|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SPECIAL DEALS Current Deals and Coupon Discounts at Online Shops!
|
2007 Wednesday, January 3 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Denise, This is a good time to remind everyone that at the bottom of the VTM Home Page is a Google search tool . . . and if you click into the site address option, you can search just the VTwin Mama site to find postings. I often use this (!) when the subject matter might be scattered around or maybe it's not quite as intuitive as to where something may be archived! Mama Hi
Mama, Dear
BBB, I myself am a Metzler fan for no other reason that I've found them to wear beautifully (when proper tire pressure is maintained) and they are well recognized in the motorcycle industry. Does anybody have input on Bridgestone? If you go to this WebBikeWorld page, you'll see a section on tire reviews that leads to links you might want to try. Mama Tuesday, January 9 For BBB who was wondering about tire brand preferences: I've used Bridgestone for the last 6 years, I've just upgraded to a VTX 1800 R, but my last 6 years have been on a Vulcan Nomad. I usually get about 14,000 out the front and 11,000 - 12,000 out of the rear, but I do pull a trailer. I've been very happy with the wear on these tires and plan to put the brand on my VTX. Cindy (cheeks) in New Mexico (note from Mama: thanks for sharing!) Dear
VTwin Mama, I'm interested in a 2007 Fatboy but I think that I will have a lot of problems with the Jiffy Stand distance. I'm 5'4". What does short bikers do? It's possible to put it in similar position than a Dyna? Thanks. Carlos from Spain Dear
Carlos, In visiting the US Harley-Davidson site, choose the Accessories & Apparel link at the top, then choose Genuine Motor Accessories, then type in the year and choose the Fatboy model, and then choose Foot Controls. There you will see the extension kits. When I tried this on the Espaρa version of the site, the Productos section didn't bring up the views on the kits. With this information you should be able to talk with your local dealer about the kits. Good luck! Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Hot Pink Sportster, The picture shows the product off the bike and I'm guessing that the leather fringe is threaded through and simply knotted on the other side, thus hidden when the cap is put in place. However, at $40, I sincerely think you don't want to pay the full price for a fringe color you want (only to buy your own pink leather and fringe it yourself). Will Kuryakyn just sell you the end caps? Hard to say (I don't see if offered as a single item on the actual Kuryakyn site, just the solid end caps, not the fringe flow-through caps). But, knowing the word "combos" now, I found IronBraid, and on that page you'll find what you're looking for with 19 color choices . . . I'm thinking fuchsia is what you're looking for. I typed in "ISO caps with colored fringe" in the Google search engine to find this one, so maybe there are other companies! Mama Monday, February 5 Hi
Petra, A short while ago, I noticed in my rearveiw mirrors that when I braked, cars kept coming at me, and I soon realized that in normal daylight, unlike a car, a bike already has a rear light on, and the difference between a rear light and a brake light in daytime is not very much. I have now added a separate brake light with twin bulbs on my carrier that is a brake light only. This has immediately solved the problem. If any of your members have the same problem, here's the answer. Hope this helps someone. Best regards, Tim Dear
Tim, Tuesday, February 6 Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Anont, A lot of everything boils down to exactly what type of saddlebags you want. Hard vs. soft. Hard needs a specific mounting bracket that you should be able to order with the bags, making sure it's specific for your bike. Caution note . . . sometimes the bigger hard cases extend back and can necessitate the need to extend the rear blinkers out a bit. Hard cases usually incorporate a lock and quick mount/removal system so you can carry them into the hotel on trips. Soft has a more "stuffability" factor . . . you can "overjam" them! If they are simply mounted to the side you need make sure to follow the above info as you don't want the softer construction or overfill to push towards the wheel . . . that's why you have some sort of bracket . . . to keep things extended away from the bike. Lots of times you are tying them to the bracket to keep them in place. Locks are usually not featured on these. Throw-over soft )straps connect the two saddlebag pieces) is a versatile solution . . . use brackets to keep them away from the bike, tie-in so they don't move, but a quick un-tie and they can be removed and carried in. Not a great solution if there is likely to be a passenger as the straps flow over that seat. Weather-proofing in all cases is a key concern if you'll be taking road trips . . . nothing worse than soggy gear when you get to your destination. My bike was already outfitted with hard cases . . . I like the weather-resistance and the ability to lock and if I need to carry more for the day, I jam that in a backpack and strap to the passenger backrest. But that's just me! Mama Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Victoria, Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
SK, Friday, March 23 For Carlos in Spain who was concerned about the Jiffy Stand distance on HDs: At 5' 3-1/2" with barely a 27" inseam, I found the Jiffy Stand on my 2007 Heritage Softail Classic to be a bit of a challenge. I successfully conquered the "height challenge" by lowering the bike using HD's low profile shock and installing HD's deep bucket Sundowner seat to gain a few inches and get myself as close to the ground as I could comfortably get. (I really didn't want to mess too much with the suspension). Additionally, I wear a relatively thick-soled boot (HD Casper #84054). My problem was not getting the jiffy stand down, but rather reaching it to get it back up! I'd get as close to the tank as I could and fish with my toes stretched out as far as I could possibly get them, while praying not to lose my balance and drop the bike! I'm sure I must have looked like a circus sideshow. All of the extensions seemed to extend in the opposite direction than I what needed . . . making them great for getting the stand down, but that wasn't my problem. I mentioned my dilemma to one of the guys in the parts department at my local Harley dealership and asked him to think about it for me. As he worked, he looked at a beautiful Softail Deluxe day after day and the solution hit him. When I came into the store one day, he asked me to sit on the Deluxe and put the kickstand up. I could reach it just fine. You see, the little extension stands up a little straighter than one on the Heritage Classic (and the Fatboy). The Deluxe's stand also has a little ball on the end of it, making it easier to catch with your toe. I ordered one, took it home, and my husband installed it for me one evening. Problem solved! No more fishing expeditions for me . . . I couldn't wait to get the jiffy stand up and take a cruise up to the Harley dealership to show the guys! Also, I wanted to say a huge "thanks" to you, VTwin Mama. Your site has been most helpful and quite inspiring for me. As a relatively new rider (1-1/2 years), I come here (and to the message board) several times a week to check out the latest posts. I learn new things, validate my fears and the fact that I am not alone, and celebrate my accomplishments through the experiences shared by you and the others who post. Thank you! Martha, aka Macsminx, in Florida (note from Mama: how wonderful to hear that your visits to the VTM site and board are proving to be a validating experience! And thanks for sharing how you solved the Jiffy Stand toe catch dilemma . . . kudos to the parts man for noodling out a solution . . . now that's service!) Dear
VTwin Mama, Dear
Vicki, Certainly Corbin is one of the most often mentioned seats as they do carry models that bring the rider more forward. I have seen these at rallies and can admit that I thought they really were a "hard" molded seat, but of course that's such a subjective opinion. Have you checked into LePera? On my Motorcycles for Short Riders list, this seat is often chosen . . . and you'll find some Fat Boy notes . . . but look at other listings as well. Back to your stock seat, it would also be able to shave the interior to allow a more forward position . . . and if necessary . . . shave in such a way that a gel insert can then be incorporated so that seating comfort is retained. Check with a local upholstery shop as often times they are able to handle this kind of work. Mama Friday, April 20 For Vicki who is looking for a better seating position on her Fat Boy: I have a 2000 Fat Boy and I am 5' 2" tall. I had the same issue with being able to reach the shifter. My husband put a "Screamin Eagle" seat on my bike. This seat actually pushes you up about an inch or two. This really made a difference. Now I feel very comfortable and more confident riding. Be Safe !!!! Happy Cruising !!!! Diana in Houston, Texas (note from Mama: thanks for the specific change that worked for you!) Monday, April 23 Even more for Vicki who is looking for a better seating position on her Fat Boy: My husband has a 2000 Fat Boy and I have a 2003 Anniversary Edition Springer. We both just recently purchased the seat that is on the 2007 Fat Boy. It is a bit narrower and it has a lot more padding. This seat is sooooo comfortable. We both love it. Vicki's local dealership more than likely has a 2007 Fat Boy in stock for her to sit on and the parts department can order this seat for her. I think she will love it! Hope this helps her. Sandy in Spring Hill, FL (note from Mama: excellent suggestion!) Hi Mama, I do have a question today. How do I go about getting my wind shield cut down? I have not paid much attention in the last year, but on a recent trip I had to ride several hours in the rain, and realized that it really needs to come down about 2 inches. I never really noticed it in optimal conditions, but in the rain, I realized that I had to sit tall to look over. This is ok for a few minutes, but about 3 miles of that rain was on a gravel road (new construction) and that extra 2 inches on my windscreen was really a pain. Jojo Dear
Jojo, Previous letters have come in about cutting down a wind shield and you'll find these starting at the top of the Stuff for the Bike 2006 page. Lots of useful tips to get 'er done! Mama Saturday, April 28 For Jojo who needs to cut her wind shield down: Another tip for figuring how far to cut down a windshield is to use black electrical tape to mark across the whole width of windshield. The tape actually creates a barrier so you know if you are actually looking over where the line should be cut. The tape can also be pulled off and moved around to get the exact line across and round off the sides of how you want them angled and cut. You can almost do this by yourself if you don't mind riding down the road a short ways with the tape on. The tape can be left on while cutting. Anon (note from Mama: very smart to use a wide enough and dark enough tape to really find the right cut line!) Wednesday, May 2 Dear
VTwin Mama, I own a 2007 Vulcan 900LT and there just aren't a lot of after market accessories out there for these newer bikes. I had a Suzuki S50 and had a tank bra that had a very handy pocket on it and that is what I would like to find for the Vulcan. I'm hoping you can send me in the right direction and maybe give these ladies some business, after all my husband just got a new Nomad 1600 and he will be wanting a tank bra for it! There can't be enough kudos sent out for your website. It means so much to so many of us. It truly shows we are not alone and we can ride our own with a little help from our sisters and friends! Luckylady Dear
Luckylady, Meanwhile, you could explore custom options with Nanci Rogers at Ace High Leathers in California . . . she's doing some phenomenal work, so I think it would be useful to send her an email and check into possibilities! It could be this company you were actually seeking, as Nanci does/did have a woman partner in the business. Mama Monday, May 14 Dear
VTwin Mama, I really love the new bike. She handles like a dream, but I'm finding the stock seat uncomfortable and was wondering if any of your readers have purchased this model and found an aftermarket seat anywhere. Corbin makes one, but I'm hoping for another option beside their $800 seat. Mustang has nothing for this model on their website, so I've emailed them to see if they have anything in the works. Again, I love your website and the offer is still open for a ride down Highway 1 and lunch whenever you can make it. Thanks. Debbie in Salinas, CA Dear
Debbie, It looks like the aftermarket companies are still gearing up to offer options for the 1300. I'd do an insert or if your seat height/leg reach to ground can spare an inch or so, get a strap on gel or air cushion in the interim. Mama Wednesday, June 6 Hi Petra, Dear
Laurie, I had to laugh at your note on black jeans . . . I'm such a fan of long sleeve white T-shirts for riding as I want to minimize sun-bake and still stay cool with cotton wicking up sweat. We all learn in good time! Mama Wednesday, June 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Patrick, Or, maybe it is! Trying to quickly research this on the Internet coughed up no larger bags or a source for a relocation kit for your year bike. My best suggestion . . . call the parts department of your local dealer and let them search for you! Readers with this model are asked to chime in if they have a good source for accessories and modifications. I'll simply add that there are some specific Honda Shadow forums that may be able to assist as well. Mama Friday, July 6 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
bj, Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Tobster, Thursday, August 2 For Tobster who is trying to connect an iPod with a QLink Legacy: My partner and I both bought QLink Legacys a couple of months ago and had the same issue with the MP3 player. I think that you cant actually hook your iPod to it what you want to do is get a memory stick, download MP3 files into it, and plug that in. It works great and sounds great. Anonymous (note from Mama: thanks for the insight!) Monday, August 20 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Kukik, Monday, August 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Leslie, That's what I did to find Ace High Leathers, the company that not only does excellent custom riding gear work, but also offers those tank bibs with extras! Nanci Rogers introduced herself in August 2006 and will be happy to discuss your project with you! Mama Thursday, September 6 Dear VTwin Mama, The only thing I am unsure of is making the jump from my standard rear tire to a larger one. Do you how big I can go on this bike and does a larger rear tire affect the ride? Thanks! Melissa Dear
Melissa, The standard rear tire is a 170/80-15, which means it's 170mm in width, has an aspect ration of 80% (so a height of 80% x 170 = 136mm), and a rim diameter of 15". You want to be careful putting something fatter on because rims are designed to support tires of a certain width. Sometimes a larger rim, and therefore different tire, can be put on a bike. Otherwise, typically you can go about 10mm wider, and a slightly higher aspect ratio (but that could interfere with the fender) but I'd double check with the local dealer's parts department on that one. You want something approved by the bike manufacturer (and double check on any impact on the warranty). Yes, a wider tire will affect your ride. More width, more traction, more traction, new handling realities in slow turns and high speed curves. Nothing that a little parking lot and road practice won't solve. That's the key whenever you make a change! Mama Thursday, September 27 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear
Kawasaki Girl, Share
Your Thoughts Dear VTwin Mama, Highway Hawk [Netherlands] does make highway bars for the Savage, but can't find anyone in the USA who sells them! Any suggestions? Or know of another Highway Bar that would fit my bike, like a Universal Bar? Thanks! MountainGirlSavage Dear
MountainGirlSavagel, I was hoping to find the answer on my message board as I recall someone asking the same question on a 2002 model. But alas, no input was given. Further searches on this site indicate incoming letters like yours and no solutions. Unfortunately, a lot of times the aftermarket folks focus more on the bigger cruisers and touring models. Universal guards ... I'm hesitant as so much depends on how that's mounted, which is specific to makes/models. There are universal pegs, but I'm not finding anything useful for actual crash bars. Savage and S40 readers ... help! I thought we had some info, but I can't find it! Mama Monday, October 1 For MountainSavageGirl looking for an engine guard for her Suzuki Savage: I have a Savage & spend time on a bike specific board for it. The only other larger engine guards I've heard about are called Wingerline highwaybars. Personally I haven't installed these on mine yet but I've seen pictures of other Savages with them & they're a big improvement over the standard Suzuki bars. Hope this helps. wrongwayair (note from Mama: thanks! I linked to one source for this bar!) As was suggested to me for my own hard to find crash bars bike ... almost any metalworker/mechanic/welder can make these for a bike ... and the cost might even be less than a set bought from a dealer. Sandra (note from Mama: wow, now that I didn't know or consider! As long as the attachments points can be noodled out, it sounds like a good next step if there isn't anything on the market that meets a rider's needs!) Thursday, October 4 For Deb who is working on seat height/positioning issues: I went from a Virago 250 to a 2005 Deluxe in June. I am only 4'11" and had to have the Deluxe lowered. I also changed to a LePera reach seat that put me closer to the tank. Because of that I also get a lot of heat. I purchased a shield from Cool Thighs that works great. I got the info from the VTM message board. I absolutely love my bike and I have not had any problems since having it lowered. But that is the only way I have been able to ride it so I cannot say how it rode before being lowered. I also had an easy pull clutch installed and would highly recommend it to anyone that is considering it. Ride safe ! And congratulations on the new bike ! Hope (note from Mama: I've heard from lots or riders who swear by the Cool Thighs product!) I bought a new Heritage Softail this spring after riding a Yamaha 650 V Star Silverado for the last three seasons. I had mine lowered about 1 1/4 inches ( I'm 5'6" tall) with an Arlen Ness lowering kit (done at my Harley dealers) and may have my seat modified some this winter, but I can flat foot it and move it about much easier after the lowering was done. When I began riding the Heritage I was shocked at how much heat was coming off the oil tank, and began searching the internet forums, etc. for a way to fix it. The solution I have found are the RJS Originals V-Twin Heat Deflectors.( I think they have been mentioned on this site before). They are leather covered and you can get them studded or not, and are made specific to each model of bike. Besides cutting the heat at least 75% they look great on my bike! Before I got them I had to wear my chaps to protect my inner thigh from the heat, but afterwards I can comfortably wear just a pair of jeans. They are more expensive than the plastic heat shields I have seen, but definitely worth it in my opinion! Hope this helps! SD Heritage Rider (so it's not uncommon!) Friday, November 2 For Sandra who heard that Virago seats weren't that comfortable: Sandra, I owned a 1100 Virago and only used the stock seat for the 3 summers and 15k miles that I owned the bike. I re-upholstered the seat in leather which added comfort and less heat than the stock vinyl cover. Leather adds a lot more comfort than most people think! Although the stock seat on my '96 had the pillow top button look I was able to add just a little more padding to make it a bit wider on the sides, giving me the "I'm sitting on a Barcalounger" feel and look. It was great! I completed an 8 hour day on the leather seat and tush was none the worse for the wear. Often times riders suffer needlessly without knowing that seats can be shaved, built up, lowered and made wider without having to buy a whole new seat, which as you know can be spendy. It's important that anyone purchasing a new bike take the time to just sit on it and concentrate on your tush! Think about your tailbone and especially the area under your cheeks, both of which tend to take the brunt of an uncomfortable ride. If you think you might need an adjustment in the seat, it would certainly be worth your while if the owner of a bike that you're looking at would allow you to take the seat off and run it over to an upholsterer who is known for doing m/c seats. Good luck, Ride Safe, Nanci at Ace High Leathers (note from Mama: so I learned something here ... vinyl and leather are not the same comfort level necessarily!) Monday, November 5 Hi VTwin Mama, Dear
Terry, I recently added an exterior pad to my seat, not only for comfort, but I wanted an added inch of seat height to accommodate my longer legs. I was at a rally and found the Soft Bottom Butt Savers vendor booth and had a great talk with Wayne Jackson about his FlexGel products ... interconnected, individual gel cells that promote consistent blood flow by allowing body weight pressure to be evenly distributed. It's made a great difference to me! This is a product that also can be purchased for interior seat modification. I was really sold on the technology because it's a product that will never harden, mold to a shape and then not spring back, or leak! He had a demo seat there and when I got up, he showed me he had a steel lock under the cushion, and like everyone else, I never felt it. Very Princess and the Pea kinda thing! I've put 830 miles on the bike now ... once I forgot to pull the pad out of my saddlebag and boy oh boy, did I realize the difference ... at the next stop, I got it out and smiled there after! The "tailbone" sites all seem to mention gel, but I really think that are some more advanced systems that are better ... take at look at what Allen from Mean City Cycles is putting into the custom jobs that are brought to him! So, do some research and compare costs and decide if this is a job you can handle yourself ... otherwise, a seat mod company or local upholsterer may be able to work with you! Mama Hi VTM, Dear
Kaye, Other manufacturers who may have a solution for you include Saddlemen and Mustang. Google them to double check what's up! Mama Hi Petra, Dear
Nancy, Monday, November 19 For Nancy who is looking for an engine guard for her 2002 Vulcan 500: She may be able to get a engine guard on eBay ... they always have that kind of stuff on there. Also eBay Express has stuff too. Jody (note from Mama: Nancy wrote in and told me that the one I found only fits 1996 and previous. In looking at the eBay offerings, it appears this is the same item as well. Any Vulcan 500 riders with more sources for aftermarket parts?! Nancy is also hoping to find floorboards and I noted that Kuryakyn has those ISO wings/boards that might work.) Tuesday, November 27 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Anon, It can often be more difficult to find aftermarket accessories for the smaller cc engine bikes (these types of vendors tend to cater to the bigger cruisers. In this case, you might also want to search under engine guard, crash bar, and highway bar! On this Accessories International page you'll see three engine guards ... click on each and check the specifics (including the bike years it fits) and if the dimensions aren't there, call the toll-free number. Then you can take a tape measure out to the bike and get an idea of what's what! Mama Monday, December 3 Dear Mama, Some dealers say NO, some say I don't know.... Do you know someone who would know before I pop off and buy some? I know if anything it will affect the amount the front wheel can turn before it goes to full lock. And I know there is a lot of variation out there so maybe something else would work, as well? Oh, I have a Slipstreamer windshield also. Anybody ever try this? Thanks! Patty Dear
Patty, At this point I'm hoping someone writes in with thoughts; otherwise my advice is to order something that you think will work, but understanding the company's return policy so that you can hold them in place and see if you've got a fit! Sounds lame, but it's all I have to give on this one! Mama Monday, December 10 Dear VTwin Mama, Dear
Little Mama, Monday, December 10 For SK who was looking for solutions to soft saddlebags and touring: I thought I'd chime in with my .02 (hopefully of help). Is SK currently bolting the saddlebags to the bike? If she'd like to have the bags a little closer to her while she sleeps, one option is using something like Ghost Brackets to attach your saddlebags to the bike. Once you get the knack of it, you can take your bags on and off in less than 10 seconds (I'll be posting a video on my site in the near future about this). If you haven't heard about Ghost Brackets, you can check out the FAQ we've put up. We'll also be putting up some videos shortly as we settle on in. Cheers, David at Motorcycle Parts & Apparel (note from Mama: while this original letter was back from March, solutions and ideas are always welcome whenever ... as we all learn something!) |
| © 2007 VTwin Mama | Disclaimer |
