by Jason on December 14, 2007
As the old expression goes, variety is the spice of life. H-D owners about to have another option when it comes to aftermarket pipes. D&D Performance Enterprises- the manufacturer of Fat Cat and Boarzilla exhaust pipes, has joined forces with Zipper’s Performance Products to provide dealers throughout the United States with new products for Harley-Davidson motorcycles including Softails, Baggers, V-RODs, Dynas and our own personal favorites, the Sportsters.
In addition to pipes, D&D will be releasing their ThunderMax Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) Controller and AutoTune Module. This combination offers performance gains through a free-flowing exhaust while the controller/ module setup improves throttle response, fuel economy and more efficiently controls heat.
The D&D/Zipper’s performance package is ready to be shipped to dealers and should be appearing on shelves in the days to come. Head over to www.danddexhaust.com for more information.
by Matt on December 12, 2007
As promised, I’m going to quickly go over a couple of stopping scenarios. Make sure your bike is in good shape and you have all the proper safety gear on before you start practicing this stuff.
The front brake on a motorcycle typically provides 70% to 100% of stopping power. Bringing the back tire off the ground while stopping (called a stoppie), is an example of 100% of braking power.
Locking the tires is not good, but it’s worse if you lock the front tire. Locking the front tire on a good surface while straight up and looking forward is very difficult; the back tire will often come off the ground first.
Don’t worry too much if it happens. It usually happens slowly at first, and you’ll know that it’s happening.
Straight Line
Stopping in a straight line is the most preferred way, and doing it on a good surface is quite easy. Use both brakes along with the clutch to stop. Pull in the clutch to keep from stalling the engine if you lock up the back tire.
Lean backwards and stay vertical to prevent the bike from leaning or bringing the back tire off the ground. Attempting to turn sharply while hard on the brakes will likely result in a crash. If you have to turn, slow down as hard and fast as you can before you initiate the turn, and let up on the brakes before leaning over.
On Dirty or Wet Surfaces
Braking hard on dirt, oil, water, steel (RR tracks or manholes), or on paint (the paint they use to make the lines on the streets) can be dangerous. A significant loss of traction means you must use more back brake than front.
Excessive front braking on slippery surfaces will result in the tire skidding and likely cause a crash. Use the back brakes more when traction is at a minimum.
Braking While Turning
Braking hard in a turn can cause a “low-side”, where the tires lose traction and you fall over in the direction you are leaning.
If you’re in a turn and have to brake hard, you need to be mindful of losing traction and be aware that the bike will want to stand up straight when you apply the brakes, sending you off your preferred course.
by Matt on December 11, 2007
Sometimes Many times when riding your Sportster you have to stop quickly, or at least slow down considerably in a short amount of time because the lady that just turned in front of you while chatting it up with her girlfriend didn’t see you. Doing this incorrectly can be dangerous or even deadly. (Stopping, I mean, not chatting up your girlfriend) .
A big misconception is that motorcycles can stop exponentially quicker than a car. It’s not really true unless you’re willing to go the extra mile, so to speak.
There are several scenarios where you might have to stop or slow down quickly. Each one requires a different set of actions to be performed safely and effectively. I’ve covered some individual scenarios like straight line stopping and curve or slippery surface stopping here.
You should practice those techniques until they become second nature to you. If you have to think about how you’re going to stop for any given situation, it may be too late. You want it to be second nature. You know, like punching that guy in the face for sitting on your bike without asking.
