A Day in The Life - 2025

[DK Custom Products]

One of the things that kept me at the shop so late yesterday, is that arrangements were made for 2025 to be the year we will get this thing done....I hope....that is the plan!

Here's a forum thread on this build, up until it stalled out at the beginning of Covid. SBS Project - Sportster Chop w/ Lots of Photo's

We've done a little here and there in the intervening years...

Here is what it looked like when I bought it-

Here's the only part of the frame we kept-

Hundreds more photo's in the thread link above.

Kevin

 

[Ray55]

Thank you! Going to look into that!

Kevin

Yeah

My home town. Rode the "Back of the Dragon" in September when I was home.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin - maybe you should add “snow” to the list of ways to cool down your Harley!

LOL, excellent Tonto

If there were a way.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Another late day working!

This is me today:

Dreaming of riding & making memories-

But, instead, stuck at the computer working-

Kevin

 

[Trail boss]

I hope you will have at least 1 left on the shelf for me. I

Me too please.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Stopped by a local HD Dealership today (Southern Thunder), just for a look around. Been quite a few months since I've been in there.

They have a pretty heavy inventory on the floor. At least 80% of the bikes are 2024 models, all with the price reduced by a significant amount.

The above 2 photos are showing only half of the showroom floor.

There were only 3 or 4 2025 models. The Street Glide below was one of the 2025 models.

Yeah, that is purple!

Then they had this New 2023 Street Glide-

With a starting price of $11,000 below MSRP!

Looking forward to the 25th of this month to see what else is introduced in 2025.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

It's 24 F and snowing again!

Tonight is projected to be a low of 11 F.

This afternoon is supposed to be mostly sunny, and up to 28 F.

I dunno how you guys up north do this every year.

Today will be mostly inside, no riding for me...don't want to end up like this guy.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

A small glimpse into Manufacturing in the USA.

Look what happens. First long billet stock is cut into shorter blocks-

Then they are clamped in and the cutting starts-

With the first process complete, they are removed, inspected, and prepped for the second process-

Then there are quite a few more steps to turn it into this (but that is all I got photos of on Friday)-

All that billet aluminum that got cut away (over 50%) goes into the recycling cans-

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Good morning, riders! Today started with a chilly 22°F in the shop, as shown by the thermometer.

A light dusting of snow greeted us outside, setting the scene for a true winter ride.

Before heading out, I had made sure my Harley was ready, with the battery tender plugged in, ensuring it's ready for the cold start.

Just Kidding!!! There's no way I'm riding when it's below 20°F outside!

Kevin

 

[Tonto]

My home town of Houma, LA is under a blizzard warning! Don’t reckon anyone is riding down there!

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

My home town of Houma, LA is under a blizzard warning! Don’t reckon anyone is riding down there!

I’m an hour away from Houma and we got a foot of snow today . Just outside New Orleans

 

[Tonto]

I’m an hour away from Houma and we got a foot of snow today . Just outside New Orleans

One of my cousins lives in Violet and they also had a foot of snow! Definitely a “sneaux” event!

 

[pwhoever]

We have been very lucky this year. We have had a bunch of single digit to below 0 temps days but very little snow. Maybe around 2-3 inches for the season so far. But I'm not complaining...

 

[DK Custom Products]

It warmed up to 35 F today, so I was out in the shop getting things ready to move the countertops and cabinets in.

First thing was to get these two shelves out of here-

Poof, they're gone (I wish it was that easy -

Also need to move all the stuff along this wall out of the way-

That actually was pretty easy-

Later this week I will be moving the Tri Glide out of there and moving all the cabinets and countertops in.


Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

My home town of Houma, LA is under a blizzard warning! Don’t reckon anyone is riding down there!

That's crazy the snow that happened down that way!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

I’m an hour away from Houma and we got a foot of snow today . Just outside New Orleans

Hurricanes & now snow!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

We have been very lucky this year. We have had a bunch of single digit to below 0 temps days but very little snow. Maybe around 2-3 inches for the season so far. But I'm not complaining...

You're sending it all down south!

No offense, and with respect, you can have it back!

Kevin

 

[pwhoever]

You're sending it all down south!

No offense, and with respect, you can have it back!

Kevin

Oh how do I hate snow! I feel bad this is happening down there. But like my dad always said, "Better you than me!"

 

[New Orleans Kevin]

One of my cousins lives in Violet and they also had a foot of snow! Definitely a “sneaux” event!

You know that makes him a “Violation”

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm Ready.

Going to be interesting to see what bikes have the Gen II engine, and which of those are VVT.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

I'm still digesting into on the introduction of more 2025 models last night.

Here are some of my thoughts so far:

1. The intro by The Motor Company in 2024 was horrible, I did not know how it could be worse. Well last night was worse, almost non-existent. 6 short 1 minute to 2.5 minute videos that gave no real information about the bikes.

2. Many Dealerships tried to make up for that by posting videos and livestreams. For the most part those were close to useless in providing any real information.

It was embarrassing.



Now for the good stuff!

3. Almost all the bikes are now Gen II (Not VVT's, but still the Gen II) See video below on some major differences between the Gen I and Gen II M8's

4. There are still only 2 Gen II VVT's....The CVO SG and CVO RG

5. All Touring models with a fairing have the new fairing with the large screen (see our thoughts on that in video below)

6. All Trikes remain the same, Gen I 114's (from Jan 3, 2025)
The Road King also still has the Gen I 114
All the Rest of the bikes are Gen II 117's or 121's

7. Softails, or Cruisers, all have the Gen II engine now

8. Softails also all have 3 "Ride Modes". Road, Rain, & Sport

9. Softails now have the full compliment of RDRS features

Softail & Touring

10. Many of the bikes now have inverted forks, which are better, still no great, than the traditional HD forks.

11. All bikes have All LED lights all around now. No more LED headlight by incandescent turn signals.

12. A lot of other little things, like different had controls, TPMS, adjustable front brake lever, different grips, etc.

13. All Models still have restrictive exhaust, and restrictive intake. Even those some of the air cleaners look larger, even the VVT monster size air cleaner is still restrictive, as illustrated on the dyno charts in the video below.

There are other differences not covered above. But the above are the highlights of what I have seen so far.


Video on Differences between the Gen I & Gen II M8's and how to tell them apart:





Video on the features & pros and cons of RDRS & the big screen the on the faired bikes:






Dyno Charts showing how restrictive the exhaust and air cleaners are:




Oh, did not even look at the wannabe Sport bikes or the Pan America.


Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

This weekend Mary and I are going to be doing some more planning for our 2025 Road Trips.

We were looking at some photos from last years road trips.

In Utah, we stopped riding for a bit to appreciate this sunset!

Kevin

 

[Tonto]

As we speak, we are planning our trip to the Ark in Kentucky then onto The Snake in NC.

 

[DK Custom Products]

As we speak, we are planning our trip to the Ark in Kentucky then onto The Snake in NC.

Thanks! My dad and brother visited the Ark in Kentucky last year...said it was well worth it. Adding it to our list of possibles for this year.

Kevin

 

[HDUSA1]

If you’ve got time for 2 days there, go to the Creation Museum the first day, then the Ark the second day. It will make more sense when you visit the Ark. They are a short ride from each other.

 

[DK Custom Products]

It was another cold & wet day here today. So Mary and I started doing some trip planning for later this year.

The first thing we talked about was how different are travel is now than it was just 5 years ago...before Covid.

For almost 20 years we attended 8-12 rallies a year. We have a Ton of Great Memories from all those rallies, and we spent some time looking thru some photos. Before we realized it a couple of hours had passed.

We ended up doing Zilch as far as trip planning...all the time was eaten up on memory lane.

This photo was 2005, either on our way to Daytona Bike Week, or 2005 headed to a Rally in Alabama...neither of us were sure.

2008 Faunsdale Rally-

This was a campground we stayed at on our way to the Abate Boogie in Indiana, 2010-

At the Boogie, 2010-

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Was just talking with a friend an hour ago.

His 2010 Twin Cam blew up on him last week while his speedo was pegged at 120 MPH (he does not know how much faster he was going)

He pulled in the clutch immediately and was able to safely come to a stop right past a State Trooper.

He had aggressive go-fast parts in it (high lift cams, higher compression, oversized TB and injectors, etc.)

The engine will not turn over 360 degrees...the little bit it will turn, there is all kinds of clanging/clunking inside. So it is probably the crank, connecting rods or something in the valve train. (He already pulled apart the primary, all is good in there).

Time is more important to him than money. This weekend he purchased a newly built 120 that should be in the bike and running sometime this week.

When he gets time to pull apart his blown 103 he will be taking some photos that I will post in this thread.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

If you’ve got time for 2 days there, go to the Creation Museum the first day, then the Ark the second day. It will make more sense when you visit the Ark. They are a short ride from each other.

Will be looking into that...had not heard of it before.

Thank you!

Kevin

 

[hardwickbv]

Was just talking with a friend an hour ago.

His 2010 Twin Cam blew up on him last week while his speedo was pegged at 120 MPH (he does not know how much faster he was going)

He pulled in the clutch immediately and was able to safely come to a stop right past a State Trooper.

He had aggressive go-fast parts in it (high lift cams, higher compression, oversized TB and injectors, etc.)

The engine will not turn over 360 degrees...the little bit it will turn, there is all kinds of clanging/clunking inside. So it is probably the crank, connecting rods or something in the valve train. (He already pulled apart the primary, all is good in there).

Time is more important to him than money. This weekend he purchased a newly built 120 that should be in the bike and running sometime this week.

When he gets time to pull apart his blown 103 he will be taking some photos that I will post in this thread.

Kevin

All I can say is WOW this is going to be interesting!!!

Bob

 

[GrumpyVet]

If you’ve got time for 2 days there, go to the Creation Museum the first day, then the Ark the second day. It will make more sense when you visit the Ark. They are a short ride from each other.

Combo ticket is available.