it), preplan the exact route by car first (entrance ramp, length of ride, and exit ramp, perhaps one that you can turn left at the bottom and then left again to re-enter the Interstate to go back). Note any and all challenges and talk out how it will be handled. Discuss with your hubby dearest about whether you would prefer to lead (so the travel speed is in your control) or follow (but he agrees not to go past a certain speed or make too quick of lane changes), or trying both positions to see which is less fearful for you. Then add more traffic! Repeat. For the nighttime riding, again, try a night Interstate ride at the lowest traffic time. So, the key is to plan small steps towards your goal. The Corbin
Gunfighter model is most often mentioned as are the Le
Pera and Saddlemen
seats for riders looking to lower their seat height. Judi's
letter chronicles her experience on a Le Pera fitment and their service commitment
with her and brings up lots of good points that should help you decide which
seat manufacturer you wish to work with.
Mama Monday, June 19 For Linwebs who is considering a new seat but notes that they are expensive: As an alternative to buying an expensive aftermarket seat, you can cut down the stock seat. I have done it on my Custom, I also added a gel pad for more comfort. Step by step instructions are on this VStar 650 forum site. There are a ton of mods that can be done to the V*, there is another mod (jslam) that will lower the bike up to 4", any 650 V* owner should check out this site, also check out the forum, there are a bunch of wonderful, helpful people who will answer any question you have. Joanne (note from Mama: excellent source and I've added this to my Help by Make/Model page!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Disappointed Mary, It's hard to tell exactly, but slimmer pipes may make just enough difference if you really want to keep this bike for yourself. However, usually these slimmer pipes (think straight shots) are also louder, which may be a change you're not looking for. Have the local dealer throw open their aftermarket catalogs for a good look-see. Of course, if you're not wearing boots that cover your calf area, this could be an alternative solution or you can sew heat resistant material (like used on ironing board covers) into the inside of your jeans/riding pants. It would be a shame to abandon this motorcycle, if even
just to hubby dearest, if the only challenge are the pipes, i.e. in every
other way you really like how this bike handles and fits you. You may wish
to put some road miles on to make that final conclusion.
Mama Saturday, July 8 Dear VTwin Mama, Anyway, there is a new company, Genuine CoolAss, that has a seat cover (single or double) that is stronger, better, and costs less. I think if you contact them they would probably send you a sample for you to try. The more you fold it and crinkle it up, the softer it gets. Linda Dear Linda, Tuesday, July 18 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Eva, Hello Petra, I have only been a V-Twin Mama for 3 whirlwind weeks - previously, the only 2-wheeler I have ever been on is a Schwinn with a sissy bar and a banana seat. I'm now the proud owner of a Yamaha V-Star Classic - an absolutely AWESOME starter bike! The wealth of information and inspiration found on your site has helped me, encouraged me, and kept me from committing some rookie mistakes, I'm sure. I'm a huge fan and talk up your site to anyone who will listen. Now, on to my newest issue -- Last week I began commuting on the bike back and forth to work. (Yippee! That was my first goal, now on to the next) Anyway, I wanted to stop at the old mega-mart on the way home and pick up a couple of things. I did not want to waltz around the store carrying my helmet. I have leather saddle bags which, while quite nice and functional, are not large enough to hold my helmet. The bike has a helmet lock -- located right smack underneath where my saddle bag rests, making it kind of useless. Looking for suggestions for other options/modifications that would allow me to leave the helmet safely with the bike. Any thoughts or ideas are much appreciated. HUGE Fan who hopes to be a great biker soon Dear Huge Fan, Take a look at what J&P Cycles offers . . . click the link, choose Metric, scroll down to Helmets & Eyewear, choose Helmet Locks. They've got universal solutions, a specialty Star product, and an extension piece. Somewhere in that you may find what you're looking for. Mama Wednesday, July 19 For Huge Fan whose helmet lock got buried under the saddlebag: As always, I'm enjoying all the letters. I just wanted to respond to Huge Fan about food shopping with the bike. I've been doing the same thing quite a bit and I have the same issue, the bags block the helmet lock. What I do is get a shopping cart and put my helmet in the bottom of the cart while I shop. Nobody really notices it, and it's not as if I'm going to fill the cart when I'm on the bike. I find that I can fit $40-50 worth of groceries, depending on what I buy (no big stuff like watermelons). I put fragile stuff, like grapes in my tank bag. I've even brought a cake from the bakery in my tank bag. The tank bag is great because it's magnetic, so I can take it with me easily if I want to. It's the best pocketbook I have. Keep up the good (great) work! Jennifer on Long Island (note from Mama: thanks for your notes on how to shop when on the motorcycle! Below is a note from Huge Fan on how the helmet lock was handled.) My super supportive Harley Geezer-Glide riding husband got home from work yesterday and I told him about my helmet lock problem. Mr. Fixer-of-all-problems said, "Well, you know, we can probably move it to a better location." (Duh!) He removed it and located it at the back of the sissy bar, just replacing the cushion bolt with the helmet lock bolt and then tapping a small hole for the counter pin to sit in. Ta-Daa! I'm in business! It's a great solution that cost $1.19 for a bolt that was 1/4" longer to hold both the helmet lock and catch the sissy bar cushion securely! OK, so men come in handy sometimes! Mia in Indiana (note from Mama: so it looks like I didn't have my KISS hat on yesterday! Thanks for writing back with the simplest of solutions!) Monday, July 24 More for Huge Fan whose helmet lock got buried under the saddlebag: I have the same problem - helmet lock under the saddlebags...who on earth designed that??? What I found that works great is a cable gun lock. $8. Carole, Springfield, IL (note from Mama: although Huge Fan simply relocated the helmet lock, thanks for sharing another idea as not every motorcycle has a convenient relocation point.) Howdy Mama, Here's my question: Engine guards- round and square. On my first ride I came to a stop sign and --whoops-- tipped my bike Barbie (Yeah, Barbie the Harley). I put a shiner on the end of the clutch handle and side mirror (I dropped her gently) so I've decided that engine guards, for me, would be a great thing. I have no interest in adding footpegs or anything, as I like the somewhat aggressive sit I have on my Sporty. They offer square ones for most bikes, but for my Roadster I can only get the round ones. Are there any advantages/disadvantages to round vs. square or will they work the same? Also, do guards help you when you pick up your bike, because I really had to give it the ol' college to try pickin' Barbie up off the ground. (however, I was able to do it without Ken's help!) :o) Also, just a thought to women buying bikes -- a lot of people told me to get a used crappy bike, but you know what? When you get something you love, you cherish it and take care of it, meaning you're going to be EXTRA careful -- and careful is what every biker needs to be! For me, getting a new bike made perfect sense! It has the latest safety features, there were no questions as to the past mechanical upkeep of it, the clutch is as smooth as butter, it comes with a good warranty, and it reminds me to PAY ATTENTION. In addition, regarding power-- ladies, you DON'T have to use that throttle if you don't want to. I got to tell you, it sure as heck makes life easier having that 883R engine under me. When I take off of the curb after parking, or when I'm pulling out of the driveway where there is a little dip, I just give it more gas and it rolls off smoothly. In other words, don't be afraid of that larger cc engine. I'm no expert-- in fact I've only been riding a month-- but I'm so happy I got a bigger engine as opposed to a 250cc that I had to learn on, because I found that to be somewhat challenging. Thanks a bunch Mama!! If there are any ladies in Santa
Monica or Los Angeles who want
to mentor a 25 y.o. newbie, please
contact me! I'd love to have some patient riding partners!! God bless, Dear Holly, Should a more aggressive situation unfold in front of you, and the bike needs to, or is going to go down, the motorcycle will slide at more of an angle off the ground, giving you just that extra split second to get your leg out of there. And yes, with an engine guard, the bike will rest at more of an angle. This angle assists a rider in positioning themselves in such a way that the bike can be lifted back up with greater ease. Take a look at my Picking Up The Bike page, which has several links to sites that offer words and pictures for the correct handling of this. Then, with the tank relatively empty of gas and the petcock turned off, grab an old piece of carpet, and with a friend, lay the bike down and practice! I can appreciate your viewpoint on the first motorcycle purchase. I advocate getting a used bike if a person's gut tells them they would be best off on a smaller cc bike for a practice period before moving up in size. Why burn $$ at that point! For those who are unsure of what their dream bike really will be, this also gives them the chance to polish skills and be more in tune with riding realities that then translate to the dream set-up. I'm jazzed that you recognized your pathway more easily and are enjoying your choice right off the bat! Yahoo! Now, as to hooking up with other women riders . . . hop onto
my Women's Sites page and take
a look for local chapters of women-specific riding organizations in your area
and make contact! You may also wish to contact VTwin Mama site sisters in your
area . . . they are listed on my Let's
Ride page! At the very least you will move forward in meeting women riders
and start forming your personal network . . . and one may be in position to
offer you the mentoring you seek!
Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Susan, I was never so astounded by the vast selection of
mirrors until I started thumbing through all the catalogs I keep on hand,
but alas, nothing heart-shaped. Readers, anyone have a source?
Mama Friday, August 18 Mama, Dear Penny, Thursday, August 31 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Anon, Monday, September 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Brian, Tuesday, September 12 Dear VTwin Mama, Also I am a vertically challenge rider (4'10" in height ). I have a 883L Sportster and it wasn't low enough. We found a lowering kit from Hellbent Hogs in Tennessee and put it on the bike and it works. I also had to change the stock seat to a Brawler seat, which also helped. My feet finally touch the ground! and I can ride my Sportster safely. Girlee Rider Dear Girlee Rider, I know I've had interesting input on decals that go beyond
the basics, but these letters are scattered throughout my site. So, if you
go to the bottom of my Home Page, you'll find a Google search tool . . .
click on vtwinmama.com search, then type in decal, and you'll find the pages
where previous letters are posted! One suggestion was the StreetGlo
site, where you can search to your heart's content!
Mama Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sherri, Often times the fringe is incorporated with a control
cover, and then it becomes specific to the make/model bike. According to
this MotoLeather
site page, you can get just about any color with any length of fringe,
mix and match, and although it says Harley, it looks like they hand make
them to fit your exact specifications! Yes, they have pink and purple!
Mama Wednesday, September 13 For Sherri who is looking for lever covers/fringe in a better color selection range: Here is a great company that can help you. They have all sort of colors and lengths for fringe. http://www.brokenarrowleather.com/. Check them out and see if they have what you want. Oldehawg (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Thursday, September 14 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sherri, Thursday, September 14 Hi VTwin Mama, But we just can't find any after market items for her. It's like they sell these 250 Yamahas and Hondas but just don't make all that much for them. And what you can find sometimes COSTS MORE THEN ITEMS FOR MY BIGGER BIKE! We have been all over the web, to the point we are just SICK OF LOOKING. She just wants to dress her bike out a little. Can you or any of your riders help her find some of the things she is looking for? Thank you for your time, and to all your riders, please ride safe and enjoy the ride. Ken H. Dear Ken, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Sherri, Friday, September 15 For Sherri who is looking for saddlebags that fit for her Virago: When I was looking for saddlebags for my Virago we rode to a local biker's leather shop and "tried them on." I did a bunch of research before we went so I would know how the prices compared if I found something that was perfect. Before Sherri goes she should figure out how she's going to get them home if she finds something she likes. I forgot that step and my husband ended up riding home with 2 sets of bags on his Kawasaki because I didn't want to scratch my paint. I purchased the saddlebag supports from Accessories International. And yes, the rear signal lights have to be moved. Lisa (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Terry, There are most definitely products on the market that
can be rubbed on windshields and face shields, then residue polished off,
that will arrest fogging concerns. It's imperative that you understand
what your shields are made of (usually a plastic composite). Home remedies
include taking a dab of dishwashing liquid, toothpaste, or Lemon Pledge
and rub in and buff. In all cases, the shields need to be cleaned first.
I'll add that manufacturers are also now making face shields with built-in
anti-fogging characteristics. This is something you may wish to explore
with the manufacturer of your helmet!
Mama Tuesday, September 19 More for Anon who has a Honda Aero, may want a new seat, and I noted maybe handlebar: I agree that the message from Anon about lumbar support is probably handlebar reach. I have to share something with VTwin Mama readers that made a huge difference on my bike and has made me totally excited about riding again. I have a '05 Honda Shadow Aero that I got last October. First thing I did was replace the stock seat with the Corbin Dual Touring Saddle. What a huge difference that made. The seat is made to the rider's size and specs sent in to Corbin. Although the seat did cost a bit, it was well worth it for the comfort and fit that it gave me on the bike, not to mention the aesthetic appeal (gray leather with chrome rail to go on silver and white bike). I looked at the seat backs when I bought the seat, but I wasn't sure if I would like the way it looked, nor was I sure if I would like the way it felt, in addition to the extra expense. A couple of months ago I had the opportunity to sit on a friends bike with a Corbin seat and back rest. My initial impressions were enough to get the seat rest. A month after my order was placed, I got the seat back. WHAT A DIFFERENCE! I had no idea that the addition of the seat rest would drastically improve the way my whole body fits on the bike. That support somehow or another puts my hips at the right angle that naturally brings my knees into the tank. I feel so much more confident on the bike. That extra support in the back helps me be physically comfortable on the bike, and mentally comfortable, as I am sitting in my bike, not on it. Additionally, where as before I felt that the handlebars
were too far away, with my new seating position, I sit more naturally and
closer to the handlebars. I still wouldn't mind a set of risers, but for
now I am good. The Corbin seat and seat back may not be the right
solution for everyone, but I swear by it. Also I get lots of compliments
about my bike, and a lot more looks with the seat back. I would not enjoy
my bike nearly as much without these. Tuesday, September 26 Hello VTwin Mama, I am wondering if anyone out there has had any Desert Dawgs rain guards (or something similar) on a Sportster? I am thinking about getting a set for my '06 Sporty but I'm not sure they would be worth the cost. Do they really help with the spray off the road in rain? We have over 55 inches of rain a year in our neck of the woods and if you don't ride in the rain sometimes you don't ride period. Just wondered if anyone else had used the road guards. I've got a rough total of 21K miles ridden so far in two years on two different bikes and can't wait to put more miles down. Thanks for a great web site. I am hooked and can't keep away. It is almost as addicting as riding. CW from Hartford, AL Dear CW, Desert Dawgs are from Leader
Motorcycle Accessories and I've had the pleasure of staying in contact
with Top Dawg Tracey Cramer-Kelly as she steers her company forward. She
is a genuinely caring person who will make sure things are right! Through
October, you can save $10 on Desert Dawgs by using coupon code FALL06DD.
Mama Thursday, September 28 For Kelly who was looking for input on gel seats: In my opinion, I have found the be all end all (of your problems that is) of gel seat inserts. Being someone whose behind is built rather close to the sidewalk, I spent quite a bit of time researching gel seat options. My criteria being . . . make the seat more comfortable, not change the seat height, reasonable price, and easy to install. My first bike (before George Brett parked his Cadillac Escalade on top of it and killed it) was a Yamaha Virago 535. (May it Rest in Peace!) The seat was horrible. After the first 50 or so miles, my behind couldn't take it anymore. I added a gel insert from KnoPlace to the original seat. It met all of my criteria. A gel insert in the original seat didn't change the seat height (a huge plus!), it absorbed the vibration that came up through the seat making it more comfortable, $65 was definitely reasonable, as was the installation. After speaking to a representative from the company (based in Rapid City, SD), I chose to purchase from them. I thought the service was great and the gentleman I spoke with seemed overjoyed to spend almost 45 min. on the phone with me explaining things and telling me secrets to installation. The "parts" cost me about $65 and arrived on my doorstep within 24 hrs. (regular shipping)!!!! I think it took me about 1-2 hrs. from start to finish to install the gel pad, memory foam, and smoothing foam. How was the ride? Phenominal!! My behind lasted about a hundred miles before I started hurting again. After a 15-20 min. pit stop, my behind had recovered and I was ready to go again. A far cry from my previous riding habits. Unfortunately, George Brett killed my beloved two weeks later when he hit it in a convenience store parking lot. I'm now riding a 1995 Honda Shadow VT1100 and yes, I installed the same kind of gel insert in the seat of this bike too!!! I also have a friend experiencing similar problems with ride comfort. I'll be installing a gel insert for her in a couple of weeks. Good luck, Doc (note from Mama: thanks for sharing details on how this modification made such a difference to you!) Wednesday, October 11 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Bob, In 1994, the designation was VT1100C Shadow. The 2nd "C" could have been a typo or, in some cases, I note that instead of correctly identifying the "C" model, the title indicated the "cc," meaning cubic centimeters (1100, but it actually is 1099!). In 1995, Honda took the '94 model and morphed it into the VT1100C Shadow Spirit, and all specs remain the same exact that it went from 4 gears to 5 (pretty significant!). At the same time, Honda introduced the VT1100C2 Shadow Sabre, which had 5 gears, moved from a belt to a shaft drive, changed the front tire size, changes both brake specs, and changed the body (significant width difference and fuel capacity). Now I did some catalog searching, starting with the floorboard question. In the J&P Cycles metric catalog, I found Cobra front and passenger floorboards, but the callouts muddy up the year/model waters a bit (yikes!). Here I see the callout for 87-96 VT1100C, then 97-04 VT1100C1 Shadow Spirit, then 95-99 VT1100C2 Shadow ACE, and finally 00-04 VT1100C2 Shadow Sabre. Clearly they are calling out a product for your year/model. So, my suggestion is twofold. 1) You included the VIN number in your email (which I did
not repeat in this posting), but according to Honda's site, there is an
American Honda's Motorcycle Identification Guide, which I'm guessing your
local Honda dealer would have, so I would double-check your VIN against
Honda's guide as DMVs are notorious for describing motorcycles in any way they
wish (close, but not always perfect). Whew . . . that was fun! It still feels a bit muddy, but
hopefully I've gotten you a bit closer on looking for solutions.
Mama Friday, November 3 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear Tim, But even knowing the correct terminology didn't get me to a source for your bike (more Harley options than anything). Then I noticed the terminology of marker lights. These come in so many styles, can be a universal mounting, and are often chosen as a replacement for reflectors on a bike. So, you may wish to go to the Motorcycle Products UK site and take a look at the markers. Or visit your nearest dealer now knowing the names of what you're looking for! You may also find information by visiting specific Honda
Shadow forums where you can seek assistance. I have a number of them listed on
my Help By Mfg/Model page.
Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, I have a Yamaha Virago 535 (my first bike!). In trying to find saddlebags that would actually hold more than just a mere thought, I had to get real creative. I originally bought the Willie & Max throwover mechanics bags. I then purchased a set of support brackets from motoleather.com that were "supposed to" fit my bike. Well . . . one of the bolt holes lined up . . . the other . . . well . . . I had to drill a hole in the fender. The bags still wanted to rub on the rear tire. I wound up taking the bike, brackets, bags, and all to my local custom welding shop. Fortunately for me the owner is also a biker. He bent the brackets a few degrees so that they actually held the bags away from the rear wheel. As for the turn signals...I moved them too. I ran new wire from the connection under the seat through the original wire chassis then along the underside of the rear fender towards the license plate. I built a U-shape bracket mounted it to the license plate bracket drilled holes in the bracket to hold the turn signals and finished running the wires. Of course, I cannot take full credit for the idea. I searched the net and stumbled across these directions. Hope it helps. Tweaked the same idea a bit and reused it on my Shadow 1100. Hey, why reinvent the wheel!? Doc Dear
Doc, Wednesday, December 20 Hi
Petra, Dear
Michelle, Chilly finger syndrome can sometimes be aided by adding thin liners under one's gloves and heated grips can be added to lots of different bikes . . . I know it makes a huge difference for me (they are best when they offer at least two "heat" settings). I also find that in really cold weather, I prefer a glove that doesn't separate my fingers, although I'll add that it's a weird sensation for some when pulling in hand controls. Mama |
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