The $33 Lite Bar

Introducing the $33.71 Harley-Davidson Light Bar for Touring Motorcycles! Well, actually it isn’t a lit light bar, it is however a reflective red and chrome add-on for the sole purpose of being seen. By-the-way, isn’t been seen what it’s all about?

I wish I could take credit for this idea, however like many; I will give credit where credit is due. While taking a break from teaching a Rider’s Edge Class at Capital City Harley-Davidson I saw a pearl white Ultra Classic with what I thought at the time was a light bar mounted just below the King Tour Pak lid cover. Upon closer inspection, I saw that it was 5 individually placed reflectors having chrome trim. The owner of the Ultra said he used to work at the Juneau Harley-Davidson Plant and got these reflectors there.

During my break I checked in the 2009 parts catalog and was not able to locate any such item. After talking to Jeff the parts manager at Capital City, he informed me that he had a few in the back. After a few seconds Jeff reappeared with three different reflectors and one happened to be the exact same one I was looking for. The part number is #59255-91 and costs $6.39 each. I had Jeff order five reflectors for me. The total cost $33.71.

If it is all about being seen then spend the $33.71 and let others know, you are out there! These reflectors will work for any full size King Tour Pak, I don’t know about the Chopped Tour Paks. I had to sand the top and bottom of each reflector to get it to lie flat against the Tour Pak. So if you ride a Road Glide, Ultra Classic, Classic or anything else with a King Tour Pak, these will work!

Let me know what you think after looking at the photos. Ride safe, straight, sober and BE SEEN!

Ultimate Motorcycle Beverage Holder

Recently this summer I was looking for a way to offer my riding partner (my wife, the better half, my best friend......you get the picture) a way to refresh her thirst. I stopped at Capital City Harley-Davidson in Madison, WI and saw a product that I had never seen before, Hog Trough. At $119.95 for two lockable lower covers for the Ultra Classic model Harley-Davidson and a 1 Liter Insulated Bottle, I thought to myself this would be awesome, serve the purpose I was searching for, but at the time seemed to be too expensive.

I decided not to buy at this time. From the photos attached to the blog you can see I already have a cup holder for my endless supply of coffee as I ride. As with many husbands, we think too hard and long if it is an expense that we might not see much use for..............ah, but if it serves my wife, and she is happy, quenched, refreshed.........then all is good in the world! I then received a copy of the Harley-Davidson 2009 Parts Catalog and saw they offer a similar item, BUT no drink holder and NO insulated bottle! Well, my decision then was easy, you just gotta buy the product.

I went to Capital City and paid the $119.95 list price. The installation was a breeze, one that could be done while at home relaxing with a cold one. Actually, I don't think I got more than one sip and the entire product was installed on the bike.

We used the insulated bottle a few weeks later on a Mystery Ride to Cave of the Mounds (you can read about this ride in an early article within the blog) and the cap leaked. When we got home from the weekend ride I contacted Cap, creator of the Hog Trough and asked him about sending me a replacement top. Not only did he send me a replacement top, but the 20 oz. insulated mug and straw too! This was a $9.99 value! Cap also sent me the koozie that can be thrown in the freezer and used to keep your favorite canned beverage ice cold! Another $9.99 value!

I forgot to mention that the Harley-Davidson part sells for over $150! That's without a beverage holder! I haven't even mentioned that the lowers are lockable, providing additional secure storage for your cell phone, camera and expensive riding glasses.

I highly recommend Hog Trough. They even offer a Road Glide setup! Thanks again Cap! Great product, sure to please.

6th Annual Tourin Hawgs Mystery Ride

Well, after planning for the past ten months, changing routes, destinations and themes, the 6th Annual Tourin’ Hawgs Mystery Ride arrived Saturday morning at 8:45! The Neidner Overnight HOG Ride was no more! Cathy and I even had an embroidered design marking the new name finished in time to show it off! Any of our riders wishing to have this design embroidered on a shirt, hat, whatever, e-mail us for the name of the shop in Hartford that worked with us. You should be able to click on any of the photos in this blog to enlarge!

Back to the ride, Saturday morning started just after 8:00 AM with the first couple arriving. Slowly we got up to 19 couples out of the 20 that had reservations. Yeah, I said 19, that’s because the last couple upon filling her tank with gas, the bike caught on fire! Lucky for them and us, no one was hurt and their son had another Harley-Davidson to loan them. They later would meet us at our Lunch and Activity stop, Cave of the Mounds. Many of us had never been to the Cave, and it is a must stop for everyone! Not only did we receive an hour plus tour of the Cave, they also served us up brats with all the fixins’! Cloe thanks a million for putting up with Kyle and Heather! Just kidding Heather, you were an angel and Kyle on the other hand, the Devil! Pictures are worth a thousand words as they say! After the tour Joe thought it best to offer a small token of appreciation to Cloe for putting up with us bad ass bikers! Bikers if you don’t know are very generous, so if we ask you for a favor, you’d better do it, because there just might be a large reward in it!

As the afternoon went on, the skies became darker and darker. Like every year, even with a GPS, I made a few wrong turns, or roundabouts. I hate to admit how many, but Ralph has now given me a gracious nick name, might I add deserving too, Mr. Roundabout! Before I forget, I want to thank Chad and Wayne for helping me setup our CB radio communications! We had never worked these previously on our rides and found them to be irreplaceable! Dan Z, Cathy & I kept in communication the entire day Saturday and Sunday. Dan was one of the last bikes and made sure we stayed together. What’s funny is that when you work with the CB communications, anytime you talk to your riding partner, anyone wired into the CB band can hear what you are saying. We heard Beth say to Dan, “Oh, pumpkins for sale how lovely.” This is coming from a Biker’s Spouse! She needs to toughen up!

Prior to arriving at Park Plaza Hotel in Baraboo, as is customary a stop at a liquor store was at hand. It was a short 50 yards to the hotel afterwards. On the outdoor LED banner, the hotel had the words Welcome Tourin’ Hawgs Mystery Ride! We felt at home at the hotel. Cathy and I worked with Amy Timm for the past 10 months and she was very accommodating! The hotel was clean, friendly and just what we expected! Well, except for the out of control intoxicated wedding guests afterwards! At check in Cathy provided each couple in our group a Geode to be brought to dinner that night. After checking in, we all met on the 4th floor, yes the 4th, at the indoor pool/hot tub area. We stayed here for about two hours, socializing, drinking and talking about whatever came to mind! For such a large group, I was concerned it would become “clicky”, and was pleased to see it wasn’t. Like every year, new friendships developed and old ones were made stronger! This is why so many of us ride! It IS as much the ride as it IS the socializing! Joe & Deb again were present, making this their 6th Mystery Ride and no other couple can claim this title! They were presented with a bottle of wine. Kyle & Heather along with Craig & Summer celebrated Anniversaries! The gift basket this year went to Mark & Deb, they had the winning lottery number. When you see Brian, ask him about his mysterious hidden pretzel trick! I don't think I will ever look at another pretzel rod again without thinking about him.

Sunday morning, we met at different times for a continental breakfast, nothing real fancy but it was included. Afterwards some of the riders went off shopping in Baraboo. A few riders left earlier to get the maximum amount of riding in today. The rest of us left the hotel around 11:00 and rode to Devils Lake State Park and then the Merrimac Ferry. We ALL got on the ferry at the same time. After the ferry we continued towards Sun Prairie and stopped at Jimmie John’s on CTH N just as you get into Sun Prairie for lunch. Kyle and Heather led the rest of the way home with a detour to CTH BB to drive past were their son was staying. You see, Just like old kids, young kids love Harley-Davidsons. Can you imagine what he must of thought when 16 motorcycles drove past where he was staying?

Cathy and I want to thank all of you for another memorable ride and great friendships! We all have so much to be thankful for. Mainly, getting home on Sunday without any, let me repeat, without any wrong turns! Next year’s Tourin’ Hawgs Mystery Ride will take place Saturday and Sunday, July 25 and 26. We will reserve a block of rooms, so when you receive the invite, get on the list quickly, because once they’re gone, they’re gone! Check out this blog later Monday as many more photos can be seen at Shutterfly, remember to type in the password “chrome” when you link to Shutterfly. Any words that are underlined or bold printed, click on as they will redirect you to a link on the Internet.