ICYMI: Shop Talk -DIY Winter Motorcycle Storage

Recently I talked about this at our dealership, as I'm a firm believer in preventing Harley abuse! And because of that, I'm sharing it here just in case you missed it:

Days getting shorter, temps dropping, and soon that four letter "s" word will be upon us. While some of us can transition easily into the coming winter wonderland, your bike isn't one of them. That's why FXCHD is here to show you how to tuck your bike in for it's long winter's nap.

Why winterize?
Sure your Harley is tough, but old man winter can be tougher.

Without proper weatherization the condition of your motorcycle will rapidly deteriorate. That can add to your repair bill and will adversely effect the resale value. Of course the most important reason to prep your bike for storage is because you want to be riding your bike, not wrenching on it (or having us do it for you) come Spring.

Make some room:
Find some room in your garage or other permanent structure that has a floor, four walls, a roof and power. Clean and organize your area, then put a tarp down to act as a moisture barrier. Next put an old carpet over the tarp -this will be your baby's home for the next 4-5 months. Remember that mice will want to be getting out of the cold too, and your bike is a nice way to do that. Get some moth balls, put them in an old tube sock and put them around where your bike will be napping.

Prep your bike:

• Fill your bike's gas tank up to the neck and add fuel stabilizer. By the time you get home from the gas station the stabilizer will have worked it's way through the fuel system. Now your bike is warm so you can....
• Change your Oil & Filter: oil is like underwear- it should be changed every so often! The acids in dirty oil can step up engine corrosion, so you should change these out for fresh Harley Syn3 Oil.
• Is your bike liquid-cooled? V-Rod, Street and certain Touring models are. You'll want to check your levels and add antifreeze if necessary.
• Prep the Paint: Bug guts and road grime is like a badge of
  
  honor for all the miles you've ridden, but if left on over winter they can eat away at the paint & chrome. Thoroughly wash your bike, dry it, then coat all painted parts & chrome with wax and use S100 Corrosion Protectant or WD-40 on unfinished metal (mag wheels and engine fins). A better way to show off all the miles you've ridden: H.O.G. Mileage Program
• Keep the spark alive! Even as our bikes are sitting quietly there is a drain on their battery. Hook your bike up to a Harley Supersmart Battery Tender (66000038) - it even comes with a "Pig Tail" (94624-97B if purchased separately) which allows easy access. The built in "smart" circuitry of the battery tender will turn the charger on and off as needed, so your battery never overcharges. At only $39.95 +tax (versus $115 on up for a new battery) it's a real bargain!
• Be well-rounded.... Protect your tires over the winter months by making sure they have the proper tire pressure. Now park
  
  your bike on the carpet (on top of the tarp) you put down earlier. That will prevent your tires from freezing to the concrete. Your bike will be fine on it's kick stand, but if you want to go the extra mile you can put your bike up on a lift. 
• Set it and forget it (yup, I'm borrowing from Ron Popeil). Plug in the battery tender, put one of the moth-ball-filled socks right underneath your bike (according to Dennis in Parts this will help to keep the mice away), and tuck your bike in under a premium motorcycle cover with breathable microfiber material that promotes air circulation and reduces moisture build-up.

Don't have space at your place? You can store your bike with FXCHD - all you need to do is provide us with a cover.

Don't forget your Riding Gear:

• Use Leather Care to clean, condition and preserve your leather jackets, vests and chaps. 
• Use Novus Plastic Cleaner to clean the bug guts off your helmet(s). Store helmets inside your house (or other climate controlled area) so the freezing temps and rodents won't get to the shell and lining. 

Waiting is the Hardest Part

Tom Petty sure got that right! Suffering through PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome) can be a challenge in the North Country. Of course you can take advantage of the down time by customizing.... Turn the bike of your dreams into your reality while she sleeps. And you can come see us at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson- we'll have our annual Chili Cook-Off in February, and our NNY Harley Owners Group will have their annual Motorcycle Insurance Seminar in April.

Not close to us? Most dealerships host events and are open year round. Click here to find a dealer in your neck of the woods.

Despite all your hard work to prep, in the Spring as you wake your Sleeping Beauty, it's always a good idea to do a T-CLOCS inspection. Then dust off your riding skills- ride over to an empty parking lot and practice figure eights, emergency stops and evasive maneuvers. 

#MeToo - but it's not what you think....

In light of all the women who've accused film producer Harvey Weinstein of sexual assault and misbehavior, and the millions more who have shared their own personal experiences with the hashtag "#MeToo", as a woman who works in a mostly male field (FX Caprara Motorcyle Dealership) I felt the need to speak out on this particular subject. 

It seems I've always interacted with 'the guys' better than I do other women. My first job in Northern California was on a Rent String Ranch (people would rent horses by the hour & I was one of the guides) - about 50/50 split between the guys & girls. Then auto shop & FFA in high-school - mostly if not all guys there. After that I got into modeling where the majority of photographers & agents were male. I went to college for Medical Assisting where, after getting a job in my chosen field, the doctors and physician assistants I worked with were predominantly men. Now I've been working at Harley-Davidson dealerships for nearly ten years and, if you haven't guessed it already, the ratio of men to women is about 4 to 1.

By no means am I taking away from the women who have had to deal with guys like Harvey - their stories are real and, at times, horrifying. All throughout the years there have been times when I was taken advantage of, without a doubt. Under paid, over worked, unwanted 'hugs' that were inappropriate, stalked, dismissed, and more, all because of my sex. 

But my #MeToo is looking at this issue from the other side -I've also used my sex to my benefit. I've batted my eyelashes and gotten out of speeding tickets (not every time tho), had doors opened for me, day trips and long weekends where my every need was taken care of without having to pay a cent, and all the meals & drinks I

didn't pay for. I had one of my guy friends ask me how I'd gotten a particular part to fix my car for free; I pointed at my breasts and said, "Thanks to my girls." (To clarify, I didn't lift my shirt to expose myself -I do have my limits! I just happened to have a low cut shirt on.)

I think the movie Erin Brockovich (starring Julia Roberts) sums it up best. The scene where Albert Finney's character asks why she [Erin/Julia] is going to get all the information they need to make their case. "They're called boobs, Ed," was her matter of fact reply.

The list of what the EEOC has determined is "sexual harassment" has several items I've done: facial expressions, touching another employee's clothes, neck massages (only when asked), hugging, giving gifts (birthdays and holidays), and sexual innuendos. 

We have fun at work telling jokes and stories. I hug repeat customers - both male & female. While it's true you'll rarely see me in a dress, I still like dressing up and wearing make-up and being noticed. I like when guys whistle at me (especially the older I get). It feels good! Maybe it's just being a biker-chic kind of thing...? 

I guess what I'm saying is to not go off the deep end- deciding that each look, glance, touch and request is about sex/power. Realize that some women choose to use their gender to their benefit. Of course I firmly believe that assault, sexual or otherwise, is never ok and should be reported. But I also believe in what Eleanor Roosevelt once said:

No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.

Keeping It Real- here's how to avoid counterfeit Harley merchandise

That's right, we're taking the side of the law this time (Bikers are Rebels, but we stand up for what's wrong when we need to). 

Last year counterfeiters raked in $460 Billion dollars- mostly online. And even though the majority of items are luxury- Rolex watches, Gucci purses, Nike Air Jordan- Harley is also a lifestyle that people want. Which means others will fraudulently forge the brand just to make a buck. 

Harley-Davidson logos and trademarks symbolize more than just the quality and heritage of their products. They stand for something important enough that people tattoo the logo on their skin. It’s something that can’t easily be expressed with words, but is felt in the soul. For many, “Harley-Davidson” isn’t a name or a brand. It’s a way of life.

Will buying one counterfeit album, movie, purse or t-shirt hurt you or those you love? Probably not. But multiply that one by 20 million sales and it adds up fast. That's a massive amount of money that should have gone to the artist, actor or business, but went to criminals instead. Not to mention, it reduces the amount of taxes collected, which reduces the amount of annual budgets- which can affect jobs. 

You may have seen or even purchased a counterfeit item in the past without knowing it. But when the article arrived you discovered the quality wasn't there- wrong size label (it says XL but really is XS), the graphic wasn't centered, and/or the item was already falling apart. And then when you return it to the company that sold it, they keep promising to return your money (but they don't).

With the biggest gift-giving time of year coming up (aka the Christmas Season), I thought it might be helpful to explain how to spot selling counterfeit Harley merchandise. After all, if you're spending the money to buy that someone special (or even yourself) a gift, it might as well be the real deal, right? 

1. Money Talks, Bullshit Walks: compare the price. If

   

   The Bar & Shield logo

   it sounds too good to be true, it's probably false. 
2. Feel it Up: check out the item for the correct use of labels. There should be labels & hang tags with the official logo and security stickers.
3. An Altered State: has the logo been altered?

   

   On dark backgrounds, it's
   framed in white

   Stretched, color change and word substitutions are all indicators of forged items and copyright infringement. 
4. Know before you Go: Harley-Davidson's logos & trademarks include the Bar & Shield, the B&S outline, Screamin' Eagle, H.O.G., and

   

   Screamin' Eagle logo

   MotorClothes to name just a few.
5. Wonder about the Website: if online, check out the seller's website. Do they say they're an authorized seller?

   

   The H-D MotorClothes label

   Do they have a physical address, contact info and return policy clearly spelled out? If no, then that's a very red light- you should stop.
6. Use Active Listening: find out what others are
   saying. Reviews on Google, Amazon, E bay and/or

   

   Licensed Vendors will use this label

   Facebook are pretty good indicators. And find out their rating with the Better Business Bureau.
7. How's Your Package?: if the packaging is naked (no logo), there's no contact info, or has misspellings, it's most likely a fake. 

If you're still not sure that the item is real or counterfeit, feel free to contact me at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson, or by email (Dawn@FXCapraraHarley-Davidson.com). 

Harley's Brand Protection team monitors against sellers of counterfeit H-D merchandise, and recently scored big wins on two of the largest selling companies of counterfeit t-shirts. 

The Harley-Davidson brand (and lifestyle) is powerful, full of meaning and emotion. So when the company developed logos & trademarks unique to Harley, it communicates something special about our brand for our customers, and it’s important to protect that message. If others misuse it for their own profit, we run the danger of diluting or weakening it.

How to Look Like a Bad-Ass Biker this Fall

Crisp days and longer nights. Cool enough to wear a hoodie and boots, but not so cool that you'll need a puffy coat. And nobody did it better than The Queen of Bikers: Gemma Teller (aka Katey Sagal in her Sons of Anarchy roll).

Katey, in real life married to Sons creator Kurt Sutter, is not actually involved with motorcycle gangs (that I know of anyways)- but she sure had one great wardrobe while on set. Tank tops layered with plaid and lace, jewelry, leather jackets and those boots gave the perfect image to match her character's attitude - which was fearless.

Why not embrace a full biker dress while wandering around with your gang this Fall. Don't be scared- just roll on the throttle and go with it.

Side Note- You don't have to go far or wait days for these fashions to arrive. We've got 'em at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson now. Not close to us? Find it online with Harley.

The Relaxed Fit Plaid Shirt: 

Bring a slightly oversized (but not sloppy) look with the Relaxed Fit Plaid Shirt (96019-18VW). Believe me when I say this layer is soft and lightweight. This long sleeve top goes perfectly over a skinny tank and distressed jeans. 

Caution- Soft Shoulder:

Crochet Lace Shoulder (96010-18VW) is the "it" tee for Fall. The washed cotton, lace yoke and button placket lend a familiar, worn feel to this top. A special touch- faded graphics encircle the hem.

The Lace-Up Tall Boot:

A fan favorite, the Belhaven (D87082) women's leather riding boot is a tall lace up with iconic H-D appeal and classic heritage styling. A top to bottom locking zipper lets the long laces do the talking.

A little-bit higher now:

The Ludwell (D83831) gives you that Harley lift, both in body and spirit. A chunky styled 4-inch heel supporting a 5.5-inch shaft with an ankle strap below the classic Bar & Shield. I think these boots were pulled right out of Gemma's closet.

Brighten things up:

When it comes to jewelry and Harley-Davidson, MOD rules the road. The Milestone Locket Collection are stainless steal lockets that house a beautiful assortment of charms and backplates that can be customized for every type of woman out there.

Essential for Layering:

Perfectly faded with raw-edges for a worn-in look, the Genuine Pullover Hoodie (99100-17VW) sports twill tape trim around the hood and lacing on the cuffs. The traditional Bar & Shield logo has that distressed look for a vintage vibe.

The quintessential Leather Jacket:

A jacket so epic, it's been 115 years in the making. This Women's 115th Anniversary Leather Jacket (98010-18VW) has hints of blue stitching and contrasting underlay that complement the design details and colors of the 115th Anniversary motorcycles. Of course this jacket is more than good looking- it's road ready.

Top it Off:

This classy women's flat top hat (99421-18VW)gets an update to mark the H-D 115th. It stylishly combos with mesh panels and rivets for contrasting texture. Bonus: shimmering metallic embroidery to catch the eye.

The Future is so Bright, You Gotta:

See the world from a new lens with Tori by Wylie X (HATOR01). Beauty- with bling in the right places, and brains- meets ANSI requirements.