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Law Abiding Biker Podcast

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Harley Travel Tool Kit & Items I Carry for Touring on my Motorcycle

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I wanted to show you the Harley travel tool kit and maintenance items I carry when traveling cross-country on my motorcycle. (see video below)

Being compact and having what you need is most important along with the quality of course. Why have to call a tow truck & be down over a simple repair you can do yourself on the side of the road with one of these awesome Harley travel tool kits. 

The Harley travel tool kit items I recommend and use are as follows:

Harley Travel Tool KitI carry the Cruz Tools RTH3 RoadTech Standard Tool Kit for Harley-Davidson. We have used this tool kit multiple times for things like a quick clutch adjustment, securing a broken shifter linkage, and diagnosing worn shifter splines to name just a few. All these things could have put a stop to our motorcycle trip but we were able to get back on the road and get a more permanent fix when we found a dealership later on. 

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The Cruz Tools Harley RTH3 travel tool kit includes top-grade combination wrenches, an adjustable wrench, locking pliers, tire gauge, hex and star wrenches, 6-in-1 screwdriver, threadlocker, mechanics wire, cable ties, spark plug socket, and more. But you’ll also love the way-cool mini ratchet and socket set. 

I also carry the Cruz Tools Outback'r H13 folding multi-tool for Harley. This little Harley tool kit is powerful, yet will fit in my Harley Travel Tool Kitpants pocket folded up. This muti-tool includes torx drives, hex wrenches, phillips & standard screwdrivers, sockets, socket driver, box & open end wrenches, and a spoke wrench. 

I add a small amount of duct tape and some extra zip ties. I  then wrap everything up in my main Cruz Tools RTH3 Kit for one powerful set of options for emergency roadside motorcycle repairs. This has saved the crew here at Law Abiding Biker™ Media on numerous occasions when far away from home when on our motorcycles. 

Note: There are also metric versions of each kit. 

Harley Travel Tool KitAdditionally, for my Harley travel tool kit, I carry a Cruz Tools TirePro Tire Guage. This gauge has a 12” flexible hose that makes even hard-to-get-to valves less of a task. Readings are held until released, and a built-in valve lets you “bleed” down to the desired pressure. Readings are in psi and kPa, and the dial is protected by a rubber boot. I can't recommend this enough. I have one in the shop too. 

We are currently testing and will be reviewing emergency motorcycle tire repair kits. We will decide on what to recommend and will add it to the Law Abiding Biker™ Online Store. Make sure you're subscribed to our YouTube Channel, so you get notified when we come out with new videos!

The Cruz Tools I carry for my overall Harley travel tool kit are top quality and are biker tested and biker approved. That's why we brought them directly to the Law Abiding Biker online store! 

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New 2019 Harley-Davidson Models-First Look-Serious Failure? Boom Box GTS? FXDR 114?

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New 2019 Harley-Davidson ModelsI am reviewing the new 2019 Harley-Davidson models. Harley-Davidson released its new 2019 line-up of motorcycles on August 21, 2018, in San Diego, CA. (see review video below).

Check out the new Softail FXDR 114 as it's a brand new innovative performance bike by Harley & I'm super excited about it. Some Harley touring bikes such as the Street Glide Special, Road Glide Special, and the Road King special now get the Milwaukee-Eight 114 CI motor and are blacked out instead of chrome.

On the new 2019 Harley-Davidson models, there is finally an upgrade to the Harley Boom Box Infotainment System for 2019 models. It's called the Boom Box GTS and it looks like a much better user interface than the previous version. The entire Boom Box GTS unit is touchscreen and it has Apple Car Play! Finally Harley, about time! The new Boom Box GTS does not and will not have Android Auto.  You also must have your iPhone plugged in via lightning cable to utilize Apple Car Play.  We'll have to see if this Harley Boom Box works any better than the older version on 2014-2018 models.

There are also 3 Harley CVO models that are sure to catch your attention.

Although I really support Harley-Davidson, I'm not afraid to give my opinion about how they are failing at connecting with their actual core customers. They really need to change the way they are marketing and get back on track with their real brand loyal customers.

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Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-Davidson & Other Motorcycles

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Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-DavidsonI'm reviewing & explaining the best 5 GoPro action camera mounts for Harley-Davidson and other motorcycles. I have used different GoPro action camera mounts for many years now on my Harley-Davidson. We use these GoPro mounts when filming videos for the Law Abiding Biker™ YouTube Channel and when filming our motorcycle documentary films. From my years of experience using these motorcycle GoPro mounts, I'll break it down for you so you can find the GoPro action camera mount that will work best for you and your motorcycle. 

Note: Check out my Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-Davidson Video at the bottom of this article!

Understand, there are a ton of variables when using GoPro mounts and how well the footage comes out is dependent on many things; different motorcycle models, years, motors, mount location, vibration, camera models, camera settings, and angles are just a few of the variables to consider. 

I will say that whether you're producing professional videos like me or you're just a hobbyist capturing motorcycle trip footage to later share with family and friends, I guarantee there is a GoPro action camera mount for you and your Harley. 

Note: I will strongly suggest that you don't get the cheaply made GoPro brand tube/bar mounts. They are cheaply built, break often, and are severely overpriced of course. Trust me, I tried to use them many years ago and ended up throwing away a box or parts. They are frustrating and vibrate badly when mounted to a motorcycle. GoPro makes okay cameras, but many of their mounts are lacking. 

I strongly suggest you check out Law Abiding Biker Podcast Episode #177 where we discuss in detail each of the mounts I am discussing in this article. 

Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-Davidson & Other Motorcycles

So, in no particular order, here are the best 5 GoPro action camera mounts for Harley-Davidson or other motorcycles based on my experience and actual use.  

Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-Davidson

Biker GoPro Gripper

#1-Biker GoPro Gripper Universal Bar Mount

First, is the Biker GoPro Gripper Universal Bar Mount. it fits current production bar sizes from 7/8” (22mm) up to 1 1⁄4” (32mm) into one mount system. This allows it to fit virtually every handlebar or round bar on motorcycles, snowmobiles, ATV's, UTV's, and many other power sports vehicles. Requires only 3⁄4” of handlebar space and can be mounted at any angle.

Each Biker GoPro Gripper mounting system is crafted in the USA through a patent CNC process using high-quality aircraft grade aluminum making your mounting system more lightweight, much better looking, and most importantly, more durable. 

#2-RickRak Universal Bar Mount Clamp For GoPro

Universal GoPro Bar Clamp for Harley

RickRak Universal Bar Clamp for GoPro

Second, is the RickRak Universal Bar Mount Clamp for GoPro.  The RickRak GoPro and action camera mount is easily placed on any round bar with the exclusive Rickrak clamp. It can also be used for Sony action cameras or any standard tripod-mounted device. The clamp has a protective rubber material to assure no scratches are left behind. This mount comes on and off very quickly and can easily be moved around. This also includes a RickRak windshield GoPro mounting option for Bat Wing fairings.  

#3-Ciro 3D GoPro Action Camera Adapter & Mount for Street Glides, Ultras, Road Glides & More

Best 5 GoPro Action Camera Mounts for Harley-Davidson

Ciro 3D GoPro Mount for Batwing

Third, is the Ciro 3D GoPro Action Camera Adapter & Mount for Street Glides, Ultras, Road Glides & More. There are two separate models to choose from. One model is for Harley's with the shark nose fairing such as the Road Glide. The other model is for Harley's with the batwing fairing such as the Street Glide and Ultras. The Ciro 3D GoPro mount just simply replaces one of your windshield bolts and is easy and fast to install. 

Ciro 3D GoPro Mount for Shark Nose Fairing

Ciro 3D GoPro Mount for Shark Nose

Mount your GoPro cameras almost anywhere on your bike. This mount works with any Ciro 3D ball mount. The stud mount fits anywhere there is a 1/4-20 thread pitch hole. A common usage is the center bolt on your fairing windshield. The 1/4-20 threaded studs and mounting hardware are included in the kit. This mount holds your camera secure while still allowing great adjustment. You can get some really cool shots with this mount!

#4-RickRak GoPro Mount for Street Glide, Ultras, Road Glides & More!

Best Harley GoPro Mount FairingFourth, is the RickRak GoPro Mount for Street Glides, Ultras, Road Glides & More. There are two separate models to choose from. One model is for Harley's with the shark nose fairing such as the Road Glide. The other model is for Harley's with the batwing fairing such as the Street Glide and Ultras. The RickRak GoPro mount just simply replaces one of your windshield bolts and is easy and fast to install. 

RickRak GoPro Mount for Harley Shark Nose Fairing

RickRak GoPro Mount for Shark Nose Fairing

If you want lots of adjustment for your GoPro or other action cameras,  then this is the mount for you. With the RickRak ball head system you'll get all the adjustment you'll ever need. This same ball head system can be moved around to other RickRak mounts such as the Rickrak Universal Clamp Mount or the RickRak Fork Mount! With all the adjustments I can get some great angles and shots!

#5-Rickrak GoPro Fork Mount for 2014 & Newer

Last, is the Rickrak GoPro Fork Mount System for 2014 and newer Harley's.  This mount offers a truly unique perspective.  This GoPro mount for Harley enables your action camera to be securely mounted to either the left or right side of your front fork. The kit includes a GoPro and Garmin mount. This mount Fits all ’14 and up Harley's except V-Rods. To install, simply remove a front fork bolt to the fender, and replace it with the included mounting system which includes all the necessary parts.

In summary, I hope you liked this article, review, and video on the best 5 GoPro action camera mounts for Harley-Davidson and other motorcycles.

I really hope this information will help many bikers out there make an educated decision on which GoPro mount will work best on their Harley-Davidson or other motorcycles. 

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Harley Dunlop American Elite vs. Michelin Commander II Tires-Which is Best?

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In this video, I compare the stock OEM Harley Dunlop American Elite tires to the Michelin Commander II. Which tire is best? Well, that is dependant on what you are looking for. See comparison video below!

Harley-Davidson motorcycles have different weight and torque characteristics than most other bikes on the market. Dunlop has been working with Harley for years to develop great tires that work very well on Harley's. The Dunlop American Elite tire is built to wear more evenly over time, ride quietly, and work on many different surface conditions. Dunlop is the only motorcycle tire for Harley-Davidson that is designed in America, made in America, and tested in America. 

The dual-compound construction of the Dunlop American Elite uses a high-wearing, long-lasting compound in the center of the tire to maximize life and a softer, more grippy compound on the sides for excellent handling. Dunlop says that the American Elite handles as well in wet weather conditions as the Michelin Commander II handles in dry conditions. Dunlop stands behind their own in-house tests done at their expansive Huntsville, Al proving grounds that demonstrates this impressive wet-weather performance. 

More recently, Michelin has started to get into the Harley OEM tire game under their “Scorcher” product line. Our 2016 Dyna Low Rider S here at Law Abiding Biker Media came stock with Scorcher tires.

The Michelin Commander II tire for Harley has a lighter, stronger carcass made with modern materials called Aramid, a generic name for Kevlar, fibers which are super lightweight, but even stronger than steel. Michelin says the stylish tread pattern of the Commander II tire for Harley not only looks high-performance, but it's long grooves evacuate water quickly for excellent wet weather performance. The carcass of the Michelin Commander II is built with Silica Rain Technology (SRT) which integrates silica into the compound of the tire tread for superior traction in wet weather conditions.

Michelin conducted three years of customer-focused research at shows, events, and with focus groups. Michelin is proud to say that the Commander II is the first tire they've ever designed that was 100% directed by customer feedback. Michelin says that their tests have shown the Commander II is capable of nearly twice the distance covered by its direct competitors.  

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GET THE DUNLOP AMERICAN ELITE TIRE:

Revzilla | J&P Cycles | Amazon

GET THE MICHELIN COMMANDER II TIRE:

Revzilla | J&P Cycles | Amazon

My experience and opinion:

The Dunlop is known for it awesome performance while the Michelin is known for getting more miles before replacement. The Dunlop American Elite tire is really good in all conditions, but you'll get fewer miles out of it. The Michelin Commander II is a great tire if you just want to lay down a lot of miles and aren't necessarily an aggressive rider.

I am a full-time LE Motor Officer who rides a Harley on duty daily and I also rides tons of miles off-duty on my personal Harley.  I can tell you that I personally stick with the Dunlop American Elite. I ride aggressively in many different environments and surface conditions. I train and ride at higher speeds and lower speeds and train often. The Dunlop is an all around great tire for confident more aggressive riders. I have qualified on our police motorcycle qualification courses in the rain and the Dunlop American Elite grips strong and is truly amazing. I have much trust in the Dunlop tire.  I'm okay giving up some miles out of a tire for excellent performance. 

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The Michelin Commander II tire for Harley is a great tire for those that may not want to ride so aggressive and for a rider that wants to just lay down the miles and tour. In the rain and while riding the way most average riders do, the Commander II will be a great tire. The best part is that you will likely get more miles out of the Commander II than the Dunlop American Elite. Generally speaking, the Commander II is known for going longer before needing to be replaced.

Understand, that the number of miles you'll get out of any Harley tire will vary greatly from rider to rider. There are many determining factors on how long your tire will last. Your riding style and environments you ride in will determine the life of a tire. 

There is no reason you need to pay a Harley dealership to remove your front or rear wheel from your Harley for a tire change. With our free tutorial videos, you can do it yourself right in your own shop or garage. See video links below!

If you don't have a tire changing device then you can then simply take your wheel to any motorcycle shop and have them put the new tire on the wheel. We also have a free tutorial video on how to remove the tire from you wheel with a manual tire changer. 

Harley Front Wheel and Rear Wheel Removal Videos:

We talk about a ton of stuff like this on the weekly Law Abiding Biker Podcast. Check it out and become part of the community!

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Motorcycle Lithium-Ion vs Lead-Acid Battery Comparison, Review & Buyers Guide

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See Video Below

Should you choose old technology and choose a heavy lead-acid motorcycle battery? Or choose the newer lighter lithium-ion battery technology? There are many benefits of a lithium-ion battery over a traditional lead-acid.

Good quality lithium-ion batteries are lighter, smaller, charge faster, hold their charge longer, last longer overall, have better warranties, & often have more cold cranking amps. They are however more expensive than a lead-acid, but the cost may be well worth it. On average a lithium-ion battery costs 30% more than a lead-acid. 

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Lithium-ion batteries are generally much smaller than lead-acid. For this reason, make certain upon purchase that it will fit your motorcycle. Many sellers of lithium-ion batteries will put the battery in a “stock case” for your brand/model motorcycle. That means that they'll make it the same size as your stock lead-acid battery so it will fit perfectly in the battery compartment of your Harley-Davidson as an example. If you choose to buy the smaller size lithium-ion it may bounce around in your large battery compartment. Many come with shims so you can try to wedge the battery in to keep it from moving around. My recommendation is to get a lithium-ion battery with the correct case size for your application. 

When purchasing a lithium-ion, be aware of the terminal placement such as side or top to make sure it will work with your application. Again, this is why I bought a direct replacement lithium-ion made for my Harley Street Glide that has everything the same as my lead-acid. 

Lithium-ion batteries often have more cold cranking amps (CCA) and that means more powerful starts. As an example, the Twin Power Lithium Ion Battery -DLFP30HL-BS-H I bought has 625 CCA, whereas a typical lead-acid for a Harley will only have 400-500 CCA. 

Twin Power Lithium Ion Battery -DLFP30HL-BS-H

In this video, I showed a Twin Power Lithium Ion Battery -DLFP30HL-BS-H. I have been using it in my Harley-Davidson touring for a while now and love it!

The first possible drawback to a lithium-ion is that if you let it fall to below 11 volts by accidentally leaving your headlight as an example, you may permanently damage the battery. Whereas, a lead-acid in good shape could be charged and likely recover.

The second drawback, not really in my opinion, to a lithium-ion motorcycle battery, is that if you leave your motorcycle out in temperatures below freezing for an extended period of time, you'll have to “wake” the battery to get it cycling. This is easily done by turning your headlight on for a short period or bumping the starter a few times. Once awake, you lithium-ion goes to work fast and gives you those cold cranking amps.

I tested my lithium-ion battery by placing it in my freezer for a bit over two hours at 12 degrees Fahrenheit. I then tested it on my Harley and it fired right up and the battery never went to sleep. That tells me that you'd need to have your bike in the below-freezing temps for some time before it would go to sleep. Again, easily overcome by just bumping your starter or turning your headlight on to wake it. 

Check out other lithium-ion batteries for Harley-Davidson (click on pictures):

J&P Cycles

Amazon

Revzilla

An upside is that lithium-ion batteries don't really need to be on a battery tender when storing or parking your motorcycle for longer periods of time like a lead-acid as they only lose about 10% of their charge a year while sitting. Whereas, a lead-acid battery loses 1% of its charge per day. Just remove the negative battery terminal on your lithium-ion battery when storing your motorcycle & you're good to go. Then, just charge the battery up and top it off before riding again. In contrast, you should keep your lead-acid on a battery tender while you park and/or store your motorcycle for any length of time to greatly increase its lifespan & so it doesn't go dead.

My Dual Charger/Tender (Lithium-Ion & Lead-Acid)

Make sure you use an appropriate battery tender when charging/tending your lithium-ion battery. These charges/tenders are a bit different than lead-acid chargers. A lithium-ion battery tender charges your battery to between 13-14 volts. A lead-acid battery tender charges the battery to about 12.8 volts. So, using the wrong charger/tender will either under or overcharge your particular motorcycle battery. I bought a Battery Tender Junior 12Volt 800mAh AGM, flooded, GEL, or lithium (LiFePO4) 022-0199-DL-WH dual that works for either a lithium-ion or lead-acid with the push of a button.

If purchasing any motorcycle battery online, make sure to check the warranty, return policies, and procedures and know who you are buying from. You need to know this information should your battery go bad under warranty. How do you get it replaced and who pays any shipping charges? Or, do you need to go straight to the battery manufacturer? 

Understand that lithium-ion batteries have a much longer life than lead-acid. I have a friend that is going on 8 years now with his. Make sure if you trade or sell your motorcycle that you leave with your beloved lithium-ion battery. 

I really hope this article and video provide you with the information you need to decide what battery you want to install on your motorcycle. Me personally, I'll be using lithium-ion from now on. 

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Video-Supremery Sup320 Case Bag for Gopro Hero & Accessories-Review

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supremery-gopro-hero-case-review-videoVideo-I found a great built and quality case for my GoPro actions cameras and accessories. I need to be mobile, organized, and my film gear needs to be protected. I am limited to what I can carry on my Harley-Davidson motorcycle much of the time when on long distance trips.

Get our custom GoPro motorcycle mount solution!

The Superemey Sup320 case is water resistant, rugged, and well built. It has an upper tray and lower tray to organize all my film gear. The Supremery GoPro case has strong zippers, well-stitched carry handle, metal hardware, and the trays are very solid. There are mesh pockets, both on top and below. The foam cutouts in the upper tray allow you to compartmentalize your camera gear.

Check this review video out to get all the details.

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==> AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK

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Video-GoPole Venturecase Case Bag for GoPro Hero & Accessories-Review

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gopole-venturecase-review-videoVideo-I found a great built and quality case for my GoPro actions cameras and accessories. I need to be mobile, save space, and be organized. I am limited to what I can carry on my Harley-Davidson motorcycle much of the time when on long distance trips.

Get our custom GoPro motorcycle mount solution here!

The GoPole Venturecase is water resistant and well built. It has a main compartment separated by dividers for multiple GoPro Hero cameras. It also has several mesh pockets along with a large zippered pocket in the lid. It has a well-stitched carry handle.

Check this review video out to get all the details.

GET THE CASE BELOW (AFFILIATE LINK-SUPPORT US): (No additional cost to you)

AMAZON AFFILIATE LINK | B&H PHOTO VIDEO LINK

 

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