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2009

Monday, March 30

Dear VTwin Mama,
I was approached by Sherri from Arizona who is a new rider and now owns a black Shadow.  Being new to the sport Sherri found that a black bike was not what she wanted but liked the bike itself.  She came to me wanting to do something very different and at the same bring color to her black bike as well as compliment it.

She stated that after studying my website she really like the infamous tuxedo seat (my own bike) and wanted that seat on her Shadow but in magenta, not pink.  Thus she and I started the long process of deciding what and how it was all going to look.  It is difficult for some who have never seen my work to picture what exactly what is I do and what the limitations of my trade are or how what I do comes out looking just like what the customer wants. Well it’s called “a lot of emails and a lot of phone calls” plus how ever many samples its takes, but in the end when I turn out a set like what I did for Sherri, the numerous connections were worth the time.  Production for this special set went flawlessly. The matching pocket purse was a surprise as she did not expect it.

I now do follow up calls or emails to any customer who I do custom work for so that I know that everything went as planned.  Here is what I got back from Sherri:

Hi Nanci,  Thank you for following up.  Yes!  I am very pleased with everything and it looks great.  I have been getting lots of remarks, looks, and compliments.  I even saw a man remove his sunglasses and start to touch my seat while I went into a store for a few moments.  I am surprised that a lot of men really think its great.  Thank you!  Sherri

Now, I have to admit that not everyone wants a tuxedo seat with a rose on the tank bib, but whether you want everything done in skulls, spiders, Betty Boop, Barbie or just very simple and clean looking, take the time to figure out what will make you feel good.  Themes can be fun an compliment you and your bike.  It can set you aside from the millions of other bikes produced just like yours and this can be the difference in your confidence as a new or veteran rider. Ride safe, – Nanci Rogers, Ace High Leathers

sherri.JPG (93338 bytes)  shadowseat5.jpg (82490 bytes)  

Dear Nanci,
We're always happy to hear about how a new customer moved from a basic idea to having you complete here dream set-up! And this is just a gorgeous set ... well done! Read and see more of Nanci's work, starting with a pair of leather gloves she did for me on my Ace High Leathers review page! – Mama

Friday, May 29

Hi VTwin Mama,
I have a Suzuki Blvd. Trike.  I bought a Mustang seat for it.  The driver seat is very comfortable but the passenger seat is not.  After about 1/2 hr of ridding on the back seat my butt hurts.  I feel like I need more padding. Hubby and I rode for 2 hrs last weekend I thought I would not make it.  I am looking for help from people that have the same problem and what have they found was the best seat pad. Thank you for your help. – Dusty

Dear Dusty,
You're right ... there are lots of styles and all claim to be better than the other ones for various reasons. I was at the Thunder on the Beach Rally two years ago and picked up a Soft Bottom Butt Saver ... mostly because I wanted to raise up in the saddle a bit (more leg extension). Delicious, but it changed my body position to the handlebar. Now my husband uses is on his Suzuki Boulevard C90T and totally loves it (he too couldn't travel long distances without total butt discomfort).

What sold me was even in the 1" version, you could sit on it and not feel the bolt that Wayne had placed under the seat! And the cover is removable for washing. So that's my .02 worth! Let's hear from others so you have more input from people who had the same problem. You can do a bit more research by heading to this page on webBikeWorld ... they really offer "no hidden agenda" info.  – Mama

Friday, June 26

Dear VTwin Mama,
I own a '05 HD Sportster Custom. Stock seat sux. Can you suggest an after-market seat? – tpcr

Dear tpcr,
It depends on what's wrong with the original one. If it's sticking out to the sides and pushing on your thighs, you can open up the seat and shave that side foam out. If it's hard on your butt and there's no comfort after 15 minutes of riding, you can open up the seat, shave out some of the mid section and put a gel pad in it's place.

When I'm researching something like this, I often go to the webBikeWorld site to see who they are listing links for. It's a good starting point. Interestingly enough, I don't see LePera listed and they are one of the big Harley after-market seat companies. In addition to LePera and the other list, I'd check Saddlemen, another reputable company in the industry. – Mama

Saturday, July 11

Dear VTwin Mama,
I'm new to riding. Took my class/got my license just over a month ago and bought a Rebel 250 a week later. I was in a rush though I love my new bike. I bought the bike b/c it was light (in case it tips over) and inexpensive (under $2K).

I love my bike, named her Jackie. I haven't dropped her once but she's been hit while parked twice (in the past month!). I am staying at a friend's and only have street parking available to me. I parked her perpendicularly to the curb. The neighborhood is residential and there is plenty of space. My place is right near a three way stop/intersection. I didn't think I needed to be concerned.

The last fall was tremendous and cost $300 to fix. I'm REALLY paranoid now about her getting knocked over while parked. I can't keep on patching her up. What do you recommend to lessen the chances of her getting knocked over and to ease my fears? Thanks!! – Jessica

Dear Jessica,
Congrats on taking the course, getting your "M," and getting Jackie the Rebel. Yahoo!

Yikes ... I was going to suggest you mount something that extends from the handlebar with a sharp edge so it "keys" the side of their paint job when they clip the parked motorcycle, but that's pure revenge on those that don't even bother to own up to the mistake by leaving their contact info to settle up for fixing costs. Sigh ... not a good idea, but it's fun to think about!

I'm gathering that this is happening because the vehicle parked in the slot next to you is hampering the ability of drivers to see that your bike is there, even with its nose pointed out. So they pass that other parked vehicle and start moving over for a right turn and see your bike too late. It sounds like the parking slot is yours, so maybe a big orange cone set at the far outside edge of the space would do it. Or maybe you could take something that is extendable (like an old curtain rod) and tie a large red or orange plastic "flag" piece to it and extend it from the handlebar (that way you can collapse it when you're ready to ride and store it in a saddlebag or something like that.

Readers, any other ideas ... we've not had this question before (that I recall). – Mama

Monday, July 13

I have found that parking ass to the curb puts the front out far enough for a visual from traffic. Also, it makes it easier to get the heck out of dodge when you need to! – Unkle Joe (note from Mama: I agree, this usually takes care of business in both situations (!) so I'm wondering if the smaller Rebel is just that much shorter in overall length (from say a bigger cruiser) that people can't see it. I'm at a loss as to what else could be happening!)

Thursday, July 16

Dear VTwin Mama,
I am looking for some motorcycle grip covers with fringe. Where can I find some that would fit my 2001 Suzuki Savage? – Trava

Dear Trava,
Fringe can either go on the grip (end of handlebar) or on the lever of the clutch or front brake. If you're just doing the lever then any lace-up will work. Lace-ups can also be ordered to go over the existing grip, but it changes the overall size of the grip by a bit (which doesn't always suit a rider with smaller hands). Some report that laced grips slip too easily.

On the grips themselves, that is usually done by replacing the solid grip end cap with one that has the fringe incorporated into it. Not all grips are manufactured this way though. Some are solid pieces and so we are back to your original question about replacing the entire grip.

On this Iron Braid page I see ISO Grips available for the S40 (formerly the Savage). It's the ISO Grip by Kuryakyn, model 6240. The remodeled Kuryakyn site (thank goodness, the old one was a pill) doesn't list the S40 in their list, so I'd call and double check that 6240 will fit. With those you'll be able to choose your end cap and the many colors and lengths!

Now that you have a viable option, you can always head to the local dealer's parts department and let them open up the Kuryakyn catalog for you ... I'm only seeing black fringe from Kuryakyn, but the end cap is universal and that should be easy enough to find from a specialty shop. – Mama

Friday, November 13

Hello VTwin Mama,
My name is Val Williams and I am president/owner of ChristianJourney.com. I came across your site and just love it. I ride a motorcycle and your site is such a help to women riders. 

The reason I'm contacting you is that my website sells a large variety of products, but one in particular that I thought would be of great interest to your readers are my high quality custom chrome motorcycle license plate frames. Once an order is placed it is shipped usually in 1-2 days. Prices range from $15.95 for the fiberglass reinforced plastic motorcycle license plate frames to $20.95 for the basic custom chrome frames. We also offer a nice custom chrome motorcycle frame with a 3D Christian fish emblem on it for $25.95. Thank you and respectfully, – Val

Friday, November 13

Hi Petra,
Yep, we let the "Dawgs" out again! Desert Dawgs rain guards, that is! This time it's Honda VTX1300 and VTX1800 riders whose legs and feet will be warm and dry when others aren't!

Desert Dawgs minimize cold updrafts, repel road spray from front wheel and flared front fender, keep bug juice off motorcycle chrome (and legs!), allow engine cooling - NO temperature restriction!, easy on-and-off - three snaps, belt clip and hook-and-loop attachments, does not affect bike handling, accommodates all standard foot peg settings, and includes Ultra Pockets for extra storage.

These are available for a wide range of manufacturer's models, including Harley-Davidson, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki, and Yamaha. Manufactured in the USA! Visit LeaderMotorcycle to check it out! – Tracey Cramer, Top Dawg

2010

Friday, March 19

Dear VTwin Mama,
I have an '07 Softail Standard and I have been trying to find Cool Thighs. My boss had a set that all you did was lay over the seat (or you could put it under)and on each side it had a weight to hold them down (they are leather) and on the leather it did have Cool Thighs, I have been all over the Internet and still cannot find where to buy them at (my boss got his for Christmas). Please help me ... I really don't like the ones Harley sells. Thanks, – Barbara

Dear Barbara,
Well shiver my timbers ... I searched and searched also and couldn't come up with anything, but admit that I didn't go past the first page of results ... I seem to recall doing a search awhile ago and couldn't find them, so thought they had gone under as a business.

On a fluke I searched on "what happened to Cool Thighs for motorcycles?" and found them! They must have changed their Internet address, but you can find them at http://cool-thighs.com/index.htm .– Mama

Wednesday, April 7

Dear VTwin Mama,
Here’s my new dilemma. Yes, I’m still short ... that’s not gonna change. I just bought an ’07 Heritage which I know is popular with the ladies. I didn’t realize until I was sitting on it to get fitted for my lower and closer seat that I can barely TOUCH the kickstand. I’ve looked on other sites, gone to the local HD dealer and the extension that worked on my Dyna doesn’t seem to work on the Heritage as the kick stand is much further forward. The parts guy at Laidlaws’s HD came up with a solution: Arlen Ness makes a kickstand that installs almost under the rider. It’s expensive. $199! Have you heard of any solutions you could share with me? Thanks, – Steve

Dear Steve,
As I noted to you in an email I got behind on postings and you were so gracious to let me know how you proceeded. Readers, so this is a case where I post the writer's input as it's something we can learn from! – Mama

From Steve: I ended up getting the Arlen Ness stand and it works great! I would highly recommend it. It IS pricey but it’s a godsend. I still can’t believe more people haven’t said much about the reach disparity on Softails. I always assumed because of the seat height that Softails, especially Heritages, were designed with short riders in mind. I got a custom seat from C&C and it’s gotten me a little closer and lower to the foot controls. 

One thing I noticed though was the heat coming from the engine. I never rode the bike with the wider stock seat but have to assume that being wider helps deflect some of the heat. The new seat is slimmer and I was getting cooked the other day here in SoCal and it was probably in the 80s. So, I’m looking into a oil cooler and some heat shields. I’ve already gotten new pipes, A/C and Power Commander to cool it off but it’s not enough. If ain’t one thing it’s another! – Steve

From Mama: Heat shields have helped many a rider ... some are throw over and some require that you remove the seat to slide it under. Just keep in mind that in stop/start traffic it can impair the ability of the motorcycle to move heat away from the bike ... just a cautionary note. Yup, one thing or another!

Monday, April 12

Hi Petra,
Here are some pictures that might interest your readers. My work is taking on a total custom look for this coming year, as the bling, which has gotten VERY quiet, will be down played and true custom work will take its place.  Its pretty exciting to work on seats, tank bibs, and fenders! As of last year, I'm also a Pro Pad dealer for my area and am getting into rebuilding seats. – Nanci Rogers, Owner, Ace High Leathers

bens_seat1.JPG (24170 bytes)  royalstar_tankbib.JPG (39330 bytes)  walter_fenderbib.JPG (72413 bytes)

Monday, April 19

Hi VTwin Mama,
We just bought a 2010 Harley Heritage Softtail. Rode last Wednesday in 80 degree weather and the heat that came up on our legs was terrible. Have you heard this before from riders? We are going to Denver/Utah/AZ this summer and I don't know if I will be able to withstand the heat. Does Harley make some kind of shield? By the way I wrote to you last summer for advice on our trip to Sturgis and your advice was much used and appreciated. – Jana

Dear Jana,
I'm glad I could help with some pointers last year and your current question is not unusual. Bike engines get hot and then cool themselves through fins and ports. This is where one needs to be careful. If you totally block the heat escaping you run the risk of overheating the motorcycle ... it's easy to tell when this is happening; it's harder to change gears and even starts bucking when you're crawling in first gear.

What you're looking for is typically termed a heat deflector or a heat shield. Koolking has them,, so does RJS Originals, and then I read on a H-D forum about Captain Itch Crotch Coolers (weird name, good reviews!). Take a look ... I think you'll find something to fit the bill.  – Mama

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Thursday, April 22

Dear VTwin Mama,
It's time to add some saddlebags to my Sportster. Problem is, the HD saddlebags don't really excite me. I found these at Leather Accessories Connexion. I'm wondering if anyone has ever ordered from them before, and also wondering whether ordering non-HD saddlebags will cause me grief later on ... wishing I'd stuck with the brand. What do you think?
– Toby, aka Sportygrl

Dear Toby,
I have to admit that I'm not a purist ... only putting brand items on a make/model. If it fits and solves a problem or has the look I like, I get it! If somewhere down the road you sell the bike then the new owner can decide to change out if desired.

I don't have any experience with the company/product you are looking at, but it's important to check and understand the return policies ... as anything customized is usually not returnable and standard stuff may be subject to a hefty restocking fee (plus you pay for the return shipping unless there is a defect).

Over the years I've come to understand that lockable hard cases serve me better, as I like to secure my items when walking away from the bike at an event, restaurant, etc. That's because I'm usually storing my very expensive riding jacket and other gear. Here is an interesting 2009 article on the subject of hardbags, including a source for adding a locking system to leather saddle bags. – Mama

Thursday, April 29

Hi VTwin Mama,
I have written before and found this site to be a wonderful source of great info, so here goes. I traded my reliable Honda Shadow 750 for a 2005 Super Glide Custom. It has forward controls and while it is very comfortable, the forward controls are giving me a problem. 

I am trying to find an engine guard for the machine and the Harley dealer did not have one. I don't care who makes it, as long as it is good quality and fits. So far, I am having trouble with either the shifter or the rear brakes being interfered with. My well meaning husband says we can take the rear brake off (NOT an option), so I am looking for some help. The engine guard on the Honda saved my right leg in 2006 when a teenaged decided to pass going up a hill and just about got me, so it is a very important option. Thanks. – Susan

Dear Susan,
I wish I could help, but in looking at pictures of this model without forward controls and an engine guard, and looking at photos of the FXDC with forward controls, I can see that the bottom connect point of the engine guard is right where the forward controls are. Otherwise the guard would have to curve under the forward controls and would be so near the ground as to scrape on every bump. In checking guards available I see that in most cases it clearly states that it won't work with forward controls.

So, as far as I can tell, you would have to revert back to mid controls in order to fit an engine guard on. Another option might be to find an independent shop in the area and see what they could customize ... I'm sure it would be pricey, but it's possible it's not the first time they've put together solutions for H-Ds with forward control kits. – Mama

Monday, May 3

I've been researching engine guards for my Softail with forward controls and feel your frustration. It appears that Lindby Custom Inc. has the Linbar  #104-1 that will fit your '05 Super Glide Custom with forward controls. I've found that Internet searching is a little easier than checking catalogs at motorcycle shops. Good luck, – Anon (note from Mama: thanks for the lead! )

 

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