Ryan Urlacher, Author at Law Abiding Biker Podcast

Motorcycle Long Ride Trip Planning

May 16, 2013 By Ryan Urlacher Leave a Comment

All credit for this blog goes to Rob (Lawdog) Layman

COMPLETE TUTORIAL VIDEOS YOU WILL WANT TO CHECK OUT: (CLICK DESCRIPTION TO LEARN MORE ABOUT EACH)

TUTORIAL VIDEO-Complete Harley Davidson Ride Planner & GPS Guide

TUTORIAL VIDEO-Complete Harley Davidson “Boom Box” Infotainment System GPS Stereo Tutorial

TUTORIAL VIDEO-Harley Davidson Boom Box Infotainment Software & Map Update Tutorial

Blog-Ok so you ride motorcycles. The big question is do you ride to dinner once a month or do you enjoy really putting the miles on?

I enjoy really putting the miles on. Unfortunately, I live in eastern Washington State (it’s not all rainy). During the winter months it can be downright cold. We haven’t been above 30 for a high in about three weeks.

So what do you do with your winter? You can only polish so much and eventually the money for modifications dries up. I spend my time dreaming of places to go see and planning how to get there, afterall half the fun is getting there when you are on a bike.

Currently, we all ride Street Glides or Road Glides. I like the baggers for a couple reasons. I can go long distances, my luggage is dry and can be locked up and you are protected by a fairing from weather. When you are on a trip you don’t always have the luxury of saying “it’s raining, I will ride tomorrow’.

I plan my trips using the Harley Davidson Ride Planner. Go to the website http://rideplanner.harley-davidson.com/rideplanner/ridePlanner.jsp then log in (this is done in the upper right corner). If you have a wish list or a log in for Harley it works here too. You don’t haveto be a current HOG member to use this feature. It works just like Google maps with a couple of nice add-ons.

On the left, first type you’re starting point. Then as you add locations, just keep adding them. Once you are done you can select save at the bottom. For planning and searching ease I suggest you name your trip; my latest is Sworn Few 2013. You can also add notes, I use this for hotel names as all I have for locations are addresses. Input the dates you plan on taking the trip and then save it. Every time you log in now your trip will be at your fingertips. You can also e-mail the trip with other riders.

I zoom in to the day’s route and move slowly across the route to see rural roads that parallel the route the computer selects. If you want to change the route click on the red line indicating the route and drag it to the road you want to take (tip if you change a route zoom in on the change and make sure you dropped the pin on the road you want to take. I have dropped the pin on what I thought was the route and when I was driving it would tell me to get on a side road for 10 minutes and end up back on the road I was on). I don’t know about you, but I avoid freeways unless I really need to get somewhere.

If you click on the 4 diamonds at the top; roads (shows scenic roads you can also check rider submitted roads to see others ride routes), Dealers (shows Harley dealers), Hotels (shows Best Western hotels), discount with a HOG Membership) and finally events (shows events Harley has going on).

then hook up my Harley Davidson Zumo 660 GPS and click on GPS Synchronization right below where you log in and it’s uploaded right into my GPS for the road. Synchronize right before you leave, because if you are like me, you are changing little things here and there right up to the last minute.

Riding long distance for repeated days can take some getting used to. I try to limit my days to 500 miles when on the freeway and 350-400 miles when on back roads. This provides me plenty of time to stop, eat, gas up, see the sights, etc. Key to long distance riding; make hotel reservations, especially in the summer and heading to tourist areas (Yellowstone). Make sure you are ready for weather. Pack sun screen, rain gear, warm gear,etc. If you make your hotel reservations, most places need 24 hours to cancel. I have ridden in some bad weather to make that next stop. Just because you have a place to be, leave time to get off the bike, walk around, maybe grab a beverage, and enjoy the ride.

All credit for this blog goes to Rob (Lawdog) Layman

How to subscribe to, manage, and review podcasts using iPhone, iPod, and iPad

May 15, 2013 By Ryan Urlacher Leave a Comment

Video-I have had several requests for this, so here it is! This is a quick tutorial video I put together that will walk you through how to subscribe to podcasts using you IOS devices and the official Apple Podcast App. I also talk briefly about the Stitcher Radio App for both IOS devices and Android. Don't forget, we are also on Zune for Microsoft devices and on Blackberry.

LAB-07-Common etiquette advice to contact or join a law abiding biker (LAB) MC or to start a New Prospective Chapter

May 9, 2013 By Ryan Urlacher 6 Comments

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Podcast-We just came back from a fun day club ride on this episode and talk about it while it is fresh. We hit some weather, road a really fun curvy route (dragging floor boards), and had a “hang around” ride along with us that came to us on his own and is interested in possible membership with the Sworn Few LEMC. We discuss the proper things one should do to get involved and contact a particular LAB motorcycle club to seek membership. We also reveal what a small group of persons might do if they seek to start a new chapter of an existing LAB club. We give sound advice on what things to do that will look good to a club that has stringent membership requirements like the Sworn Few LEMC. Of course, as usual we got off track and had a lot of fun.

LAB-06-Group Riding Safety and Stereo-Types about Motorcycle Riders in General

April 30, 2013 By Ryan Urlacher Leave a Comment

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Podcast-We play and discuss a phone call I received in reference to some of the stereo-types about bikers in general and how 99% of bikers are good law abiding people. We discuss a recent ride we took that suddenly became a bit dangerous from a rock in the road. We lightly discuss group riding and a few signals. Matt “Lurch” does a quick “Pub Finder” iPhone App review. Further, we discuss finding and returning a granite clock to our prior club. We learn that Matt “Lurch” has some mad scientist skills. Of course we get off track and have a lot of fun as usual.

Harley Davidson 10″ Wind Splitter Windshield

April 28, 2013 By Ryan Urlacher 9 Comments

Blog- Of course my 2011 Harley Street Glide comes with the stock tinted wind deflector. It works great year around for the most part, but there are very cold times and inclement weather conditions when I wanted a taller windshield.

So, the local Harley Davidson dealership had the Harley Wind Splitter windshields in stock. I purchased a 10” clear (they make a smoked version too) Wind Splitter windshield and had it for about 6 months (Harley Davidson Part #57400092). I tested it out during some very cold and inclement weather at a variety of speeds.

If you don’t know; the windshields on Harley touring models come off and on in about a minute by simply removing the three retaining screws across the front of the fairing, so installation is not going to be discussed in this blog.

The 10” Wind Splitter has a very unique design if you look at pictures and is specifically designed to push the wind up and over the rider. It is also wider than the stock wind deflector. I spoke with an experienced Harley mechanic at the dealership, who stated that the way the windshield is designed to cut through the air will cause the front end of your bike to suck down to the road a bit more, which is a good thing. Let’s just say the windshield has unique curves compared to other regular flat type windshields.

The windshield certainly performed very well in blocking cold wind and rain. I have nothing bad to say about its ability to protect the rider from extreme elements. The wind certainly went up and over me and I was very protected.

I will say that because of the unique curves in the windshield that it can distort a rider’s vision of the road directly low and in front of the bike, which is not where you are supposed to be looking anyways when riding. Depending on your height, there are some spots that can be a bit distorted even farther out front, but overall it is not unsafe or something that can’t be overcome by the rider.

I am 5-08” tall and have a stock seat on my 2011 Street Glide. I found that I will now likely go with the shorter 7” version of the Wind Splitter windshield (Harley Davidson Part #57164-10). I am soon going to demo the 7” version at my local Harley dealership, since I already sold my 10” version. The 7” version should push the wind up and over me during those very cold inclement weather days, yet I will still be able to see over the top of it, thus eliminating any distortion issues out front. However, I will still run my very short stock wind deflector most of the year, because I still like the wind in my face and that feeling of freedom that comes with it!

Overall, I give the Harley Davidson Wind Splitter windshield 4 stars out of 5 stars. You just need to make sure you get the right height that fits your personal needs.

Keep checking back on this website often and listen to all the entertaining and educational Podcasts, as I will eventually write or give a Podcast review on the 7” version after I get it and test it. Heck, maybe I will even do both!

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LAW ABIDING BIKER PODCAST EPISODE 06 WILL RELEASE IN THE NEXT COUPLE OF DAYS!!!!