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?
Protect Your Bike From Corrosion
You made a large investment on a motorcycle. There are many things that you can do to protect your bike from corrosion. Joe, one of our knowledgeable Parts Specialists, wanted to share a few tips and tricks with you.
As we all know snow salt is one of the most corrosive chemicals on the road. And it is all over the roads right now. Riding in it is fine as long as you know how to clean all of that junk off your bike when you get back to your garage.
Harley® Preserve is a very effective bare aluminum protectant that comes in little wipes. It’s great for protecting the stock wheels on some bikes and some engine covers and cases. These are typically the first things to corrode on a stock Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. A pack of these retails for $14.99 and will probably last two life times.
Harley-Davidson® also offers travel care kits that are pretty handy. They include concentrated sunwash, polish and sealant, gloss, wheel and tire cleaner, and bug remover. All neatly packed together in mini spray bottles, this is a perfect pack to toss in a saddle bag and bring with you on any length of trip. Even a short trip across town, this will help keep your bike looking and running great. These travel kits from for about $24.99.
S100 carries a lot of good products as well. The Total Cycle Cleaner seems to be the most popular. It is a spray and wash type cleaner. S100 also sells a corrosion protectant that is just sprayed on and rubbed to a shine. Since it is safe on plastics and rubber it is one of the easiest ways to maintain the look of your bike.
Basically there is a cleaner, gloss, protectant, or polish available for every type of surface on your motorcycle and it is important to keep those surfaces clean.
What types of protectants do you use on your motorcycle?
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.
5 Accessories You’ve Never Heard Of
There are so many off-the-wall yet useful accessories hiding in the nooks and crannies of our dealership. Some fix common problems while riding. Some fix common problems with storing your ride. We’ve found some good solutions to life’s little problems.
5. You ever been riding with a passenger, or been a passenger yourself, and tried to communicate to your other rider that they were going the wrong way? What do you do? Tap their shoulder? Hit the top of their helmet? Scream the right directions over the sound of the wind? The best intercom systems in the business right now is the ScalaRider intercom systems made by Cardo Systems. They fit virtually any helmet, have noise cancelling microphones, sync with most cell phones, connect to your MP3 player, and last all day. We’d go into the full details but we have 4 other items to tell you about. So check out this interactive tutorial.
4. Leather and textile riding gear are designed to keep you warm and dry. Saddlebags are designed to keep your belongings safe from the elements. But maybe you want an extra layer of waterproof protection. Motorex Protex Spray has a long-lasting formula desinged to protect your gear from water and oils that could harm it. Best part is that it still allows for the materails to breathe naturally. Check out this demo.
3. Hate fumbling in your pocket for your garage door opener? Worry about stashing it in a tank bag or handlebar bag? Compatible with most brands of automatic openers, install the Remote Control Garage Door Opener Kit, and you’ll be opening your door by simply cycling your bike’s high-beam switch. Completely secure, this little gadget makes that simple task of opening your garage, that much simpler. See how it works.
2. Protect your investment with Harley-Davidson® Security Chains and Shackle Lock. Protects your motorcycle from being stolen and from being scratched by the lock’s surface. A nylon dust cover protects the lock from being comprised by weather and the key lights up for night time locking. The lock includes the “Key Safe” program that allows you to re-order keys if you lose them, and offers optional Anti-Theft Protection that will pay you up to $1,000 if your bike is stolen. Can you get that kind of protection from a lock you buy at the corner hardware store?
1. Boot scuffs. How many times have you put boot scuff marks on your freshly washed bike. Here is an item to prevent boot scuffs from cramping your style. Transparent Saddlebag Lid Paint Guard Kit. This is a transparent skin you apply to the top of your saddlebag lids, to protect from boot scuffs, road debris, keys, and jacket zippers.
What are some tricky little accessories you have found that have made your riding life a little easier?
5 Items You Need to Store Your Bike
Maybe you are one of those motorcyclists that store your bike when it becomes a bit too cold to ride. Lauri and Matt have come up with 5 accessories that are must haves for motorcycle winter storage.
- Battery Tender – Your bike should always be plugged up to a battery tender when you are not riding it, but it is essential during the offseason. It prevents your battery from losing its charge when you aren’t riding and reverses polarity protection which ensures your safety. Lauri and Matt suggest the Deltran Battery Tender because it comes with a 5 Year Warranty and quick disconnect wiring harness.
- Motorcycle Cover – Dust and all of kinds of other particles are floating around in the air of your garage. These particles can harm the surfaces of your bike when they sit on all kinds of different surfaces. It’s important to keep your bike clean and covered, to get the most out of your bike. Matt and Lauri suggest the CoverMax Bike Covers because they are good for both indoor and outdoor use.
- Fuel Stabilizer – This will keep your fuel fresh up to 12 months. It is formulated to protect fuel tanks, fuel lines, carbeurators, and injectors from long-term exposure to the adverse effects of ethanol-blended fuel. You’ll need just one bottle for any size Harley-Davidson tank. Lauri recommends the H-D Fuel Stabilizer because it is specifically designed for Harley-Davidson parts. (FROZEN SPOKE TIP: For those of you that ride all winter long, there’s a product called Winter Idle Boost which is formulated to reduce drivability problems such as erratic idle and lack of power which may occur during high humidity/ low temperature riding conditions.)
- Cleaning Kit – You’ve spent time and energy customizing your bike, not to mention money. It’s important to protecft that investment. Harley-Davidson cleaning products are designed to protect the unique surfaces and operating conditions of your motorcycle. So it is important to protect them all winter long by cleaning your bike before putting away for the winter. (FROZEN SPOKE TIP: If you are riding your motorcycle all winter, be sure to wash your bike often. There are many more harmful things out on the road that are designed to get rid of snow and ice. These salts and chemicals can do a lot of damage to your bike.)
- Jiffy Stand Coaster - It’s important for you to keep your jiffy stand off the ground for extended periods of time. It is said that your battery life decreases considerably with contact to the hard cement floor.
Is there anything else you would add to this list? Comment below…
Motorcycle Storage
An unfortunate truth about most parts of the world is that it eventually gets cold – too cold to ride your motorcycle. Winter is a fact of life for most of us, and that means putting your bike away for months at a time. (Whoever said that life is fair?)
As painful as the idea may be, it pays to take the time to do it properly. Your motorcycle will serve you longer and hold its value better if you take the time to prepare it for hibernation. Plus, you’ll be rewarded on that first warm spring day with a bike that doesn’t need as much prep before it’s ready to roll (and that is less likely to surprise you with a previously undetected maintenance issue).
CLEANING
Even if you’re one of those riders who chooses to forego this task most of the time, one time when it truly is important to have a clean bike is when you put it away for the winter.
OIL, FILTER, AND FUEL
Putting your bike to bed with dirty oil is an open invitation for acids and combustion byproducts to start attacking engine parts. And while you’re changing the oil, be sure to change the filter, too. If you don’t, you’re essentially dumping about a cup of the dirty oil back into circulation. You may also consider removing your spark plugs and squirting a bit of oil into each cylinder. Oil is a great rust preventative, and doing this will help prolong your engine’s life.
If you don’t squirt oil into the cylinders, run the engine for a few minutes (be sure to reinstall the spark plugs first!), or take a short ride to circulate the clean oil, drive out any moisture, and leave a fresh oil film inside your engine.
Harley® Bubble
The inside of your gas tank is a prime place for condensation to gather when the temperature drops, so fill it up with fresh fuel for the winter. Adding a commercial fuel stabilizer is also a good idea (be sure to follow label directions carefully), and will help your bike start more easily and run better on that first tank in the spring.
When working with gasoline, be sure to work in a well-ventilated area away from children, open flames, and the possibility of electrical sparking.
BATTERY CARE
Today’s sealed, maintenance-free batteries don’t require a lot of attention, but it’s still a good idea to take them out and keep them warm and charged over the winter. While it’s out (before you reinstall it in the spring), take a few minutes to clean the top of the battery and the terminal posts with a damp cloth. If you see any corrosion, clean the posts with a solution of baking soda and water. Store the battery in a cool, dry place and use a battery tender to keep it charged. (As always, consult your Owner’s Manual for details.)
TIRES
Your tires were made to roll, and sitting still for months at a time with your motorcycle’s weight on them can cause flat spots to develop. To minimize this, use a tire gauge to make sure the tires are properly inflated. Also, using a lift to store your bike with the weight off the tires is a great idea.
ELECTRICALS
Prepping your bike for winter storage represents a perfect opportunity to inspect its overall operating condition. Checking the lights and electrical system, for instance, doesn’t really have anything to do with storage, but wouldn’t you rather fix any problems now and get them out of the way?
Check your headlights (high and low beams), turn signals, and brake light (check that it turns on with the front brake, rear brake, and both brakes). If you have passing lamps, check them, too – and remember that they’ll turn off when you select the high beam. Is the horn functioning properly? If you have a voltmeter on your bike, it should register about 14 volts while you’re rolling down the road at a comfortable clip (check your Owner’s Manual for details).
COVER
Like a fine wine, your Harley-Davidson® needs to breathe a little to be at its best. Cover your motorcycle to keep it free of dust and debris, but make sure the cover is breathable. If it’s not, moisture can accumulate underneath it. A Harley-Davidson brand cover from your dealership is ideal, but short of that, old bed sheets will also do the trick (but stay away from plastic sheeting and waterproof tarps).
Another option is the Harley® Bubble, which flows filtered air over your bike, providing a dust-free, condensation-free environment that greatly decreases the chance of corrosion. Visit www.harley-davidson.com or see the Genuine Motor Accessories and Genuine Motor Parts Catalog for details.
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MAKE YOUR CLEANING COUNT
They say that nothing worthwhile ever comes easy, right? Well, the same is true of having a clean Harley-Davidson motorcycle. Properly cleaning your motorcycle – with all its little nooks and crannies – takes time and attention to detail. But it’s also one of those jobs that if you do it, you’d better do it right. Because it’s actually possible to damage your pride and joy if you don’t follow certain guidelines. Dirty rags, harsh detergents, and neglected areas can cause scratching, dulling, and even corrosion.
By following the steps outlined here, you can be sure that your winter storage preparation is getting off to a good start.
First Things First: The Pre-wash
First, get your mind right. Put yourself in a motorcycle washing mood with a little light meditation – or, just put on some of your favorite music. However you choose to do it, prepare yourself to take your time and not rush through any of the steps.
Second, ask yourself, “How well do I really know the back of my hand?” Take a look to be sure. Do you see any rings, watches, or bracelets? If you do, take ‘em off. Even if it’s a Harley-Davidson ring – especially if it’s one of those big ones. They’re all too easy to scratch something with. And if you’re still wearing your riding jacket, beware of any zippers, buckles, or studs that might clank against your bike. In fact, it’s probably best to take that off, too.
If you just got back from a ride, go inside and cool off before you start. You’ll feel better – and it will give your bike a chance to cool off, as well (which is really what we care about here). Washing your bike while it’s still hot not only puts you at risk of a burn, it can also damage your motorcycle by making waxes and cleaners behave badly.
See any caked-on dirt or mud? Don’t wipe it off – rinse it off. Wiping it can seriously scratch your finish. (In fact, this is one step that’s probably okay to do while your bike is still warm, before the mud and bugs dry too thoroughly.)
Give that favorite old sponge of yours a close look. If it looks like it’s been around longer than your favorite pair of jeans, throw it out! Old sponges are notorious for trapping dirt and grime that can scratch your bike. If you drop you sponge, washcloth, or mitt on the ground, examine it carefully to make sure it hasn’t picked up any dirt or grit. Wash it thoroughly or get another one.
Finally, your great-grandmother’s china and your Harley-Davidson motorcycle may both be very important to you, but they have entirely different cleaning needs. So get yourself some cleaning products that are designed for motorcycles, not dishes. You can find some at … oh, say, your local H-D dealership.
Grime Doesn’t Pay: The Wash
Now that you’ve made all the necessary preparations, it’s time for the fun to begin. Start by diluting your cleaner according to label directions. Use a clean sponge, cloth, or H-D Wash Mitt to gently, but thoroughly, clean your motorcycle. And don’t forget areas under the engine and transmission – just make sure to use a brush down there instead of your mitt, washcloth, or sponge.
Use Harley-Davidson® Bug Remover to remove bugs and Harley® Bright™ Chrome Cleaner to remove oxidation and restore the original brilliance.
Pay special attention to the wheels, as accumulated brake dust can cause galvanic corrosion and produce “pitting.” You would be well-advised to use a specialized product for this task, such as Harley-Davidson® Wheel and Tire Cleaner, as normal cleaners (even those designed for motorcycles) are not overly effective at fighting “wheel dirt”.
Once your bike is spotless, make sure it stays spotless (at least until your next ride) by rinsing and drying it thoroughly. Rinse from the top down, paying careful attention to wash away all the cleaner, especially from the aforementioned nooks and crannies. After you’ve rinsed it once, rinse it again to remove any cleaner that may have spattered onto other parts during the initial rinsing. Dry your bike with a clean, dry chamois or drying cloth. You can also “blow dry” your motorcycle using a leaf blower, which is an excellent tool for drying out those hard-to-reach spots where water can puddle. Just make sure the blower is clean before you begin. Using compressed air to dry your bike is not recommended, as oil and rust inside the tank may be blown out at a high velocity.
| • | Don’t use in bright sunlight or if the air is particularly humid. | |
| • | Use a clean, soft cloth for application and another clean, soft cloth for buffing – especially for buffing! | |
| • | If streaking occurs, try using a dampened soft cloth or applying a few drops of distilled water in a circular motion. If streaking is severe, reapply a small amount of polish and remove quickly. |
To Bead or Not to Bead: The Polish
and Seal
As you watch the rinse water cascade over your sparkling, freshly cleaned motorcycle, pay attention to how it runs off. If the water beads into small round droplets, do a little dance of joy – because that means you can probably put your polishing mitt away until next time. If it runs off in sheets or forms oblong droplets, it’s probably time for a fresh polish.
Properly polishing and sealing your motorcycle’s finish will help it look its best by filling in imperfections and tiny scratches, and preventing dulling and staining. But it will also help it last longer by repelling dust, dirt, bugs, and dirty water – to protect the precious metal underneath the shine.
Harley-Davidson recommends using Harley® Glaze™ Polish and Sealant for this important task. Follow the label directions closely, and keep these points in mind:
After polishing, let the bike remain in the shade for several hours if possible. If you have the time, pour yourself a cold drink, pull up a lounge chair, and keep it company under a nice shade tree. Washing and polishing your motorcycle is hard work, and you deserve to spend some quality time alone together – where you can also keep a sharp eye out for ill-intentioned birds.
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