Harley motorcycle parts

Where do you get a good quality Harley Davidson Part? Can I use an aftermarket part?

These questions are not easy to answer. It depends a lot on your situation, part you're looking for, and the money you want to spend.

The bottom line you have to decide.

I have a little information here that may be useful to you, so keep reading!

An OEM part versus an aftermarket part.

An OEM (Original Equipment Manufacturer) part are of course the genuine Harley Davidson Part you would find at an authorized Harley dealer.

These parts are original in that they have the exact same specifications that came with the original part.

These parts however many not have been manufactured by Harley Davidson themselves (at their physical location). Harley may get another company to manufacture these parts to Harley specs, and then they will sell them in the Harley box as OEM.

OEM parts are generally more expensive, and almost always recommended by the dealer. (They make their money by selling parts not bikes)

The dealer will most likely tell you that OEM parts are of a higher quality. This may or may not be true.

An Aftermarket part should perform as well as an OEM but take note. These parts were made by a company other than the original manufacturer.

Sometimes after a certain time period the original manufacturer of a part will allow the company that physically manufactured the part to sell it at a reduced price and in their own packaging. The part now becomes an OEM aftermarket part.

Normally after a certain period of time, the manufacturer will allow the company that originally designed/produced the part to sell it in their own box at a considerably lower cost, making it: an Aftermarket OEM part

So what does this tell you about that Harley Davidson Part that you need?

If you cannot find the quality in an aftermarket part, then search for the OEM provided it is in your price range.

There is a lot of competition out there between vendors who want your dollar. An aftermarket Harley part, for your Harley Davidson are generally of good to excellent quality.

Triumph motorcycle

Where were you in 1967? Still in high school, Nam, or straddling a Triumph Motorcycle? Even before that point in time, Triumph Motorcycles was synonymous with distinguishing characteristic, power, looks with motorcycle production whose designs were second to none.

Today they haven't lost that touch and if you desire they are still producing a rocket between your legs. The inspiration and manufacturing fascination that gave birth to the iconic Triumph Bonneville, the motorcycle to end all motorcycles of the wild 60’s has designed the eye-catching Rocket III and the instantly recognizable, unmistakable Speed Triple.

From day one, the soul of Triumph's beliefs has always been a solid pledge to designing and producing truly only one of its kind motorcycles that combine stunning, distinguishing looks, but also blow your socks off performance. Triumph motorcycles has always provided that special experience by engineering motorcycles that combine a immense riding experience blended by a well-balanced, straightforward perfect handling chassis mounted with a strong muscular, supple get behind me engines. With this winning combination, it results in an inspirational line of motorcycles combining intelligent design with unbelievable performance.

When occasionally my mind works, I can remember from the 60's the status of Triumph as being a hold on to your britches bike. I can still see vividly in my eye's mind, this scrawny dude with this mammoth Triumph having to scramble up on his seat and then jump down on the kick start because he didn't have sufficient strength to transport the engine to life. I was amused at this funny site but when that Triumph fired up, the hilarity turned toward envy because he owned a Triumph and I did not.

The Triumph Bonneville was announced as the end of all end motorcycles when it was introduced. To own a Bonneville meant you were predestined to never owning another motorcycle again. The reputation was very well earned. A few years later out Triumph introduce the Norton and guess what, you needed it, and no you had to have it. So much for being predestined!

Triumph motorcycles are rich in history. They supported the war effort during the big WWI and WWII. Their bikes were made famous during the war times. Remember all the war movies that had a soldier riding a motorcycle? Chances are, it was probably a Triumph. Once the war was over, the former field soldiers in England and America wanted to own one of these impressive machines.

Custom motorcycles

Custom mirrors give your bike an instant make over. They also make driving safer since they provide a good view of the traffic coming from behind. There are scores of bike mirrors available in the market today. This makes the right choice difficult. Still, you should spend some time researching the mirror that suits your bike most. Here is a short review of seven mirror brands:

1. Aeromach: Aeromach accessories are known for their radical designs and their mirrors are no different. They have six mirror styles for metric cruisers made from polished, chrome-plated billet aluminium, and feature flat glass. These mirrors are available in the standard straight arm and curvaceous sidewinder styles. They fit Buell, Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Victory models.

2. Arlen Ness: Arlen Ness has a range of mirrors for all types of cruisers. It has 12 high-end billet mirror models and 13 affordably priced die-cast ones. You can get them in grooved, smooth and stepped finishes, with several different arm designs. Except for the Large CatEye and Stocker styles, these mirrors offer small viewing areas.

3. Kuryakyn: Kuryakyn's mirrors come in a range of sizes. They are solid, have a good finish, and an adequate viewing area. These mirrors are suitable for flat or drag bars, but you need to purchase mirror adapters separately to install them on metric cruisers.

4. Highway Hawk: This is a European brand distributed in North America by Hardsteen Motorsports in New Mexico. Their chrome square mirrors have ample viewing area while The Techglide range has a smaller viewing area but is both sleek and sturdy.

5. Pro-One: Pro-has a Chrome Billet Mirror Head for Yamaha's Star line. This installs easily on the stock mirror stems. You can get them in smooth or ball-milled styles.

6. Roadhouse Brand: Roadhouse has solid, one-piece aluminium, flat glass Billet Cruiser mirrors. These are available in two styles: Teardrop style with a curved short stem and the new Royal style -- a square version of the same mirror with a straight arm. Both are available in diamond, smooth or flame finish on the back. They fit Honda, Kawasaki, Suzuki and Yamaha cruisers or standard fitment American bikes. But do specify your bike model when ordering.

Motorcycle tires

Too many queries are made and we need real answers. In motorcycles, overwhelming questions are given especially on motorcycle parts. One motorcycle part that needs elucidation is tire.

Here are few of the frequently asked questions about tires:

1. Why are new tires better?

First, new tires are better because it is organic and it decomposes. Second because the older the tire gets, the more it is exposed to outgassing. Outgassing makes the tire brittle.

2. What’s the right tire age?

In essence, the principle is the newer the tire the better. However, to make a tire last longer the tire’s age is of lesser importance. But be careful not to buy tires which are over six or seven years old. You will be able to know their date of manufacturing by searching for the three or four-digit number stamped in the tire’s sidewall. For instance, 2101 stands for 21st week of 2001 - which is its manufacturing date.

3. What are size and pressure?

Run the bike in the recommended tire pressure. It is so simple. You just have to stick to the manufacturers guidelines. That is the safest and the best thing that you can do. Nevertheless, you can have some deviations depending on your desired performance. Moreover, you have to check tire pressure regularly.

4. What will I do in case of a flat tire?

Motorcycle tires swerve from more directions. Unlike car tires, motorcycle tire has only the other tire to prevent it from falling. Thus, the best thing to do in case of a flat tire is to replace it and not just plug it.

5. When is there a need for replacement?

It depends. Front tires may still shot even when there is still ample rubber. In fact, they may still look good even if they have gone through considerable heat cycles. They can also cup or scallop when already having uneven surface. This is the best time to replace them.

6. When to buy a tire?

Buying tires must be made at reputable motorcycle stores. These stores have already established their names and services. You can also order online. But this remedy is a gamble because it will not guarantee that you will be getting newly manufactured tires. When you buy tires personally, you have the opportunity to choose the freshest tire in the store. You also have the chance to compare prices and quality.

Saddlebags for motorcycles

The market for hard saddlebags may have shrunk but there are still some manufacturers who continue to manufacture stylish bags. These manufacturers even offer matching brackets so that you can install the saddlebag with ease.

If you are looking for a hard saddlebag then you should look for three features: the bags should be waterproof, should be lockable and detachable. You should also be careful about the size of the bag. Often, the size may be misleading. This is because the hard bags, unlike soft bags, are not expandable, and have stiff internal lining that reduces storage area.

Here is a brief outline of hard saddlebags:

1. AUBURN LEATHER LEGEND BAGS: These bags come in two styles: bolt-on and throw-over, and are made of black American cowhide. They are classy looking with lock-stitched and stress-riveted seams and zinc-plated steel rivets. They have a hard back and their interiors are reinforced with ABS and HDPE plastic. The size of these bags is 12 inches by 13.5 inches by 6 inches.

2. BOSS BAGS: The Boss Bags are made of premium leather with heavy plastic reinforcing in the interiors. They are available in plain black leather or with trimmings. They have lockable lids and quick-release buckle straps. Each bag comes with a fiberglass mounting system.

3. PATRIOT HARDBAGS: These bags are known for their sleek styling and high-quality fit. They are 26 inches by 9.5 inches by 14.5 inches with a 35-liter capacity. Their side-mounting units are made of fiberglass. An additional feature is a watertight gasket seal that keeps rain water from entering.

4. CORBIN BEETLE BAGS: These bags are made according to the shape of motorcycles. This gives them a unique fit, and look. They are made of Fibertech and have a smooth finish. Their sizes may vary but their capacity is around 30 liters per bag.

5. GIVI LUGGAGE CRUISER: Givi’s bags, also known as Cruiser bags, are made of polypropelene. They are 16.7 inches by 13.7 inches by 7.7 inches with a capacity of 21 liters. They have side-mounting units and are sold as a pair. They are very light and come in a variety of finishes.

6. NATIONAL CYCLE CRUISELINER SADDLEBAGS: These bags are made from a high-density polymer that makes them dent-resistant. They normally have high-gloss black finish, but custom color matching is also possible. The size of these bags is 24.5 inches by 14 inches by 7.5 inches.

Aftermarket motorcycle parts

If you happen to have a cruiser that does not come with a tachometer then it might be a wise investment to find an aftermarket tach that will allow you to see at what RPM your motor revs when you are going down the road. A good tach is definitely a must for anyone that rides it like they stole it. I have always ridden one of my bikes by feel but when I actually installed a digital tachometer it was nice to see the rpms. Besides the fact that I bought a billet aluminum bullet tach that looks really nice on the bike. Billet tachometers are a great way to customize your bike and actually add a functional piece of equipment to your ride as well. Also some fo your nicer bullet motorcycle gauges have a speedometer as well as a temperature function.

Dakota Digital makes a digital gauge for motor cycles that is both a speedometer and a tachometer. Not just that its also a bullet tach so it will fit nicely on most cruisers and provide a more custom streamline look to your ride. If you are working on a project or a custom chopper Dakota Digital motorcycle gauges are a perfect fit for customizing the bike as well as adding needed functionality. These gauges come in a variety of applications and can be easily installed. For example the Dakota digital 3015 is a 3 38" bullet style gauge that is a speedometer and a tach. It has many features and settings like a odometer with resettable trip meter, choose from

several settings: speedometer only, speedometer with odometer and trip meter, or speedometer with bar / graph tachometer. A user friendly interface easily allows you to configure these gauges as needed. Another one of their motorcycle gauges is the 300 series which allows for several display options including voltmeter, oil pressure, water temp or oil temperature as well as fuel level or air pressure readings. Of all the motorcycle gauges available this company has many great multifunctional units available including a speedometer function.

If you prefer a analog tach which is more along the lines of the old school motorcycle gauges. Pro1 makes some really nice analog tachometers. ProOne has several tach's that are made from billet aluminum which is then chrome plated for a quality finish. One of their gauges also has a built in 4 inch riser. Most of what Pro1 offers is a tach that directly replaces the original handlebar clamp which combines the clamp with a analog tach which makes it easy to install on your bike. Most of the tachometers available thru this manufacturer come with installation instructions and are easily installed.
So really when it comes to choosing a motorcycle speedometer, tachometer or any sort of gauge it becomes a matter of how you want to customize your cruiser. Of course tach's for sport bikes are also available but those are generally installed in to the dash of the sportbike. Autometer makes a great tach for sport bikes.

Motorcycle clothing

Everything that goes in the name of protective gear may not necessarily be as safe as the claims may be. In Europe, for example, apparel has to undergo a series of lengthy tests to qualify as safety clothing. These include abrasion, tearing and impact tests. If they are passed they are CR certified. In the US, where there are no such tests all riders should acquire a set of motorcycle protective clothing by keeping the following points in mind:

1. Wear a sturdy pair of high boots and protective pants. Your pants should be reinforced at the knees and hips and the boots should be made of thick leather with flexible sole.

2. Traditional motorcycle gear has been made of leather, but thick nylon and other synthetic material are good too. If you must wear jeans wear Kevlar ones; they are more abrasion resistant. The same goes for jackets too. If it is made of leather make sure the leather is thick and the jacket’s elbows and shoulders are reinforced. Some impact protection would be ideal.

3. Get yourself a decent pair of gloves with reinforced palm patches. This is absolutely essential because palms get terribly bruised during a fall. Knitted Kevlar is a very good choice; reinforced leather works well too.

4. Wear impact protection gear. They are available separately. You can also go for motorcycle clothing with a degree of impact protection built in. This way whenever you wear clothes you have at least a degree of protection.

5. Choose the right helmet. This is absolutely imperative. The helmet is the most important protective gear that you can have, never get on to the bike without it.

At the minimum, when you are on your bike you must have the following:

a. Helmet: Make sure it is DOT certified, and fits your head snugly.

b. Eye Protection: A full-face shield, three-quarter helmet, goggles, or close-fitting eyeglasses should be used to provide adequate protection to the eye.

c. Gloves: Since we reflexively put our hands out while falling, the palms are likely to get bruised unless there is protective covering on them. This is why gloves are so important.

d. Jacket: Jackets protect the bikers against the elements and also provide some impact absorption on falling.

e. Long trousers: Long trousers can protect your legs against insects, bugs and highway debris. They also provide some impact protection against falls.