Q&A: "I'm Nervous About Dropping My Bike."

By Rocky Marks:

I received a question via Facebook from an old high school friend who now lives in Allentown.

Hey, Rocky,

I need some advice. I just got my motorcycle license a few months ago. I love being a passenger, but now I'm nervous as the driver and I know that's not a good thing. I have a Harley Sportster and it probably wasn't the best choice for a first bike, but I got a good deal and it is in great shape with really low mileage ... and it's a Harley!

So I guess I just need some wise words from an expert. It's a heavy bike and I think that's one of the things that makes me nervous, but I don't want to dump it. Can you help an old friend out?

Thanks

Karyn

Karyn,

Congratulations and welcome to the saddle. You should be LESS nervous because you're in total control. A Harley-Davidson Sportster really isn't a bad bike to get started on. Some people make the mistake of starting out on a bike that is too small, get frustrated within a year, and when they go to upgrade, they lose equity in their trade. If you are a fan of a specific brand, and if the motorcycle fits you, then go for it.

You'll learn something new about yourself and the bike with each trip out of the garage. I'm constantly experimenting on my bike.

I wouldn't worry about dropping it. It happens to the best of us! It's nothing to be ashamed about. In fact, last month I dropped my bike. It happens.  It's a 1989 Harley-Davidson Electra Glide. It has so many extras like saddlebags, the faring and the windshield that could get damaged with one slip up in the driveway.

Fortunately, when I dropped my bike, it didn't cause any damage. One of the great things about the Electra Glide is that it comes with guards especially made for that. Not only does it protect key components to the bike, it also prevents your leg from getting pinned beneath your bike when it falls over.

If you don't have one already, my suggestion would be to get an engine guard for your bike. They aren't that expensive, and it will more than pay for itself should you drop the bike.

Once you get your engine guard, you may want to take your bike into a flat spot in your yard and gently lay it down ... and pick it back up. Practice it a few times. It's easier than you think. Lift with your legs and use as much leverage as possible.

Once you pick your bike up, you'll get the feeling that it's not as heavy as you originally thought. You'll also establish a feeling of control (there is that word again) in your mind, that you can handle the bike whether it's upright or lying on its side.

Picking up a 500-pound bike may sound tough, but motorcycles are very well balanced. Don't think of it as picking the total weight of your motorcycle off the ground. You're simply shifting it to a neutral position to where you can put the kickstand down and assess the situation.

Remember when you first started riding your bicycle how wobbly you were until you pedaled faster? The same rule applies. Dropping a motorcycle due to weight happens because of an unexpected shift in balance at very slow speeds, so the good news is if you do drop it, the risk of injury or damage to the motorcycle will be minimal.

I hope this helps, and enjoy that driver's seat!

Ride in the Rain or Leave it Parked?

 by: Rocky Marks

It seems as if most people in the Pittsburgh area are up in arms about all the rain we've been having, especially the motorcycling community. I'm on board... I want to go riding just as bad as everyone else, but the weather "is what it is" (never liked that saying).  But instead of all the moaning about the rain, let's focus on what we CAN do.

We have two choices: ride in the rain or keep it parked. I'm thinking that the first choice may not be all that bad when you sit back and think about it. The rain that we do get isn't usually an all-day rain. It's more like an afternoon rain, which is sorta like Hawaii. Maui gets one good rain in the afternoon whether it needs it or not. That doesn't stop tourists from riding.

Given the fact that most of the rain is in the afternoon, we're not getting wet on the ride into work, but rather on the way home. Okay, I can live with that. Nobody wants to sit in wet clothes all day plus it's not like you have see anyone with the exception of maybe your spouse and kids and chances are they've seen you in things less flattering than wet clothing.

You can, however avoid the wet clothing by investing in a good set of rain gear from Hot Metal Harley-Davidson. The reason I say to get it from the dealership and not a hunting/fishing store is that the pants in the rain suit are made for riding. This means they are less likely to melt to the exhaust or engine and get ruined. I've also noticed that the Harley-Davidson riding gear keeps you dry around the neck if it is zippered and closed properly.

You can also do a full-face helmet. This too will help around the neck line and it will help keep the rain pellets bouncing off your face at 55mph. Trust me, it's a much better ride with a full-faced helmet in the rain. You can also use the helmet in the cooler months.

I've written numerous articles about riding in the rain before and they mostly concentrated on safety. Things you have to watch out for are debris on the road, potholes, steel (manhole covers, bridge joints, railroad tracks, etc.), and painted surfaces near stop signs and traffic lights. If you look back into the archives, you can get the specifics on how to tackle each one of those obstacles.

My advice: Let's suck it up and ride! (Now there is a slogan I like--I'm getting the derby covers made up as we speak!)

Educate Your Passenger

by: Rocky Marks

Many people love to get on their motorcycles, head off into the sunset and just ride alone. It's great therapy for clearing one's mind. Even though I enjoy taking the long way home by myself to blow off steam from work before I walk in the door to see my wife and kids, I prefer to ride with a passenger.
When my wife is available to ride, we are on the road and loving every minute of it. When she can't ride, then one of the Motor Clothes associates will ride with me. (Tough job, but someone has to do it.) I'm not sure why my preference is to ride with a passenger, but it works for me and that's what's important.

Although it's great to have someone along for the ride, adding a passenger brings with it some challenges. The two main challenges are mechanical and physical. The mechanical challenges deal with the way the bike handles with the added weight and the physical challenges are the way in which you, the rider need to compensate for having someone on the back seat.

With a passenger, the weight distribution on the bike is changed. The weight is not only placed very high up on the bike but it is placed at the back of the bike too. This changes the handling dynamics. The bike will turn differently with a passenger on board. You may not be able to maneuver around parking lots and tight spaces as well as you would by yourself.

You most certainly will need more distance to stop. Don't follow too closely behind the vehicle in front of you. Remember the two-second rule? You will have to increase it to the three-second rule when riding with a passenger.

The feel of the bike will be different as well. You can compensate by adjusting your suspension as most bikes have a pre-load adjustment on the rear shocks. You can adjust the shocks to a firmer setting for carrying a passenger.

You will also want to check the tire pressure. Remember, you are adding 120-160 pounds of extra weight to a 700 pound vehicle. That's a 23% increase. Make sure the tires are properly inflated, because after all, two square inches of rubber are the only thing that separates you and your passenger from the asphalt below.

It may not be a bad idea to go over some of the rules of the road with your passenger. Some of the things that may seem like no-brainers to you may not be as obvious to your passenger. Here is a brief list of things to mention to your passenger:

" They shouldn't get on the bike until you've taken off of the kick stand and are in a secure upright position.

" The passenger should wear the same protective clothing as yourself. Although I encourage the use of helmets, the choice is yours. If you choose not to wear a helmet, but your passenger does, be prepared for a head-but during a sudden stop or even shifting through the gears.

" Holding onto your waist is the best place for your passenger's hands. Even though some bikes have grab rails or back rests to hold on to, you are the best thing your passenger can hold on to. This helps especially when it comes to fighting gravity in the turns.

" The passenger should keep their feet away from all hot parts, especially exhaust pipes and keep them on the foot rests at all times, even when the bike is stopped.

Remember, they may not be as seasoned as you when it comes to riding a motorcycle and this may seem very obvious to you, but it's really important they know what to expect from their riding partner.
Which brings me to another point: Don't try to impress your passenger with your riding ability. I know it's hard not to show off, but you don't want to scare your passenger away. You want them to ride with you again.

Why You Should Demo Ride a Motorcycle

by Rocky Marks

Motorcycles are a beautiful thing.  I've been riding for more than 25 years now and to this day throwing my leg over a bike never gets old. Motorcycling is fun, invigorating, and gives you a sense of freedom.

As we all know freedom isn't free.  Motorcycles, especially Harley-Davidson motorcycles come with a solid price tag, and for good reason.  They are manufactured in the USA, they are built well, have been around since 1903 and typically hold their value compared to metric motorcycles.

That being said, how do you know which bike is right for you?  A bike that looks good in a magazine or on a showroom floor may not be the right 'fit' for you.  I thought I'd always like a FatBoy because of the look.  I found after riding one that even though it looks great, the ride wasn't quite right for my needs.  My wife and I like to ride together, and I enjoy listening to music while I ride, so I found that the Ultra was perfect for us, and more comfortable too.

That's not to say that the FatBoy isn't comfortable... it is VERY comfortable, but it just didn't fit my specific needs.  How did I find out?  I took a FatBoy for a demo ride solo and with my wife.  It felt okay by myself, but was more awkward when my wife was on the back.

If I didn't take that demo ride, I would have made a purchase that wasn't quite right for me and my needs.  Buying a motorcycle is much different then buying a car.  There are so many more factors that go into the feel of the ride and how comfortable you are operating a two-wheeled machine as opposed to a four-wheeled vehicle.

Some dealers allow you to take demo rides as long as the weather is nice.  Others do not.  My advice is to go to a dealership that allows demo rides and ask a sales person to pick out two or three models that interest you.   Make sure you discuss with the sales person what type of riding you plan on doing, how far you plan on traveling, and if you will be riding solo or with a passenger.  Listen to their feedback, suggestions, and experiences.

Once you take a ride on the model(s) that fit you perfectly, then you can make an informed decision on the bike that best suits your needs and feels the most comfortable.

MotorClothes-More than Meets the Eye!

By: Rocky Marks

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson has a huge selection of MotorClothes.  MotorClothes from Harley-Davidson are more than just fashion.  They are function and designed for people who love to ride.

Did you know that black is worn not to look cool but to prevent the showing of dirt and debris from riding?  There is a common misconception that it's for a look, but there is a real purpose behind it.  Although wearing too much black on a motorcycle isn't always a good thing.

That's why the Motor Company partnered with 3M to produce the most advanced reflectology for most of the outerwear we sell.  Sure, you can go for hunter orange or construction green, but the reflectology is sewn into most of the jackets and all of the rainwear.  It can be as subtitle as stitching on the back and arms, or bold as the entire bar and shield outlined in the reflective stitching.

Our rainwear is produced specifically for those who ride, so that if one accidentally touches a pipe or the engine when it's hot, the suit will not melt and create an unsightly mess on the chrome.  Many boot options are waterproof and go over the ankles to protect the rider.

Our denim is made for riders by riders.  It allows for extra room in the middle to comfortably saddle your motorcycle.  The length is even longer so that your pants don't ride too far up your shins while riding down the road to offer you maximum protection.

Of course we have the latest styles in helmets and footwear.  The helmets come with the most advanced technology providing extra venting and comfort for long rides.  The boots come in all shapes, sizes and heights, and offer non-slip tread for when you get caught in the rain.

Hot Metal Harley-Davidson also has gifts and collectibles for that special someone in your life.  You can always go to our website by clicking here.

The CVO Street Glide is Better Than Ever!

by: Rocky Marks

Recently another 2017 FLHXSE CVO Street Glide rolled into the Hot Metal Harley-Davidson showroom, and the paint on it just exploded with color and metal flake. We had to take it outside and do a little video on it in the sunlight.

The color of the particular Street Glide that I was looking at was Sunburst Orange and Starfire Black.  In the above video  you can see the vivid colors and the metal flake in the paint itself.  The motorcycle is powered by the all-new Milwaukee-Eight 114ci Engine with black powder coated heads & primary cover.

One of the first things that stand out on the bike are the speakers that are powered by the Boom! Stage II Audio System and Boom! Box 6.5 GT with built in navigation.  There are four speakers across the inner fairing and a speaker built into each saddle bag lid.

Speaking of the fairing, the color-matched Splitstream fairing vent gives the Street Glide a finished look.  Further down the forks, the TPMS Mirror Chrome Aggressor Wheels.  The brakes are Reflex Linked with ABS meaning that if you pull on the front brake lever, that engages the rear brakes as well.

A nice touch on the bike is the Electronic power locking saddle bags, meaning you don't have to carry a key with you to lock/unlock the bike.   Harley-Davidson added a new LED tailight and saddlebag fillers to give the rear of the motorcycle a nice full look.

The New Street Rod from Harley-Davidson

It may include the smallest capacity motorcycles in Harley-Davidson's lineup, but the Street series' newest arrival brings the kind of power that would compare directly with bigger models. The Street Rod introduces the High Output Revolution X engine, mated with upgraded equipment and sharper steering.




When Harley-Davidson first announced the Street series, it served two very important purposes. The 500 and 700 cc engine variants sound too small for a Harley, yet they excel at appealing to both younger riders and manufacturers' new holy grail.


With the addition of the Street Rod, Harley-Davidson simply adds a generous touch of spice to its entry-level lineup with the debut of the High Output Revolution X 60-degree V-twin motor. The evolved variant of the standard Street 750 engine features a heap of changes, including new gas-flowed cylinder heads with higher compression, sportier high-lift camshafts, a new exhaust system, and new throttle bodies fed via a larger air box.


The end result translates to an 18 percent hike in power and eight percent in torque – the latter set at 65 Nm (47.9 ft-lb) at 4000 rpm. Harley-Davidson does not mention exact horsepower figures but, given that the Street 750 produces some 58 hp (43.3 kW) in EU spec, on paper the Street Rod's output comes up around 68 hp (50.7 kW). This power reaches its maximum value at 8,750 rpm, which is around 1,000 higher than the standard engine, as the redline has accordingly climbed to 9,000 rpm.





In terms of styling, little has changed, but Harley-Davidson's suggestions of a sharper motorcycle are much more than simple marketing lingo. The suspensions now consist of 43 mm inverted forks and a pair of piggyback shocks, with benefits spilling over to the braking department as well, in the shape of a twin-disk front setup.

One of the most significant changes though is not very obvious in the photos. The Street Rod sports much more aggressive frame geometry, with fork rake reduced from 32 to 27 degrees. The rear tire is also taller at 17 inches (15 for the Street 500/750), lifting the bike's tail section in tune with the sharper handling that Harley-Davidson typically declares.

The end result is complemented with drag-style handlebars, bar-end mirrors, and several minor stylish details like the new logo on the 13.2 l (3.5 gal) fuel tank.