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Motorcycle Articles

Here is your chance to write an article for The Bikers' Den Newsletter. Send us your motorcycle related articles and if we use it in our next newsletter you will receive a $50.00 Gift Certificate valid on anything we carry. You don't have to be a professional writer and you can write about anything you want as long as it is related to motorcycles and the motorcycle community. We're looking for mechanical tips and tricks, ride destinations, product reviews, etc. Let us know how your weekend ride went or the biker rally you attended... Send your articles to The Bikers' Den Newsletter (newsletter@bikersden.com)

This Month's Motorcycle Article is written by Jim Pyatt of the Ulitmate Motorcycle Detail Newsletter. To subscribe to Jim's Newsletter, please email him at jjimpyatt@aol.com.

Motorcycles save Gas and Time

By Jim Pyatt

Three months ago, the price of gas was well over $3.50 a gallon in California. Motorcycle riders looked at what we were paying for gas and decided to leave other vehicles parked at home, opting instead to ride the Harley to work.

Rising fuel prices are prompting more Californians to switch from cars to motorcycles as a way of saving money and being environmentally correct. While it's impossible to know exactly how many of the motorcyclists were spurred to action by the rising price of gasoline, enthusiasts and anecdotal evidence suggest economics is a major factor.

The other advantage is those long, snaking lines of traffic. When everyone else screeches to a stop, you just keep going. You sneak past the snarl in one, continuous graceful motion. It suddenly dawned on you that on your last commute you were one of those drivers trapped, wasting that precious commodity called gas, pumping pollution into our environment. Yes, you were one of those drivers trapped inside one of those cars.

Be grateful to the forces of the universe and the resources of Harley-Davidson for rescuing you from commuter hell. It will forever remain a mystery why there aren't more motorcycles on the road in the mornings. I suppose it was too much to admit the truth that people who commute to work on motorcycles are doing the rest of the commuters and our environment a favor. They don't clog up the roads, they don't use up as much gas, and they never jam on their brakes, causing fender benders.

Dream for a minute with me. The sun is climbing higher, taking the last of the early chill. Settle into the saddle. Your fingers tingle through the ends of your gloves. You have no idea how long you've been riding, no sense of being late or on time, only a sense of well being and peace. Blink again, leaning hard into the turn and coming to a stop at work. It's one of those glorious spring mornings, the sun fully risen in the sky; everything felt as fresh and new, energized and full of vim and vigor for the day.

Quick Motorcycle Detail

By Jim Pyatt

I don't know about you, but let's face it. There is never enough time in 24 hours! We have always disliked washing our bikes, mostly because of the time it takes away from riding them. Everyone who rides knows that feeling of pride that comes from riding a shiny, clean motorcycle.

The paint and chrome shine with a reflection of the countryside or even in a big city; the gawkers are amazed at the detail. Yes it's a necessary and essential task. Maintaining your bike's finish is a priority in retaining the value and pride of ownership. There are a number of levels of cleaning your motorcycle. A full detail should include stripping your bike down to the frame to wash, polish, and wax every external part. A wash and wax means removing the saddle and a few other external pieces that get in the way, such as saddlebags, side covers, and windshield. The most important action is the basic wash and quick detail.

This usually means cleaning off bugs, road grime, brake dust, grease, oil, and anything else before the motorcycle is ready to ride. We have all seen those all-in-one products. Maybe there is, but I haven't found one yet that will clean, polish, and protect all in one. I have found that with a few basic products I can achieve a professional quality detail in a short time. If you have been riding long, you are familiar with S100 Cycle Products. They are available at most quality bike shops. This simple detail requires a couple items, S100 Total Cycle Cleaner and S100 Polishing Soap.

There is a way to clean your motorcycle without using too much of your valuable time. My quick wash and detail will have you on the road in less than thirty minutes, preserving your precious time while you retain that pride of ownership.

Before You Wash Your Bike, Diagnose

Check front forks for bugs and road tar. Check your bike's surfaces. They should be cool before applying cleaning solutions. One of the great things with this washing system is that it doesn't require soap, bucket, or wash mitt. I suggest covering the seat, and, if your saddlebags are leather, remove or cover them with plastic.

Treatment 1

Polishing. Use the S100 Soap, designed for anywhere your regular metal polish is used: wheels, forks, handlebars, exhausts, and case covers.

Moisten the sponge supplied, remove lid, and rub sponge on the soap. Then rub the sponge over the product, making lather. Next, apply it to the bike's metal surfaces, other than painted ones. Rub it heartily until the surface is properly polished. It will haze over, but the haze will rinse off in treatment 3.

· S100 polishing soap is not intended for use on painted or anodized surfaces; this product will scratch paint. You should clean the paint with the S100 cycle cleaner for the painted surfaces.

Treatment 2

Cleaning. No soap or bucket needed, only your S100 Total Cycle Cleaner.

· Spray the entire bike with S100 Total Cycle Cleaner, including the metal surfaces you just polished. I use the spray bottle. It also comes in an aerosol version, but my experience with aerosol is that the cost is usually much higher. When it comes into contact with your bike, it quickly foams and seeps into the nooks and crannies. Agitate the really tough bug stains, let it sit and soak briefly. The product will dissolve the bugs and road grime. Repeat if necessary.

Treatment 3

Rinsing is easy, but you must be careful to rinse completely. You are removing all the soap from the polish and cleaner. Failing to do so will result in spotting and streaking. Thorough rinsing gives you a beautiful shine with very little effort.

Treatment 4

Drying, The most efficient, quickest, and easiest way to dry a motorcycle is with a leaf blower. If you don't have one, they can be purchased at the local hardware store for around twenty dollars. This gentle stream of air will blow water out of the small nooks and crannies and other hard-to-reach areas. A waffle-weave microfiber towel is great for the final drying.

Treatment 5 (Optional, less than five minutes)

Quick Wax

· Wipe the bike down with Meguiar's NXT generation spray wax. Using a microfiber towel folded into four squares, spray a couple of shots of spray wax into the towel, and wipe the entire bike down. This will le ave you with a just waxed finish.

Prevention as always is the best. Simply keep your motorcycle covered, whether it sits inside or out. Keep the dust and other elements off. All these enemies can cause damage. A cover can reduce UV damage to leather and plastics. It's best to be prepared.

Joke of the Month

A woman and her husband were riding their Harley Electra Glide on vacation, but had to interrupt their trip to go to the dentist. "I want a tooth pulled and I don't want to waste any time with any pain killers because we're in a big hurry," the woman said. "Just extract the tooth as quickly as possible and we'll be on our way." The dentist was quite impressed. "You're certainly a courageous woman," he said. "Which tooth is it?" The woman turned to her husband and said, "Show him your tooth, dear."

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This Month's Featured Motorcycle Club

Bikers Against Child Abuse Bikers Against Child Abuse (BACA) exists with the intent to create a safer environment for abused children. We exist as a body of Bikers to empower children to not feel afraid of the world in which they live. We stand ready to lend support to our wounded friends by involving them with an established, united organization. We work in conjunction with local and state officials who are already in place to protect children. We desire to send a clear message to all involved with the abused child that this child is part of our organization, and that we are prepared to lend our physical and emotional support to them by affiliation, and our physical presence. We stand at the ready to shield these children from further abuse. We do not condone the use of violence or physical force in any manner, however, if circumstances arise such that we are the only obstacle preventing a child from further abuse, we stand ready to be that obstacle.

To view all of our motorcycle club listings please visit The Bikers' Den Motorcycle Club Directory.

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This Month's Featured Motorcycle Website

2GuysAndABike.com We decided to combine a business web site and a biker web site to better serve the needs of all motorcycle communities. Here you will find services, links, and events as well as photos of various people and places we have been to. Contents are always being updated so keep checking the news page. A little about us is stated below. If you're in the Tampa Bay area and looking for a great bike night, visit our links page.

To view all of our motorcycle related website listings please visit The Bikers' Den Motorcycle Link Directory.

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