Any biker knows that riding a motorcycle is the closest thing to flying. Riding melts away anxiety and worries, allowing one to glide along the road, feeling nothing but a thrill for life itself. Because dogs get the same kind of rush, as proven by their love for sticking their heads out of car windows, many bikers feel inclined to bring their canines along for the ride.

Some people may not be comfortable with the sight of dogs riding on the back of motorcycles, but a sensible biker would take as many precautions as possible to ensure that their dog is safe on their motorcycle. There is a growing market for biker dogs with safe motorcycle-specific carriers, dog seats, sidecars, trailers, and even doggy helmets, leather jackets, and goggles.

Carriers, such as T-Bags, can be strapped securely to the luggage rack on the motorcycle and give bikers the peace of mind in knowing that their dog is safely enjoying the ride. For bigger dogs and more experienced small dogs, there is the Beast Rider, a custom built doggy seat with a harness system. Some people say that sidecars and trailers are the safest places to put dogs, especially larger ones. In these motorcycle additions, dogs are likely to be more comfortable, because they feel like they’re riding a convertible rather than on the back of a motorcycle.

Motorcycles are not for every dog. Some pooches may get scared upon hearing motorcycles, and others won’t like sitting on a fast bike for an extended period of time. As for the rest, they love being seen cruising on a motorcycle in a leather jacket and goggles. Bikers who are unsure about whether or not their dog would take to riding usually introduce their pup to it slowly, carefully, and gently. A good method is to strap the dog in its designated seat when the motorcycle is turned off, and observing its behavior. Is the dog comfortable? Scared? Trying to jump out? If the dog is visibly afraid (breathing heavily, crying, or shaking), chances are it would not like riding at all. Once the dog seems to be relaxed in its seat, turn the motorcycle on and watch its reaction to the sudden noise. Is it startled? Afraid? Indifferent? Sometimes it takes a little persuasion to make dogs realize that riding is actually fun. Riding around the block at an easy pace (while keeping the dog under close observation) would help the dog understand what motorcycles are all about. At this point, the dog may decide whether or not it likes to ride.

If the dog is on board, excellent! Now, it’s time to ensure that the motorcycle is equipped to carry a dog safely. If using a pet carrier, never let the door face the exhaust system, for the air pollution could affect the dog’s breathing. If using trailers or sidecars, follow the manufacturer’s instructions to confirm that it is hitched to the motorcycle properly. If using a custom backseat, fasten it as tightly and securely as possible to the back of the motorcycle. Before taking the pup on a ride, it would be a good idea to perform a routine check to make sure that everything is hooked up correctly. When it comes to a precious pup’s safety, one can never be too careful.

Want to extend your riding season with an easy to install accessory? Then soft lowers are a must!

Soft lowers, or highway bar rain guard chaps, offer both protection and style to your motorcycle. The engine guard chaps can help keep your feet and legs dryer in the rain and wet road by shielding your legs from road spray.  The chaps will keep your legs warmer in cold weather by acting as wind deflectors. Unlike typical “hard lowers”, they aren’t as bulky and can be easily installed and removed within minutes. You can even roll them up and stored them in your saddle bags just in case you end up riding home in the rain or on a cold night.

Desert Dawgs are premium, soft lower motorcycle chaps, (aka rain guards) that install easily on your motorcycle’s engine guard, or highway bars. Pockets on the riders’ side provide convenient storage. Fabricated from durable top quality vinyl – they look like leather, but last longer. And, they don’t require any maintenance or special treatment like leather would!

Desert Dawgs ….

• are made with top quality leather touch vinyl
• are designed to minimize cold updrafts
• repel road spray from front wheel and flared front fender
• allow engine cooling – No temperature restriction like other brands!
• are easy on-and-off – three snaps, belt clip and hook-and-loop attachments
• do not affect bike handling
• have brass and stainless steel snaps that won’t rust
• are sewn with nylon thread - durable in all weather conditions
• require only soap and water to clean
• accommodate many foot peg, or highway peg settings with a 6" opening
• are made in the USA!

If you’re a diehard rider, looking to extend your riding season and your miles, Desert Dawg Highway Bar rain guards are a must! They are available plain or with chrome studs to compliment the look of your bike.

Don’t put your bike in winter storage just yet! You can extend your riding season and keep your hands warm by installing a set of Heat Demons grip . And the best part about this is you don’t have to buy new handgrips, you can use the ones you have! Of course, if you are thinking about replacing handgrips, now is the time to do this. Heat Demon’s are internal grip heaters that are made by a company called Symtec. They started out providing heated grips for snowmobiles and ATV’s, so why not motorcycles?

They insert inside the grip, rather than wrap around it. The only thing you must have are hollow handlebars. A small hole needs to be drilled in the bar itself to pull the wires through into the handlebar controls. So, Heat demons will fit most Harley-Davidson motorcycles with OEM bars. Known exceptions are the 2008-2010 Road Glide models, CVO Street Glides and some models with the 1 ¼”, or aftermarket “Chubby Bars”. Other non-stock HD handlebars and some aftermarket brand bars may be hollow, but might have too small of an inside diameter. If in doubt, make sure the inside diameter of your bars are at least .875” (7/8”). The other exception is Harley Davidson models that have TBW (Throttle By Wire).

Heat Demons heat your grips from inside the handlebar. The controller is actually a state of the art, closed loop microprocessor temperature control. It allows four different heat settings with Hi Intensity LED’s for easy daylight viewing. The LED’s can be dimmed for night riding as well. One single switch controls everything! These new grip warmers come complete with everything you need to install them. The kit includes a four level power controller with adjustable intensity LED’s, two heater inserts, hardware and wire threading tool. You can use any hand grips of your choice.

Once installed, Heat Demon’s provide style, performance and safety that make cold weather riding a pleasant experience. The adjustable heat controller is easily accessed with your thumb. No more fumbling around, or taking your eyes off the road to twist a hand grip thermostat to adjust hand grip temperature.

Heat Demon Grip Warmers are an internal design allowing the installation in almost all standard handlebars without issues.  The kit includes the 2 heaters with 4 levels of heat and a fast warm-up.  The heat controller is available in Black or Chrome with an attractive and durable weatherproof design. There is  4 color set of LED lights to indicate heat level selected that will dim for night riding.  The thermostat feedback keeps the grip heat at the selected level regardless of voltage variation or ambient conditions. The result of having a heated grip in cold weather is added comfort.

You Know you’re a Biker if………

• You own more black T-shirts than underwear Both your dog and your wallet are on chains
• You encourage your son to go to the Motorcycle Mechanics’ Institute instead of college
• Taking your wife on a cruise means a quick spin down the freeway
• Your only 3 piece suit is a leather jacket, vest and chaps
• Your Christmas list has no words, just part numbers
• Sturgis is your dream vacation
• You pile boxes and junk all over your car, but your bike has 8 feet of clearance in the garage
• You put Sta-bil in your car, but not your bike
• You never forget to plug you bike into the trickle charger, but your cell phone battery is constantly dead
• You have a complete set of rain gear in your saddle bags, but you can’t find an umbrella anywhere
• Your bike leaks a drop of oil and you feel it’s just marking its territory
• You pass 7 gas stations to buy from the one that has 94 octane available

Any finally; you know you’re a biker if ….. Your wife has ever asked you to move the bike so she can watch TV

Harley-Davidson has sold over 308,000 touring and trike motorcycles since 2008, and now they want every one of these bikes back.

It’s not because the owners were so bad their toys needed to be taken away; it’s because all the Harley-Davidson touring and trike motorcycles manufactured between June 6, 2008 and September 16, 2011 had a design flaw that could lead to rear brake failure.

Anyone who has purchased an affected motorcycle from an authorized dealership will receive a letter notifying them of the defect and urging them to bring their motorcycle in to have the rear brake light switch replaced, free of charge.

The company has shipped rear brake light switch kits to its dealers with the expectation that most of the defected motorcycles will start coming in for repairs during the week of October 31st. Even now, some dealerships are already up to their necks in recalled motorcycles.

The announcement does not seem to faze some owners of the touring and trike motorcycles listed in the recall press release. They claim that their brakes have been working fine all along, and they do not plan to have anything repaired with the notion that "if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it."

Although the recall is voluntary, the owner of Milwaukee Harley-Davidson, Chaz Hastings, believes that everyone should take preventive measures, whether necessary or not. "Anytime there's been a safety recall on something, you should take it seriously because the motor company said these are issues that are out there," he said.

Robert Fung, a mechanic who hails from Chicagoland, thinks that bringing a motorcycle that runs just fine to the local dealership to have a perfectly good part replaced is both time-consuming and unnecessary. “From what I understand,” he said, “federal recall campaigns do not expire. They last for an indefinite period of time. Your motorcycle may have been running well since you bought it, but five years later, your motorcycle might finally start having the issues listed in the recall. You can always take it in and say, ‘Hey, remember that recall from 2011? My bike’s having that problem.’ They’d get it fixed free of charge, no questions asked.”

People who agree with Hastings would argue that should the defected part ever malfunction while a rider is operating his/her motorcycle after the recall has been issued, the rider would be at risk for serious injury or even death. As the famous saying goes, “Better safe than sorry.”

If a rider is in doubt about bringing their affected motorcycle in due to limited time, transportation issues, or any other reason, they might want to do some research on the details of the recall. How many motorcycles have failed due to the defect? What are the chances of their own motorcycle experiencing the same incident? How well do they know the part(s) specified in the recall? Are they able to inspect it on their own? If the part(s) fails while the motorcycle is running, how dangerous would it be?

In the 1968 British-French cult film titled The Girl on a Motorcycle, Marianne Faithfull rides across country on her Harley Davidson with her long, luscious blond hair flowing behind her. Her hair remains flawless throughout the entire film, especially when she gets off of her bike and pulls the infamous slow-motion Hollywood "shake head and let hair loose" move. Her long and silky wind-kissed hair post-ride may seem normal to, or even expected of, viewers who have never been on a motorcycle, but any rider with long hair would scoff at the absurdity of this very inaccurate portrayal. Some might sigh and say, "If only life were this easy!"

In real life, free-flowing hair does not fare well in the wind. Exposure to strong persistent winds can coarsen and entangle even the softest hair. The wind combined with the effects of aerodynamics batters the hairs against one another, roughening the cuticle layer and developing split ends. Combing out knots and mats post-ride weakens and breaks the hair, resulting in thin frazzled hair.

Sound familiar? Most female riders have experienced tangles and kinks in their hair at one time or another. A pair of scissors does not necessarily solve the problem. It is possible to keep your hair long and healthy while riding as often as you want. The only precaution you have to take is to ensure that the wind will not blow through your hair.

Braid your hair

Braided hair, including French braids, reverse braids, and pigtails, is proven to be an effective hairstyle when it comes to keeping your hair under control in the wind. If done correctly, every strand of hair is confined in its place, and after you ride and undo the braids, you are able to run your fingers through your silky locks without even picking up a hairbrush.

Use three or more hair ties

This is arguably the most practical method, often used by male riders with long hair. This is when you pull your hair back in a ponytail at the base of your neck, and bind your hair with a few more hair ties spaced out down the length of your hair. Make sure the very end of the ponytail is tied up securely. This should fasten your hair in its place, but multi-layered hairstyles may be prone to flyaways.

Wear a bandana

If you are not a helmet wearer, it might be a good idea to wear a bandana to prevent bangs or short layers on top of your head from entangling in the wind. Some female bikers swear by satin bandanas, because satin protects hair against friction and, in turn, helps avert hair loss. A baseball cap may do the trick just as well.

Use a hair glove

Usually sold for under $25, hair gloves are 4" – 8" leather, suede, or neoprene tubes made to wrap around ponytail-length hair. Its functionality is straightforward; it keeps your hair under control and away from your face, because your ponytail is fastened inside the tube. However, hair gloves do not cover the top of your head, so a helmet or a bandana may be necessary.

There are many more ways to keep the wind from damaging your hair. These are just a few suggestions. If you have your own method, we would love to hear about it in the comments!

Want to squeeze a little more horsepower out of your Harley? Pick up a high performance Air Intake System by Force Motor Products. Adding an air intake is definitely a quick and easy way to go if you want:

• An increase in horsepower
• A noticeable increase in throttle response
• Improved fuel economy
• Do it yourself installation

What can a high performance air intake do for your bike and your adrenalin rush? High performance air intake systems draw in a higher volume of air which is much cooler than the hot air in the combustion chamber. This helps your motor breathe easier than the standard stock air cleaner and helps the fuel burn more efficiently with the cooler, oxygen-rich air. This results in more power out of every drop of fuel.

With more air and cooler air available to suck into the combustion chamber, you’ll feel a much quicker response of power when you roll on the throttle. Stock air intakes deliver warmer, fuel-rich combustion mixtures that can cause your engine to lose power while running hotter. You may feel that slight “hesitation” when you roll on the throttle with a stock set up. High performance air intakes give you a more responsive throttle by providing more air for combustion.

Fuel economy with a performance air intake? Performance air intakes can even help improve your fuel economy because you will be burning fuel more efficiently. So, because you're getting more power from every drop by burning more efficiently, your engine uses less fuel! The one trade off is, with all this extra performance and throttle response, you guessed it - you may be tempted to “roll on” a few more times than before. Oh well, there goes your fuel economy!

New from Force Motor Products is the Dominator Forcewinder - the ultimate, state of the art Forcewinder for your Harley. Clean looks and sassy performance available in Show Polished high grade aluminum, or finished in tough powder coated flat black. It features an all cast, internal breathing, leak proof mount for that custom look. Couple that with the original time proven Forcewinder intake, upgraded with an all billet Probike intake filter and you have the Ultimate Stimulus Performance Package for your bike with show winning looks and drag strip performance. The XR-2 is available as it has been for a number of years.

The Dominator Forcewinder and the XR-2 are available for your Twin Cam, Evo, or Sporster. The Dominator can be mounted vertically chopper style, or horizontally. The Kits include a 90° cast aluminum elbow, K& N air filter. The XR-2 includes crankcase breather kit, the Dominator includes a breather bracket.

• Requires the use of carburetor-support brackets (sold separately)
• Optional adapter kits allow mounting of systems to S&S or Mikuni carbs
• Made in the U.S.A.
• Pro series models also include a Force Pro Series Billet air filter

Everyone knows that riding a motorcycle is a liberating and a life-changing experience. What some people don’t realize is owning a motorcycle also brings you some extra, lesser-known perks, such as:

1. A thicker wallet.

On average, riding a motorcycle saves you 58% on gas money as opposed to driving a car. A typical mid-sized car has a gas mileage of 21 miles per gallon while an average motorcycle gets 50 miles per gallon. With gasoline at $4 per gallon, it would cost $190.47 to drive 1,000 miles in a car. On a motorcycle, you would pay only $80 per 1,000 miles. That’s a savings of $110.47. After riding 10,000 miles on a motorcycle, you would save slightly over $1,100.

2. A sense of belonging.

Any biker would tell you that the minute you get your first motorcycle, you are automatically enrolled into an unofficial club. Don’t worry, you don’t need to pay dues or attend any meetings. Your only obligation is to ride hard or go home. In the biker community, there is a sense of brotherhood – everyone has each other’s back. The club’s “secret handshake” is a lowered hand wave whenever you pass another biker on the road.

3. A more fulfilling social life.

Contrary to popular belief, the biker community is very diverse. It is not unusual to spot a wealthy lawyer sporting a leather jacket and chaps at a rally, a short 110-pound woman riding a hog, or an 80-year-old man sporting a Harley-Davidson tattoo. It is possible for anyone to find a like-minded friend or two in the biker community. It is always nice to be able to call up a fellow biker and say, “Hey, wanna ride today?” Rallies and local biker get-togethers are great ways to meet new people.

4. A better understanding of the road.

You could drive down the same road every day your entire life and still be amazed by all its bumps and grooves after riding on it for the first time. As opposed to driving a car, riding a motorcycle heightens your senses and involuntarily makes you more aware of the road and your surroundings. The new level of attentiveness you acquire from riding could improve your driving skills.

5. A clear conscience.

Motorcycles don’t run air conditioners or clog up traffic. While motorcycles emit carbon monoxide, they produce very little carbon dioxide, the greenhouse gas that poses a very serious threat to the climate. When global warming is concerned, motorcycles are far more efficient than cars are. Also, motorcycles have better gas mileage (as addressed in #1). By riding instead of driving, your carbon footprint reduces in size and, as a result, you help protect the environment.

Not only does it feel good to help the less fortunate during the holidays, the experience is much more rewarding when passion and kindness is involved. Avid cooks find great pleasure in volunteering at the local food pantry. Artists create masterpieces in the form of greeting cards that will be sent to soldiers stationed overseas. Philanthropists donate money to their favorite holiday charities. Last, but not least, bikers assume the role of Santa Claus and participate in toy runs.

A toy run, which usually takes place between August and December, is an event sponsored by local businesses and individuals where hundreds or thousands of bikers dressed as Santa Claus gather and ride in a motorcycle parade around town. A typical run is about ten miles long. Non-riders, who may be friends, children, and other family members of the participants, as well as the people from the community, are invited to a festival at the end of the designated route. They wait in anticipation for the bike parade’s grand arrival, which is proceeded by a celebration with games, food, drinks, and entertainment.

Each participant must bring a brand new unwrapped toy that will be donated to the charity associated with the event. Most toy runs are affiliated with the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation, which was founded in 1947 by Major Bill Hendricks and a group of Marine Reservists. Over the course of 64 years, the organization has given over 16.7 million toys to underprivileged children all over the country. Local campaigns, including church events, marathons, Girl Scout fundraisers, and toy runs, in all 50 states have helped make Toy for Tots a smashing success.

The idea for a toy motorcycle run was formed in the late 1970s and continued to take shape into the early 1980s. Major cities like Chicago adopted the tradition early on, and soon more cities followed suit. Today, not only do toy runs take place in metropolitan cities such as Houston, Phoenix, Chicago, San Diego, Philadelphia, Honolulu, Boston, New York City, Nashville, and Seattle, they are also found in more rural communities such as Wichita, KS; DeKalb, IL; and Tobyhanna, PA.

Many bikers are emotionally involved with the cause, for various reasons. At such events, it is not unusual to see the biggest and baddest biker in town shed tears over heartwarming stories shared by others. Attendees know that they are all there for the same reason – to help the less fortunate – and the knowledge that they are doing something great brings them all closer together. Because toy motorcycle runs inspire the powerful feeling of unity and benevolence in all people involved, it is no mystery that these events become more and more popular each year.

Anyone who’s interested in participating in a local toy run may look for flyers at nearby dealerships and shops. S/he can also visit biker forums or even perform a simple Google search to locate a local toy run website. If nothing is found, s/he may browse the list of events at CycleFish

Motorcycles may be thunderous, fast, and valiant, but they need to hibernate during the winter. Unless you live in an area that is warm and dry all year round, you need to start thinking about winterizing your bike as soon as the temperature drops below fifty degrees, and especially when snow season is right around the corner.

It goes without saying that you should never leave your motorcycle outside exposed to the elements. The cold temperature and moisture will inflict all kinds of damage to the lines, hoses, paint, chrome, and just about everything else on your motorcycle. As a result, it may not run or run poorly requiring repair. I may not be safe to operate as the tires may have deteriorated.

For the winter months living in the colder climates storing your motorcycle must be taken with care. Some shops offer a motorcycle storage program where they take all the steps to prepare your bike for winter and, while storing it at their facilities, ensure that it stays in tip-top shape until you are ready to ride it in the spring. If you prefer to winterize and put away your bike yourself, there a number of steps and precautions for storing the bike over the winter months.

1.) Find the best possible location

A heated secure garage is ideal, but any indoor location would suffice as long as you avoid windows, ozone gas, mildew, dripping water, wind and vermin. The direct sunlight through windows can raise the temperature of the storage area, causing condensation when it gets cooler at night. That can damage the metal. The ozone gas created by running motors, freezers, furnaces, and electric heaters will deteriorate the rubber parts on your bike, so be sure to keep your bike far away from any of these devices. Bare concrete may create a damp environment for your bike, so it would be a good idea to prop your bike on top of a piece of plywood, MDF, or old thick carpet. Although not necessary, storing your bike with all the weight removed from the wheels with a bike stand or even some blocking will help keep the tires in good shape. A cover such as the Nelson Rigg MC 904 Deluxe goes a long way in protecting the paint while stored indoors.

2.) Wash, polish, and wax

The winterizing process takes four to six hours. Once you have a location secured, start by washing your bike thoroughly. Remove all the rust, bugs, oil, dirt, rocks, and road grime accumulated over the riding season. Clean the chrome and aluminum parts, then rub on some good chrome polish. Apply a coat of wax on the painted areas and the frame of the bike to prevent condensation from damaging the metal. You can skip this entire step by having your bike detailed at a shop.

3.) Stabilize the fuel

Add fuel stabilizer to your full tank per the instructions. Fuel stabilizer helps protect the fuel (which has a shelf life of only a few weeks) causing gum, varnish, and corrosion to build up in the fuel lines and engine. If left long enough without any stabilizer, the aromatics in the fuel will evaporate, leaving a thick, slimy substance that will clog the carburetor and fuel injectors. Run the bike for 10 minutes to ensure that the fuel stabilizer mixes and gets into the fuel delivery system.

4.) Change the oil

Even if an oil change is not due, always perform an oil change before putting your bike away for the winter. You want clean oil to sit in the inner metal surfaces instead of acidic combustion byproducts from old oil. A new oil filter is recommended. Run the engine briefly afterward to circulate the new oil throughout.

5.) Check the tire pressure

Rubber is a flexible material, so to prevent cracking in the treads of your tires, check the tire pressure periodically. If the pressure is low, it’s because cold weather causes air to condense inside the tires. Keep your tires to the proper presure as recommended by the manufacturer, and your tires will not cause an issue when spring riding returns.

6.) Cover the exhaust pipes

No one likes having bugs set camp in their exhaust pipes, so the best way to keep that from happening is pulling a plastic bag over each pipe opening and fastening it with a rubber band.

7.) Remove and charge the battery

Last, but not least, the battery must be removed from the motorcycle and be continuously charged throughout winter. It is recommended the battery be placed on a dry surface such as wood.  Placing the battery on the concrete floor is not good and will damage the batter over time.  Second the battery should be attached to trickle charger such as Battery Tender. If a battery remains discharged for a long time,  the plates inside will sulfate and no longer hold a charge providing the voltage to start and run the motorcycle.

Finally, after these seven steps, you may cover your bike, wish it sweet dreams, and walk away fully assured that it will be ready to fly once springtime rolls around.