Open Road Cycles

Happy New Year ! What great weather we have been blessed with. It was nice to see so many bikes on the road yesterday. Thanks to all the ones that stopped by to either get your inspections done, oil changes , or just to say “Happy New Year” We are at this time scheduling our large winter jobs. Cam bearings, Cam adjusters, Engine replacement and rebuilds with 6 speed transmissions and replacement. We are certified “BAKER TRANSMISSIONS AND ULTIMA dealers . If your and in need of our services please call for an appointment 704-489-1100 and talk to either AJ or Capt Leo.

Got a email today from Kawasaki announcing 2011 Ninja 1000′s on sale for as low as 3.99% for 24 months, variable APRS as of 2/1/11: Standard Rate 21.99%, Penalty rate 28.99%. More info at http://www.kawasaki.com/currentdeals/

The New Year rang in several new laws across the country affecting the motorcycle riding community, including the onerous new California anti-noise law that requires EPA-labeling for motorcycle exhausts on bikes built after 2012.

Other less volatile laws also took effect on January 1st, including another California law that requires would-be motorcyclists under 21 to complete an approved safety course before an applicant can receive an instruction permit to learn to ride. California lawmakers also passed a law to curb motorcycle thefts by outlawing possession of so-called “pigtails” which are homemade ignitions that allow a crook to start a motorcycle in as little as 20 seconds. Previously, burglary tools for the purpose of breaking into or stealing a vehicle other than a motorcycle were prohibited. (more…)

If you haven’t taken your bike out for a while and it’s just sitting there, you need to read these tips on how to winterize your motorcycle. Don’t ignore your bike during the cold months or you’ll be sorry when the warm weather comes back. Remember, Open Road Cycle can store and/or winterize your cycle for you.

Gather up the tools necessary for winterizing your bike. You will need, cleaning cloths, spark plug wrench, a trickle battery charger, four or five quarts of high quality oil, new oil filter, oil can or device to get oil in the cylinders, chain lube (if you have a chain drive), fuel stabilizer, spray can of WD40, a breathable motorcycle cover, kitchen plastic wrap, rubber bands, vinyl or plastic gloves, items to clean and wax your bike. Lastly a nice location for the bike to spend the winter, a heated secure garage would be ideal. Avoid wind, dripping water, vermin, mildew, and chemical fumes.

Give your bike a thorough cleaning. A gentle wash detergent and water will suffice. By removing road grime and insects you will protect the finish of the bike. Avoid spraying water directly into the opening of the muffler. If baffles get wet and are not dried prior storage, internal rust could result. Likewise avoid moisture in the air cleaner housing. If the housing becomes saturated, it could act as a choke, making cycle difficult to start. Dry completely with a good chamois. Clean and polish all aluminum and stainless surfaces with the appropriate metal polish. Finally finish up with a coat of good wax polish on all painted and chrome surfaces. Clean the chain (if you have one). Spray off all the built up residues with WD40. Lube the chain.

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A Nebraska marketing company has launched a new web site devoted to reviews and information about motorcycle helmet communication systems.

DaMar Enterprises is responsible for motorcycleintercomehelmetreviews.com. (more…)

Mustang Motorcycle Seats now offers a full line of seats for the 2010-2011 Honda VT1300 Interstate, Sabre and Stateline. From the news release:

The deeply pocketed driver seat on the one-piece Wide Vintage Touring style with Driver Backrest is a full 16” wide and sits you at the ideal cruising angle. The 10.5” wide passenger seat utilizes Mustang’s unique internal steel support wings. The optional driver backrest provides superb back support for those longer rides and is fully adjustable and easily removable. The Wide Vintage Touring seat with Driver Backrest sells for $669 retail; Mustang’s Wide Studded Touring Seat with Driver Backrest features chrome studs and leather-tied conchos for $699 retail.

Mustang’s Wide Touring styles without a built-in backrest are designed so that the driver’s back is well supported by the nose of the passenger seat that extends forward. Choose from Mustang’s one-piece Wide Vintage Touring seat for $469 retail or the Wide Studded Touring style for $499 retail. For a totally different low, lean look, check out Mustang’s DayTripper™ seat for only $359 retail.

Contact: Mustang Motorcycle Seats, 800-243-1392, www.mustangdealer.com

Reposted from DealerNews

If you’ve been thinking about getting a LoJack installed in your beloved motorcycle, read these top five motorcycle recovery stories posted by LoJack. Then call Leo or AJ about getting a LoJack installed on your bike.

LoJack’s Top 5 Stolen Motorcycle Recoveries of 2010:

Thief Uses Counterfeit Check to Buy 2007 Harley from craigslist – The owner of a 2007 Harley Davidson listed his bike for sale on craigslist and was deceived by a buyer who paid for it with a counterfeit check. The owner immediately notified Cleveland police and within minutes, they began picking up the bike’s LoJack signal.  The bike was found in excellent condition and returned to its owner; arrests were pending. (more…)

Kawasaki has recalled all 2011 Ninja ZX-10R motorcycles and will stop current production of the bike, placing a “technical hold” on the Superbike. All unsold models are being shipped back to the factory. All sold units to customers will be bought back with a full refund.

The company says in a press release that it is “proactively addressing a remedy which reflects Kawasaki’s commitment to excellence and its relationships with its highly valued customers and dealer network.”

Reportedly delivering 197 hp, the ZX-10R in America would deliver less to meet EPA noise restrictions and would be de-tuned to meet federal standards, by 750 RPM’s, or roughly 20hp less than the international version of the machine.

Sources:
asphaltandrubber.com
dealernews.com
motorcycleusa.com

A dealer and his enthusiast friend have opened a motorcycle museum in a restored Route 66 filling station in Warwick, Okla.

Gerald Tims, 49, and Jerry Ries, 54, own Seaba Station, a 5,000-square-foot brick building listed on the National Register of Historic PlacesIt also houses 75 vintage motorcycles, most fro Tims’ collection.

“That’s part of the fun of owning it, letting people see it,” he told the . “I couldn’t tell you how many private collections there are in this country that nobody ever gets to see.” (more…)

Harley-Davidson’s now offers a universal saddlebag lock kit that can work with your current saddlebags. The kit includes two extra-small barrel locks that replace existing saddlebag snaps, fitting most soft-sided leather and vinyl saddlebags. They can be keyed to match your barrel style ignition key.

This product is available in multiple variations. Be sure to look for the one that fits the specific model and year of your motorcycle.

These parts are available on the Harley-Davidson website, or call Leo or AJ to order them for  you.