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Speed and Strength True Grit Moto Shirt | Real World Biker Review!

August 17, 2021 By Ryan Urlacher 1 Comment

I tested the Speed and Strength True Grit Moto Shirt on a recent 9 day, 2500 mile trip along the west coast from Washington State to California and back north. I rode in it in temps ranging from 60 deg to 105 degrees Fahrenheit. Even on those hot days, as long as you're moving a bit, you get good airflow and I never took it off. When I made stops for gas and a water break, I just took it off.

This is a very capable, great looking, and protective motorcycle riding shirt. I love the style of it as it doesn't look at all like a typical protective motorcycle riding jacket. Yet, it offers protection from the elements while riding and certainly offers protection if you go down. I enjoyed riding with it and will continue to do so!

Further Details:

The Speed and Strength True Grit Moto Shirt is constructed from a cotton polyester blend with aramid reinforcements at shoulders and elbows. Removable vault chain link CE Level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors pair with a removable vault CE Level 1 back protector for superior all around protection. Multiple snap and zipper pockets work hard to keep valuables safe while riding. Reflective trim allows for everyone on the road to see you even if you don't see them. (see video below)

Features:

Cotton-polyester blended frame with aramid reinforcements at shoulders and elbows
Removable Vault Chain-Link CE Level 2 shoulder and elbow protectors
Removable Vault CE Level 1 spine protector
Hidden YKK main zipper opening
Two zippered hand warmer pockets
Two chest snap pockets
One internal stash pocket
Shoulder expansion gussets
Belt loops for pant attachment
Snap down collar
Reflective trim

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Speed and Strength True Grit Moto Shirt

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Harley Smashes The Competition? New Sportster S & Is CEO Jochen Zeitz on Track?

August 5, 2021 By Ryan Urlacher Leave a Comment

From Evolution to Revolution. Well, that’s what Harley-Davidson is saying about the new Sportster S, which was released via another video released on July 13, 2021.

And yes, like their other recent motorcycle releases, the video was highly produced and lacked a lot of critical information. So, in this video, I break it all down for you and tell you what you need to know about the all-new Harley-Davidson Sportster S so you can decide if it’s the right bike for you and if this is the right direction for Harley. Is CEO Jochen Zeitz on the right business track for the company with a bike like the Sportster S?

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How to Install Kuryakyn Tracer LED Fairing Lower Grills-Review

July 8, 2021 By Ryan Urlacher 2 Comments

We here at Law Abiding Biker™ Media truly believe in lighting the front of your motorcycle with new modern LED technology like the Kuryakyn Tracer LED Fairing Lower Grills for Harley. Anything you can do to grab those other motorist's attention just makes good sense. You may not get a second chance if you get hit on your motorcycle.

The Kuryakyn Tracer LED Fairing Lower Grills provides additional white LED light to the front of your Harley when running down the road and they flash amber when your signals are activated. You'll definitely be seen better by motorists with this additional front lighting and that could save your life. You can get this product in satin black or chrome!

Further Info:

Intense, fully diffused L.E.D. lighting with full-time white running lights and amber switchback turn signals when activated. Significantly enhance your front end's styling and visibility toward oncoming motorists with these direct snap-in replacements for the black plastic radiator grills or filler plates on late-model H-D fairing lowers.

Durable injection-molded ABS construction with smoked polycarbonate lenses Features stylish diffused (solid) lighting effect with high-intensity output Full-time white running lights with amber turn signal functionality Easy snap-in installation with plug-&-play wiring Available in chrome or satin black housings.

Fitment:

'14-'19 FLHTCU, '15-'16 FLHTCUL, '14-'20 FLHTK, '15-'19 FLHTKL, '14-'21 FLHTKSE, '16-'19 FLTRU, '20-'21 FLTRK, '15-'16 FLTRUSE, '15-'19 FLHXSE

Additional Info:

Optional Solid Plates (P/N 5065) are designed for 2014-later H-D air-cooled models with fairing lowers, allowing you to easily convert the open-air design to a closed panel similar to stock.

If our store is out of stock (above), please consider purchasing through one of our affiliates. No additional cost to you but we get a small commission if you do purchase through the links below.

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4 Motorcycle Trip & Ride Planning Apps! Which is Best For Street or Adventure Riding?

June 11, 2021 By Ryan Urlacher 7 Comments

I get asked all the time, “Ryan, what is the best motorcycle trip planning app and which one do you use?” So, in this video and article, I am going to go over 4 popular motorcycle trip planning applications for street and off-road adventure riding. And, what you need to know about each because they all have strengths and weaknesses. Understand, there is no perfect motorcycle trip planning app and much of it will depend on your personal needs. (see detailed video below)

Now, I’ve used these 4 apps over the years and have many experiences with them. Except for Indian Ride Command, which I more recently started using and testing. But, I have a good handle on it.

I am not affiliated in any way with any of the companies that produce these motorcycle trip planning apps and am speaking as a regular consumer and it's based on my personal experience. I hope that by me sharing my experiences it may help other riders like you make a choice on which app might work best for your motorcycle trip planning.

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Some of these apps allow you to create a trip on a smartphone, but with all of them, it's cumbersome and time-consuming to do so. The best way to plan a motorcycle trip using these apps is via a desktop computer or an iPad app if it's supported. All the apps I am going to talk about do have cloud syncing between devices for planned rides. If using a desktop computer to plan a ride, it's very helpful to have a trackpad so you can pinch and zoom the maps as you are planning, making things quicker.

Also, understand that when exporting a .gpx file from any of these apps and then uploading that file to another app or device, they don’t always talk nice and there are often route deviations that need to be corrected.

Two of these motorcycle trip planning apps are free and two are paid options. Now, although we all like free stuff, the drawback is that when there are issues and bugs, it may be a lot longer before they are fixed. And, good luck getting a response to your emails from anyone about the reported issues. With a paid subscription, when an issue or bug arises, a company usually listens and issues are fixed more timely. Plus, there are more frequent app updates based on user feedback.

Here are the details of the 4 motorcycle trip planning apps I have used and tested in no particular order.

#1-Harley-Davidson Ride Planner

Harley Ride Planner has a free online account for anyone and you plan your rides on the website. Now, Ride Planner has had issues on and off over years but it has come a long way and is becoming more and more polished over time. It has become a serious competitor in the motorcycle trip planning app arena.

Harley Ride Planner

There are 4 map styles to choose from, such as regular or satellite, and plenty of filters such as gas stations, dealerships, events, restaurants, hotels. You can also avoid tolls, unpaved roads, etc. You can enter an address for a waypoint or just make a waypoint where you like. You can easily drag points around to guide your route where you want it to go. I really like that you can change the names for each waypoint and that it shows mileage/ride time between each waypoint. This way I can see the total ride time and mileage for each day of a long-distance multi-day ride.

Harley Ride Planner still has bugs when adding a new waypoint after the ride is already planned. It messes up the order of your waypoints and you then have to drag and drop waypoints to try and get the ride back in the correct order. We've been complaining about this for years now, which goes to my point about using a free option.

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There is no 3D map option right now for Ride Planner and I hope they add that feature in time. I find this feature very important, especially to see the terrain when planning an off-road adventure ride. I also wish you could put dates/times on waypoints so you can get a better sense of your overall trip.

Finally, we can now import or export a .gpx file! This is a very recent addition to Ride Planner and something we have complained about for years. Prior to this, you could only export.

There is now both “on-road routing” and “off-road routing” with the release of Harley's first adventure motorcycle, the Pan America. Off-road routing basically allows you to put waypoints wherever you like, even where no roads are shown on t

he maps.

Harley Ride Planner has a mobile app for both IOS and Android but no dedicated iPad app. On mobile, you can get turn-by-turn directions, record a ride, get weather along your route, and download maps for offline use for those remote areas without cell service. You cannot reverse a ride on mobile but only on a desktop computer. Also, understand, that as of now there can be map deviations when cloud syncing between desktop and the mobile app.

After planning your motorcycle trip you can easily share a link with your friends or you can simply export a .gpx file to upload into your Harley Boom Box Infotainment System or another GPS device. You can also pass the ride from your mobile device via Bluetooth to your Boom Box. There are also other shared rides you can check out within Harley Ride Planner.

Harley Ride Planner is only supported on Apple Car Play at this time and not Android Auto.

I've been helping bikers around the world for many years flatten the learning curve on using Harley Ride Planner. This way you can spend less time learning and more time riding! Let me teach you how to use Ride Planner to its fullest capability.

Harley-Davidson Ride Planner Tutorial Video!

Also, check my very popular Harley Boom Box Tutorial Video Series! The Boom Box is a very capable system but can be a bit confusing to learn along with hidden menus and functions. We'll get you up and running in no time and make it easy to learn!

#2-Rever

Rever

Rever is a paid motorcycle trip planning app at $5 a month, so $40 a year. It is one of the most expensive apps but it's a bit more than just a motorcycle trip planning app. It is also a social app with motorcycle communities within and the ability to share rides, progress, and more. Rever has one of the busiest, yet most polished user interfaces of all the apps. Honestly, it's so busy and has so much going on, that I oftentimes shy away from it. Law Abiding Biker Media does have a Rever community/group for our beloved Patron Members! It's just one benefit of becoming a supporting member. Join the #BikerRevolution

Rever is web-based and you can plan your rides on a desktop computer, IOS, or Android mobile. There is no dedicated iPad app at this time and Rever is only supported on Apple Car Play and not Android Auto. You can download maps of your ride to your mobile device for use offline in areas where there is no cellular service.

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One of the best things about Rever is that it has Butler Maps incorporated within. This allows you to find roads such as best roads,

better roads, good roads, lost highways, paved mountain trails, and featured dirt roads. And, there are different color codes for the different types of roads, making them easy to find. If you've ever used Butler Maps you'll definitely appreciate this feature. Oftentimes, I go to Rever to see Butler Maps and then return to other mentioned apps as they are less busy.

Rever has 4 map styles to choose from to include 3D maps, which should be standard on any motorcycle trip planning app these days, in my opinion. Rever has plenty of filters such as fuel, lodging, camping, and

food. You can also avoid tolls, Ride twistys, unpaved roads, etc. You can easily enter addresses for a start/endpoint and drag your route around as you like. I do not like that you cannot name the waypoints and it does it for you by address. I really hope they add this functionality in the future as I feel it's essential to get a good overview of a multi-day motorcycle trip.

Rever only gives a total trip time/distance and does not show that information between waypoints, which I also feel is essential and hope they add in the future.

You can import or export .gpx files and easily share a link to your planned rides.

#3-InRoute

InRoute

InRoute is another paid motorcycle trip planning app at $30 a year, which is 1/2 the price of Rever. It is unique to all the others in that it's not necessarily web-based. You don't go to a website to plan your ride but instead must have the desktop app. And, InRoute is for Mac and IOS only. It's not PC or Android supported. Also, InRoute is Apple Car Play compatible but not Android Auto.

InRoute is also unique in the fact that you don't drag your routes around but instead drop pins to get the desired route. If you don't get the desired route at first, then you have to uncheck the waypoint and drag the pin to another location. You can also just delete a pin or rearrange the pins in the route box by dragging them around. This method is definitely not as fast as simply clicking on a route and dragging it around but once you get proficient, it's not that bad.

InRoute has been around for a while and is very robust. It doesn't have any fluff like Rever and it solely focuses on motorcycle trip planning. It has a very clean user interface and just works well with no major glitches. It also has a beautiful and full-featured iPad app and you can plan rides similar to using the desktop app. If you like planning rides on an iPad then this is certainly the app for you. InRoute is a workhorse of motorcycle trip planning and I especially like it for off-road adventure rides but use it for street ride planning all the time.

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I like that you can make bookmarks/folders and then organized your planned rides inside them. I really like that you can custom

name your waypoints and color code each pin to mean something different. Additionally, you can see your hours and mileage between waypoints and there are 3 maps to choose from, including 3D maps.

InRoute does have filters to avoid tolls, ferries, ride most curvy or least curvy roads, and more. However, it does not have filter sto show things like fuel, lodging, camping, food, etc.

This app kills the completion when it comes to seeing your elevation, temp, humidity, precipitation, and wind speed for your entire route as you scroll through it. Each waypoint also shows your GPS coordinates.

Because InRoute is not web-based and requires a desktop application, there is no link to share your planned rides. However, you can import or export .gpx files. So, you can just export the file and then send it to your friend to upload to InRoute. You can also share the .gpx file and ride details via email.

Your planned routes are stored on your device so you can access them even if you lose cellular connection. You can easily reverse the route on the mobile app so you can ride out the same way you rode in.

InRoute does not have the ability to record a ride like the other apps and I hope they add that in the future.

I think you get more bang for your buck with InRoute rather than Rever if you're mostly interested in solid ride planning and not all the other things.

#4-Indian Ride Command

Indian Ride Command

Indian Ride Command motorcycle trip planner has a free online account for anyone and you plan your rides on the website. Now, this app would be great to use if you are just starting to trip plan as it's pretty basic and lacks many things. After you get your feet wet, you could then move up to a motorcycle trip planning app with more features. With that said, Indian Ride Comand has a beautiful user interface and works well for the most part. It does not have “off-road routing” as Harley Ride Planner does.

Some of the things missing from Indian Ride Command are filters to avoid unpaved roads, ferries, toll bridges, highways, and tunnels, which could leave you on an undesired dirt road on your street bike. Additionally, there are only two maps to choose from and no 3D maps while planning a trip, yet there is a 3D flyover that will show you your trip after it's planned but I'm not sure how useful it is. You cannot plan a ride on mobile but only on desktop and they do have a dedicated iPad app where you can at least see your planned rides. There is also no turn-by-turn navigation on IOS or Android mobile devices, so you have to upload the planned ride to your Indian Ride Command unit on your bike to get that.

When trip planning on Ride Command I did not like that there is a large search box on the left of the

screen and a large route box on the right. You can neither close nor minimize either, leaving only a square box in the center to see the map and plan your ride. I really wish they'd allow the user to minimize those boxes as to have more screen real-estate to see the map and plan your ride.

I do like the responsiveness when making a route and you can easily drag the route to where you want it. Just as easily, you can delete a waypoint if you make a mistake. You can custom name your waypoints and see the time and mileage between them. Recording a ride on mobile is possible and you can also pass a planned ride from your mobile device via Bluetooth to the Indian Ride Command unit. Like Ride Planner and Rever, you can generate a link to easily share your planned rides with others.

Theoretically, you can import or export .gpx files. However, during my testing, it was not working. In fact, I exported a .gpx file created in Indian Ride Command and then tried to import it back to itself and it just gives an error stating, “please select a .gpx file”. I was able to export the Ride Command .gpx file and upload it successfully to Harly Ride Planner and the route was correct.

Ride Command is not supported on either Apple Car Play or Android Auto at this time.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, each motorcycle trip planning app has its strengths and weaknesses and it will really depend on your particular needs. I certainly hope this video and article will help you find the app that will work best for you.

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Happy Wife Is A Happy Life | Biker Tested Harley Passenger Comfort Equipment & Riding Gear

June 4, 2021 By Brad Johnston 7 Comments

Recently, we did a Law Abiding Biker Podcast episode talking about my Road Glide Special and its transition to identifying as an Ultra. The motivation behind many of those changes was comfort. Not just for me, but also for my wife. The saying Happy Wife Happy Life is well worn and has survived a long time for a reason. It turns out in a study by Rutgers, it is also scientifically valid. We love our bikes, we love riding. If we want those who love us to join us, we have to make it comfortable for them.

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Early in my journey with my wife, this got driven home. We were on a trip and putting some miles on our Fatboy over a long weekend. We stopped in Willamette Harley Davidson and she met two women in the bathroom. She asked them if they were riders and they quite proudly told her, “no honey, we are backseat bitches.” They then went on to tell her all the places I had gone wrong in giving her comfort. We learned a lot from those women who were on the back of a couple of Heritage Softails. Key comfort items that are now on my bike were identified by the “Backseat Bitches” and they set an attitude in my wife that she didn’t need to be uncomfortable on these long trips.

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My wife is a trooper. She has put in some long days on the bike, the longest just shy of 800 miles and has never complained, at least not any more than I have. Part of that is we have made the bike progressively more comfortable for her and her more comfortable while we are riding.

PERSONAL COMFORT

Getting gear that fits her style and her body shape is critical. Don’t depend on the local Harley shop for this. They seem to have a strong belief that all women need on a bike is rhinestones and some pink highlights. There are good options there but you have to be very focused on what you are looking for.

HELMET

Get her a good helmet, it doesn’t matter that she only rides once in a while. She needs something that is quiet, provides wind protection, can accommodate sunglasses, and matches her style. We started out with a Speed and Strength modular helmet, which has now been discontinued, that checked all of those boxes, and glowed in the dark. That may seem silly but it made a difference in how she felt about the helmet. It has huge vents, a wide visor and a drop-down sun shield she loves. Make sure she likes the helmet, she wants to look good on the bike.

She has since decided she wanted to try a 3/4 helmet and we got her an HJC 3/4 (The HJC IS-33 II) helmet that has nice internal padding, good venting, and a drop-down sunscreen. She likes the additional visibility and the ability to get better venting with the open front. We have talked about the level of protection difference and in warm weather, it's a good balance of comfort and safety for her.

JACKETS

Think about jackets from a different perspective than what you are doing for your own jacket. She is sitting behind you. She’s not getting much airflow on hot days, especially if you are a large guy like me. She needs lightweight jackets that can add thermal layers when she needs them but isn’t overly warm on warm days. The reality is, she probably isn’t going to ride on really cool days but having a jacket that is flexible is a good practice. Again, Harley likes the rhinestones here and lots of pink and studs. That’s not my wife’s style and she wouldn’t feel good in a jacket like that. She likes leather so we’ve stayed there but there isn’t a rhinestone or stud on her gear.

We got stuck in some really cold weather coming home last year. Whether she would have never chosen to ride in. As a result, we looked at the next topic.

HEATED GEAR

There are times she is going to get stuck on the bike when she wouldn’t have chosen to ride. She froze that night. She would have paid anything to get off the bike when the temperatures dipped going over the mountain. There just weren’t any hotels in the area.

After the trip, I started looking at heated gear. We decided she didn’t need long term (5-6 hours) that plug-in would enable. We bought her a heated vest, the Gyde Khione Heated Puffer Vest by Gerbing (men version or women version), and two batteries. She is good for 3-4 hours on high if we get stuck in super cold weather. If we haven’t found a way to get off the bike by then we are in trouble. The added benefit is that she can use the vest when she is at football, soccer, or softball games. It looks just like any other puffy vest the soccer moms are wearing.

RAIN GEAR

Don’t skimp here. You will be tempted because she doesn’t plan on riding a lot. The problem is when you get caught, she needs quality gear that will hold up on the bike. That is a special set of needs and if you get her garbage for gear, her experience is going to be garbage. I bought her Harley rain gear because we found it in stock with a good discount using loyalty points. If I were shopping today I would probably look hard at the Joe Rocket RS-2 Women's Rain Suit or the Icon PDX 2 jacket and pants. Getting a women’s cut rain gear is important. They need a longer rise, and a jacket and pants cut for a woman’s figure.

TECHNOLOGY

We use Sena Bluetooth headsets. We chat as we are going down the road on long trips, make choices about where to eat, when to stop, and what is coming or what we see. There is no yelling, we don’t have to guess, and I don’t guess wrong about what she needs and when she needs it. It makes for a smoother trip. We have seen other couples that don’t do this. Their trips never seem to be going as smoothly as ours.

I get questions a lot about what Bluetooth/mesh communicator to buy. My answer is always simple. Buy what the people you ride with use. All of them say they play well with other brands and they all lie. You can make it work but you can’t get full functionality. We tried for a few trips getting my dad’s different brand to play with our Senas. It never worked. It would always look like it was going to work then failed. My brothers and I finally bought him a Sena for Fathers Day.

If you show up to ride with me and have another brand communicator I won’t even try to pair with you. It isn’t worth the time. I would rather be riding than waste that hour knowing it will end in frustration. Buy what the people you ride with are using and buy a model that has the features you want within that brand. For a long time, my wife had an SMH 10 and I had a 20S Evo. She didn’t ride enough to upgrade and it had all the features we needed. I ended up finding a good price on the 20s Evo so I moved her to my old unit. If you ride in large groups and are the first to buy, look at the new Mesh systems.

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You aren’t going to go wrong with either Sena or Cardo. Both are good companies making good systems. I have experience with the Sena unit and have had excellent service from their support. As a result, I skew toward them. You also can find plenty of help on Sena here at Law Abiding Biker with videos and podcasts on installing units, pairing with the motorcycle and the capabilities and limitations of the systems. Just go to the search box and type Sena. You will find more than 7 pages of entries about the Sena systems.

ON THE BIKE MODIFICATIONS

FLOORBOARDS

Floorboards and the adjustable footpegs were the first things the “Biker Bitches” told my wife about. We had rear pegs and my wife had already melted the heel of her boots on the exhaust. We knew there had to be a better way, even on the softail the floorboards made a big difference. Rider footboards allowed her multiple positioning for her foot. There is a reason there are footboards on all the touring and light touring bikes. Let her get the same comfort you have.

ADJUSTABLE FOOTPEGS

Ciro 3D Adjustable Passenger Comfort Peg Mounts

If you really want her on the bike for 6-8 hour days, you need to give her the ability to move her feet to different positions. Adjustable footpegs fit the bill for that. The two options that I seriously considered were the Kuryakyn Adjustable Passenger Pegs and the Ciro Adjustable Passenger Comfort Passenger Peg mounts. While we ended up with the Kuryakyn pegs both are a good choice.

One word about fitment. The Kuryakyn fitment does not include specials and standards in the fitment because they require floorboards and these bikes come from the factory with pegs, not boards. If you have changed from footpegs to floorboards you should be good to go with the same year’s ultra or limited fitment. You will see a fitment note that says “also fits motorcycles equipped with H-D Accessory Board Mounts.” If you didn't use the HD parts, your mileage may vary. If you want to keep using footpegs definitely stay with Ciro's product. It can be used with either floorboards or pegs.

This product is the same kind of comfort item as your highway pegs. It allows your passenger to move their knees and hips avoiding locking up when they finally get off the bike. This was a major change in her ability to be comfortable and have no real impact on me since they fold out of the way when she’s off the bike. She loves these and they were worth every penny.

SEAT

When you ride 2 up, you just have to have a good seat for both riders. For us, that was Mustang. We started with the Mustang Wide Solo Seat and the Mustang Solo Passenger Seat. It was good but when we upgraded to the Mustang One Piece Summit Seat was significant. This is basically the Mustang Super Touring seat with a slight redesign for the Rushmore bikes. The Summit seat gives her a 2″ wider rear seat designed to fill in the space between the tour pak speaker pods. She got a seat that gives her room to shift and gives her a great platform for being comfortable. I got a rider backrest that was a game changer for me.

TOUR PAK

When I bought the bike I bought a King Luggage Rack and a Large backrest. It was good and things like the Rick Rack quick detach systems can take it to the next level. She was clear she wanted her “queen seat.” What she meant was a Tour Pak. We bought the Harley Davidson Color Matched King Tour Pack and Air Wing luggage rack. We picked up the smooth backrest pad intentionally because it had the fewest number of seams that might cause her irritation. The fancier stitching probably would be just fine but who wants to take a chance.

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I knew the tour pak would be a good idea. Then not too long after we bought the tour pak I heard Lurch in a podcast describing his being in a crash on a rental bike. Long story short, minimal damage to the bike, major damage to the pickup that rear-ended him. One more reason to have that box on the back. I put it on with the quick disconnect kit thinking I would be taking it off when we weren't touring but it is so darn convenient I haven't taken it off in over a year.

SPEAKERS

We have traveled together for several years. My wife finally had enough of only hearing music through my microphone and the intercom. She wanted her speakers on the back of the bike. While we could just add speakers I knew that wasn’t going to actually fix the issue because of the underpowered OEM system. We upgraded the stereo with the Rockford Fosgate 4 channel amplifier and 4 speakers. This is not the Harley Davidson Audio by Rockford Fosgate that was recently released. It is the better quality amplifier and speakers that come from the Rockford Fosgate Power line. I know that Big Daddy Kane has been talking about having this available through Rocky Tucker. I'd highly recommend you send him a query at rick@lawabidingbiker.com.

We installed the system in two halves (so that LAB could film the back speaker install to go with their Rockford Fosgate front install video). I had no issues with the front install with help from the great how-to video from the Law Abiding Biker.

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With only the front system installed we found was that it was now possible for her to hear the music from the speakers. However, I had to turn it up loud enough that it was uncomfortable for me to continue talking with her. The stereo is clean and sounds great at that volume but it is just hard not to yell when the music is that loud.

We had the option to put the back speakers in the saddlebag lids or buy pods and put speakers on the tour pak. We chose the pods. If you choose to do this go into it knowing that many Harley dealers don’t know how. Be careful here. Aftermarket pods are available but some of them are designed for the older style tour pak yet don't make it clear. I am not an OEM parts snob. Harley makes parts specifically for the new style king tour pak or the old style tour pak. They are clear about which one they fit. They also include the wiring harness that is invaluable on this project since otherwise, you will have to create or buy an aftermarket harness on your own. Finding the correct harness in the microfiche is a challenge. I never did, I found parts of it but never the whole thing.

The HD kit harness makes this a plug-and-play install on the electrical portion. It also provides a quick disconnect that tucks under the seat. Installing the pods is another matter altogether. There is no plug-and-play, and you are going to have to cut into that tour pak. There is enough weirdness in this install that it is going to make sense to buy the install video. Two words, Jack Nuts. Seriously. It was ugly. Learn from our mistakes, it will be worth the cost. The install video also lists parts numbers for the 2014 and up pods and the Rockford Fosgate speakers.

While the wife has not yet been on the back I can tell you the sound is significantly louder at the same volume. It is a good upgrade, one that is well worth the time, money, and effort.

LIGHTING

Ciro 3D Fang LED Signal Light Inserts for Harley

One last upgrade that didn’t add to her physical comfort but certainly adds to her mental comfort. The lighting on the Street Glide and Road Glide standards and specials is nearly criminal. Two small incandescent bulbs provide turn signal and brake signal lighting to the rear. The amount of light output is minimal and my wife, after following me in the car demanded an upgrade there. We upgraded the rear incandescent bulbs to Ciro 3D Fang LED Signal Light Inserts and installed Ciro 3D Bag Blades-Harley Saddlebag LED Run/Turn/Brake Lights. There are many options here to light up your back end and the investment is pretty small in time and money.

My wife is happy with her comfort level these days and for the moment, I have run out of upgrades for her. We all know that doesn’t mean that I am out of upgrades. I have a long list for the bike and the gear still I’m just waiting for the budget.

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Choosing The Right Touring Motorcycle Windshield-Fitment & Measuring

May 22, 2021 By Ryan Urlacher 2 Comments

Klock Werks Flare

Choosing the correct touring motorcycle windshield can be a daunting task and that's because there are many things to consider. It doesn't matter if your rolling on a Harley-Davidson, Indian, Victory, Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, or another motorcycle. A proper windshield for touring is very important. Let's discuss some of the items to consider when shopping for a windshield and how to assure you make the right decision.

First, these motorcycle windshields or windscreens are not cheap, but thankfully it's usually a one-time purchase for the life of the motorcycle if you choose correctly upfront.

Second, you must decide if you want to look through or over the windshield. The best protection from the elements and wind is a windshield that is taller than your head and that you look through. Most of these style touring motorcycle windshields will be rather flat and clear without a tint as to not distort or lessen your vision when looking through them. Because of this, they don't offer as much style.

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In the below video, we mostly discuss touring motorcycle windshields that you look over. Now, just because you look over them does not mean that you will get wind directly in the face. The Klock Werks windshields in this category have a “flare” and F4 customs has a “recurve” at the top that will direct the wind over your head. That's if you choose the right height windshield that allows you to look over it, yet directs the winds over your head. In the video below, we show you how to properly measure, so you can choose the right windshield or windscreen for your motorcycle.

F4 Customs

I will mention, that although you will mostly be looking over these shorter types of windshields with a flare at the top, at lower speeds, in places like parking lots, you will have to look down and through them at times. And, the more curves and contours to the windshield, the more distorted your vision will be. It's just something to be aware of.

Last, we keep all our windshields protected and clean by using Bugslide Waterless Motorcycle Cleaner. We have used it for many years and sell it right in the Law Abiding Biker Store. We use it on everything to include windshields, regular paint, denim paint, chrome, seats, helmets, visors, wheels, and anything else you can think of. It leaves a protective microscopic finish that will make bugs and grime come off that much easier. Don't ride without the slide! And for wet washes, we only use Bike Brite Spray Wash.

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Confessions of a Former Michelin Man-Motorcycle Heated Gear

May 10, 2021 By Brad Johnston 4 Comments

I love to ride, people who know me think I am crazy, have for years. I ride in most weather. The only thing that will keep me from riding is ice. I don’t play there. I am fortunate enough to live in the Pacific Northwest. The weather is generally pretty temperate, seldom extremely hot, seldom extremely cold. The other side of that though is the weather is also fickle. One March day last year, it was 65 when I stopped for dinner with friends. I left the restaurant two hours later and it was snowing and starting to accumulate. I rode home in wind driven snow. Till that day I said I didn’t ride in snow or ice. Now it’s just ice. I kept getting stuck in snow, so I guess I will ride in snow now. I ride pretty often in the 20s (It's cold mornings and sunny afternoons here for two seasons) and once down to 12.

To facilitate that you have to have gear, lots of gear. I was carrying the thermal liner for my coat, gloves that were good for 45-70, gloves that were good for cold weather, gloves that were waterproof, and gloves that were good for hot weather. I bought at least a dozen hoodies when I got caught in cold weather. One trip over Mt. Hood, I stopped and bought a Columbia Sportswear polar fleece jacket to put under my motorcycle gear. That was a cold ride in mixed rain and snow for a couple of hours.

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I always carry rain gear. I also carried heavy overpants that had a thermal liner. It was getting to be too much. Thing is, I was still pretty cold some days. I also bundled up so tight that it was hard to move fluidly on the bike. I looked like the Michelin Man or Ralphy’s brother from A Christmas Story; not a comfortable way to ride. Plus when you arrive, you have to take most of it off.

This year everything changed. At the end of summer last year, after a very cold trip home over the cascades from a Garth Brooks concert, I bought my wife a battery-operated heated vest. She doesn’t usually ride in the cold with me. She is a fair-weather girl and this trip pushed her way past comfortable. This was my peace offering. When I checked it out I knew I was buying heated gear for myself too.

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I didn’t want her to be tethered to the bike but I bought myself a plug-in heated jacket liner and heated gloves. It changed everything. I don’t carry extra layers anymore. I haven’t had to stop and buy a layer since last summer (After riding in 100-degree weather for a couple of hours I stopped and bought a long sleeve t at Owens HD in Yakima). I rode in 35 – 45 degree weather for five hours and I was toasty, not cold. That’s the big takeaway. I stopped being cold and now I am toasty, even with a light jacket. I have about 5,000 miles on my heated gear and feel like maybe I am finally able to give a good review.

Hotwired EVO 12v Jacket Liner

Bottom line, I love this jacket liner. It is primarily available through Cycle Gear, Revzilla and JP Cycles (It appears to be exclusive to the businesses owned by Comoto Holdings). The details though are necessary for you to make your own decision.

The liner is a wind-blocking and water-resistant light nylon liner. It is not set up to be worn externally. It has a plush lining on the inside of the stand-up collar that is soft against the neck when zipped all the way up. The controller is built in and drops under a waist-length jacket and sits at the front of the hip on the left side. There are heating elements in the arms, each side of the chest, and the back. It can get quite warm. The elements are pliable and do not restrict movement at all. There is a male plug in the waist of the jacket that plugs into the female end of the included battery harness. Male plugs tucked into pockets near the cuffs are there to connect to heated gloves.

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The jacket is a nice layer even without it being turned on. It packs up tight and is easy to keep on the bike. It blocks the wind and insulates you well. The built in controller provides a high, medium, low setting scheme that is pretty good. Most of the time, low is good enough with extended trips or extreme cold bumping up to medium or high. High is very warm. I haven’t been able to use it there for more than a few minutes. A long press turns it on then a single press cycles to the next level starting at high then medium, and finally low. One more press returns it to high. A long press turns it off.

The liner works best with a light undershirt. The heat has to get through the layers to your skin and it will be muted going through the layers. A t-shirt works great, the “tech” fabrics are great but cotton does just fine. If you put it over a sweatshirt or a flannel you'll find it still effective, but you'll use a higher setting and it will be a very different, still warm, feeling. The cloth heats up and then you are warmed by the cloth. Kind of like putting on a hoodie straight out of the dryer.

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There are two downsides I see. One is where the controller falls. When the jacket is fully zipped it is on the front of the jacket putting it in the front left at the belt line. It is in an awkward place that requires me to put my foot out on my highway peg to access it. Instead, I generally leave it unzipped so that the controller falls more to the side where it is easily accessible. The second downside is I think I might be getting soft. I don’t want to be cold anymore.

Hotwired 12V Heated Glove

Paired with the jacket liner the gloves kind of complete the package. Let's get this out of the way first. While the gloves will provide some abrasion resistance they are not CE rated and have no real protection for a crash. That’s not why I wear them though, so I am ok with that. These aren’t for a track day, they are for touring or riding in extreme weather. I’ve gotta think if you are taking long trips in sub 40 degree weather you have already accepted a risk level that allows for the wearing of gloves like these. They have a Cordura outside, an undefined waterproof liner and a brushed fabric liner. They are pretty comfortable and add some insulation for riding even unplugged.

I was pretty skeptical of the waterproof liner. No mention of what type of liner it is anywhere in the literature. I carried my waterproof gloves with me for the winter, just in case. Turns out, I could have put them in my glove drawer. That’s right! I have a whole drawer full of gloves. Many of them promised waterproof. Few delivered! These gloves did. I rode over three hours in rain recently. It started to drizzle and hit everything from hail to a sideways coastal gale (literally, a gale warning). Not only did the Cordura exterior not load up, but the brushed lining remained dry as well. Not even a little bit of moisture got through. The waterproof was good.

The heating elements run on the back of the hand and down the sides of the fingers. The palms are thin with a leather layer. There is no heat on the palms. It makes me happy as I have heated grips. Dexterity and feel is very good. Built into the back of each hand is a controller. The controller uses the same scheme as the jacket liner with a high medium low cycle. Each glove has its own controller. They are 100% independent of each other. They also come with a long Y adapter to use without the heated liner. It sits in my glove drawer unused. It is kind of weird, riding at night with the controller illuminated in your peripheral vision. They are bright enough that you aren't going to forget they are there and on.

I’d call these gloves pretty fantastic. The downsides are pretty nit-picky. The velcro straps on the back of the hand are a little undersized. They could use another half inch to allow the gloves to be put on without pulling the strap out of the D-ring it reverses through. The other issue I have is that the gauntlet is very narrow. It is not wide enough to put most jackets under and is too bulky to put under many jacket sleeves. I would have liked to see a larger gauntlet with a bungee scheme on the end of the gauntlet to take up the excess.

I haven’t tried the heated pants liner or heated insoles but feel confident in recommending them. The pants liner is just a product I can’t see myself using, and I just haven’t gotten around to the insoles. I’d love to try some heated overpants. That would match my riding style much better. The manufacturer appears to have good quality control and has designed a product that works well. It’s price is very competitive, especially when you consider you don’t have to buy a separate controller. Nor do you have to have something strapped on to control the units. This is the opposite of the problem caused by the location of the jacket controller. I highly recommend this gear. My only regret is that I waited so long.

Ride safe. Ride often.