The Importance of Battery Tenders!

If you’ve put your motorcycle to rest properly this winter, you’ll have invested in a battery tender to help maintain your batter life. These are truly one of the most important investments you can make for your bike – especially if you want it to start on the first go when riding season! Replacing a battery is an expensive process, but using a tender extends your battery life to it’s fullest!

Did you know you can easily loose 1% of charge PER DAY if your motorcycle isn’t being used? And that ideally your motorcycle battery should never fall below 60% charge while in storage!

Motorcycles are in their own class when it comes to battery tenders because their batteries are small and you don’t need a lot of complicated features to do the job. On the other hand, you are definitely looking for a unit that will get you through the entire storage time and also maintain the battery in good health for the whole period. Be sure to speak to our Parts or Service Team to get the best fit for your bike!

A few things to consider when Selecting your Battery Tender:

1. Battery Type: Not all battery tenders can charge all battery types. Pay attention to what type of motorcycle battery or batteries you will be maintaining and select the appropriate tender.

2.  Average Charge Time: The faster the charge capability usually the more expensive the tender. Since you are storing your bike for a season you can save some dollars and get a slower charging battery tender!

3. Auto Shut Off: Does it have an automatic shit off or go into a safer trickle charge mode? This is an important feature so you don’t have to keep checking on the tender!

Here’s a handy how-to showing how easy it can be to install a tender yourself at home!  

Winter Prep for your Motorcycle.

Well September has hit us… and all too quickly. Riding season is much shorter than we would all like, but we take what we can get, while it’s not fun, and maybe even a little depressing winterizing your bike is a very important step in your bike’s maintenance and well-being.

By getting your bike ready for winter storage getting back on the road next riding season will be easier than ever. Depending on the bike you ride, there may be specific issues that may need to be addressed but there are some general guidelines that apply to all bikes. Your biggest enemy during winter storage is damaging moisture, so much of our effort will be put keeping that away, we’ll also tell you how to give some love to your fuel system, battery, tires, and other moving parts.

With some prep work and these pointers you’ll save yourself a lot of time and hassle come spring; your bike will be on the road sooner than you know it!

Surface Prep.

Washing your bike when it’s just going to be sitting in the garage isn’t the most fun job, but that thorough cleaning is important! Letting bugs or water spots sit on your paint could corrode the finish permanently. Wash your bike and dry it completely, make sure all moisture is out of every nook and cranny.  Waxing is an important additional step, as it will act as a barrier against moisture and rust.

       

Change your Oil and Filter.

Having fresh oil sitting in your lubrication system is much better for the bike than used oil. Besides if you get it done now, you won’t have to make a pit stop for an oil change before your first ride next season!

      

Lube Moving Parts.

If you lube moving parts it will assist in keeping moisture from building  up and deter any rusting or binding from occurring. Key areas to focus on are: chain drive, cables, controls, fork surfaces, and any other pivot points.  

      

Prep Fuel System.

When not being used Gas Tanks have a tendency to rust, untreated pump gas breaks down and becomes gummy overtime. To prevent rusting and to ensure your fuel is ready to run after months of storage fill your gas tank completely with fuel that’s been treated with a stabilizer.

      

Safeguard Battery.

Overtime your battery will self-discharge, especially if you left it hooked up to the bike. Prevent this by using a Battery tender which uses smart technology to monitor your batteries charge and will ensure it stays topped up without overcharging. Usually you should pull the battery from the bike for storage, but with a smart tender you can also connect the tender with the battery left on the bike. Make sure all units are clean, and there is no corrosion before attaching everything.

      

Protect Tires.

Ideally having both tires off the ground during the winter months is best, letting them sit in storage in the same position all winter long could make them develop flat spots. If you have a motorcycle stand that lifts it off the ground use that. If you aren’t able to get the bike up off the floor, just rotate the tires slightly every few weeks!

 Check Coolant/Anti-Freeze.

We live in the north, and chances are where your bike is being stored won’t be heated 24/7. If it’s going to get below freezing make sure you have adequate levels of anti-freeze in your coolant system. Seriously, this step is very important – if you run straight water in your coolant system and it freezes you could have yourself a cracked head in the spring!

    

Plug up your Pipes!

Your air filter shouldn’t be a home to mice or other rodents! Avoid them hiding from the cold in your exhaust with an exhaust plug and stuff your air intake with plastic bags – just don’t forget to take them out in the spring!

     

Cover it up.

So your motorcycle is fully prepped! Now all you have to do is cover it up in a proper cover. Doing so will eliminate any moisture and dust from ruining your hard work!

We'll buy you 7 years of warranty!

Did you know that your brand new Harley Davidson motorcycle comes with a 2 year factory warranty with unlimited kilometers? Did you know you can protect your bike maintenance for even longer? By purchasing the factory endorsed H-D Extended Service Plan  you can extend that coverage up to an additional 5-years. Coverage includes your servicing being done at any authorized Harley-Davidson dealership in North America.

Sound like a good investment? We think so... and that's why we're going to make it for you! Buy your 2015 HD now and we'll purchase your ESP for you! And right now when you buy ESP on your bike you have the opportunity to take advantage of 0.99% financing (O.A.C.) Try getting that rate at your bank!

Detailing your Bike like a Pro

We're all different. Some of us wait for the next rainstorm to clean our bikes, that's what they're for right!? Some of us grab a bucket of water, some soap and give our bike a quick once over and then jump on and ride it to get all the water off. And then there's those who are meticulous, who want their bike to look the best it possibly can because every time you ride it is a chance to show off it's beauty!

If you're one of those this article is for you! Some tips on how to detail your bike at home like a professional in 5 steps.

Step 1. The Initial Clean
Before you start you're going to want to ensure your engine and exhaust are both cool to the touch. Give your bike a quick rinse off to get off any road grime and bugs. We suggest using a spray on and rinse off wash - using a sponge can drag potentially hardened particles along your gorgeous paint job! And we wouldn't want that now would we? If you clean your bike regularly this will work like a dream as there hasn't been enough time for large amounts of gunk to build up.

Step 2. Tires
Next up are your wheels. You'll probably want to invest in a cleaner specifically wheels specific spray cleaner. Make sure to check that it's compatible with your wheel type, some have warnings about use on powder coating, bare aluminium or magnesium wheels. After this, rinse again!

Step 3. Protect that Paint
If you really want to go the distance than get yourself a clay bar. It'll help you get rid of anything that could harm your paint. You need to be a bit careful with a clay bar. Use a detailing spray as a lubricant, move the clay bar over the paint - you need to be careful to do this without pressure or circular motions. Get a microfiber towel and finish by buffing.

Step 4. Wax on, Wax off
Use a small amount of wax and apply to the bike with a microfiber towel. Apply wax to the bike out of direct sunlight! And try to avoid any wax getting on black plastic, matte finished material, rubber, wires - basically anything that isn't painted! Once the wax has dried and looks a little hazy buff it out!

Step 5. The final details
Clean the chain with a solvent soaked rag and give another once over on your tires with a light duty degreaser!  Using a chrome cleaner give a once over on all the shiny bits! Chrome cleaners are designed to work protect not scratch so you can use a bit of elbow grease while applying. If your bike is blacked out we have product for that as well!

Your bike should look it's best now..... so hit the road! Or if you can't bare to ruin your detailing job, let it sit in the driveway for awhile and let your neighbors admire your work!

The Importance of an Oil Change for your Motorcycle

We all hear about the importance of a regular oil change but how important is it? To get to the point… oil is the lifeblood of your motorcycle. It’s just that simple.

 

Oil is a multi-tasking superstar. It keeps the components of your engine working efficiently, and it helps in reducing the build-up of varnish and carbon from forming on the engine by moving minor debris into your oil filter. It acts as a lubricant, keeping metal parts from coming into contact with each other. When you’re riding your engine gets hot, thousands of small explosions are taking place every minute; oil assists in pulling that heat away from the combustion chamber… basically it helps keep your engine from blowing up. So yeah, an oil change is pretty important! 

Knowing when to get an oil change for your motorcycle is debated across the board. Basically it comes down to your riding style. If you ride hard, carry a heavy load, or ride through harsh conditions you’re going to want to get an oil change more frequently. If you look online suggestions range from 3,000 kilometers and 3 month to 5,000 kilometers and 5 months for getting your oil changed, we suggest that you ask your trusted Motorcycle Technician what is best for your riding style. Just remember it’s more important to focus on the distance you ride then the amount of time you’ve been riding. If you head out on a tour and rack up your odometer you may want to head into the shop when you get home! 

If you have any questions don’t hesitate to call our Harley-Davidson Service Team toll free at 1-866-564-6667