International Motorcycle Show-Chicago

Saturday, February 20th four of us traveled to Chicago to what used to be called the Rosemont Convention Center, now the Donald E Stephens Convention Center for the Annual International Motorcycle Show. From Watertown to the Convention Center, 123 miles! This was my first year attending this event. Parking was extremely easy as we parked just to the north of the Convention Center and north of STH 190. The distance between the parking area and convention center was within walking distance! Parking, get this $5 for up to 14 hours! This also included a FREE shuttle bus to and from the convention center! We were dropped off at the front door of the center. Terry had stopped at Renegade Classics in Milwaukee prior to us going to pickup $3 off per ticket coupons. Our admission price was $12, plus the $5 and 2 tolls of $1 and $1.50. Overall fairly cheap for what was like a Rally without the Bikes being there.

Though we only spent three hours at the show I saw a few things that I have to share with you all. First off, I will no longer tell Cathy I will never be seen on a trike! What I saw first hand did not disappoint me at all, the BRP Can-AM RT Touring Trike. I can't begin to cover all the "goodies" this trike has but if you are looking for value for your dollar....then look no further, or course the proof will be in test driving one!

Another item that interested me was being sold by Yukon Leather. It is called the Zip Front Police Style leather vest. Though the retail price was $199.95, the show price was $99.95. Problem was that after I made a deal with the vendor, they didn't have my size! Once back home I e-mailed the company and they were very good with a quick answer. Though they didn't want to meet the $90 price and free shipping, after two e-mails to them they honored the vendor price and agreed to the $90 and FREE shipping. Tomorrow I will order this vest! Thanks again to Yukon Leather for honoring your Vendor's price!

Terry had told me that National Cycle would be available at the Show to ask questions of their VStream Windscreen that is made for Harley-Davidson Touring Models, specifically the Road Glide. After almost giving up on finding the booth as we were about ready to leave, "bingo" we found it! I wish I would have gotten the salesman's name becasue he provided lots of information and invited me to their warehouse in Maywood, IL to try a VStream before buying it! This is what I have been looking for! They will install a used Windscreen on our '08 Road Glide and if I like it, then they will install a new one as I wait! Prices are fairly reasonable, under $175. They come in three different sizes, 18", 15.25", 9.25" (Dark or Light Tint 9.25" only).

AMSOIL INC. of Superior, WI has announced the addition of 75W-110 Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lube to its strong line of AMSOIL Severe Gear Extreme Pressure Synthetic Gear Lubes. AMSOIL Severe Gear Synthetic Gear Lubes feature an exclusive blend of high viscosity, shear stable synthetic base oils and an extra treatment of high-performance additives. They are engineered to protect gears better than conventional gear oils, resisting acid, carbon and varnish formation and oxidative breakdown. At the Show we were told that this Synthetic Gear Oil is just what the Doctor ordered for those 6-speed Harley-Davidson transmissions prior to the new design of the '09s. Switching to Amsoil 75W-110 will quite that 5th gear chatter right down and needs to be changed every 20,000 miles. We own one of those noisy '08s, so I will be changing over to this gear oil.

Last but not least, I met a young man who's name is Greg Zaffke II. Greg lost his mother about a year ago to a motorist that was not paying attention to the road and multitasking by, painting her nails! This motorists failed to stop at an intersection and stuck Anita Zaffke, who was on her motorcycle, wearing a helmet and proper riding gear. The impact caused Anita to be thrown some 200' from her motorcycle. Anita was only 56 years old! Greg has established a cause titled, Black Nail Brigade as a non-profit organization providing information and resources for crash victims and their families. This organization is DEMANDING increased motorist awareness and accountability. May 1, 2010 Black Nail Brigade is holding an Epic Memorial Ride & Rally. Visit their website and join in the cause! If you can't join the ride consider a donation. Greg, your mother would be very proud of you in getting the word out and helping to pass new laws making it a crime to multitask when driving! Thanks for all your hard work!

As you can see this was an eventful day out with some riding buddies. Thanks to Marc, Chuck and Terry for introducing me to the International Motorcycle Show! Next year I will definitely be in attendance once again!

Road Glide Almost Complete!

Our 2008 Harley-Davidson Road Glide is almost complete! Last season we added the complete Ultra Classic intercom system including rear speakers and king-tour pack lights. The tour-pack was rigid mounted so as to eliminate the rattle that the quick release mounts are known for.
This winter after receiving from Eastern Performance Cycle a complete Rinehart true dual exhaust system, Capital City Harley-Davidson went to work with the installation and Screamin' Eagle Stage I Kit, including the Screamin' Eagle Stage I Air Cleaner and Screamin' Eagle Pro Super Tuner.
After seeing the installation and knowing the right side of the Road Glide would run cooler because of the header pipe running the length of the motorcycle and in the area of the floorboard, I wondered if I could do something better to the left side. Initially I thought of having the left header pipe from the rear cylinder wrapped in ceramic tape, but was told there would not be enough room for the chrome heat shield to be reinstalled. I was forced to do more research to cool this pipe.
After talking to a friend (thanks Chad!) who was having his header pipe on his Buell ceramic coated, I thought why not the Road Glide. Chad had found a shop in Milton, WI called Spectrum Coatings that specializes in ceramic coating. I contacted the President, Greg for an estimate. Greg told me $125 total, both pipes! By having these pipes ceramic coated, they would not only run cooler, but more efficiently too! Air would travel faster through the pipes! To me this was a no brainer! Cooler pipes equals more comfort to me and Cathy from an air cooled engine.

I hate to say, but all said and done my bill will just touch the $1900 plateau. I have been able to hear the exhaust after it was installed and WOW, what a difference from the stock mufflers and then the Screamin' Eagle Touring mufflers. So if you know of anyone looking for a set of stock mufflers or the touring ones, have them call us!
Next time you hear a loud Road Glide, it just might be us! Be safe!

Ultra Road Glide well almost!

Our transformation from stock Road Glide to Ultra Road Glide is complete, well almost! Ever since discovering the soft detachable lowers, I refuse to spend the big buck for the hard-sided lowers that don't have vents and take more than a few minutes to remove.

Our Mystery Ride this year titled, "Ride Your A Ride" made us change our opinion of whether or not we should spend the money converting our ride into one in which we can communicate with others with Ultra Classics. Earlier in the summer we decided to purchase the wireless blue-tooth Scala Headsets. These headsets have worked flawlessly and provided us the ability to talk with each other while not being attached via a wire. We were able to listen to music being played on the Zumo 550 GPS and also listen to turn-by-turn directions. This communication system is now for sale for $225 because we had Capital City Harley-Davidson install the complete Intercom System! After purchasing the new headsets for our helmets we are into the intercom for, are you sitting down, just under $2,000! Yeah it's a lot of money, however I love to ride the Road Glide and still feel it is Harley's best kept secret and the best touring bike they make. The only problem with the Road Glide, it doesn't come with the Intercom System! The 2010 Road Glide's have improved in only one area that considers any space on this blog and that's it's new 5th gear to quiet the whining noises that was noticeable in earlier version 6 speeds. The least the Motor Company could have done was to include the 103 cubic inch motors the Ultra Classic Limiteds received.

The following is a list of parts to convert the Road Glide into an Intercom Road Glide, keep in mind that prior to doing this, I rigid mounted the King-Tour Pak because I was tired of the rattling and also knew we were going to add the Intercom System later this summer. By-the-way, the Motor Company also for 2010 took away standard Cruise Control and PTT or Push To Talk switches that are found standard on the 2008 models. Again, I ask why would anyone trade in an earlier model Road Glide for a 2010?
15347-08 Console Insert $10.99
68172-06 Wrap Around Light Kit (Just like the Ultra Classics) $214.99
70169-06 Non-Ultra Wire Harness $129.99
76416-06 Advanced Radio CB Kit $299.99
76440-06 Intercom Kit $89.99
77136-08 Console Pod Assembly $138.99
77155-06 Advanced Rear Speakers Pod $439.99
Labor 3.5 hours @ $70/hour totaling $245.00
Shop Supplies Miscellaneous Extras $50.00
76386-08 Road Tech Shorty CB Antenna $29.95
76388-08 Road Tech Shorty AM-FM Antenna $29.95
Total Costs not counting Helmet Headsets...................................$1500.00 (approximately)

We received a 20% discount at the Dealership which everyone does at this time, not counting labor costs. In order to add this system you must have the Advanced Audio Radio which is standard equipment for Touring Models starting in 2007 (I believe). We have since used the new Intercom and wonder how we got by without it. We still like the blue-tooth wireless Scalas, however they didn't allow us to talk to other Ultra Riders and we really needed this ability when we host our Annual Tourin' Hawgs Mystery Rides. What's nice about the blue-tooth communication is that they can be added to any helmet except half helmets. They allow rider and passenger to communicate with each other during a ride, and Cathy and I still believe communication is vital in not only a safer ride, but a longer relationship together too! If you are interested in our Scala Headsets, let us know.

Remember to practice safe cycling! Ride Your "A" Ride!