Harley Davidson – A Biker's Life For Me!

If it ain’t a Harley, They are Just a Rider.

Posted on June 5, 2022 by Kris Kay in biker, Harley, Harley Davidson, Honda, motorbike, motorcycle, shadow

If they are not on a Harley Davidson, they are a rider. Wow! Coming from me, that’s one sided. I’m a Honda guy! Writing about Honda has been good to me!

No, it hasn’t. I built the Honda Hard tail. I wrote the articles. Honda was just the label. I got me thousands of readers. Honda didn’t do anything, but put a label on it.

If it would have been a Harley, those readers would be in the tens of thousands! This site would have popped, instead of fizzling. When writing, HD is the only way to go. But, back to the riders.

It’s my experience, if the person isn’t on a Harley, they are not a biker. An HD owner, they have made an investment. It’s a pretty serious one. They didn’t buy some little $2000 Shadow. They tacked a zero on there, and spent serious money.

So, they can’t just give up. They can’t forget their bike, their biker bros, or any of that. They didn’t get on a bike because of a T.V. show, like so many others. There is a reason you find a mass amount of every other bike type, needing their carbs cleaned, and don’t find many HDs in that condition.

If you get the idea in your head to start a club, trust me, don’t. All the guys that were not on your level, and had to join one, are going to flip the hell out. They will never be willing to understand that you might just be a little more than willing to be more than a prospect.

If you do want to start your own, look at the other clubs rules. I never thought I would say it, but that “Nothing but Harley Davidson” rule is an important one. I know, you don’t want to be like that, me either. One of the original founders of Hell’s Angels, he didn’t want to be that way either.

“in terms of pure workmanship, personally i dont like harleys. i ride them cause i am in the club and and that is the image, but if i could, i would seriously consider riding a HONDA ST1100 or a bmw” – Sonny Barger

The world has really flipped since WW2 and the beginning of clubs. When HD started, it was a cheap, American made, motorcycle. It was the best choice for clubs. They could afford them. Now days they are a status symbol, and the name on the riders bike should be looked at.

If they are not on a Harley, they are most likely not going to be riding in a few years. They are halfway in, that’s all. Don’t try to build with them. I was a Honda guy, but I will be getting a Harley. It is just the way it is. Websites, writing, it doesn’t matter. If your bike doesn’t say Harley down the side, nobody will ever take you seriously. If you just want to see what riding is like, get a Honda. If you are trying to be a biker, everything but Harley Davidson is a waste of money.

If you need a logo for your club, yell at me!

That’s all I have for tonight! I’m very sure I have pissed a few people off! Don’t feel bad, learning this is a serious disappointment for me too, but hey! Thanks for reading! See you next time around!

Harley Davidson LiveWire is the future, Like it or not!

Posted on May 26, 2022 by Kris Kay in biker, bobbers, choppers, custom, Harley Davidson, LiveWire, motorbike, motorcycle, racing

Electricity is the future. It’s been that way since Nicola Tesla. It is just human kind evolving the world around them. Barely Davidson, this week, has helped to prove this.

The LiveWire, which most of us thought would flop, has boomed! A week ago Harley announced they would be shutting down and fuel powered production for two weeks.

This was caused by a crappy supplier. They sold Harley Davidson inadequate parts. These parts went on a lot of the 2022 bikes. The company then told Harley they did this. You would think their stock would tank.

It didn’t fall! It is on the way back up! How? They stopped production of what we all thought were their top products. Turns out, that’s now the electric LiveWire!

The most recent shipment of the LiveWire motorcycle, motor means run by electricity, if you didn’t know, sold out in 18 minutes! They flew out of every dealership! 18 minutes!

A lot of people have decided to give up on the classic V-Twin, and make the leap to electric! This is securing Harley’s place in the electric motorcycle future! 18 minutes, and they sold all of them! That’s impressive!

Harley is chasing the future, and it has no fuel! That’s all I got for now! As always, thanks for reading! It’s a small website, please give it a share!

Destination Hard Candy’s Biker Wear!

Posted on May 22, 2022May 22, 2022 by Kris Kay in motorcycle

Hard Candy Biker Wear, Belton South Carolina.

So everyone arrives at the meeting spot. A few minutes go by, after everyone says hello, it’s time to ride! Everyone straps on their gear, and heads to their motorcycle!

If it’s Harley Davidson, it’s here! New, vintage, all of it!

Then it begins…

“where are we riding too?”

“I don’t know, where do you want to ride to?”

“Don’t ask me! I have no idea! Where do y’all want to go?”

Now you spend another 30 minutes, sitting in a parking lot, trying to decide where to go!

Boots, shoes, literally everything except a motorcycle!

If you find yourself in Upstate South Carolina, Hard Candy’s Clothing is your destination! It’s a good ride from anywhere in the Upstate! It’s a close ride from parts of North Carolina and Georgia!

Hard Candy isn’t monkeying around! Well… Maybe a little…

This store has a selection of everything! They also offer seamstress services! Finding a place to get your patches sown on, isn’t easy! This isn’t the 50s! Not everyone’s Mom has a sewing machine! They are fast, and very reasonably priced!

Great jewelry! This is not that Wish junk! You can find that ring you are looking for, and some things nobody else has!

A good place to ride to, where everyone finds something they like, that’s Hard Candy’s Biker Wear! Everything is high quality! Personally, it’s one of my favorite stores! I have bought a variety of different items!

There really is something for every biker!

The vintage shirts, are some of my favorite things. My girl, she always ends up with a shirt, or a jacket! We can get something cool, every time we visit!

She just might have that Harley part that you can’t find!

The prices are beyond reasonable! The selection, as you can see, is vast! All those chrome Harley Davidson parts , they give this place a shine!

The ride from most places, it’s through the country! Belton is a beautiful small place, and so are the areas surrounding it.

You can find Hard Candy Biker Wear at 101 Mc Gee Way, Belton, SC 29627. They are normally open Tuesday-Saturday, 10am-6pm, and 5pm on Saturday!

Mask… Gloves… A change of clothes… The back is right around the corner… Y’all stop, now. It ain’t funny!

Sometimes, the store will be closed during those hours. Hard Candy Biker Wear can be found at a lot of major biker events! They are always on the move!

Hard Candy Biker Wear is always showing support!

The store looks small, but everything is excellent quality, and fairly priced. You can spend hours looking at all their things! You won’t regret spending your Saturday riding time to end up at Hard Candy’s! If I was going to rate the store, 6 out of 5 stars!

Come meet Candy! Click here for directions!

If any of us are living a Biker’s Life, it’s Candy! Riding everywhere, having a badass store, and booths at events, she lives the dream!

Good biker wear is hard to find, make your destination Hard Candy Biker Wear! Thanks for reading! Give us a share!

Harley Davidson to Close P.A. Factory!

Posted on May 19, 2022May 19, 2022 by Kris Kay in biker, bobbers, choppers, Harley Davidson, motorbike, motorcycle, sportster

Big, big, news coming from Harley Davidson today! They are shutting down their Pennsylvania plant! They will stop producing everything, but the Live Wire! No, they are not financially struggling!

It’s supply chain issues! They can’t get enough in! If you don’t know, this slows down HD produced this year, by 25%. They have four plants in America. They lose one, that’s a 1/4 production loss!

That’s terrible, really. A lot of folks have lost their jobs. Let’s face it though, if they are workers, plenty of work is available. If they want to get mad, get mad at those that voted for Sleepy Joe. We have never been as bad off as we are now, not in modern times.

The cool part… Do you know how to make things rare? Well, an American coin, the mint mark plays a huge role. The mint mark is the little letter beside the person on the coin’s heads.

If a mint closes down, this leads to a limited run of coins. That makes that coin rare, and more valuable than the rest! Do you see where this is going?

Now, a motorcycle has a “mint mark”, like a coin. This will be your VIN, or vehicle identification number. This number will tell you where your bike was made. An example, if it says 1HD as the first few characters, it’s made in America!

They don’t plan on reopening this plant. So, look at that VIN, if you go to get a 2023, or late model 2022! If it leads back to Pennsylvania, you have yourself a rare bike and a treasure! It is the same as a rare coin! The factory did not make many, so it is rare!

Every generation says they came up in “crazy” times, but I think we can all agree that these last 4 generations of people have them beat! This year, and all the crap that has got us here, gives those bikes one hell of a story!

Over the last few years, the Pennsylvania plant has taken a beating! This does suck. Nobody wants to see an American classic company losing a factory. We have lost enough companies, and factories, over the last few decades, and hate to see another one go.

All we can do is find the silver lining. 2022-2023 HD, made in Pennsylvania, are rare bikes! A closing of a factory means less is going to be made, adding value to every Harley Davidson.

What does Harley say? They will be closing the factory for the foreseeable future. The only Harley that will be produced in Pennsylvania is the Live Wire. This is due to a supply chain issue, that can’t be fixed.

What do I think has happened? War, and offshoring. The materials they need, they came from Ukraine or Russia, or a company that is supplying one or the other.

HD can no longer get the materials. It isn’t made here, because of Fair Trade. We gave up a lot of things, so the rest of the world can have jobs. World Trade, and Fair Trade, removed us from a lot of industries. Now we have demand, and no supply. That leaves us with empty factories.

Then, this could be the beginning of the end of fossil fueled motorcycles! Harley Davidson is king. If they stop, everyone will follow!

As always, thanks for reading! Please give us a share!

How to Install a Trickle Charger on a Harley Davidson!

Posted on May 18, 2022May 18, 2022 by Kris Kay in motorcycle

Today we are going to go over how to install a trickle charger plug on a 2006 Harley Davidson. This is another thing that people think is “shop work”, and it is really simple.

This is one of the more simple tasks. You are going to need a flat head screw driver, a Phillips head, and a 3/8 wrench or socket. Sizes and tools very for different bikes. These are the tools we need for this particular bike.

Now we have to locate the battery. If you don’t know, it’s under the seat. This is basically standard for all bikes. So, we pull the seat off.

This is done by removing 3 screws, and the strap. Two of the screws can be hard to find. The first screw is on the back, under the back rest.

This should be easy with a flat head screwdriver. Careful with the screws. Don’t damage the chrome! They are also spring loaded. This keeps them from bending the seat, and hanger. Don’t pull them all the way apart. You will lose the spring.

The flathead, down under the right side of the seat, is your screw. It is also spring loaded. Be careful. Sometimes, as it is on this bike, it can be hidden under a decorative piece. Normally it flips up.

Our third screw is located on the opposite side of the bike. It should be in the same location. Remove it, remembering the spring.

On the left side of the bike, you will find the bolt that holds the strap on. Do not remove the bolt. Pull down on the strap. The buckle has a loop made to unhook. Next you must slide the seat back. This will unhook the front hook.

Unbuckle the back of the strap, slide it over the seat , and the seat is now removed.

Now we have access to the battery. We want to unhook the negative cable, first. We are not going to unhook this from the battery. We are going to unhook the bike’s main ground. This is an easier process on this particular bike.

Using our 3/8 wrench/socket, we are going to remove the screw above. Following the cables, you can see it leads directly to the negative post on the battery. We want to unhook as little as possible from the battery. The location of the battery makes it difficult to reconnect everything.

We are now ready to unhook our hot. RED IS ALWAYS HOT! Pull the battery up, hold it, and remove the screw. Keep up with the cables connected at this point! Watch out for the brass fitting! You don’t want to drop it in the bike!

Remove the brass fitting. Place the red side of the trickle charger port on this screw Replace the brass fitting. Make sure the brass fitting is touching the battery. Snug the screw back down. Replace the battery.

Now we want to place the black side of the trickle charger, on the main ground screw.

Hide your cables! You want to secure them. Don’t let extra cabling hang! This is dangerous! Make sure to keep it away from tires, chains, and belts! Tuck it under, not over! Use zip ties to secure it.

Make sure you have access to it, without having to remove the seat! And always… ALWAYS make sure the bike doesn’t already have one!

This bike now has two! Worse things have happened… I still can’t believe I didn’t see it before I took the seat off! Now they have a plug on each side. Let’s replace the seat.

Set the set back on the bike. Remember that you have to slide it forward. CAREFUL! THE BACK MOUNTING BRACKET WILL SCRATCH THE FENDER!

As you are sliding it forward, make sure the front hook goes back into place. Next is your back screw.

Gently move the seat around until the screw lines up. Give the screw a turn and a half or so. Do not snug it up. You want to be able to move the seat. Leave it looking like this picture. Next are the sides.

Leaving the back bolt loose, you can line them up easier. Insert one side, leave it loose, then insert the other. Now snug it down, go to the other side, do the same. Save the back for last.

Hook the strap buckle, and you are finished!

That’s how you hook up a trickle charger port! Thanks for reading! I would also like to thank Steve Kerr for allowing me to do this on his bike!

Best of Both Worlds!

Posted on May 15, 2022May 16, 2022 by Kris Kay in biker, bobbers, choppers, custom, leather, motorbike, motorcycle, racing, shadow

Over the weekend, I visited the Best of Both Worlds Bike and Car Show. Below are the bikes of this event! If you get a chance to go to this event, go!

The people putting on this event, they even put up a mass amount of tents for the visitors! There is food everywhere! You can buy anything that can be cooked on a grill, and Starlite keeps their concession stand open!

Unfortunately, I couldn’t stay for the racing, but if you want to see a fast bike, this show is for you! I’m not going to type much more, because of the mass amount of pictures! This wasn’t even all of the bikes that showed up!

The Honda Davidson.

Posted on February 19, 2022March 3, 2022 by Kris Kay in motorcycle

A guy had jokes. That’s cool. People are into different things. If you ride/build Hondas, you are going to get that. The funny part, it normally comes from those that don’t have a bike, and probably doesn’t know how to ride one.

Really, because of this site, I have no reason to have a Harley. The video below, it’s 26 seconds why I never need to mess with a Harley.

Pretty proud of that! 😁

The comments about Honda, they don’t really bother me. I build what I can afford. I love Harleys too, they are beautiful bikes, but nothing I plan on messing with.

Saved my money up to buy a Harley, bought another Shadow…

I’m a Honda guy, working on being a guru. That means I need to know everything I can learn about a Honda Motorcycle. So, let’s learn about the Honda Davidson!

Picture provided by Lee Bean 82 Honda Magna

It was 1982, Honda was producing several different styles, and making a killing. They had been doing this for a while. There is nothing wrong with providing a motorcycle people can afford!

Photo provided by Johnny Olafsen 1993 Honda Magna V45

Harley Davidson wasn’t having it. They wanted all the money, and had a plan to get it. Harley was struggling at the time, and was willing to do anything. They still made millions in t-shirt sells during this time. Until around 1993, Harley Davidson shirts were the thing! At least it was in the Southern United State.

83 and 82. Compare them. Notice the dramatic changes?

Harley changed them. No, Honda was never built by Harley. Harley forced Honda to redesign their line of motorcycle. Harley made these Hondas.

Things work differently in America. What would be seen as bad politics, and corruption, elsewhere, is normal politics. See, human kind had started realizing our pollution was destroying the world.

Harley would use this, and the science that says motorcycles are worse than cars, to turn the tables on Honda. HD went shopping.

Harley Davidson would buy them a President of the United States of America! Yes, this really happened. They would use their new purchase to focus on stopping Honda. They would buy themselves laws that said Honda would pay half the motorcycles value in tariffs, for every bike over 700 ccs.

Harley, and their do boy, focused only on Japan. These practices worked for Harley Davidson. Doing this secured their success well into the 90s.

Honda would not be bested in this type of way. People think Honda Motorcycles, and think negative. That’s a stereotype, a wrong one. Honda makes great, everything.

This is what a modern day giant looks like.

This is what a struggling motorcycle company looks like. Not too shabby!

To convert that for you, Honda is worth $129 billion dollars more than Harley. Disrespect is a huge deal in Japan. Honda felt it.

The 1983 V45 Honda Magna! Honda has as many scientists, as Harley has employees. They would throw this education at their motorcycle. They would retool the engine, meeting the new standards, avoiding the tariffs.

And true! They tooled the bike down, getting less ccs, and then figured out how to give it even more power! The V45 is a very punchy bike, pulling a total of 143mph!

If you want a fast, vintage bike, that a normal person can afford, the 83 V45 Magnum is an excellent choice! “It ran when I parked it… In 1984…” Will run you up to $1000. That depends on where they parked it.

The, “I loved it since the day I got it!”, can cost up to $3500. That’s not bad for a fast cruiser, with a great history! That’s it for this one! Thanks for reading!

Up next, we are doing the other Honda Davidson!

Photos: Johnny Olafsen Lee Bean

For allowing me to gather pictures: Honda Shadow Customs on Facebook https://www.facebook.com/groups/508683239603721/?ref=share

Tattoos and the Freedom of Expression. :opinion

Posted on July 1, 2021 by Kris Kay in biker, bobbers, choppers, Honda, motorcycle

Through out history tattoos have gotten many raps. In America, they have about every rap. Some are seen as good things, like memorials, or religions. Some are seen as gang signs, and some are seen as just art. In this, we explore the rights of a person with tattoos.

May be an image of one or more people and tattoo — “For my son…”, Todd Lawrence

People make the choice to express themselves in many ways. Some write, some draw, some get tattoos. Tattoos are covered under the freedom of speech. A a tattoo is a person’s expression. However, the artist that does the art, has almost no rights. In America, we protect all types of artist. They have rights just for them, and laws to protect them. Our constitution starts with the protection of art. Art like speech and all other types of expression. Yet, a tattoo artist is only threatened by laws.

No photo description available. — Clover and skulls, Tony Lee.

In South Carolina, which has only legalized tattoos in the last 15 years or so, an artist cannot tattoo fingers, hands, necks, or people’s faces. You can bet, we as citizens, do not really care about that law. We get them done anyways. The artist doesn’t have a choice, if they want to eat. I got eight on my fingers, illegally, in a legal shop. It is my body. If a person can change their sex, i should be able to color my body.

May be an image of one or more people, tattoo and rose — $100 bills rose, Chase Williams.

The workplace… We all know the laws a workplace is forced to follow, when it comes to the freedom of expressing ourselves. If we decide we we no longer feel like a man, we can change ourselves into a woman. They cannot fire us, or punish us. This is protected.

Freedom is a strange thing. You can put on a dress and show up for work, and nobody can tell you any different, or hold it against you. You can do this for as long as you want. You can go as far as to use the Ladies’ room! Now, if you put a big pretty piece of artwork on your arm, and some opinionated person runs the company, you are fired. It does not seem fair.

For me, on your time, wear the dress. If it is my company, you would be given a uniform. Everyone would dress the same, and i would not deal with the whole sex argument. As for tattoos, i got nine of mine to say to hell with the rules, and visible, so i don’t have to work for those types. I would protect my tatted up employees. If you had a problem with my employees, we would not do business.

I see it as a person’s sexual preference is protected, because it is their pursuit to happiness. I see them changing their appearance as their freedom of expression. I also see a person getting a tattoo as a person on their pursuit to happiness. I see them as a person showing off their freedom of expression. In my opinion, tattooed people changed their body for the rest of their life. They should be protected.

May be an image of William Patrick Wilson and tattoo — Broken Chains Hope Dealer, William Wilson

But… When it comes to rights, you must consider them all. An employer has worked hard for what they have. It belongs to them. As you do on your property, they have the right to decide. The right to private property, and control of that property, should trump any freedom of expression, and all other freedoms, unless it is pointing out wrong doing on that property. Business owners keep the world turning, they have rights ,and rules to follow. Having the choice to have employees without tattoos, or that overly express the sexual preference, should always be a right the employer has.

May be an image of text that says 'Biker f Life For Me!'

Thanks for reading! What do you think? Should getting a tattoo give you special rights?

Murdered in the Name of Clubs.

Posted on June 30, 2021 by Kris Kay in motorcycle

So… A guy, just a normal guy, a biker, of course, gets tattoos. He decides on some witchcraft looking, biker, tattoos. If you have tattoos, you know how they become your art. His became his.

He rides, and is proud of his new art. He shows it off. People like his tattoos. He finds patches to match… Time passes. Some see his tattoos and pathces, and decide he shouldn’t have them. He didnt earn them. Their plan, go to his home, beat him up, bust up his bike, and rob his home. He decides that is not going to happen. He defends his home.

Unfortunate for him, he is out numbered, and ends up murdered. See, his tattoos were close to being Pagan MC and Warlock MC tattoos. A couple members of those clubs decided they would take their club, nation wide clubs, from charitable 501cs, that helps people, to an OMG. They decided they would conduct themselves as gang members.

A club member walks a fine line. It takes one action, from one member, under that club’s name, to turn a club member into a gang member. Only a couple members have put these entire chapters in trouble.
Now, because of the cut, every member is seen as a gang member. Every member can be charged with murder. The city has decided to charge a few members with gang activity.

Anti-gang laws are serious laws. Ricco is even worse. If the federal government wanted to, because they done the crimes under the club names, they could go after entire clubs, nationwide. Lucky for clubs, the fed knows these couple people, acting on their own, doesn’t represent these clubs.

Some laws are old laws, and can be used against members. Here in South Carolina, we have crazy lynching laws. It is very easy to catch a 15 year charge. Watching a fight is enough to catch a charge for 2nd degree lynching. I was charged with it for breaking up a fight. I broke it up by grabbing a fighter. In this state, that is a guilty verdict.

By grabbing the person, i took away their ability to defend themselves. Being able to use the internet, i found out that i was probably going to prison. Here, the right thing can cost you your freedom. Lucky for me, the person decided it was not fair to do me like that, and had the charges dropped. Lucky for S.C., the laws are being abused, like giving a guy 20 years for a simple bar fight, and are being changed.

Here is a little advice; Make prospects serve the entire time. Feel people out. Learn everything about a person that might represent your club. Follow the bi-laws. Smart people wrote those. They are how a club survives. They are how a club gets a nationwide club. Numbers are hard to get, but never lower their standards. The people above, they murdered a guy for tattoos. Would it not be smarter to try to get him to prospect? Then, if you didnt earn it, dont wear it. Thanks for reading! I hope you enjoyed your time here!

Reference:

Prosecutor: Members of motorcycle clubs accused of killing non-member wearing insignias (wlwt.com)

South Carolina takes aim at lynching law because it hurt blacks – CSMonitor.com

How to Wrap Pipes and Some Nice Wrap Jobs!

Posted on May 4, 2021May 4, 2021 by Kris Kay in bad tattoos, biker, bobbers, choppers, custom, Honda, leather, motorbike, motorcycle, racing, scammer, shadow, sissy bar, sports, sportster, Uncategorized, vstar, winterizing, wrp

How about a quick how to? Here you will find how to wrap pipes, the pros, and the cons.

Use dishwashing gloves. That shit will itch you to death. It is a very fine fiberglass.

Then, wrap it from the bottom to the top. This will make it lap like a roof, top over bottom, and water won’t get in. Your pipes won’t rust.

If you dont use the silcone, you screwed up. Your wraps will fall apart, and discolor from the sun and water, very fast.

USE THE SPRAY SILICONE! REAPPLY IT EVERY NOW AND THEN! IT WILL MAKE THE FIBERGLASS LAST LONGER! The wraps above, they were black. Without the spray, this will happen, fast.

SPRAY SILICONE ON THE WRAPS! HEAT THE PIPES UP, SPRAY IT AGSIN. SILCONE WILL SOAK INTO THE LAPS THIS WAS, SEALING THEM UP. SPRAY IT AGAIN. This is a pretty big Pro for wrapping your pipes. It helps keep your pipes less rusty.

Pros, less rust.
Cons, it will rot. It will get on your leg, and it will itch. Thanks for reading!

A trick… unroll a roll of black. Lay it in the sun for a couple weeks. It will evenly turn a lighter shade of black. Use it and a new roll of black. Now, wrap which ever color you want