Service Tips to Improve Your Touring Experience
If you want to properly prepare for a long trip it is imperative you check your mileage and review the back of your owner’s manual (can be found online for select models) to determine what maintenance interval your ride is at. It is always better to go on a long trip with fresh fluids and a complete check over like you would get at the 5,000 and 10,000 mile intervals. If you chose to purchase Gateway H-D’s Prepaid Maintenance Agreement your bike would get a quick service at 2,500 and 7,500 mile intervals which also gets you ready for a trip. If all of your services are up to date it is still a good idea to check your tire pressure, tire tread depth (for a trip less than 5/32 is less than 50% tread and time to replace) and oil level. Tire pressure can fluctuate with temperatures unless you have nitrogen in the tires and it is not unusual to have to add oil between services. If you don’t have a tread depth gauge you can pick one up at the auto parts store for a few bucks or better yet run your bike by Gateway Harley-Davidson and we will check it for you.
Have a Great Trip and be sure to stop by and tell those of us at the shop, who try and make sure your ride gets you there and back, all about your adventure. See you on the next dealership ride!
Kat Explains the New Look of Surface Care Products
2012 is off to a great start with a fresh, new look for Harley-Davidson® Surface Care product packaging. Products are now color coded by category to make it easier to pick out products to fit your cleaning, or quick detailing needs:
Clean = Orange
Protect = Black
Detail = Silver
Complementary products are also referenced on the back of packaging to easily identify which products work well together. Viscous products are now packaged in inverted bottles and jars for easier use. A couple product names have been changed to more clearly explain their use. Majority of packages now are recyclable as well!
Harley-Davidson® Spray Cleaner & Polish is safe for use on windshields, plastic, painted, and metal surfaces. It also reduces static attraction to dust and leaves a great shine on the surface and UV protection. This cleaner is perfect for those that only like to wash their bike when it rains- no water or soap needed- just spray, wipe and go.
Want your chrome looking its best? H-D® Chrome Clean & Shine can be used on chrome or brushed aluminum/stainless steel surfaces. The non-abrasive, professional strength cleaner is formulated to ensure maximum shine. It can be buffed to a bright, long-lasting finish, and is detergent-resistant.
The new Seat, Saddlebag & Trim Cleaner is a one step treatment for all your leather, vinyl and plastic surfaces. Unlike other leather cleaners it brightens and refreshes without leaving a greasy residue. (Also, you won’t slide out of your saddle like you would if you used Armor All on it- yes, I’ve made that mistake before….) It is also ideal for use on inner farings, dash panels, and saddlebags.
For those that like to hose down and suds up their entire bike (you over-achievers!)- H-D® Sunwash Bike Soap is a perfect fit, and can be used on all vehicle surfaces (including denim paint). Most bike wash products have limitations on ideal temperatures to wash your bike, or have to be used in the shade. Not this one! Harley® has formulated this biodegradable soap for use in the sun! It also has a unique formulated sheeting action to minimize water spots, and rinse clean on the hottest of days.
Got Scuffs? Tar? Harley® has come out with a gel formulated to break down rubber marks, road tar, baked on bugs, and even melted plastic bags! Just apply to soiled area on chrome exhaust (when exhaust is cool), wait for gel to loosen things up, then scrub and wipe away residue.
Want to keep your paint and chrome looking its best? Want to remove fine scratches and minor blemishes in your clear coat? Want to remove tar, tree sap, or stains from your paint without stripping it? Try Harley® Glaze Poly Sealant- it can meet all these needs- basically three products in one bottle. Glaze Poly Sealant is easy to apply and hand buff for a deep, reflective finish. Shine it up with this durable, breathable, clear poly sealant with UV protection that protects against fading and oxidizing. (Don’t use on non glossy surfaces like denim, wrinkle, or semi-gloss surfaces, or brake discs)
Need a cleaner that is better than the aerosol but not as involved at the Sun Wash? Try out the Quick Wash! This cleaner is tough on dirt, oil, and bugs, but gentle enough to use on all surfaces. Does not strip wax, corrode fasteners or spokes, or stain leather and vinyl seats or saddlebags. Don’t feel like scrubbing? No problem! Quick Wash gets into hard-to-reach spaces, and scrubs for you (Imagine all those scrubbing bubble critters from the spray on bathroom cleaner, all over your bike- its kinda like that.) Spray on, hose off. Thats all she wrote.
What products have you found that work the best?
Affordable First Upgrades to Any Harley-Davidson® Motorcycle
So you buy a brand new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. What is the first thing you do? Learn to ride it properly (but that’s another story entirely). What’s next? You probably want to customize it and make it truly unique and truly you. Some will put little bits of chrome here and there. Others will put a new exhaust or practical features like a windshield or saddlebags. One of the most affordable upgrades you can make to your brand new bike is to give your motorcycle a voice with Rush Mufflers.
Rush mufflers are performance mufflers that can be put on any model of bike. They come in a variety of styles. They can be worked into just about any performance package you want or can be added to your motorcycle all by themselves. They give you a little extra “umph” in the horsepower department without expensive and in-depth tuning of your engine. At the same time, they also give you a truly customized sound without completely annoying everyone within a 50 block radius.
With just 30 minutes of labor with a certified H-D® technician, your bike can be in and out of our shop in about an hour. But the real key to this upgrade is the fact that it is affordable. A variety of styles for just about any model, installed for under $500. This is just another thing to add on to the list of parts and accessories to customize, but with the affordability offered by these mufflers… maybe this might be inch it’s way a little higher up on the priority list.
Interested in more? Let one of our associates give you a free quote.
What are some other upgrades you might make to your brand new Harley-Davidson® motorcycle?
How Much Riding Do You Do in 5 Years – H-D® Leather Warranty
We’ve all seen those cheap-o leather jackets at local swap meets. They seem like a great deal because they only cost a buck or two and they have all that fancy pazzazz on them. There are many features which make Harley-Davidson® leather the obvious choice for the hard rider, but the H-D® Warranty is definitely worth focusing on.
The H-D® Warranty on Leather Jackets lasts for 5 years. If nothing else, this shows Harley-Davidson’s commitment to quality, durability and the rider’s needs. This guarantees that your leather jacket will be with you on every ride you take for five years.
One of the things we hear the most when customers come in and chat about getting a new leather jacket, is that they are expensive. It takes money to make a quality product and Harley® doesn’t skimp on the details. Most of the jackets come with reflective piping to keep you visible, an action back and pre-curved sleeves to keep you comfortable in the riding position, wind flaps to keep you warm, strategically placed venting to keep you cool, body armor options to keep you protected, double-stitched seams to keep the jacket reinforced, and drum-dyed leather to keep your jacket looking good after thousands of miles in harsh conditions.
If you still think the jacket is expensive after all of that, think about it like this. A quality Harley-Davidson® leather jacket with all of the bells and whistles, suitable for most riding conditions, can be purchased for $500. If you have the jacket for the life of the five-year warranty, that jacket will cost you $100 per year. That means that the premium jacket that will protect you from the elements of the weather and the road will cost you just over $8 per month, and be guaranteed for five years. Is it worth it now?
Super Premium Oil Filters – 98.5 Reasons to Consider
Harley-Davidson® engines are some of the most demanding engines out there. They take a lot of tender loving care. And no oil filter gives them more TLC than the Harley-Davidson® Super Premium Oil Filter.
First, these oil filters were designed by people that know your motorcycle better than anyone else, because they actually designed the bike. They are built using the highest quality components to provide high performance.
The Super Premium Oil Filter is 100% synthetic and has an efficient capture of at least 98.5% of contaminants as small as 5 microns. What is a “micron“? Basically, it is one-millionth of a meter. So we are talking small. Real small.
Have you ever tried cold-starting your bike and the juices just didn’t seem to want to start flowing? Bet you never thought your oil filter might have something to do with that. A higher quality oil filter allows oil to flow better and improves cold starts.
Another thing you probably didn’t consider was that Harley-Davidson® engines have low oil film thickness in their working parts. That is how they were designed. Because of that, they require finer filtration than what most competitive branded oil filters can provide.
So when it comes to that machine of yours, sitting in the garage… You know. The one that you insist on putting Premium Gas in? What oil filter do you currently have? Is it the one that will protect your engine the best?
Harley-Davidson® Batteries – A Decision that Won’t Leave You Stranded
When it comes to buying Motorcycle batteries, or any batteries, most people make a terrible mistake by choosing the least expensive option that is available and save the extra cash. However, buying cheaper batteries that are available in the market today will eat up all your savings in the way of maintenance. Moreover, people always have a misconception that all the batteries are the same and they don’t even check the specifications of the batteries.
So, what makes Harley-Davidson® motorcycle batteries better than all the rest?
- Designed by the Motor Co. – For starters, the Harley-Davidson® Motor Co. designs and manufactures all of their own batteries right there inMilwaukee, so why not buy your battery from the same company who engineered and manufactured the motorcycle it is used in.
- Absorbed Glass Mats – Harley-Davidson® batteries are an AGM type maintenance free battery. This is a newer type of sealed, non-spillable, maintenance-free, valve-regulated battery that uses “Absorbed Glass Mats”, or AGM separators between the plates. This is a very fine fiber Boron-Silicate glass mat.
- Acid Containment – In AGM sealed batteries, the acid is absorbed between the plates and immobilized by a very fine fiberglass mat. No silica gel is necessary. This glass mat absorbs and immobilizes the acid while still keeping the acid available to the plates. This allows a fast reaction between acid and plate material.
- Leak Protection – These type of batteries have all the advantages of they typical gelled batteries on the market, but can take much more abuse. These are also called “starved electrolyte.” Basically, just like the Gel batteries, the AGM Battery will not leak acid if broken, which protects you, your bike, and the environment.
- Charging Systems – The Harley-Davidson® AGM battery has an extremely low internal electrical resistance. This, combined with faster acid migration, allows the AGM batteries to deliver and absorb higher rates of amperage than other sealed batteries during discharging and charging. In addition, AGM technology batteries can be charged at normal lead-acid regulated charging voltages, therefore, it is not necessary to recalibrate charging systems.
- Better Performance – H-D® AGM batteries contains an exclusive oxide formula that enhances the battery’s performance for more Cold Cranking Amps, faster starting power, and longer cycle life keeping you on the road. Low discharge rates extend battery life during periods of non-use and lasts from season to season, avoiding yearly battery replacement seen by a lot of the competitor’s batteries. I have personally seen 5 to 8 years usage from an H-D® battery and have thrown away countless amounts of “aftermarket” batteries that customers told me they just purchased 8 to 12 months ago.
These are just a few of the many thought-out improvements that Harley-Davidson® put into their batteries. So the next time you are in need of a new battery for your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle, don’t let the price be a deciding factor. It may be a decision that could leave you stranded.
Holiday Gift Buying Guide: Give the Best
When considering what gifts to give the riders in your life, why not consider giving the best that money can buy? When it comes to Harley-Davidson gear, the best is the Harley-Davidson FXRG High-Performance Gear. Here are some features of the H-D FXRG collection that will keep you comfortable in virtually all weather conditions.
Schoeller c_change™ waterproof/windproof system – This is the liner in the men’s and women’s textile and leather jackets and pants. It actually reacts to changing temperatures and moisture levels to make sure you stay comfortable. If it senses heat, the structure of teh c_change™ membrane opens up so excess heat can escape to the outside air. If it senses cold, the structure of the membrane closes to retain body heat and keep you warm.
Cool-Max® fixed, breathable liners – Keeps you dry and confortable. This liner actually moves perspiration away from the body to the fabric’s outer surface, where it evaporates quickly. It’s soft, lightweight and breathable.
Airguard™ Fabric – This is the fabric used for the textile FXRG Jackets. It is 20% lighter than nylon and 52% lighter than polyester. This means you still get the wind and waterproof protection that is abrasion and tear-resistant without all of the bulk. It is constructed to regulate body temperature in both warm and cold conditions.
Heat/Sun Deflecting Leather – Black leather typically is much warmer than white leather. With the leather used to make the FXRG Leather Jackets and Pants, the sun’s rays are reflected off the jacket as if it was white, even though it’s black. This helps to reduce your core body temperature when it is sunny.
Pre-curved arms and knees with an “action back” – Designed to fit you best when you are actually sitting on a motorcycle in the riding position. This means when you are standing next to your bike, the gear will feel weird and slightly uncomfortable. The gear feels best because it is designed to match your riding position.
Lightweight, removable body armor – Special little pockets inside the shoulders, elbows, spine, hips and knees hold the body armor pieces. They can each be adjusted to conform to your individual shape.
3M™ Scotchlite™ reflective piping – This feature is all about visibility. This reflective material is visible from at least 500 feet, which makes you as a motorcyclist more visible to other motorists. This is high-tech stuff in that it uses “retro-reflection” which helps the human eye perceive light even in low-light conditions. The material then reflects the light directly back towards teh light source. This material is found on all items in the FXRG Collection to make you more visible to others on the road.
5-Year Warranty – This warranty covers all of the leather and textile jackets and pants. There is a similar 1 year warranty on all the helmets and gloves.
Will you be giving your loved ones the best in riding technology, performance, and comfort this holiday season?
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Handling the Cold with H-D® Heated Accessories
You might not be one of those riders out there on the road when the chill factor is below zero but don’t write off the benefits of the Harley-Davidson® Heated Accessories. Riding into work on a chilly morning, enjoying a fall ride in the country on a cool day or a dealing with the variable temperatures of a high altitude ride; any of these might be an opportunity to flip the switch of your Heated Hand Grips, Heated Seats or Heated Backrest Pad to ON. Here are some facts we wanted to share.
We all know that extremely cold temperatures can affect your ride, but the truth is that even moderately cold temperatures affect how you and your bike perform. Making sure you have the right accessories is key.
Harley-Davidson® Heated Hand Grips
The first thing most riders complain about getting cold is their hands. Cold hands affect how your overall body feels in cold weather. They can also decrease your reaction time which presents safety issues. Harley-Davidson® Heated Hand Grips are an excellent option to combat the cold. The Heated Hand Grips have six heat settings and “intelligent” heating technology that monitors the surface temperature of the grips and adjusts accordingly.
One thing riders don’t necessarily know is that these grips are smart. When you remove one of your hands from the grips, both grips will sense the air cooling and they system will try to increase the heat on both sides. In order to keep consistent temperature of their grips, they need to keep both hands on their handlebars. The grips also switch off when you turn off the bike. This keeps them from draining your battery. Another thing to keep in mind is that the thicker your gloves, the less heat will be transferred from the grips to your hands. That sounds counter-intuitive. You might think that you need super thick gauntlet gloves, but that will actually prevent you from feeling the heat of the grips.
All in all, the grips are very user friendly. They have a self-contained control circuit and control knobs which means you don’t have to install any goofy controller boxes or additional switches. They are “glueless” which allows you to switch the grips to other handlebars or other motorcycles. They also have several different styles available (small and large diameters) and they can fit on any model of Harley-Davidson® motorcycle.
Check out all of the different styles:
- Contoured Chrome and Rubber Collection
- Chrome and Rubber Collection
- Flames Collection
- Aileron Collection
- Nostalgic Collection
- Stealth Collection
- Willie G.® Skull Collection
- Ironside Collection
- Black Rubber Collection
Harley-Davidson® Heated Seats and Backrest Pad
The Harley® Hammock Rider Touring Seat and the Sun Ray® Heated Seat is the key to keeping your rear end extra toasty on a chilly ride. Seats with passenger capabilities offer dual-zone rider and passenger controls with separate controls. One standard feature of H-D® Heated Seats is the different settings, whereas most competitive seats only have an on/off option. This also allows you to switch it to a “high” setting to get the seat nice and toasty before putting it on a “low” setting to keep it comfortably warm. The Sun Ray® Heated Backrest Pad is also a nice option for those with a passenger that wants a little extra warmth.
H-D® Heated Accessories are all about adding a little extra warmth to extend a day of riding in the country or the whole riding season. How are you going to extend your opportunities to ride?
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Ladies, The Right Bike is Out There For You.
And it might not be a Sportster®. So many women have trouble finding the right bike for them. They are uncomfortable and unimpressed. The truth is that motorcycles are as unique as the women that ride them. There are plenty of tools online and in our shop to ensure that we can help you find the bike that is right for you.
The key to finding the right motorcycle for you is to sit on everything. Pick the bike up off it’s kickstand. Start it. Push buttons. Ask questions. Ride everything if possible. Take a test ride of any and all models. The only real way you will know if a bike is truly for you, is to ride it.
Ask yourself a few questions. What are you going to be using the motorcycle for? Riding to work? Traveling across the country? Fun, little trips on the weekends? What is the riding position of the motorcycles you like? Are your feet stretched out? Are they tucked under your body? Are your arms stretched out? Where are they most comfortable? How heavy is too heavy? Where is the motorcycle’s center of gravity? Can you sit comfortably with your feet on the ground? These are all things that need to be taken into consideration, but they aren’t deal breakers.
One of the most amazing things about your motorcycle is all of the things you can change on it to make it truly your own. Fitting the motorcycle to your body and riding style are just as important as wearing the proper sized clothes. Too big and your clothes will fall off you. Too small and you won’t be able to breath. Even if the size of your clothes are slightly off in one direction or the other, you are uncomfortable wearing them. The same is true of a motorcycle. The key is to pick a motorcycle that fits your needs and wants. And then tweak it to fit you better. That might include lowering it a bit so that you can more comfortably touch the ground. That might mean installing a windshield or sissy bar to make longer trips more comfortable. That might mean adding bling or accessories to fit your personality better. That might mean adding performance parts to make you more comfotable riding in traffic.
So if you are looking to buy a new motorcycle, whether you know what you want or not, come by the shop and talk to one of our sales associates. We want to determine the best fitting motorcycle for you. Maybe it is a Sportster®. Maybe it’s not.
What concerns do you have about picking out the right motorcycle?
A Sportster® Is A Girl’s Bike
Most people suggest a Sportster® to an unexperienced individual because it is currently the smallest Harley-Davidson® bike still in production. But let’s throw out some facts about the alleged “girl’s bike”, the Harley-Davidson® Sportster®.
- The first Sportster® was introduced to the public in 1957 and within one year of its debut it because known as the first of the ”Superbikes”.
- It raced all through the 1970s helping to set land speed world records.
- The 883cc and 1200cc engines were used in the design and manufacture of the American sport bike, Buell motorcycles.
- The XR1200X currently has it’s own AMA road racing series.
So next time someone suggests that you get a Sportster® because it is a girl’s bike, don’t be offended. Just kindly inform them that you would be proud to ride a Sportster®. They have a classic style. They are agile and powerful. They are fantastic machines.
What else is impressive about the Sportster® motorcycle?
