Why I Make Videos

 

Ride Videos

Are We Doomed?

Some people in the ole interweb world are desperately hungry for success. They yearn for the spotlight, the "easy" money and the internet fame. They create content daily, or for some- several times a day. Nothing these days seems to be off-limits, either. They film themselves doing all kinds of things, from singing, dancing, street racing or just riding motorcycles, to simply doing dumb crap like eating soap, assaulting people or showing off their naughty parts. It's kind of disturbing to think how much social media has altered our society's moral compass. Now, with the advent of artificial intelligence, it really does feel like we're on a precipice, looking over at the end of our civilization.

Crime 

Like a lot of folks, I do happen to partake in watching the "true crime" videos that are out there. I have always found it fascinating to see how cases are solved through evidence, interviews and good old-fashioned police work. I grew up watching shows like COPS, Forensic Files and Autopsy with Dr. Baden. As fascinating as those shows were, though... there was always a disconnect while watching them. Sure, they were real stories, but they seemed more like they were Hollywood productions of rare instances that happened in a far away land, or a long time ago. Most of them were just dramatizations of the crimes, accompanied by a suspenseful soundtrack, so they seemed less frightening. These days, though, we see raw videos of people in our own towns attacking fast food workers, kids assaulting random elderly people walking down the street and even committing heinous acts against other people... all while filming it themselves or having someone film it for them. No suspenseful music, no actor portrayals... just vicious, evil people and the terror of their victims. It's horrific. The only good part is that it makes it tremendously easier for law enforcement to identify and arrest them, and significantly easier for judges and juries to convict and sentence them. 

Sexualization

Sex sells. It always has and it always will. What is truly disturbing though, is how quickly social media exploded with it and how easily people can, and do, sexualize themselves for views. It's truly sad to see so many people exploiting themselves, putting themselves on full display for anyone and everyone to see. Sure, some may even be reading this and laughing at me while they count their money, and that's okay. Look, let me be clear- I'm not judging anyone for their choices- that's not my place and I'm certainly not fit to judge anyone. People have, and always will, use sex or their sexuality, for their own personal success, but at what price? Maybe I don't understand it because I'm not better looking, and nobody is gonna pay to see me in my skivvies, but it does make me wonder what happened to modesty? How much is too much? There was a time, not so terribly long ago, where self respect was paramount, and modesty was a highly desirable trait. Of course, I grew up watching reruns of old TV shows from the 1950's, 60's and 70's, with actors like Clint Eastwood, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and Grace Kelly. In the 80's we had guys like Chevy Chase, Bruce Willis and Harrison Ford, and women like Michelle Pfeiffer, Heather Locklear and Sally Field lighting up our TV screens. Those women had such poise, grace and ethereal beauty that they didn't need to expose themselves to be desirable. The men were tough, humble and noble, often paired with a good sense of humor, and they were worthy of emulating. 

Me And Mine

If you folks have been keeping up with my little corner of the interwebs, you've no doubt seen that I've made some videos, myself. While I haven't made anything inappropriate, you may be inclined to think that I'm over here casting aspersions on others, while trying to get views myself. Truth be known, I don't really care about getting subscribers to my Youtube channel or views on my videos. Sure, it's nice to see others enjoying my adventures and my creative work, but in all honesty, I do all this for myself and my friends. I started this blog, mainly as a creative outlet for myself during the pandemic lockdown of 2020. I had been writing for Internet Brands' Harley-Davidson Forums for a few years, making a few bucks for each slideshow article I wrote, but those slideshows took a lot of work to put together, especially to the quality that I demanded of myself, and I was limited on what I could write about. IB wasn't going to pay me for writing an opinion piece on crappy friends or living your best life. IB was paying for motorcycle content, and I wanted to be able to write about more than just that, so I started my blog. After writing a few pieces, I realized that I really enjoyed it, and as it were, other people from around the world, seemed to be enjoying it, too. I was amazed to see the stats showing where people were logging in from. Folks from almost every continent around the globe were visiting MY little blog site! It was, and still is, very humbling, but I still just write this blog in order to get all of those extra thoughts and opinions, that are taking up space in my head, out. I don't make money off of it- that's why my blog is one of the few places on the internet that you can go and not be overrun with ads for people or places that are trying to take your money.

During the months following the pandemic, I started playing around with making videos and in doing so, found another creative outlet that I found to be very satisfying and fun. After making a couple of videos for myself and my friends, I was tasked with creating a video for a local business. It didn't pay much, but I had fun doing it and the creative release was really what I was seeking. I have always been somewhat creative- as a kid, I used to really enjoy drawing and, in a high school art class, my fellow students and I learned basics in watercolor, pen and ink, relief printing and sculpting. Several years later, I learned that I was a pretty decent writer, too. I submitted an article to a local motorsports magazine and, after it was published, I was asked to be one of their regular contributing authors. I was even credited in the magazine as part of their staff. That was a labor of love, though, much like my blog and Youtube channel are now, as I didn't get paid for my contributions. I wasn't seeking money or notoriety, though, I was just enjoying being able to express my creativity, just like I still do. The process of filming my rides, then going back in and editing the footage to make it into a cool video, allows me to relive my ride again, while cutting out the boring bits and adding funny captions or background music. Watching the finished video gives me an opportunity to experience the ride again, without all the boring, awkward, or unpleasant parts. I have done a couple of other videos where I was trying out the moto-vlogger thing, but in all honesty, I have a face for radio and a voice for silent movies, so I just prefer to put my words in writing, instead.

Creative Expression

While writing this, I have just had an epiphany. I just said, "I wasn't seeking money or notoriety, I was just enjoying being able to express my creativity,..." and maybe that's where most, or all of this whole social media culture came from- a bunch of people that wanted to express themselves in their own, creative ways. Sure, there's a lot of bad out there... God help us... there is so much bad, but there's also a lot of good. Social media and Youtube gives a lot of creative and interesting people a platform for reaching other people with similar interests to share their work and adventures. There will always be bad people using whatever means they have available to them to spread their hatred, misdeeds and evil ideologies, but they aren't the majority. I believe that there is more good than bad, and when faced with adversity or challenged by evil, that the good will stand up and in doing so, prevail. 

I don't foolishly waste my time hoping for social media to come to an end, or wishing hopelessly for money or fame, or infamy in some cases, to suddenly become less desirable or enticing to people. Those things are never going to happen and we all know it. But maybe, just maybe, the tides will change and the internet will become so overrun and inundated with all the trash content, that creators will be forced to start making better, more interesting and perhaps, even more wholesome, content in order to stay relevant. I know it's wishful thinking, but that's what I hope for. 

Final Thoughts

As I've said, I write this blog to satisfy my own creative expression. When I'm not writing, I love riding my motorcycles and, sometimes, I like to video my rides so that I can share them with my friends and family. Editing the footage and creating "pocket-sized" versions of my rides that I can spend 15-45 minutes watching on a rainy day is a fun way for me to spend my time when I'm not in the saddle. 

The takeaway is, I suppose, that everyone makes content for their own reasons, some are just fortunate enough to make enough money to make a living out of it. I started working when I was a young teenager, not even old enough to drive. When I graduated high school, I went to work full time and, aside from having a year or so where I was working part time while attending junior college, I've worked a full-time job ever since. Social media has only really evolved, into what it is now, in the past 20 years. When I was first joining the workforce, the options were pretty limited, and even more limited if you didn't have an education. Making a living by posting videos of opening a cheese wrapper wasn't an option for me, but if it was, I might have opened a lot of cheese back then.

When I started this in 2020, I never expected anyone to visit my site, read my words or watch my videos, so the fact that you folks are stopping by, even if only for a moment, fills me with a sense of joy. It tells me that all across the world, from the United States, to France, from Singapore to Bangladesh and almost everywhere in-between, there are like minded motorcycle enthusiasts, reading the same words of encouragement, insight and hopefulness that I try to write. The fact that I have had a few thousand views of my videos, and well over 300k visits to my website, is just incredible to me, so I can only imagine how the folks with millions might feel... I just hope that they realize that they have the potential to make a positive impact on the world, and that they work towards spreading positivity, love and peace. 

Until next time, MotoReaders... 

Ride safe and make good choices!

p.s.

If you want to watch my most recent dirty bike ride, I'll drop the link here.

Riding Gear and Why You Need It

Riding Gear

In the coming weeks, I'm going to be doing some reviews on some of my recently acquired off-road gear. It occurred to me while writing one of those reviews this morning, though, that I haven't really even spoken about the importance of riding gear or explained my recommendations on what you need, or why you even need to wear riding gear in the first place. So let's explore the reasoning for my "gearing up" the way I have.

Back In The Day

When I first started riding dirt bikes as a young MotoWriter, I was the kid that only wore jeans, a t-shirt and my sneakers when I ripped around the neighborhood. I grew up in the 1980's and we didn't have extra money for "fancy" gear like riding jerseys and pants, boots or helmets... no, my generation had to figure out how to ride without killing, or crippling, ourselves... and for the most part- we did. Once I started riding the streets, I just wore jeans, t-shirt, whatever shoes I had on at the time and usually a half shell helmet. Over time, I slowly added gloves, boots, a decent leather jacket and better helmets to my street riding gear. Now that I'm older, I realize just how much I have to lose, so before something silly happened on the dirt bike, I decided to gear up right from the start, this time around.

What You Need And Why

There's a LOT of gear options out there, so you may be wondering what you need, and more importantly, why. After all, riding gear can get expensive and you may want, or need, to make some compromises. Here's my simple breakdown, in order of importance to me:

• Helmet- a good helmet specifically designed for the type of riding you're going to be doing. For my on-road helmets, I want a minimum of DOT certifications, and for off-road, I'm looking for MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System). Don't cheap out on your helmet- get a good helmet from a reputable manufacturer that has done proper safety testing. I refuse to wear a cheap, non DOT (minimum) certified helmet anymore. My head holds all my writing ideas, so I gotta protect it as best I can. 

• Eye protection- safety rated glasses for on-road (or a good shield on a full face or modular helmet) and goggles for off-road are a MUST HAVE. I nearly lost my left eye last summer while mowing the yard- I'm protecting my eyes from now on. For off-road riding, MX style goggles are significantly better than glasses, because they have a seal around your eyes to keep water, bugs and other things out of your peepers. You can get a good pair for a decent price, but you do want to make sure you get some that have good breathability so they don't fog up on you.

• Boots- broken ankles and loss of mobility sucks. Having a good pair of riding boots will protect your feet and will keep everything lined up and protected if, or when, you take a spill. For on road riding, I personally like lace-up, waterproof boots that are also comfortable to walk in. For riding off-road, waterproof is a must, so is a good sole with some lugs for grip on slippery, rocky surfaces.

• Gloves- wearing good quality gloves will improve your rides significantly. For on-road riding, a high quality pair of leather or other abrasion resistant materials like Cordura is a must. God forbid you do take a spill, you don't want to shred the skin off your hands. Accidentally touching a hot part on your bike, or having a beetle whack you in the knuckles at 70 mph can ruin your day, so a good pair of gloves should be standard in your riding gear locker. For off-road riding, there is a lot of throttle movement, clutch and brake lever manipulation going on, not to mention  limbs, branches, thorn covered vines and other annoyances that you'll encounter on the trails. Keep your mitts safe and free from scrapes and cuts with a good pair of gloves.

• Pants- On the road- I still just wear good quality jeans- maybe not the best pants to wear, but they're comfortable and for me, that comfort is worth the risk. For off-road riding, however, the jeans don't cut it, as I move around a lot more on the dirt bike- standing, sitting, leaning, etc., so a good pair of specialized riding pants that are flexible and gusseted, made of ripstop material with specially designed materials and components for when you come off the bike are a must. 

• Jersey- for off-road riding. On the street, I'll admit, I still usually just wear a t-shirt in the summer, but these "new" hot weather long sleeve shirts are great- they keep the sun's rays in check without having to slather yourself in carcinogen-filled sunscreens. In addition to the t-shirt, I do now wear a good leather vest to keep from getting any more scars like the one I got when I crashed a few years ago. For off-road riding, a long sleeve riding jersey is a must. While most of the designs are racing team inspired, you don't have to be a racer to wear a jersey. A good jersey will protect your arms from scrapes and thorns while you're out on the trails and it will also keep the sun from burning your arms and ruining your day. 

• Chest/Roost Protector- for off-road riding. These range in price from under $100 to several hundred and you can get overwhelmed quickly while shopping for them. My advice- keep it simple. You primarily need protection from punctures and impacts when you come off the bike. Figure out your budget, then shop within that- start off with an affordable, comfortable protector so that you'll actually get into the habit of wearing it, then upgrade later, as needed.

• Knee/Shin Guards- for off-road riding... and on-road riding, if you're so inclined. While I don't personally ride with knee protection on the street, I always wear it on the dirty bike. When you're riding off-road, especially on single-track trails, you regularly encounter a variety of obstacles and things that can abruptly and unexpectedly change the direction of your bike, causing you to fall or worse- get thrown, off the bike... especially when you're a novice rider. I'm getting better, and I fall a lot less now than I did a few months ago when I first got back on the old XR, but I still fall. Good, articulated, knee/shin guards keep your knees bending the right way and keep the bruises to a minimum. Like the chest/roost protector- you can get lost in the prices... I got mine for under $100, but I've seen others priced well over $1,000 so my advice is the same- buy within your budget and upgrade as your needs change.

• Hydration- If you're going to be riding for any length of time, especially in the summer (but even in the cooler months), staying hydrated is critical. When you get dehydrated all kinds of bad things start happening- I could write a whole blog post on just dehydration and its affects on the body. We all know how important it is, so when you're riding the streets, throw an insulated jug of water in your saddlebag- preferably with an electrolyte packet mixed in, or get a hydration backpack if you don't have any luggage on your bike. For off-road riding- I highly recommend the latter. I, and most of the guys I ride with, wear hydration backpacks when we're out on the trails. Enduro riding is fun, but it's also physically demanding. Getting dehydrated on the trails is not an option, so get a good durable pack with a bladder that is BPA, BPS and PVC free (you don't what those chemicals leaching into your water). Keep it clean! Wash it between uses and don't allow any water to sit in it when it's stored. 

Conclusion

Riding motorcycles isn't like driving a car. Motorcyclists have to make certain adjustments and accommodations to get the most out of our rides. It really doesn't matter what you ride, or where you ride, having the right gear is invaluable. Driving around in your car requires little more than putting on a seatbelt to get the job done... but we ride motorcycles to do more than just "get the job done." We ride motorcycles to experience the world around us. It doesn't matter if you ride street, dirt or both. Motorcycles are inherently dangerous machines, so mitigate the risks by wearing the right gear so you can keep riding, and experiencing life in an incredible way, for many more years to come.

Look for those upcoming MotoReviews of my gear, coming soon. Until next time MotoReaders...

Ride Safe and Gear Up!

I Busted My Gas Tank!

I Broke The Leg Breaker!

Okay, the photo may be slightly altered to make the affect hit a little harder, but you get the point. 

The Honda XR600R is famously, or rather, infamously, known as "the leg breaker." It's a big bike. At 591cc, this air-cooled, high compression, kickstart-only, monster makes 46 hp and over 38 ft lbs of torque in stock form. In stock running order, it weighs in at over 320 pounds. Add a 5.8 gallon aftermarket gas tank, and you can easily add another 20 pounds to that. 

Since my last dirty bike post, I took another solo ride in the National Forest, where I started getting a lot more comfortable on the bike, and felt like I was actually starting to hone some of my off-road techniques  bit. I had a good ride that day, even though I was only out there for a couple of hours. I left that day feeling pretty good about myself and my off-road riding, so when it came time to meet up with the guys the following week, I was all about it.

Physical Exertion And Dehydration

I decided to video the ride, since we were all riding together and I figured some of the other guys might like to re-live their day through my camera lens, too. The day started out great, but pretty soon after we got on the trails, one of the guys had a family emergency, and had to head home, so we made a quick run back to the trucks. After helping him get loaded up, the rest of us went back out and kept riding. Everything was going great until a log crossing, one that I had successfully crossed in my first solo ride, kicked my butt. You know how they say, that if you're gonna be dumb, you gotta be tough? Well, it's a good thing I'm tough. Tough or not, after that debacle, I was still pretty gassed. I took a water break, regained my composure, and started riding again. Apparently, I was stuck on that obstacle, behind the guys, for so long that one of them circled back to go look for me.

Back Together

Once we were all back together, though... the ride continued, and I was feeling a lot better. We were all riding pretty hard... even though those guys are much better off-road riders than me. One guy has been riding off-road for, easily, half his life and the other, well... he's a class-A Enduro rider. I felt like I was riding pretty good, though, and a good bit faster and more confidently than I had been, especially compared my my first couple of rides. That is, until I took a simple spill and realized that I was getting dehydrated and physically exhausted. In my defense, we had been riding for a while, and the South Mississippi sun was bearing down pretty hard. The trails were still very wet from recent rains which made the trails hot and humid, especially when stopped. I knew that I was just about spent, but I think my ego, and maybe my immature mind, wanted to keep riding. Big mistake.

Target Fixation

As a motorcycle instructor, I tell my students all about target fixation. Basically, you go where you look and, just like riding on the road, on the trails, you have to look far enough ahead to avoid any obstacles... like small trees. I could keep going on that, but instead... I think I'll let you watch for yourselves:

https://youtu.be/zSn1RQqul7w?si=S0s-OA6GOTnhw3yt

Lessons Learned

The bike didn't explode like in the movies, but finding parts for a 37 year old dirt bike can be tricky, so it did blow up my bank account a bit. I was able to find a used gas tank, but it cost me as much as a new one would have. The fuel petcocks from my old tank wouldn't fit the "new" tank, so I had to order a new one of those, too.

This little incident made me realize that my "retirement body" wasn't cutting it, so I started a workout regimen to get myself in better shape. I'm not trying to bulk up, by any means, but I do need to improve my overall strength and stamina, in case I have to push this heavy bastard out of the woods in the future. It also got me looking for a newer, smaller and more manageable off-road bike, one that will be easier to throw around on single track trails, will have better brakes, and most importantly- won't be so dang tricky to find parts for. Until that happens, though- when I'm not on my Harley, I'll still be out in the woods throwing this big hoss around, and trying my best to stay upright and, hopefully, not running into any more trees. 

Keep an eye out for some upcoming MotoReviews of my riding gear and, as always MotoReaders...

Ride Safe and Make Good Choices!

MotoReview- Rabaconda Tire Machine

MotoReview- 

Rabaconda Street Bike Tire Machine

Greetings MotoReaders! Are you ready for another MotoReview? I sure hope so, because today, I'm talking about the Rabaconda Tire Machine. I'm sure you've seen their ads on social media and on a variety of websites, and if you've seen their video ads, you must be wondering... is it really that easy to change a tire using this thing and, more importantly, is it worth the price? 

Background

Now, I've been working on my own motorcycles for several years now, and I do just about everything from basic maintenance, to upgrades, to mechanical repairs, to electronic diagnostics and repairs. The one, pretty basic, thing that I wasn't able to do though, was tire changes, and that just didn't sit right with me. Don't get me wrong, on small motorcycle tires, like what's on the Janus or Twinstar, I could easily do those with some tire irons, but if you've ever tried to change a stiff sidewall touring bike tire with irons, you know that it's worth the money to bring it to a shop. Bringing my wheels to a shop has always been a point of contention for me, though. I'd have to get the wheel off the bike, load it in the truck, drive for almost an hour to get to my closest shop, then wait for them to get around to mounting and balancing the new tire, or tires, which usually had me waiting for a couple of hours. Then, after paying the shop anywhere between $50 and $100 bucks, I'd have to drive all the way back home to put the bike back together. The worst part is the time wasted, the second worst part is the money. Not to mention, most shops have now started refusing to mount and balance walk-ins... meaning, they want you to bring your bike in so they can do the whole job. They say that it's a safety issue, that they want to be able to guarantee that the wheels are put back on the motorcycle correctly, but the real reason is, they can only charge about a half hour on a walk-in tire change, but to remove it from the bike, the job rate goes up significantly. Enter the Rabaconda.

The "Ultimate Kit"

First of all, tire machines aren't cheap, so when I decided to actually buy one last year, I gave a lot of thought to how I would, or could, use it. When I looked at all the options, I had to look at this as an investment that should be able to pay for itself over a reasonable period of time. Certain considerations were: the overall cost of the machine compared to my personal savings; the ability to pay for itself; the time saved by using it; and of course, the overall quality, craftsmanship and customer support of whatever machine that I chose.

After looking at several options, I decided to go with the Rabaconda "Ultimate Kit." Now, I also added their Balancer Kit to my order, as well... even though they offered the machine and balancer in a seperate kit. The reason why I did it this way, is because I knew that I was going to be working on other people's motorcycles, as well as my own. The "Ultimate Kit" came with several more pieces that allowed it to accommodate a variety of wheels. If I was only going to be working on my own motorcycles, I would have chosen the lesser expensive option.

My Investment

As I said, I bought the "Ultimate Kit" in July 2025. By adding the "Balancer Kit", I paid just under $1,200 for everything. So, what did I get for my money? The "Ultimate Kit" consisted of the following:

• Street Bike Tire Changer
• Drop Center Tools (2)
• Two spindles- standard and 15 mm
• Wheel support riser brackets
• A tub of bead grease mounting lube with brush
• BMW shaft drive adapter
• Duck Head Kit for croass-spoked wheels
• Universal Big Hub Adapter
• 16" tire iron with plastic protector sleeve

The "Balancer Kit" consisted of:

• Wheel balancer
• Wall mount bracket 
• Wheel weight remover knife
• Two allen keys-one to assemble balancer and one to adjust the axle/balance shaft
• User manual (for the nerds)

Both kits come with their own storage/ carrying bags, if you might be inclined to take it with you somewhere, like a track event, for example.

The Value

The word "value" is defined by Merriam-Webster as "the amount of money that something is worth." So, how do we determine what something is worth? Well, I'm sure that everyone uses their own metrics here, but for me, I use a complicated algebraic formula, and if you know me at all, you know that is absolutely not true! No, no formulas for the ole MotoWriter, instead, I use my gut instincts. I determine value by how much time, money and effort I save by doing it myself. I also look at the overall convenience of having a set-up like this in my own garage, so when I do have someone bring their bike to me for some work to be done, I don't have to send them somewhere else for tire work. 

As I mentioned before, I'm almost an hour from my closest Harley-Davidson dealership. There's a couple of independent shops that are a little closer, but not much, so by keeping my tire work in-house, I save the most valuable resource I have- my time. As for the monetary value, I do get a little more analytical. For example, if a shop charges say, $50 per wheel for a walk-in mount and balance- that's me bringing my wheel and new tire to them, I'll drive a little more than 70 miles, there and back, with gas prices being about $4 a gallon. My old truck gets around 25 miles per gallon, so I'll have another $10 or so in fuel cost. So, for example, one tire mounted and balanced will cost me a minimum of $60 and no less than three hours of my life. That's for one tire. If I bring two tires, I don't use any more fuel, but the price of the service doubles to $120, and it's going to take even more of my time. 

For my own personal investment, I would need to do about 20 tire changes on my own motorcycles to justify my $1,200 purchase from Rabaconda. It would take decades for me to make up for what I spent, if I was only looking at the money. So what's my time worth? A lot, actually. But even with the time I'd save by having this set-up in my garage, I'd still need to do a lot more tire changes than I do, for me to feel better about such a costly tool. So, where I'm able to offset that investment a bit, is by working on other peoples bikes, helping them out and every so often, making a few bucks for my troubles. 

What Can It Do?

I can only speak to what I've done so far, but I have mounted tires on 16", 17" and 19" spoked, tube-type tires and 16", 17" and 19" tubeless mag wheels. I've changed tire widths as narrow as 130 mm, up to 180 mm and the machine handled them well. Obviously, there's a little more work to do on the tube-type tires, as you have to be extremely careful not to pinch the tube during installation, and you have to make sure the tube doesn't slip when you're lining everything up, but overall, the machine works as you'd expect. It takes some effort, but once you figure out how to do it, you should be able to change just about any common motorcycle tire using the Rabaconda. Is it as easy as an electric or hydraulic machine- no. You have to put a little muscle into it, but because the Rabaconda machine holds the wheel securely, has a ratcheting bead setter and a long handle for the bead breaker, it makes the job of changing a tire, tremendously, easier. The bead grease they provide makes mounting the new tires a lot easier, and you can use it to remove the old tire, but a spray bottle of soapy water works just as well for removal.

The Rabaconda is very well made, but it's not indestructible. In my time with it, I've bent the main spindle (it unscrews from the machine so it can be replaced easily); the little plastic end caps tend to pop out of the tubing, even though they are riveted in place; the rubber/silicone grip on the bead breaker handle slowly slips off during use; and I just recently had a clamp screw fail. Some of that could be caused by operator error, but for the price of this machine, it needs to be able to hold up against even the dumbest, clumsiest, meatheaded doofus... whoever that might be. That said though... Rabaconda's full lifetime warranty and their customer service is outstanding. I merely had to contact them, tell them what my issue was, and within a few days, the new replacement part was at my door- no questions asked. They firmly stand behind their product and that speaks volumes about this company.

Balance Is Everything

Let's talk about the balancer, really quickly. A lot of you may be thinking, "I could just use balance beads instead of buying a balancer" and to that I say, sure, you can do that. You can do a lot of things to save money, and I'm sure that most of that stuff will be okay. Balance beads are okay, but in my opinion (based on my own experiences), they are just okay. For a truly balanced tire, you need actual weights. Some people in the balance beads corner might be feeling some tension in their necks right now, and to them, I say- calm down and let me explain.

Balance beads are typically made of glass, ceramic or steel and are generally best for large, oversized tires. Because they sit in a pool inside your tire, you don't get any balancing affect until the centrifugal force of the tire spinning forces them to their respective "balance points." This means at low speeds- you don't have much, if any, balance, but on large, oversized tires (such as you might find on a 4x4), you won't notice this because the tires themselves will absorb much of the low-speed vibrations. On a motorcycle, however, with much smaller tires and much stiffer sidewalls, the imbalance at lower speeds will be a lot more noticeable. Because the beads dynamically adjust to the conditions, beads are best for Adventure bikes and are okay for some larger cruisers and touring bikes. Weights, by comparison, provide a precise and immediate balance which is best for any kind of performance machine. I don't know about you, but I consider my motorcycles to be performance machines, so I don't run balance beads, just like I don't use a car tire as a rear tire. Just because you can, it doesn't mean you should.

The Rabaconda balancer comes with everything you need, except the weights, although they do sell those now. Since adhesive weights are, for the most part, disposable, I picked up a couple of boxes from Amazon- silver and black, to match most wheels I'd be working on. I'd also recommend getting a roll of masking tape and a level (if you don't already have one). The level will help you set up the balancer nice and level before you hang the wheel, and the tape will hold the weights in place before mounting them, as you determine how much weight you need. 

Balancing the tires is both easy, and oddly satisfying. Once I got it figured out, and I was able to get my technique dialed in, I must say that it might just be my favorite part of the whole job. The Rabaconda balancer is what is referred to as a "static" balancer. That is because it uses gravity on a static wheel, or in other words- a wheel that is not in motion- to indicate the imbalance. Basically, the wheel rides on a perfectly straight and centered axle shaft, which rides on perfectly smooth bearings, and when the wheel is static, gravity will pull the heaviest part of the wheel to the bottom. Then, you just need to add the appropriate amount of weight to the opposite side of the wheel to offset the heavy side, or... you guessed it- balance it out. 

There are other static balancers out there- many of which are much cheaper than the Rabaconda. I've never tried any of them, but I can tell you that after seeing the quality of the bearings, metals, machining and tooling of the Rabaconda balancer, I can't imagine that any of those cheaper options would even come close to the same quality. A balancer, by the very nature of what it does, must be a precision made tool, so if you do look at those other options for your own shop, I'd recommend that you take a very skeptical look at the materials it's made of and the quality and precision of how it's made. The Rabaconda might be a little overpriced, I'll admit... but as I've said enough times that it could be a slogan- "cheap stuff isn't good and good stuff isn't cheap."

Pros, Cons And Recommended Add-Ons

For those of you that skipped ahead and only came here for the pros and cons, shame on you for missing out on the best parts of the blog... but here you go:

Pros- convenience, relatively easy to use (once you figure it out- instructions are for virgins), cost-savings after you do enough tire changes, quality of the machine and Rabaconda's customer service.

Cons- expensive- but will pay for itself after enough tire changes and balancing, a little awkward to use, small details could be better (plastic end caps on tubing comes off and the rubber/silicone grip on the handle slips and works itself off during normal use).

Add-Ons- In my opinion, if you are looking for a tire changer, go ahead and spring for the balancer, too. After all, if you're going to take the time to mount your own tires, why the heck wouldn't you want to balance them too? Get a box of wheel weights, a roll of masking tape and a level if you don't already have one. You can get a spray bottle from your local dollar store for next to nothing, so get one of those and fill it with soapy water to make tire removals a bit easier. You'll also need a valve stem core removal tool, for removing the valve stem core before breaking the bead. It's an inexpensive tool that you can get just about anywhere that sells bicycle tube patch kits. One other thing I didn't mention before- setting the bead can be tricky on certain tires (I'm looking at you, Harley-Davidson pre-2009 Touring models). One trick that helps, if you don't have a bead blaster, which is basically a tool that forces a high volume of air into the tire at an explosive speed, in order to get the beads sealed, then you can use a ratchet strap wrapped around the circumference of the tire to help "squish" the sidewalls out enough to get the air into the tire. This is a pain in the butt, though... so if you're going to do enough tire changes to justify it, get yourself a bead blaster. 

Final Thoughts

It took me a few months of having my Rabaconda before I really put it to use. Once I did, though, I've used it quite a lot. I've done at least 12 tires so far, and it gets easier each time I do it. Technique is key, patience helps. Personally, I value my time above all other things. It's the one thing that we have a finite amount of. If we're lucky, we get 70-75 good years in this world. No matter how much money we earn, save, borrow or steal, we can't buy more time. We have as much as God gives us, and only He knows how much that actually is. So, when it comes to saving, I choose to save my time over my money. With that said, I do understand that it takes some money to be able to make the best use of time, hence the "investment" concept. I chose to invest in the Rabaconda, because I knew how much time I've spent driving to shops and waiting for someone to do something for me, that with the right tools at my disposal, I could do for myself. I also had a reasonable idea of how much time I would spend, if I didn't make this investment. 

For me, the Rabaconda tire machine and balancer was a good investment. For the amount of money that I've saved myself, my son, and my friends, as well as the couple of hundred bucks that I've made with it, it has almost paid for itself in the first year. It might not do that for you, so you'll have to figure that out for yourself based on what you'll do with it, and based on how you value, and spend your time. What I can tell you, is that it's well made, using high quality materials, it works as claimed, folds up and stores away easily and it doesn't take up much space in the garage. I can also tell you that it works on everything from a late model Road King Special to a vintage XR600. The balancer is precise and it works flawlessly. It's like putting the icing on the cake- it's the last step, it's easier to do and it's pretty fun, too. 

For me, being able to mount and balance tires at my home garage is just one more, very valuable tool, in my toolbox. I enjoy working on motorcycles, I'm pretty good at it, and it gives me a sense of pride that I can do it myself. It also gives me the opportunity to save some of my most precious of commodities- my time. 

No matter what you choose to do, make sure it's the best use of your money, but most of all- your time.

Until next time, MotoReaders,

Ride safe and make good choices!

 

            

My First Solo Dirt Ride- Video

 

Back In The Saddle

As I mentioned in a previous post, I haven't ridden off-road in 30 or so years. When I decided to get a dirtbike again, I opted to take the economical route, and get a good used bike to keep my investment at a minimum... just in case I decided to abandon the idea. What I ended up with, was a great bike for a great price... but she's a big 'un. A 37 year old XR600R that was set up for extended desert rides, not single track trail riding. 

After word got out that I had bought an off-road machine, I was invited to ride with some guys that I used to work with, before I retired from my paying job. Now, keep in mind that my bike is older than each one of these guys, and I haven't been on a dirtbike since before most of them were born! Regardless, these guys are awesome and I couldn't wait to get on the trails with them. 

My First Ride

My first ride with them was on the local trails in the National Forest... and I had a blast. I was slow, fell over a lot and was absolutely not in the proper gear, at all. I had good off-road boots, a good off-road helmet and goggles, but that was it. The guys were great, though- they were very patient with my slow, cumbersome riding, and they even said I did pretty good for my first time out. I appreciated it, even if they were lying to me! The takeaway, though, is that I was hooked! I couldn't wait to get back out and ride again. There was just one problem though- I am retired, but they aren't, and riding single track trails in the National Forest alone isn't the smartest thing to do, especially for a novice rider like your old pal, The MotoWriter.

Smart Or Not, I Needed To Ride

After talking to the guys and getting their gear recommendations, I went home, got on Rocky Mountain ATV & Motorcycle's website, and ordered some more gear. After it arrived, I donned my new gear and loaded the old XR into the truck. When I got to the parking area, it looked like I had the place to myself, which was good... but a bit unnerving. Thoughts of "what if.." circled my head, but the need to ride the trails was too strong, so I kicked that 600cc beast over, and set out into the woods alone. 

I took it easy... really easy, after all, riding off-road by yourself is dangerous- if you break down, or worse- crash, there's nobody there to help you. I didn't get crazy, kept myself within my own comfort level and made sure that I had my OnX Off Road App pulled up on my phone. I also brought the GoPro to document my ride so I could critique it later... and so I could share my adventure with my friends and loyal MotoReaders, once I got back home.

Now Playing... The Slow Guy Trail Ride

I'm not a racer and never claimed to be. The following video isn't exciting, and in true MotoWriter MotoVlog fashion- it's probably way too long. But, I had fun editing it and, as long as you can get through the first four and a half minutes, you can see a much better view of the trails I was riding. 

The takeaway is that I didn't crash, didn't break down and didn't get mugged by marauders or killed by a serial killer. I made it back to the truck, safe and sound, and had a great time. If you want to ride along with me on my first solo ride through the DeSoto National Forest, on The MotoWriter dirty bike, you can watch me slow crawl along the trails here:

https://youtu.be/QEEgezJiB-A?si=ohzs9NJax3LZl8pB

I made this video several weeks ago, and have since been out on the trails a couple more times. The last time with the guys, however, I ran into some trouble... literally. Check back for that one, coming soon!

Until then, MotoReaders...

Ride safe, and get dirty!

Save Your Money!

 Save Your Money!

If you are looking for cool products to make your rides more enjoyable, or feel more safe, read on!

Collaborations

Listen up MotoReaders... by now, you should know me well enough to know that I'm going to be honest with you. I never intended to get involved with "collabs" or "affiliates"... mainly because I didn't know anything about them or about how much effort I would have to put in to be a "brand ambassador", "affiliate" or "collaborator." Truth is, I figured I'd just write my little blog posts on my tiny little corner of the interwebs, and, if I was lucky... someone out there might actually read them and maybe, just maybe, get something out of them. I never intended to make money from the blog. 

Viking Bags

One day... something weird happened. I got a random contact on my website from Viking Bags. It was a representative from Viking Bags wanting to send me a free bag in return for putting a link to their website on my page. I actually thought it was a scam at first, but sure enough... they sent me a new bag, totally free, and in turn, I did a review of it and then put their link on my site. No money, no job, just an equal exchange- one bag for one review and a link to their site. Easy enough. That was in May of 2024, and I didn't give it much thought after that. This year, Viking once again, sent me another bag to review.

Unik International

In December of 2025, I got an email from Unik International, about becoming an affiliate for their company. Being familiar with the brand, having seen their products in several motorcycle shops, I looked into it. Turns out, that by my becoming an affiliate, my MotoReaders could save 15% off their orders, just by using my link. So, basically, by doing nothing special... other than clicking a link or putting in a code at checkout, someone looking to buy riding gear could save 15 cents off of every dollar they spent... that means you only pay $85 bucks for something that cost $100. That's pretty decent for doing nothing more than clicking a link or putting in a discount code at checkout.

In return for the, potentially new, stream of business that would be generated from my little corner of the interwebs, Unik would give me a small percentage, too. Wait... what? I could potentially earn a few dollars, while my MotoReaders were saving money? Sounds like a win-win for us, so I set it up.

First Manufacturing

Shortly after deciding to retire from my paying job, and well before any of the affiliate stuff got started, I bought myself a new leather riding vest. Now, you may not wear a jacket while you ride, but I can tell you from personal experience (and I can prove it with the 6" scar across my back), that you should, at a minimum, ride with a vest. If I had been wearing a vest when I crashed my Dyna, the leather of the best would have been scratched, instead of my back being sliced open when I hit the ditch. I don't know what I landed on, but I can tell you that my highside crash was violent and something cut me open clean. 

I knew that I was going to be doing a lot more riding in retirement, so I wanted to buy myself something nice, so I clicked the link in an email from First Manufacturing and ordered a vest that fit my style perfectly. I was pretty familiar with the brand, because I've seen their stuff in independent motorcycle shops, as well as, several Harley-Davidson dealerships. I know that their quality is top notch, because my wife and I already had some old vests from them (which I wasn't wearing that fateful day when I decided to ignore a "DANGEROUS CURVE AHEAD" sign). 

After becoming an affiliate for Unik, I decided to apply to be an affiliate for First Mfg, too. After all, I really like my vest and I know that it is very high quality. Next thing I know, they accepted my application and boom! Just like that, my MotoReaders got another link and discout code to save money. For First Mfg, though... my MotoReaders get a crazy 25% off! That's nothing to scoff at, folks. For a $100 vest... you only have to pay $75! As for your old pal, I get a small kickback. Not too shabby for just adding a link to my site. 

Sena Communication 

I decided to look into another product that I absolutely love- Sena Comms and, in February of this year, I got the thumbs up from them. They even sent me a new Outrush 2 helmet for free, to review. In return for my efforts, as an independent contractor for them (they do things a little different than the others), my MotoReaders get 10% off. Now, you might be thinking, "only 10%"? But, let me tell you- good, high quality comms are not cheap. Sure, you can buy comms that cost less, but as I've said before, good products aren't cheap, and cheap products aren't good. With my first Sena, the 20S Evo, I was blown away by how well it worked. My good friend and I took a motorcycle road trip a few years ago and we talked for hours on our Senas. The battery life is incredible, the sound quality is excellent and, when I'm out riding solo and Mrs. MotoWriter calls, she can hear me perfectly clear. The Sena pairs to my phone easily and quickly and doesn't lose connection- an extremely important feature if there's an emergency. The new Outrush 2 helmet is even better than my 20S Evo. The sound quality is exceptional and the helmet is very comfortable. I still use my 20S in my Nolan helmet, and even though it is 4 years old, it still works as flawlessly as it did when I took it out of the package. 

In my opinion, based on my real life experiences, having quality comms is as important as wearing proper gear. Even if you don't listen to music while riding, having turn-by-turn directions from GPS when you're navigating to a new out of the way diner, or being able to call for help when you've laid your bike down on a solo ride in the middle of nowhere is crucial. Sena gives me a small percentage on every purchase, but for my MotoReaders, 10% is significant, because if you haven't noticed, Sena products rarely go on sale. Even if they do, you can save an additional 10% off using my code. 

Why spend more, when you don't have to?

Look, I've never been one to solicit products, and I'm damn sure not going to start now, but if you are in the market for some fresh leather gear, luggage or comms, why wouldn't you save your hard earned cash? With all the craziness going on in the world and prices going up on everything, saving 10, 15 or 25 percent on products that you were already going to buy anyway, just makes sense. I'm not telling you to buy anything, but I am saying, that if you're going to, don't pay full price when you don't have to. Click the links on the right side of the page to start saving with your old pal, The MotoWriter.

Save money, buy gas, and get riding MotoReaders... until next time...

Ride Safe and Save Money!

Here's those links again:

Unik International - 15% off

First Mfg. - 25% off

Sena Comms - 10% off

Back to the Bricks

Back To The Bricks- A Return To Juneau Ave.

I'll admit that I have been pretty critical of a lot of the decisions being made by Harley-Davidson's executives over the past several years. I believe I've earned that right, after all, considering that I've given an obscene amount of money to the MoCo over the past 17 or so years. Don't get me wrong, I'm not critical of the company, but rather, some of the decisions being made by the suits in charge. So what about the latest strategic plan that was recently launched by our newest CEO? Let's take a look at what "Back To The Bricks" means, and how it might affect us.

More Roads To Harley-Davidson

Not all the ideas have been bad, for example- Matt Levatich's "More Roads To Harley-Davidson" was innovative and brought us the Livewire and the new RevMax engine powering the Pan America, the  Sportster S and the new Nightster. Truth be known, it was the first real new innovation from the Cream City motorcycle maker in decades. The downfall of that strategy was that it was terribly expensive... and the MoCo was already struggling financially. It's not that Matt's idea was bad, but it was a bit too broad and ambitious, and I don't think it quite factored in the costs of designing a new engine, tooling for the new models and the expenses of the tech in the new machines. The Livewire alone was a huge financial burden for Harley-Davidson, forcing them to price the all-electric motorcycles at a whopping $30 grand on the showroom floors. H-D purists weren't ready, and definetly weren't asking, for an electric motorcycles, and they damn sure weren't prepared to drop CVO money on a bike that didn't even look like a Harley-Davidson.

Hardwire

Enter the German. Now, I give Jochen Zeitz a really hard time, I know... but Jochen, if you're reading this, buddy... no hard feelings- jump on your bike, ride down to the Coast and let's have a beer. Seriously, you seem like a nice guy, but damn... what were you thinking with Hardwire? You were literally pricing H-D out of the grasp of its core consumer- the blue collar, working class Americans. 

Jochen's Hardwire leaned in to the concept that Harley-Davidson is, and should be marketed as, a premium brand. While one might think that this is a good thing, the problem was that his strategy leaned too far in to it- aiming to increase overall revenue by increasing the prices of the motorcycles and really focusing on the higher-end offerings like the CVOs, instead of entry or mid level motorcycles. Sure, the concept seems to work well for companies like Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bugatti... but the problem for applying those ideas to a company like Harley-Davidson, is that H-D was born and bred by the working class, for the working class, where the aformentioned companies were, and are still, built for the ultra rich. 

Jochen also saw an opportunity to cut overhead costs during the 2020 COVID pandemic, by shutting down operations at Juneau Avenue, and having everyone work remotely from home, instead. I'm sure that the original intent was to keep everyone safe from the, at the time unknown, illness that took our world hostage for months, but after seeing how much lower the power bill was at the historic site... well, let's just say that was an easy way to reduce some operational costs. It... sort of... makes sense, I suppose. Juneau Ave is a very large facility and, while it's a significantly historic campus, it is very old and I can''t imagine that it's very energy efficient. Jochen might have been able to save some money by turning the lights off, but the problem is that it's very difficult to maintain teamwork, company pride and camaraderie, when a few thousand people are working remotely- after all, how can a team win, when all the players are at different fields?

The Order To Return to Juneau

One of the first things that Artie Starrs did after taking over, was send out a company wide memo, ordering everyone that was working remotely to return to the "Bricks", the common nickname for the famous Juneau Avenue campus. Having everyone return to a central office was part of his strategic plan to get H-D back on course, and it's a great move, so I think it's kind of funny how some of the different media outlets are saying he was "forcing" them to return, like it's a bad thing. It's as if they are implying that the new CEO is doing something wrong by telling everyone that they have to report to the office again. Millions of workers, worldwide, have to report to an office, or a jobsite everyday- very few workers get to work remotely. It just makes sense for a few reasons- one in particular, is if Joe is having a problem with something, he doesn't have to try to call, Skype (is that still a thing?), or have a Teams meeting with Jill and Bob, and hope they're available, to get help. He can simply walk over to them at their workstations and ask for help, which is much more efficient. 

You may be asking why this efficiency is so important now? Well, for several reasons. First of all, efficiency equals money. Time wasted is money wasted and, let's be honest, over the past several years, money has been tight for the MoCo. Secondly, when your goal is to develop new machines, more on that later, everyone on the project needs to be present- the designers, engineers, mechanics, materials experts, and the product specialists. The same goes for the behind the scenes operators, too- the accountants, the human resources staff, the administrative assistants, and every other unsung hero working to keep the company running. When everyone is on site, including the bosses, then it becomes a work family again. A sense of pride in the company, the culture and the products will return. Leaders, good leaders, don't sit by the pool and tell everyone what to do- they lead from the front; they lead by example. If I worked for Harley-Davidson, I would be proud to ride my Harley-Davidson to work every day, knowing that it was designed at Juneau Ave, the engine was built a few miles away at the Powertrain Operations facility and that it was assembled into the big, gorgeous machine that it is, over at the Vehicle Operations facility in York, PA. It would also impress the heck out of me, if I saw the CEO of the company ride in on his own Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 

Leadership isn't granted by the title of CEO, leadership is earned from the people that work for you. A CEO has to earn the trust, and then the commitment of his, or her, people. The employees have to know that the CEO is going to do the right thing and that he will take care of the company, and also take care of them. This isn't exclusive to the CEO, either. This applies to everyone in supervisory and management positions in the company. Artie recognized that being able to see your supervisor every day, working alongside you and your team, is not just a good thing, it is mandatory for success. Back to the Bricks is more than just a power move by the new boss, it is an effort to restore a culture of accountability, company pride, and corporate success. 

Dealer Relations

Another aspect of Artie Starrs' strategy is to improve dealer relations and make them more profitable, which is an extremely smart move. As we've seen over the past few years, several Harley-Davidson dealerships have been forced to close their doors. I'm not trying to pick on Jochen again, but I can't help but think that those closures were, at least in part, his fault. One of the things I used to love about going into dealerships, was looking at the different models. When I first got into Harley-Davidson, my local dealers had, easily a half dozen Sportsters in different trims and colors, as many Dynas, and probably even more Touring machines. It was so easy to ride to the dealership on a Road King, and ride home on a Road Glide (yeah, that actually happened). It was also nice to go in, have a salesman introduce themself, then walk away to let me browse the bikes on my own, compared to the way most of them are now. 

While we were in Milwaukee last month, my son and I went into a few of the local dealerships. One was awesome- when my son and I walked in, the salesman greeted us, said "if you need anything, holler at me" then walked away. Super cool guy and if I had been in the market to buy a bike at the time, I would have bought it from him. Another, larger, dealership (I won't put them on blast here), swarmed us. Two different salesmen approached us from two different angles, like hyenas going in for the kill. One gave up immediately when we said we were just looking, but the other wouldn't leave us alone. If we walked away, he followed us. When he asked us where we were from, he immediately insulted our hometown. He tried to redeem himself after he realized what he had done, but to be completely honest, even though that shop had more inventory than the other, I still wouldn't have bought from them. Partly because of him and his insults, but also because I know that sales staff don't aggressively pursue potential customers on their own- they are directed to do that by their sales managers. They are directed to do that when the dealership is struggling. The other dealership had been around for a long time, had been well established and they were obviously doing well. The salesman was friendly, talked with us when we engaged him, then he let us look around and he didn't bother us. Even if I would have had to pay a few bucks more by buying from them, I would have just because I liked their style. 

When Jochen decided to start cutting models, reducing inventory to save money, redesigning the touring bikes and making them more expensive, dealerships that were already having trouble started struggling even more. With fewer bikes to draw people in, higher prices that scared off potential buyers or pushed them to bigger dealerships that could offer slightly better prices, and desperate owners forcing their staff to be overly aggressive to make sales and upcharge services, it created a recipe for disaster. When those dealers sought help from corporate- there was no help to be given, and they were forced to shut the doors.

Artie seems to understand the importance of the dealer network and knows that the dealerships are the places where potential customers, become Harley-Davidson customers. By recognizing the need for dealers to be successful, Artie's strategic plan should increase profitability for those independent representatives of the MoCo, as well as increase overall profitability for the company. It's a smart move. Another smart move is adding more inventory to the showrooms.

Return of the Sportster 883

SWM Stormbreaker V 1200

A major announcement this week, was Artie's claim that a new, air-cooled, 883 Sportster with flat bars, and a peanut tank will return in the 2027 model lineup. He is saying that it will be a "blank canvas for customization" and will come in around the $10k mark. Now, I'll be completely honest with you when I say that I have my doubts about how they are going to pull this off. The reason for my skepticism isn't because I don't believe him, but rather... the MoCo appears to have sold the rights to the air-cooled Evolution Sportster to SWM, who is currently building several of the 1200cc versions under the new name "Stormbreaker V". Unless, that is, the speculation that Harley sold the rights for the air-cooled Evo Sportster to the Chinese owned SWM isn't true. If our previous speculations were wrong, and SWM is, in fact, building a blatantly copied motorcycle, then Harley-Davidson has one hell of a lawsuit for copyright infringement on their hands. I've read that China doesn't have copyright laws, which is why they are able to make so many ripoff products and sell them for pennies on the dollar. But, while the Chinese company Shineray owns the controlling stock of SWM, SWM is located in Italy, which does have pretty extensive copyright laws in place. It will be interesting to see how this all pans out over the next year or so, if Shineray and SWM didn't pay for those designs.

More New Models?

Another exciting announcement from Artie this week was his claim that we will see "20 new models in the next three years." Sounds a bit like Matt Levatich's strategic plan, eh? This was something that I was excited to hear from Matt a few years ago, and the MoCo was able to get a few new models out before he was replaced by Jochen, but it was far from the goal. With the changes that Artie has made so far, I'm thinking that we might actually see a return of some of our favorites, as well as some all-new machines. We have been told that the Sprint, which is almost guaranteed at this point to be one of the Chinese made "X" bikes- the 350RA (the riding academy bike), or the 440 or 500 model. Artie has said that we will see the debut of the Sprint later this year, so we shall see.

I'll also tell you that I've noticed some other interesting things, too. Harley-Davidson corporate has been posting job listings in some interesting fields, such as toolmakers, designers and engineers for frame, exhaust, manufacturing, materials, and powertrain. At the surface, these might just look like the MoCo is replacing people who have quit (or been fired), but for the creatively speculative mind like mine, they could also indicate the MoCo's desire, or need, to get fresh people in, in order to design a new engine, frame, exhaust, etc. for an all-new machine. Positions like toolmakers, for example, could indicate that they need to create new tooling for new machines, after all, why would they need to re-tool existing models?  Toolmakers, for those of you who may not know, don't make wrenches and ratchets, they make the specific tools used to form parts, like fuel tanks, frames, engine cases, etc. The MoCo's need for new tooling, is a clue that something new is coming, whether it's a newly redesigned Road King, a return of a twin shock Dyna model or an all-new model like we saw with the RevMax bikes. Either way, it's pretty exciting.

Final Thoughts

Overall, I feel like things are looking up in the 414 and I have a gut feeling that Artie Starrs is gonna do great things for our beloved MoCo. I'm hopeful that we are going to see a resurgence of success. Maybe we'll some stronger dealers, improvements in overall quality, a return of some previously successful models, and maybe even some cool new models that will get more riders turned on to this iconic American company. Who knows, maybe I'm being naive and overly hopeful, but as we celebrate 250 years of American freedom, I feel like the best way to celebrate freedom and independence, is on the back of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle. 

I may be reaching here, but I have a feeling that we are going to see the Eagle soaring high, once again. I sure hope so, anyway. 

Until next time MotoReaders...

Ride safe, and make good choices!