Messages by Dusty

One topic, 41 messages

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » What causes the Harley-Davidson sound? The Harley-Davisdon has a connecting rod to join two pistons on to a single crankshaft. This, along with the Harley-Davidson V-shaped engine design, gives the motorcycle a popping sound that is caused by pistons that don't fire at even intervals. Keep in mind over time, it has become difficult for engineers to design and update the Harley-Davidson bike while keeping the same sound.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » When did Harley Davidson create the Revolution Engine? In 2001, Harley Davidson made the revolution engine and it was installed in the upcoming 2002 VSRC. The Revolution is a V-twin with a 60 degree V (rather than 45 degree), water-cooled, and has 4 overhead camshafts. Its also fuel injected and a much smaller engine with 115 horsepower.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » What are some motorcycle groups? I would definitely recommend joining AMA (American Motorcyclist Association). This group has an estimate of 260,000 members. AMA is known for monitoring the rights of motorcyclists. There are also many ABATE groups for bikers. One such group is called American Bikers Aimed Toward Education. This group is very imortant because it offers motorcycle training, fellowship, and support for motorcyclists' rights.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » Any suggestion for driving in the hot summer months? Driving in the heat can be uncomfortable for anyone. Some people simply don't drive when the weather gets above 90 degrees. If you do decide to go driving, I strongly recommend that you wear protective gear. Being bare skinned on a motorcycle makes the body very hot as the body begins to absorb heat from the environment. Not to mention the hot wind and sun on your exposed skin can cause rapid dehydration.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » What advice do you have for beginners? Another thing to consider when learning to ride is be more aware of oil patches, flats, potholes etc. This is where MSF and getting an appropriate starter bike, and proper gear is very valuable. Chances are one day you will find yourself in a situation where an accident is about to occur, but taking the SMF course will prepare you on how to properly respond in the hopes of avoiding an accident.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » What advice do you have for beginners? For a beginner, I recommend that you take the SMF training course. This course will help you learn some safety tips when driving a motorcycle. I also strongly recommend that you learn to drive on a cheap motorcycle that has engine guards to protect you and the bike if you should fall. I would suggest any bike up to a 750cc with a 500 - 600cc probably being best. You may want to check out the Honda Shadow VLX600.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » What advice do you have for riding in the rain? Riding in the rain can be tricky. The roads can be very slick once it's wet and sometimes you need to watch out for oil spots. Some riders don't mind riding in the rain. You may notice some put on rain gear to protect them from the rain. Others who don't like to ride in the rain will pull off to the side and wait for it to stop raining. Using the windshield can help. Many people don't actually ride looking through it. They just ride looking above it.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » How to prevent your motorcycle from getting stolen? A strong chain is a good option. Just make sure its very durable and you lock it up nice and tight with no slack. Another option is some Harley dealers sell disc brake locks which make it more difficult to steal a bike. You may also want to use the lock on the neck of the bike that locks the handlebars.

Dusty 2007-11-29	Harley Chat » How important is it to clean your motorcycle? I try to keep my bike clean as often as I can. If you live in a warm climate, the salt air can distroy metal on the bike. Also the sand and road grime can do damge to the undercarriage, which is why I try to make a special effert to clean the bike as often as I can. If you want some more cleaning advice, I use a buff ball and attach it to a drill. This helps to clean the really hard to get spots such as between the spokes, behind the pulley and rotors. After thats done, I'm ready to show it off!

Dusty 2007-11-29	Dyna Glide » Recall on the 2006 Harley Davidson Dyna Yes, this is true. When riding the 2006 Harley Daidson Dyna, there is a battery caddy bolt that can loosen. When this happens, the batery can shift and possibly allow the battery terminals to contact the metal battery caddy cover. The end result is a possible fire. To correct this problem, you can take your motorcycle to the dealership and they'll replace the center battery caddy bolt.