tutorial video Archives - Page 9 of 21 - Law Abiding Biker Podcast

Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim for Harley Street Glide Batwing Fairing-Review & Install

April 17, 2020 By Ryan Urlacher 1 Comment

In this completely free tutorial video, we show how to properly install Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim on your 2014 to present Harley-Davidson with a batwing fairing such as a Street Glide or Ultra.

Support Us & Get the Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim for Harley Batwing Fairing in our Store Here!

The Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim provides additional white LED light to the front of your Harley when running down the road and they flash amber inside to out (directional) 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 black or chrome.

We also have the Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim for the Harley Sharknose Fairing Here!

This is another high-quality product by Ciro 3D and it is plug and play for a super clean installation. We'll show you what you need to know for installation in this video and also show you how to wire additional Ciro 3D front lighting products to your Harley.

The Ciro 3D Horizon LED Windshield Trim runs along the bottom of the windshield.

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Install a Doohickey & Torsion Spring on a Kawasaki KLR650

March 23, 2020 By Ryan Urlacher 4 Comments

Both generations of the Kawasaki KLR 650 have had a serious issue with the counter-balancing chain adjustment mechanism, or as most call it, a “doohickey”. Basically the doohickey tensions the counter-balancing chain and this helps neutralize engine shake and vibration, which makes for a smoother running engine.

If this mechanism goes bad it can cause engine failure. This stock mechanism has failed at varying times for many riders and it’s very unpredictable as to when or if it will happen.

Due to the unpredictability, I strongly suggest you just replace the stock mechanism on your KLR 650 with a replacement Doohickey right away, regardless of the mileage. It’s not that expensive to do and it can save you a lot of money and headaches in the future. Plus, with our tutorial video, you can do this yourself right in your own shop or garage. There’s no need to pay a mechanic to do this.

Eagle Mfg. makes a Doohickey, which replaces the weak stock piece with a stronger design. The basic kit comes with a couple of stretch springs similar looking to the stock spring and you choose a size to use. But, I’d suggest going all in and getting the additional and more robust torsion spring upgrade to the kit for a few bucks more. This is your best option and only requires you to drill a single hole with the included drill bit. Don’t worry, we show you how in this video.

Items Needed for the Doohickey Install:

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Eagle Mfg. Doohickey – Balancer Idle Lever & Spring Upgrade
Eagle Mfg. Doohickey Torsion Spring
Tusk Generator Cover Gasket
Tusk Generator Case Gasket
Replacement Rotor Bolt for Kawasaki KLR650 (optional)
- The manual recommends a one time use. Many don't replace it and re-use the bolt.
Eagle Mfg. Rotor Holder Wrench
Tusk Flywheel Puller 22mm
Tusk 3-Piece Gasket Scraper Kit
Gasket Maker
Oil-10w-40 (2.1 quarts)

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How to Install 944 Progressive Touring Shocks on a Harley Davidson & Adjust Sag-Video

February 20, 2020 By Ryan Urlacher 8 Comments

We have installed the Progressive 944 rear suspension for Harley on quite a few bikes over the years and we love them. Because we've used them for quite some time, we recommend them and carry them in the Law Abiding Biker Store. In this video, we show you how to install the 944 rear shocks on a Harley and how to adjust things so you have the proper sag.

Ryan Urlacher Progressive 944 Harley Shocks

Adjusting Proper Sag

Darryl here at Law Abiding Biker Media was not happy with the overall ride of his 2016 Harley-Davidson Ultra Limited, which came with the outdated air-shock system Harley used for so many years on many of its touring models. The stock Harley air shock system leaks over time, which becomes a big frustration for many riders.

Darryl not only wanted to get rid of the air suspension, but he also wanted to lower his Ultra Limited a bit, so he would sit more flat-footed when stopped. The Progressive 944 rear suspension for Harley was certainly my answer for him. That's because the Progressive 944's Ultra-Touring model lowers certain models like the Ultras by an inch without losing great rear shock performance. They don't lower models such as the Harley Street or Road Glide Specials as they already sit an inch lower than Ultras.

https://shop.lawabidingbiker.com/collections/progressive-suspension-for-street-bikes

Progressive Ultra-Touring & Ultra-Low 944 Series Shocks for Harley

There are also several different models of the Progressive 944's and it will depend on how much riding weight you'll actually have, so make sure you select the correct model for your needs. You'll want to take into consideration how much luggage you'll load on and whether you're going to ride with a passenger often.

Another option is the Progressive 944's Ultra-Low model, which lower some Harley models such as Ultras two inches. That means models such as Street and Road Glide specials would be lowered one inch since they are already one inch lower than an Ultra.

For more details about fitment and lowering, head over to the Law Abiding Biker Store.

After we installed Progressive 944 rear suspension on Darry's bike, he went for a ride and that's when the true test began. Changing your rear suspension on your Harley to the Progressive 944's is an unbelievable change in the overall ride and Darryl is now flat-footed when stopped. He is really enjoying how these shocks handle and give his Harley a new feel!

Make adjusting your suspension sag easy, with this Tusk Sliding Sag Scale!

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Video-How to Bleed & Flush Harley-Davidson Clutch System Fluid

February 11, 2020 By Ryan Urlacher 6 Comments

Harley-Davidson recommends that you replace/flush the DOT 4 brake fluid in your Harley clutch system every two years regardless of mileage. In this completely free tutorial video, we show you how to flush your Harley clutch system right in your own shop or garage with minimal tools, so you don't have to pay a Harley dealership to do it.

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Here are some affiliate links to the equipment we used to do this project. No additional cost to you, but if you click through and make a purchase we get a small commission. It helps support free videos like this!

MV8000 Automotive Tune-up and Brake Bleeding Kit
- Used this for years and it works great
Mityvac MV6835 Vacuum Brake Bleeding Kit
- What we used for this film project and loved it!
Brake Fluid Tester – calibrated for DOT 4 brake fluids
- Test the moisture level in your DOT 4 fluid

Bleeding your Harley clutch system and flushing the system is basically the same process. When bleeding your clutch system, you just add new fluid to the old in the master cylinder and pull fluid through the lines until you get all the air out of the system. When you flush your Harley clutch system, you are replacing all your old DOT 4 fluid with new. You remove all old fluid from the master cylinder and then put new fluid in and bleed the clutch system until all the old fluid is evacuated along with any air, thus having all new fluid in the clutch system.

Why should you flush your Harley clutch system every two years you ask?

As DOT 4 brake/clutch fluid in your Harley ages, its chemical properties deteriorate and it absorbs water. This changes the physical properties of the DOT 4 fluid, which can lead to clutch issues such as it not fully disengaging. Left unchanged, it could lead to complete clutch failure.

As mentioned, DOT 4 brake fluid absorbs water. Because water boils at 212°F, less than half the temperature of brake fluid, any water in the brake fluid dramatically reduces its boiling point. When brake fluid boils it converts any water in the fluid to gas. And because gas is more compressible than liquid, when brake fluids boil, the clutch may not fully disengage when the lever is pulled in.

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Recommended items for this project:

In this tutorial video, we use a Mityvac MV6835 Vacuum Brake Bleeding Kit, which will help you easily flush your Harley clutch system. A less expensive clutch bleeding kit we used for years is the MV8000 Automotive Tune-up and Brake Bleeding Kit & it works very well. We also use a Brake Fluid Tester to test the DOT 4 brake fluid in the clutch system for moisture. If you ever find your Harley brake fluid has 3.7% or higher water content by volume, it’s recommended that you change it, even if it hasn’t been two years.

This clutch fluid issue discussed in this article is not specific to Harley as all motorcycles use much of the same DOT 4 brake fluid. Harley was just getting ahead of the game and recommending changing it out every two years to avoid any problems. You should do this on your motorcycle regardless of what make.

Tip: Don't store your opened unsealed DOT 4 brake fluid for any length of time. You can discard it after you use it. Once unsealed, DOT 4 brake fluid will collect moisture and that's exactly why we're flushing our systems in the first place.

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Video-How to Install Shifter Linkage on Harley-Davidson-Replace & Review-Kuryakyn

January 25, 2020 By Ryan Urlacher 5 Comments

Video-In this completely free video, we show you how to easily install new replacement shift linkage on your Harley-Davidson motorcycle. We also show you how to remove your old linkage. The stock Harley shift linkage can often fail and leave you stranded. You need to get good quality shift linkage that uses sturdy & reliable heim joints. We used Kuryakyn shift linkage in this video.

ANOTHER ISSUE-Check out our Harley Shifter Shaft/Arm Video

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Ciro 3D Passenger Drink Holder Install & Review on a Harley + Rider Drink Holder Options!

December 27, 2019 By Ryan Urlacher 5 Comments

Are you looking for a well made and good looking drink holder for your Harley-Davidson or Goldwing motorcycle? Then Ciro 3D Drink Holders may be what you're looking for.

I've used many cheap drink holders on my Harley-Davidson motorcycles over the years. Many of them are flimsy and lack a solid mounting system.

When I discovered the Ciro 3D Drink Holders for Harley-Davidson and Honda Goldwings, I was instantly impressed with the quality and look. I've traveled thousands of miles cross-country on my motorcycle while using and testing Ciro 3D Drink Holders. They definitely pass the test in every way, so we put them in the Law Abiding Biker™ Store.

Support us and check out Ciro 3D Drink Holders for Harley & Goldwings in the Law Abiding Biker Store!

You can bring virtually any can, bottle, or cup with you securely on your motorcycle and in style with Ciro 3D Drink Holders. You can get them in chrome or black and it's made from tough neoprene rubber. These drink holders really stand up to the elements.

Ciro 3D Drink Holders also come with rider and passenger mounting options for Harley models with trunks. The rider mount options include a perch mount system that mounts near your left or right control clusters or there is a universal round bar option. These Ciro 3D Drink Holders are very easy to install.

Additionally, Ciro 3D Drink Holders come in two sizes; standard size and a larger size called the “Big Ass” Drink Holder that will allow you to bring that 30 oz. tumbler on the road with you.

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Harley Shifter Shaft, Arm, Splines, & Linkage Failures | How to Avoid These Issues

October 29, 2019 By Ryan Urlacher 43 Comments

The Harley shifter system as a whole has been faulty for many years now but the Harley-Davidson Motor Company remains silent about it. However, every Harley dealership mechanic who's been around more than a week will readily tell you that the Harley shifter system fails routinely and is problematic for many riders. (see video below)

Many Harley riders I know have had this issue while out on the road riding long distances and you can guarantee when it fails it will be in the middle of nowhere. In this video, I show you how to properly inspect the Harley shifter system and all the failure points. If you already have a shifter issue, I show you how to repair it. I had a Harley shifter arm failure outside of Cheyenne, Wyoming on my 13 state trip last year and I don't want it to happen to you.

ANOTHER ISSUE: Check out our Harley shifter linkage video

Issue #1

Up at your Harley toe/heel shifter is the shifter shaft they connect to with a clamp/bolt type system. There are splines on the shifter levers and shifter shaft. That shaft then goes through a housing to the inside of the primary housing. On that side, the front shifter arm bolts to the shifter shaft, again both having splines. At the top of the front shifter arm is where the shifter linkage attaches. And that shifter linkage then runs back to the rear shift arm that then goes to the transmission.

Where the shifter shaft goes into the front shifter arm is where things go bad. Even if the front shifter arm clamp bolt is plenty tight, the splines slowly work against each other over time due to too much play and improper tolerances in my opinion. The splines eventually strip out and fail, thus you can no longer shift. There are no big warning signs leading up to this unless you get down and inspect your Harley shifter system.

Where the bolt goes through the front shifter arm clamp there is a channel in the shifter shaft that the bolt must align with. Over time, those threads on the bolt will actually wear and align with the shifter shaft splines and then the front shifter arm will fall off the shaft. There will be visible mashing of the bolt threads if this happens. Replace that bolt if that happens.

Issue #2

The stock Harley shifter linkage will fail on you at some point. I strongly suggest you replace your shifter linkage as soon as you by a Harley with a quality aftermarket shift linkage. There is no warning to this and your linkage will just fail at some point.

The cheap stock linkage is a system of balls that pivot in the ends of the actual shift linkage shaft. The shaft presses onto the balls, which pivot around and overtime just wear out. At that point, your stock Harley linkage will fall off the rear, front, or both, and will not press back on. I have seen this happen to many riders on long road trips. Carrying our Cruz Tools Emergency Roadside Repair Kit from our online store, some zip-ties, and some duct tape will get you on the road until you can replace it.

The quality aftermarket shift linkage uses Heim joints and actually bolts on to the front and rear shifter arm. This is a much more robust system and removes the failure points.

Additionally

Make sure all the bolts are tight on the shifter clamps and arm clamps and use blue thread lock on all of them. Also, when you put your shifter shaft back through the housing, make sure to put a bit of anti-seize grease on it.