MOR No More!

Well the 1st Annual Men Only Ride (MOR) is in the books! Only two decided to make the journey to Illinois and ride in what many Meteorologists said would be a cold, cloudy, blustery weekend. I think many thought with the forecast that had been released, conditions would not be favorable to ride. My feeling, any ride is a good ride! Marc and I left Watertown at 9:30 AM Saturday morning on our way to Woodstock, Illinois to the Harley-Davidson Dealership and their Chiliween Celebration. The ride was wonderful, great roads, no tolls and get this.......No Wrong Turns!

We arrived at Woodstock HD just around 11:30 and immediately went inside for hot coffee and popcorn. We shopped and got the token "dip dot" from the dealership. I really think I should start displaying all the ones I've collected thus far (around 50). Believe it or not, neither one of us found anything to buy!

We talked to a few other bikers and looked at the options they got on their bikes and vis versa. You see, Harley Riders are always comparing their bikes to others. It's kind of like a male dog, marking it's territory! Marc even had a salesman push a 2008 Ultra outside that had true Dual Rineharts along with the 103 Cubic Inch upgrade, just so we could hear the sound. Well, it was fairly loud and I don't think my partner would appreciate all the noise when sitting behind me.

We got our taste of chili from Woodstock Fire Department; by-the-way, they won and rightly so! Marc even had to have hot sauce added to his! Afterwards a brat and hamburger finished off our lunch and we were on our way to St Charles Harley-Davidson about 30 miles to the south.

Overnight was at Country Inn & Suites in St Charles and dinner across the parking lot at Olive Garden. In the morning we headed southwest to Marc's sister's house about 15 minutes away. Thanks Dana and Ellen for opening your house and making coffee. The Garmin pointed us in the right direction from there and within an hour or so we found ourselves in Harvard, Illinois by the Enchanted Castle! We actually turned around after Marc spotted it and had to take pictures. In all we had a great ride and put another 260+ miles on the new 2008 Ultra. I still find myself about 80 miles shy of 10,000 for the season. I need to reach 8,000 on the 2008 since I sold my 2000 Ultra after riding 2,000 miles back in May.

MOR is No More, the name will be changed to the Bi-Week MOR. You football fans will be pleased to hear that, except next year the Packers might have a Bi in late October again or early November. Better get the long john's and heated gear added to your Christmas List! No excuses next year fellas!

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.