Getting Ready to Spring from Winter's Lock-Down!!

An early Spring was predicted by the Groundhog this year... but we're not feeling it up in Northern New York - at least not yet. Winter keeps stormin' back in as if to say, "And another thing!!"

That being said, while we're waiting for April Showers to wash the salt & sand off the roads, here's some things you can do now to prepare for the upcoming riding season from FX Caprara Harley-Davidson:

1) Dust Off Your Owner's Manual & Give it a Good Read

Take a break from your Spring Cleaning (you know you want to!) and do a read through. While we're giving you basic information here, you'll find specific information on YOUR bike -like tire pressure, load limits, security codes and more.

Can't find it your manual? You can find it online here.

2) It's been a while... Catch back up with your Bike

If you've stored your bike at home, hopefully you Properly Hibernated your bike. If not, it might not be too late: get out to the garage NOW and hook-up your bike to a Battery Tender, check your tire pressure and put a breathable cover on her.

Remember: your bike's battery & charging system are not the same as your car!! Your bike has to be under power (aka you need to be riding it) before the bike charges back to the battery. So just starting your bike and letting it sit and idle is actually doing way more harm than good. I covered this in FXCHD's #WhatsUpWednesday S1:E2 -catch it here on our YouTube Channel.

Now, if you usually store gasoline at home to fill up with, make sure you've put a fuel stabilizer in the can as well. Old fuel that hasn't been treated has probably lost its combustible properties, which will make any motor run rough.

Staying well rounded is also key - check your tire pressure! And while you're at it, check your tires for wear. Please, please, please don't try to squeeze extra miles on worn out tires - you only have two and they're pretty important to how your bike handles and the safety of your ride.

3) Going Mental... Mentally Preparing for the Ride

We've already started playing everybody's favorite game: "How

Deep Is That Pothole?" That, along with the salt & sand those wonderful plow trucks have left behind will be the things to watch out for.

Even though it is extremely hard, we at FXCHD highly recommend waiting until there has been at least two good rains to wash off the roads most of everything winter has given us.

If you do decide to ride your bike early, we won't report you for Harley abuse... but your bike will suffer and so will your trade-in value. (See our blog "5 Ways to Ruin Your Bike.")

4) To See or Not to See... it's usually the later

Those behind the wheel of cars & trucks (aka "cagers") haven't

seen a motorcycle on the road in months. And now that you're about to be riding your bike out and about, you must remember this!

"But of course they'll see me, I'm 'new' to them," you think. Think again.

These last 5-6 months drivers have been lulled into thinking motorcyclists don't exist. And the way our brains are wired, when motorists are looking for space to turn or merge, they see only the absence of a car and not the presence of a motorcycle. Don't believe me?? Check out this science experiment.

Wear appropriate riding gear, take anyone waiting to turn left in front of you as an immediate threat to your life, and constantly play the "What if?" game.

5) You've Lost that Riding Feeling... (I hate when that happens!)

The main reason drivers haven't seen motorcycles in the last few months is because we haven't been riding... (Thanks Captain Obvious!!)

And the old adage is true: If you don't use it, you loose it. Your riding skills were much sharper last September versus now.

There's a skill set when it comes to riding and to maintain that it takes practice, practice, practice. So, for your first ride of the year, we highly suggest you plan to ride over to the local school parking lot on the weekend (when there's likely to be less parked cars) and practice the basic stuff: slow turns & figure 8's to re-master your clutch/throttle, emergency braking and maneuvering drills.

You can always take an Advanced Rider's Course (sometimes

called the Basic Rider's Course 2) through your local MSF Riding Academy. There's no classroom time - all your learning is done using your motorcycle out on the riding range. They'll teach you about counter-balance, cornering, swerving and more. Added bonus: you'll probably get a discount on your auto & motorcycle insurance policy.

The other issue is that we are our own worst enemy in that we're too impatient. We are chomping at the bit to ride and that first fine Spring Day will have us like 🌞🌎💞😍!! But, in our eagerness to get out and ride, we decide not to take the time to put on all our gear... And we may neglect to re-assess our skills, getting into a corner way too hot. Patience is a virtue and it'll also keep you safe!!

It'll be a nice long riding season, unless you injure yourself and wreck your bike.

Be Your Own Cupid

Decide to Believe in Yourself more than anything else.

Cupid, Santa Claus, the Tooth Fairy, the Easter Bunny - as a kid these magical creatures just showed up and gave us stuff.

Now, even though we've grown up, some still believe that somehow, someway someone will magically appear and give them just what they've been wishing for. That long lost, rich aunt leaving you a ton of money in her will. You've got THE winning lottery ticket. The one time that Nigerian e-mail scam is actually true. 

As the old saying goes: "If wishes were horses, beggars would ride."

We at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson believe that YOU should be the maker and creator of your desires. Let go of the fear that's holding you back and take action to make your dreams come true. Love yourself, find inspiration in others and see the mistakes as lessons - soon enough your dreams will become your reality.

Step 1: Dress the Part

Harley-Davidson Motorcycles were made from dreams into reality over 100 years ago -dreams for a faster, easier way to get out to the fishin' hole. Use their achievement and their clothing to fuel your own dreams and build your legacy.

We've got new arrivals for Spring Fashion as well as good steals to be had on select end-of-season apparel.

Are you ready? Then let's start now - after all, we're all in this together. Come on over to FXCHD, Alysha, Krissi, Alyssa and myself will be happy to help.

°It all starts with the clothes

Please smile, breathe, and look twice - make that three times - before you go

Once again Mother Nature is smiling upon us living in Northern New York. But no matter where in the Northern Hemisphere you live - it is the time of year when Motorcyclists begin their yearly migration from the garage to the asphalt. Please - if you're behind the wheel of a car or truck - take a

moment to look for us!

I love that Kingsford Spring Grilling Ad:

1st Neighbor: Hal? Where have you been??

Hal: I was inside.... for so long.... There was nothing.... No yard, no grill.... Just white - and (with a shiver) COLD....

1st Neighbor: It was winter buddy - just winter.  

 2nd Neighbor (yelling): Somebody get this man a burger!!!

Just to be clear, it's not only motorcyclists that are taking advantage of the longer days and warmer weather. Walkers/Joggers/Runners are out on the roadways, as are those that are riding bicycles (too much physical effort for me!!). Of course the biggest difference between those people and motorcycle enthusiasts riding their motorcycles is SPEED. Obviously the later can go as fast or faster than the cars and trucks we share the road with, but don't take up quite as much space - making us harder to see.

Yes, motorcycles are noticeably smaller than cars and trucks we share the road with (thanks Captain Obvious!). Add to that the fact our human brains, when looking to cross a road with traffic, perceives only the absence of a car/truck and not the presence of a motorcycle. Did you get that?? That means a typical driver only sees the space between cars - not a motorcyclist in that same space - in areas of high traffic!


And the number of distracted drivers has increased according to a recent article by Kelley Blue Book. According to their study, a shocking number of 61% of drivers continue to multi-task while behind the wheel!! Even though all 50 states (and Washington D.C.) have laws that make it illegal to use mobile phones, the majority of drivers don't care.

Why do these distracted drivers think it's ok to multi-task while driving?? I blame the increased safety features - anti-lock brakes, front and side curtain air bags, lane departure and blind spot warnings to name just a few. They've sort of taken the 'being aware' out of the driving, giving the driver a false sense of security. Eventually there will be Self Driving Cars - but we're not there yet people!!!

Of course there are plenty of people that blame the motorcyclist(s). We show off by doing wheelies and other reckless stuff. Last year we heard about the Texas driver who intentionally hit a biker (see the video). He stated [when he heard he'd swerved and hit the biker], "I don't care."  In the video it is apparent the motorcyclist is passing illegally - crossing over a double-yellow line. But that does not warrant the driver deliberately crashing into the biker.

So, back to the main point of this blog: there are more people out & about thanks to the warmer weather, and we all need to watch out for each other - as human beings!! ALL OF US!!! Motorcycle enthusiasts and cagers alike: take a moment, or two, or even three and be a "looker." Know what's going on around you, be mindful of the traffic laws, and share the road responsibly. This motorcycle enthusiast thanks you!!