Biker Lifestyle Articles

Motorcycle Articles

A Harley-Davidson Surprise Coming April 12

Apr 8, 2022 Damien Heenan

Harley-Davidson released a short teaser video titled “Instrument of Expression” on YouTube, and many are analyzing every detail. In the video the seat has a smooth texture instead of a tuck and roll pattern. The exhaust pipe is pointed down and back, but later it shows it wrapped forward and around the case. This could be hinting at the ease of customizing the bike. One clip branding on the cylinder head, but it is hard to determine anything else from that clip. Other things noticed are the round air cleaner, mag wheels in front and back, and a single disk brake. The exhaust looks like it has not changed, but it is hard to tell the way the video is shot.

Motorcycle Articles

Can-Am's Goes Electric for 2024

Apr 1, 2022 Damien Heenan

Recently Can-Am announced plans for an electric motorcycle that could be available as soon as 2024. Harley-Davidson made news a few years ago with the announcement of its LiveWire electric motorcycle. The documentary film Charge, released in 2011, took place on the Isle of Man TT course June 12, 2009, and changed motorsports history. It was the first zero-emissions motorcycle grand prix. Long Way Up is another series that follows Ewan McGregor and Charley Boorman on custom Harley-Davidson LiveWire bikes as they travel across the world.

Motorcycle Tips

TOP 10 TIPS FOR PREVENTING MOTORCYCLE THEFT

Mar 25, 2022 Damien Heenan

If you have not seen it, experienced it, or heard about it, you are probably living under a rock. The signs are everywhere from broken windows on businesses, to news reports and articles, to vehicle and catalytic converter thefts right from dealerships. Talk to anyone and they are likely to tell you when asked that, things are getting worse. So, what can you do? Here are ten things you can do to reduce the probability of someone stealing your motorcycle.1. Lock your motorcycleWhile there may be other locks you can use the most common are steering locks, disc brake locks, ignition locks, and fork locks. Steering locks prevent the easy maneuvering of your bike. Disc brake locks prevent the wheel from turning. Ignition locks work when you turn off the bike and you lock the ignition. Fork locks secure the forks to the wheel. When using locks, it is important to keep them off the ground so the thief cannot get good leverage to break the lock. Lock your motorcycle to something heavy, but immovable is better, and buy high quality locks to improve your chances significantly.While it may not be convenient, using multiple lock types is better than only using one. 2. Park in a well-lit areaWell lit areas usually have foot traffic which can mean witnesses to the crime. It also means the thief can see any deterrent you may have. If they can see they will be on camera too, they will look for an easier target. When parking it is smart to park near other motorcycles. This will give the impression you are with a group. Also think about parking in view of security cameras. If you can see them so can the thief. So, a smart thief will choose a different target.3. Install an alarmAlarms are one of the most effective methods of prevention. They draw attention to the Motorcycle allowing anyone near by to observe what is happening. When choosing an alarm, it is smart to choose one that does not sound like a car alarm. People have become so used to car alarm sounds they ignore them. Another thing to remember is to set the sensitivity to a level that does not cause false alarms. 4. Install a GPS locatorToday, most Americans always carry a personal GPS locator: their smartphone. If you own a motorcycle, it is smart to install a GPS locator there too. This will help authorities track down your bike much quicker and have it back to you in days not weeks or months. You will have a much better shot at authorities returning your bike in one piece too. 5. Install a hidden kill switchA kill switch or spring-loaded switch is a switch that needs to be depressed to start the bike. An alternative method is to remove the main fuse when parking bikes.6. Make your garage secureIf you have a garage, make sure you lock the windows and doors. Parking your bike inside the garage first before your other vehicles adds another barrier to deter a thief. If you are living in a high crime area it is worth putting bars on the windows of your garage. Motion detection lights will spook a thief as well. Consider putting motion detecting lights both inside and outside of your garage.7. Consider removing a spark plugRemoving a spark plug is inconvenient if you do it every night, but it is a tactic to prevent thieves from stealing your motorcycle. If you do remove a spark plug, make sure to cover the spark plug hole with a clean rag to prevent debris from getting into the engine. This tactic is best if you are planning to store your motorcycle or have extensive maintenance to do.8. Do not keep important documents on the motorcycleKeep the title in a safe place like a fireproof box or a safety deposit box to prevent theft of ownership by title transfer. Keep registration and insurance paperwork on you to prevent thieves from knowing where to find your motorcycle.9. Do not advertise you have a bike worth stealingEveryone loves their bikes, talking about them and showing them off. However, leaving them visible for extended periods in your driveway is advertising to thieves your bike has value. Thieves have shopping lists of motorcycles for their clients and leaving your motorcycle unsupervised is a sign to thieves. 10. Have motorcycle insuranceMotorcycle insurance is the last resort. You have done everything you can to prevent your motorcycle from theft. What if it is stolen? Motorcycle insurance is your solution. There are many types of motorcycle insurance available, but it is smart to buy a policy that covers theft. You can read more about types of motorcycle insurance in our blog article Know Your Options, Motorcycle Insurance Coverage Types.Did we miss anything? Do you have a suggestion to improve any of these tips? Leave your comments below.

Race The Rain...

Mar 18, 2022 Damien Heenan

"Race the rain, ride the wind, & chase the sunset." Only a biker understands.

Gear News

How To: Gear Up For Wet Weather Riding!

Mar 18, 2022 Damien Heenan

Imagine you are going out for a day ride, and you are hoping to avoid the weather, but it catches you. You are pulled over under an overpass putting on your rain or weather gear for the first time, and everything seems just fine… That is until you come to that first corner, and you start to slide to the outside of the seat.

If fuel is soul to my motorcycle, passion is fuel to my ride.

Mar 11, 2022 Damien Heenan

If fuel is soul to my motorcycle, passion is fuel to my ride.

Motorcycle Tips

Improve your motorcycle gas mileage

Mar 11, 2022 Damien Heenan

In 2013 we wrote an article about motorcycle fuel efficiency. In it, it discusses the EPA lobbying to have 75% of all motorcycles run on clean diesel fuel by 2017, with 100 mpg. Well, that did not happen, but the average fuel cost in the US is going up with places like LA having prices above $6.00 per gallon. These prices are not expected to go down anytime soon.

Post Storage Motorcycle Checklist

Mar 3, 2022 Damien Heenan

Okay, you’re about to take your bike our for the first time in a while. Maybe it has been in storage, there has been a stretch of bad weather, or life has made it difficult to get out and ride. Whatever it is, if your bike has been sitting for long periods of time, it’s a smart thing to check and make sure it can meet the challenges of the road. So, here’s a checklist, in no order of importance, of the most common things to check before you get back on the road.

We Are Open!!!

Jun 1, 2021 Damien Heenan

We’re open! The Eagle Leather store re-opened its doors June 1. I can tell you now, with a couple of weeks’ experience, that things are going well. As you know, there’s a limit on how many people can be inside a retail store at a time. Fortunately, Eagle Leather has a big enough store so that’s not been a problem. Our staff will keep track of the numbers, so don’t worry about that. We’re not having any special events until we see how things go. So, no barbecues until we announce one, and no coffee and cookies on Saturday mornings for a while. Our employees all wear masks and we ask that customers also wear them out of respect for other shoppers who might be in real trouble if they get COVID-19. If you don’t have a mask, we do. And you should see some of the “irreverent” masks we have for sale! If you like shopping online, that’s great! You can choose either delivery or curbside pickup at checkout. We’re going to keep having curbside pickup to accommodate anyone who’s more comfortable just driving up. We look forward to seeing you at the Eagle Leather store! Mike P.S. If you or your organization is planning a ride, please post it on The Ride Guide. We’re going to post a blog on the Eagle Leather website that will explain what to include and how to post it.

The Rise Of Women Riders

Jan 21, 2021 Mohamed Toursal

Women enjoy riding for the same reason’s men do freedom, independence, a sense of adventure, and community. They feel a sense of empowerment and view riding as a form of therapy viewing the open road as a get away from the everyday pressures of life. Riding allows them to face their fears. They build confidence, learn assertiveness, and become more skilled with each ride.

Prince's Bike Controversy

Dec 2, 2020 Eagle Leather

Prince’s Awesome Custom Motorcycle A Controversy and a Detective Story About Prince’s Bike Prince, who once changed his name to a symbol and was referred to in print as “The Artist Formerly Known as Prince,” didn’t shy away from controversy. Even the motorcycle he rode in 'Purple Rain' has its share of debate. First off, what kind of bike did he ride? Actually, there were three of them, one main one and two stunt bikes. The main one was an automatic, the stunt bikes weren’t. They were all customized 1981 Honda CM400’s. And that’s the first controversy, because some say it was a 1981 Honda CB400. Andrew Norton’s article on Bold Ride about the thirtieth anniversary of the film’s release talks about a CB400, as does Dan Carney on Maxim Rides and several other websites. But USA Today and the Internet Movie Cares Database website agree with many others that it’s a CM400. Take a look at photos, and let us know what you think on the Eagle Leather Facebook page. The Purple Rain bike was only thirty inches high at the seat, so Prince, at five-foot-two, could plant his feet and not risk the bike falling over. It had a 395 cc air-cooled motor with a two-speed semi-automatic transmission. That much stayed the same. The bike got spokes in its wheels, custom seats with pink velour inserts, a rear seat sissy bar, custom handles bars, and a custom fairing. That large fairing is the subject of our detective story. It’s called a Vetter fairing in most articles, but we found “the horse’s mouth.” In a comment on an article about the bike on the Feel Numb website a guy named Craig Johnson writes that when he was twelve or thirteen, his step-father owned the Kutter Motorcycle Accessories Company based in Waterloo, Iowa. The company made fairings among other accessories, and took custom orders. Craig helped his stepfather fill an order for two purple fairings that were going to a movie set in Minnesota. Later he helped make a third one after one of the bikes was crashed. In a further comment, he explains the differences between Kutter and Vetter fairings: early Vetters had external turn lights and the bottom of the windshield has “more of a W pattern.” Well, it should take more than a comment, which just might be a fake, to go up against the prevailing opinion. First we checked on the Kutter Motorcycle Accessories Company. It’s mentioned in 1984 'American Motorcyclist' and it was in Cedar Falls. So far, so good. But here’s the clincher: According to his website, Don Summers, owner of Lowriders by Summers in Minneapolis, Minnesota, did the bikes for 'Purple Rain'. And he says he ordered the fairings from a company called Kutter, in Iowa. If you want to check out the fairing, and the bike itself, you’ll have to visit Paisley Park, Prince’s studio/home in Chanhassan, Minnesota. The bike was repainted for the film 'Graffiti Bridge' and now is on display there. Note: This may tempt you to seek out photos of Prince on the bike. Notice the bling on his gear and check out his boots and Apollonia’s gear here, and then come in to Eagle Leather to update your own motorcycling wardrobe.

Last Call-- Black "Leather" Friday Sales Ending

Nov 27, 2020 Mohamed Toursal

Last Call – Black Leather Friday sales ending Conflict. Chaos. Anarchy. No question, there’s some serious wailing and gnashing of teeth when it comes to figuring out what to do with the post-turkey day leftovers. But before you try to cram any more mashed potatoes into the beer fridge freezer, make sure to take advantage of the END OF DAYS savings of up to 70% on kinds of gear at Eagle Leather’s annual: “Black Leather Friday” Sale! You can save a larger-than-life bundle on Heated Gear, Helmets, Jackets, Vests, Chaps, Pants, Footwear, Gloves, and much more – you won’t find a better selection anywhere this side of Armageddon. And fear not, there’s still plenty of great deals to be had – we made sure to fully stock top of the line road-worthy gear for sons of liberty like you. So, swing by today, last call. - Mike PS:If you can’t get to our store in person, head on over to “Black Leather Friday” Sale! NOW before we hit the brakes on these deals later today.

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