5 Ways to Ruin Your Bike

You just bought a beautiful new (or 'new-to-you') Harley-Davidson. Keeping it in good running order as well as keeping that showroom shine isn't hard, but it isn't exactly easy either. If you're not careful, you can ruin your motorcycle for trade/re-sale later on before you know it. 

Here's a look at five common ways to trash your bike, according to Chad and Kate, our Service and Parts Managers at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson.

1. You changed the Air & Exhaust, but didn't do a Tuner

You've done the research and decided to do a Stage I Kit- increase the air & exhaust for your bike's engine. Then decided, since it's basic motor parts, you could skip the tuner or recalibrating the ECM... but now your bike is running like sh*t. 

Just like you can't be expected to run a marathon without the proper training, your bike cannot run well without 'teaching it' how. It has to be programed how to handle the engine upgrade. 

2. Not Keeping the Charge

A reminder that even as your bike sits in your garage, waiting for the next ride, there's a small drain on the battery. And for your bike's system to be charged back, the bike needs to be under power (in other words you've got to be riding). 

If you find that you won't be riding for a week or two, it's a good idea to put your bike on a Smart Battery Tender to keep your battery fresh.

3. Salt

Not just for your Margarita glass, salt is used on roadways during the winter months in Northern NY. It melts the ice and snow so that we can safely drive our vehicles -you know this. The problem comes in the early Spring and late Fall -you decided to ride even though the salt is on the road.

Salt is very corrosive and your bike's motor, frame and wheels -basically the very essence of your bike- is very exposed to all corrosive loveliness when you're out and about with salt  still or already on the road. 

We all suffer from PMS (Parked Motorcycle Syndrome), but don't compound it by allowing salt to eat away at your precious bike.  This will really bite you in the ass later -either when you're looking to sell your bike -or worse, having to repair it.

4. Not washing your bike

Some see all the dirt, grime and bug guts as a badge of honor. We at FXCHD say that's Harley neglect. Like salt, not washing your bike can destroy your bike's painted & chrome finishes. 

And please, for the love of all that is Harley, do not take your bike through a car wash!! Blasting water at all that electronics is like submerging a toaster in a bathtub full of water, and then expecting it to work right the next time you go to use it. 

For the proper way to wash your bike, visit our webpage: Smash Bugs. Wash. Repeat.

5. Neglecting routine maintenance

A Harley-Davidson Motorcycle is literally a rolling piece of art, with all its parts designed to intracally work together, bringing you the best ride possible.

However, the more miles you ride, the more things can become out of factory specifications. Look at the back of your owner's manual- things to check at 1K, 5K, 10K, etc. are listed. Things like steering head bearings, drive belt & sprocket, transmission lubricant, clutch lever and more.

It's best to have factory trained technicians at an authorized Harley-Davidson dealer perform the services for you. This is their job- it's what they do day in, day out. And if they have a question about part fitment or a particular problem, tech services at the Motor Company is just a phone call away.

Bottom line, it comes down to the "7 P's": Proper Prior Planning Prevents Piss Poor Performance. If you take care of your bike, it will take care of you.

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. 

3 Things Every Harley Owner Should Be Doing For Their Bike

"Being an owner means being responsible," is one of the things my Dad used to say, and it makes sense. As an owner you should be vigilant and watch for early warning signs to help prevent major disasters later on.

This is true if you are responsible for an animal - you have your dog/cat vaccinated to prevent him or her from getting sick. If you own a house and ignored that the furnace was going out or the roof leaked, you know you'll be into spending some serious money to get them fixed.

I asked Chad, our Service Manager at FX Caprara Harley-Davidson, what are the 3 things he wished Harley owners would do for their bikes, and here's what he said:

Battery Tender

Sure you need it during the winter when your bike is hibernating and the snow is falling. But even in the warmest summer months, if you're not riding for even a week or two, it's a good idea to plug your bike in. 

Brake Service

Everybody loves to go fast, but forget that it's just as important to be able to stop when you need to. If you have your bike routinely maintained (like your owners manual says in the back), you'll be fine. (Are you maintaining your ABS?) The very worn brake pads above are mine, off my bike, while she was getting her 50K mile service.

Tire Pressure

We had a customer bring his bike in for service, swearing up & down that the wheel bearings were gone in his front tire. What was the actual problem? His tire pressure was about 12 pounds under what it should be. If he had just bothered to check he could've saved himself a bit of money.

Doing these three things is not a guarantee that your bike won't need service or repair later on. But it will help you to get to know your bike better and possibly prevent major damage down the road.