A Day in the Life...

[DK Custom Products]

Sometimes a road calls to be ridden, other times it screams "Come Ride Me".

Kevin

 

[hogcowboy]

Sometimes a road calls to be ridden, other times it screams "Come Ride Me".

Kevin

Looks like it will get colder too. Been there done that.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Looks like it will get colder too. Been there done that.

Yep, looks like a fun ride!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Windy, rainy and cold today. Was nice to spend a bit of time in the shop and get my repaired front fender back on.

Here's the untouched factory side-

Here's the repaired side...not quite as nice...

...But, as you can see from the following two pics, once it is mounted, can't really tell the difference without really close inspection.

The first of the two above is the repaired side.

As is the case with so many fender badges, mine were rattling. Instead of just replacing the OEM keepers, I removed them...

Took the badges off...

...Cleaned the fender and the back of the badges with alcohol. Then used some 3M tape on the badges to hold them to the fender.

This is the same stuff that holds tank badges on. Looks good, and no more rattling.

With the fender back on, I had to remove the outer fairing again. There is just no way for me to reach the fendertip light connector otherwise.

I always use dielectric grease on electrical connections.

All buttoned back up.

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Looks good from my house

 

[DK Custom Products]

Looks good from my house

(Yes)

 

[DK Custom Products]

Early this morning our shipping facility, in Memphis, was broken into.

Fortunately all he took was a jar of coins and a tablet.

He did leave his mug looking into the security cameras, several times. lol

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Adrenaline Rush Last Night!

On the way home, around 7:30, I had a near encounter with a deer. (large doe)

Saw it running on the side of the road...slowed down...she stopped and was looking at me...I was looking at her...

I decided to speed up to get past...

At the same time, she decided to go ahead and cross the road.

IT WAS CLOSE! Thought for sure I was going to hit her.

Missed by about a foot!

Kevin

 

[Jack Klarich]

Sometimes a road calls to be ridden, other times it screams "Come Ride Me".

Kevin

That reminds me of Spearfish Canyon

In 1993 my wife snapped a picture off the back of my FLHS a tree fell at the top of the ridge and slid down into the canyon

There are no barriers on that road no shoulder either

Straight down into the canyon

 

[DK Custom Products]

Rode in this morning. 65*

I think we're about done with the cold for the next 9 months.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Well, after the nice ride in at 65*, and then the lunchtime ride at 72*, and then the 65* ride home last night.....

It was 44* on the ride in this morning, and that is the HIGH for today. brrr

But, it's getting better.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Mary and I took a short overnight trip this weekend...

At the hotel we stayed at, we saw this Indian behind glass-

Scout will probably never be ridden again.

This morning, stopped for gas....4.9 gallons in the 5 gallon tank. That was about as close as I want to get to pushing this bike.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Flashback-

Almost 8 years ago...

4 months and 14 days after a cager, driving the wrong way on Interstate 40, put me in bed for over 3 months.

Same helmet and jacket from sliding 150 ft along asphalt...

Sure felt good to be riding again! Had to use a cane to walk....but riding was like flying...and no pain.

Kevin

 

[55il]

Hi Kevin, Not sure if these were old photos or recent but i like the looks of your jacket. Is this the Vega jacket you mentioned on an earlier thread? At least you had a quality helmet and jacket for protection. Also nice two wheeler. Thanks DJ

 

[DK Custom Products]

Hi Kevin, Not sure if these were old photos or recent but i like the looks of your jacket. Is this the Vega jacket you mentioned on an earlier thread? At least you had a quality helmet and jacket for protection. Also nice two wheeler. Thanks DJ

Old photo's. They were taken Dec. 30, 2010.

That is the helmet and mesh jacket I was wearing in August of 2010 when a truck hit me and threw me 150 feet thru the air and then sliding another 150 feet along the asphalt. Definitely save my noggin and skin.

The pants were kevlar lined and prevented road rash there too...but the paramedics ruined them getting them off....hahaha, they had quite a time trying to cut thru the kevlar...they finally realized they couldn't and then cut around the kevlar panels.

Boots were also ruined when they cut them off. Gloves were worn 90% thru in some spots.

I wore the helmet and jacket for a couple of weeks after I resumed riding, until I got some replacements for them.

Thanks for the compliment on the Sporty. March of 2011 I got my first Tri-Glide. Then later that year I took the Sporty pictured above and did some work to it. Here's a photo of it a few years later when it won Second Place at Little Sturgis.

Here's what my Ultra looked like after the truck hit me-

Ride Safe out there!

Kevin

 

[hogcowboy]

Yeah, they cut my boots and leather pants off too. I think they enjoy ruining expensive clothing myself. My helmet was almost in two pieces though so had to get a new one there too. All the stuff kept me on this side of the dirt though so can't get too mad.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Yeah, they cut my boots and leather pants off too. I think they enjoy ruining expensive clothing myself. My helmet was almost in two pieces though so had to get a new one there too. All the stuff kept me on this side of the dirt though so can't get too mad.

For sure!

Kevin

 

[55il]

Kevin, The jacket you ware is a Vega jacket summer vented or Textile vented jacket. I need to invest in quality protection. Thanks DJ

 

[ultrafxr]

Kevin as badly injured as you were as they say it could have been worse. Very smart to gear up because you never ever know when something might happen. I am a big AGATT proponent and practice it myself. Heck when I had two wheels I'd put on my boots just to back it out of the garage so i could wash it - and back in after the wash.

My friend who just got a new trike said "well I guess I won't have to wear those big heavy hot boots now that I have a trike." I said you can do that but I'm going to stick with all the gear because while you might not fall like you can on two wheels but you can still be ejected in the event of a crash. I think he's decided to stick with the boots.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, The jacket you ware is a Vega jacket summer vented or Textile vented jacket. I need to invest in quality protection. Thanks DJ

It is a Vega armored mesh jacket, like one at this link...not this exact model, but similar- https://www.leatherup.com/p/Mens-Xe...-Black-Armored-Mesh-Sports-Jacket/115575.html

The entire outer shell is a mesh.

Kevin as badly injured as you were as they say it could have been worse. Very smart to gear up because you never ever know when something might happen. I am a big AGATT proponent and practice it myself. Heck when I had two wheels I'd put on my boots just to back it out of the garage so i could wash it - and back in after the wash.

My friend who just got a new trike said "well I guess I won't have to wear those big heavy hot boots now that I have a trike." I said you can do that but I'm going to stick with all the gear because while you might not fall like you can on two wheels but you can still be ejected in the event of a crash. I think he's decided to stick with the boots.

Yeah, rarely do I ride without all the gear, whether on two wheels or three.

Talking about boots... I use non-steel toe, although I have seen the benefits of steel toes, and almost went that route many times. In this particular case my foot was crushed between the timing cover and the floorboard. If I would have been wearing steel toes, the likelihood is that the steel toe would have collapsed onto my toes, causing even more damage. :xzqxz:

I went 40+ years without an accident...then had this one...planning to go another 40+ years without one....but I will still wear gear, just in case.

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

:xzqxz: I probably went too long without washing my helmet liner. lol

Kevin

 

[55il]

Kevin, First thanks for your jacket info and second glad the accident wasn't worse than it was..... any accident not good. Again Thanks DJ

 

[DK Custom Products]

Kevin, First thanks for your jacket info and second glad the accident wasn't worse than it was..... any accident not good. Again Thanks DJ

No problem. Hope you find one that you're comfortable with, and hope it is never needed!

Yeah, accident could have ended up far worse!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

Harley announced two "new" models yesterday.

I do know there are thousands of buyers of the last 7 or so years that would have purchased a 1200 Iron, had it existed. Instead, most of them ended up buying a different Sportster, that was 1200 cc's.

Have to wonder why they waited so long...and if there will be a lot of buyers for it now.

The new Iron, with the 1200, new seat, fairing, etc. is a "New" model, I suppose.

The 48, with a handlebar & wheel change and some extra chrome...that's a bit of a stretch to call it a "New" model.

LINK to Announcement and details

Kevin

 

[1dn5up]

:xzqxz: I probably went too long without washing my helmet liner. lol

Kevin

Ya need a ham bone in that soup !

 

[Jack Klarich]

The Sporty is a good machine

I just wish HD would have left a trap door on the tranny

 

[Sidecarbill]

I've owned 5 sportsters 72 two 74 two 77's. Always liked them one of the best lookin stock bikes. I think harley dropped the ball when they took the performance image away. They seem to have gone with low price entry level and girls bike. Used sportys are a deal, they don't hold there value well. Old friend of mine said it all. Guy pulled up on a brand new sportster, said he finally got a harley. My buddy said welcome to the club, to bad they didn't give ya the keys to the clubhouse. Guy didn't seem to understand, but I'll bet it didn't take long for him to find out. Sportsters are still great bikes, and I often think if some these old farts that complain about having to ride a trike, weren't so stuck on big twins, they could still be two wheelin.

 

[DK Custom Products]

Ya need a ham bone in that soup !

:laugh::laugh::laugh:

The Sporty is a good machine

I just wish HD would have left a trap door on the tranny

I've owned 5 sportsters 72 two 74 two 77's. Always liked them one of the best lookin stock bikes. I think harley dropped the ball when they took the performance image away. They seem to have gone with low price entry level and girls bike. Used sportys are a deal, they don't hold there value well. Old friend of mine said it all. Guy pulled up on a brand new sportster, said he finally got a harley. My buddy said welcome to the club, to bad they didn't give ya the keys to the clubhouse. Guy didn't seem to understand, but I'll bet it didn't take long for him to find out. Sportsters are still great bikes, and I often think if some these old farts that complain about having to ride a trike, weren't so stuck on big twins, they could still be two wheelin.

The rumors have been swirling for awhile now...that HD is going to change the Sporty drivetrain. I hope they don't anytime soon. It is the most bullet-proof drivetrain they have every built...and they are a ton of fun to ride!

Kevin

 

[DK Custom Products]

A little rainy, but 72* on the way in this morning.

We've had a LOT of rain this last week. The ground is saturated, not really able to take any more water right now.

The back roads I take to the shop go thru quite a few hollers...last night the road in one of them washed out!

Kevin

 

[hogcowboy]

Talking about boots... I use non-steel toe, although I have seen the benefits of steel toes, and almost went that route many times. In this particular case my foot was crushed between the timing cover and the floorboard. If I would have been wearing steel toes, the likelihood is that the steel toe would have collapsed onto my toes, causing even more damage. :xzqxz:

Kevin

I've seen the advantages and disadvantages of both. Unfortunately nothing is perfect. I wish my custom boots had been offered with some kind of hard toe but they didn't. Or I missed the option. I still like them and hope I never have to see how they protect my foot and ankle. Will give medics something to cut though if I do.