Harley's Forgotten RG Stripe Now Found!

Harley-Davidson for whatever reason, some say to save money while others think it was a mishap not known until after production was in full swing! Whatever the reason the Motor Company never added a stripe on the side covers for the 2007 & 2008 Road Glide model years. In 2009 an attempt was made to add a plain stripe that I feel has no artistic value what-so-ever, but none-the-less a stripe was added!

After researching where I could purchase such an artistic stripe to compliment the Vivid Black paint, bright red and burgundy stripe of the 2008 Road Glide, I located a company named Hell's Foundry. This company sells a "Winding Road" Glide stripe for $49.95 that not only compliments the blank canvas of the dull looking side cover, but connects the strip from the gas tank to the one located on the saddle bags.

Installation was tricky and I ended up with a few creases, but you'll need to look closely to find them. I probably saved $50 or so by not paying someone to install. Thanks to my wife for ordering these stripes for our 27th Anniversary!

Remember to continue to "Ride Your A Game" by bringing a positive ATTITUDE, riding within your own ABILITY not others, being AWARE of ever changing road, weather and traffic conditions and be ALERT by keeping a mind free of drugs, alcohol and clutter.
Ride safe!

The Hell With Waldo, Where's Willie G?

The First Rumble at Harley-Davidson's Museum off Canal Street in downtown Milwaukee took place Saturday, May 9. Breakfast with Bill Davidson for all Museum members was held prior to the Bike Blessing at the intersection on HD Museum property.

Three couples from Watertown braved the forecast of 50 degrees, winds around 15-20 mph and threatening rain. Just east of Pewaukee, CDogg needed gas and motioned to me in panic. Not really, remember the saying full tank, empty bladder? His wife even asked him if he had enough fuel! Good thing he thought he did because after fueling, the big v-twin would not kick over. A call was made to Wisconsin Harley-Davidson who later made the trip to STH 164 and I-94 to pick the bike up at the Kwik Trip station.

The remaining two couples later continued the trip to the museum. We made it just in time to partake in the Bike Blessing and then later on we received individual blessings. Harley knows how to throw a celebration! After Zman and his wife became members of the HD Museum and we got our key chain and HD Road Pack we got photos with the bike that was in the movie starring Harrison Ford, "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull"(2008).

As we were walking around I saw what appeared to me as Willie G and his wife! I knew Bill Davidson was going to be present and had hoped Willie would be there as well. As luck would have it, he was! This was my first face-to-face meeting with Willie G and his wife. He was very personable and we had photos taken with him and he signed whatever we were wearing, at the time it was raingear!

Later we witnessed two V-Rod dragsters battle it out in the parking lot! Really, they burned rubber and went screaming (like Danny Gokey's last note on American Idol during Rock & Roll week) for about 150-200 feet. Black rubber and all. I later met up with Bill Davidson and asked him how difficult it would be to clean the red dyed cement where the top fuel bikes raced. His reply, "Clean it! Hell we had them sign it!"

Many more photos can be seen on Shutterfly. Simply click on Willie and it links you to another site. Be sure to type in the password "chrome" when you get there.

WHERE TO SECURE THOSE DAMN HELMETS!

Have you ever found yourself after parking your beloved Harley and then not knowing what to do with your helmet? Do you place it on the seat, to later when you're not around fall on the ground and chip, or worse yet have someone else decide your helmet is much better than theirs, so they take it! Yeah I know, what's the big deal taking it with you. Well, have you ever sat in a booth for lunch with three other riders and their helmets? Didn't think so, because if you have, you wouldn't have asked! Keep in mind that you can click on any image and it will open much larger! By-the-way, those with Tour Paks (King or Chopped) can move their Pak forward or backwards approximately 2" by removing the same 5 bolts in the photo and moving the entire Pak to the second set of mounting holes on the mounting bracket.

Helmets protect the head and neck in the event of a crash. Most motorcycle heads injuries are the result of, you guessed it, not wearing a helmet at all! So they protect the head, is there anything positive about lugging one around all day long, well other than you can always tell the wife, "No more purchases, I gotta carry the helmets!" Seriously, if you are like us and like to tour with your Harley, then you don't have room in the saddlebags or tour pack to secure your helmets. Carrying them around all day long is a pain in the butt! So many are seen either resting on the seat of the motorcycle waiting to fall and damage or on the ground.

Helmet locks have been available for purchase for many, many years. These locks can be easily mounted to the engine guards, saddlebag guards or frame tubes, but they come at a price of appearance. Where to mount these buggers that is out of the way, useful when needed and might create a conversational piece? On our first Ultra Classic, purchased used from a guy near Orlando, Florida he had the helmet locks mounted under the tour pack! They were out of sight, useful when needed and started many a conversation on our rides.

I didn't take the time to purchase helmet locks for our 2008 Ultra and have since sold that for a 2008 Road Glide. Recently we had the detachable tour pack installed and I will show you the list of materials needed and what is involved in securing these locks under the tour pack. Any anyone that knows me, if I can do this, hell anyone can!

Materials needed include helmet locks (dah!), part #45732-86 Harley catalog $18.95, 7/8" to 1-1/4" diameter tubing, preferably solid plastic dowel, though a piece of PVC capped off on both ends would also work. You can choose to use a drill press (I recommend it), drill through the center of the dowel, from one end to the other. If using PVC then drill through the center of both caps. Use PVC cement/cleaner to adhere end caps on (again if using PVC). Use a 1/4" drill bit for the holes. Thanks Don for locating the needed dowel at Grainger Part #1UTW2 (1 inch diameter) . You can order this item in different lengths. One example is a length of one foot for $3.70. If using a 1-1/4" part #1UTW6 one foot length is $5.97. This is extruded Nylon 6/6.

Finally it is done! After cutting the extruded nylon dowels to 2-1/4" in length, drilling a 1/4" hole down the length of the dowel and getting the few pieces of hardware (3-1/2" Phillips head bolt, washers and nylon lock nut $4.64), all I needed to do was mount it on the Tour Pak. In all I have less than $45 total cost including the dowel, locks and hardware. Now the helmets will be out of the way when dining out with friends or simply traveling with tour and saddle bags full of clothes and other necessities.

If you should come up with a useful idea, making rides more enjoyable, please share it! We are all in this together. Enjoy another riding season and remember to always be on your "A" game when you ride (Be Alert by being drug free and having plenty of rest. Be Aware of ever changing road & weather conditions along with other drivers. Ride within your Ability, not someone elses and bring a positive Attitude to every ride)!