2008-08-28T15:09:10Z http://askbob.fullhog.com/comments/atom.aspx Quick Blog tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-07-25:1227107 Ask FullHOG Bob 2008-07-25T16:36:48Z 2008-07-25T16:36:48Z I'm sorry, but that ride is for Road Captains only.  I know several people that would like to do a ride to Death Valley, so maybe it should be considered at the RC planning meeting in December.  It is a little difficult to organize a Death Valley ride.  If you try to do it in one day, it ends up being about 550 to 600 miles depending on the route you choose.  That's a bit much for most riders and doesn't leave much time to enjoy the valley.  I've done it that way twice and it's a long day that leaves you wishing you had spent more time there.  If you plan an overnight stop, you find very few choices in lodging and they are all fairly expensive as well as being fully booked during the desirable seasons.  If your willing to deal with the problems it's a great place to visit on your Harley.
 
The RC ride in October is an overnighter,(I haven't done that before to Death Valley) so we will see how it goes.  If it all works well, maybe someone (a Road Captain) will plan the same trip for the Chapter next year.
Full Hog Bob]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-07-25:1226883 Frank Storms 2008-07-25T16:07:23Z 2008-07-25T14:52:24Z tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-07-01:1163246 Ask FullHOG Bob 2008-07-01T17:02:35Z 2008-07-01T17:02:35Z Roni,

It's not that you should not use "fix a flat" with spoked wheels, it just almost never works for that.  Spoked wheels require inter-tubes to make them air tight.  When a tube type tire gets punctured the thin wall of the tube usually tears, causing a hole that "fix a flat" just can't seal.  Bikes with aluminum wheels use tubeless tires because the rims are air tight.  The thicker wall of the tire gives the sealer something to "hold on to" and seal the leak at least temporarily.  Even if it seals the leak well, you should get the tire fixed or replaced a the first place possible.  Remember, your tires are your most important piece or safety equipment.  Don't take any unnecessary risks due to bad tires.

Hope to see you soon,
Bob L'Hommedieu]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-07-01:1163202 Ask FullHOG Bob 2008-07-01T16:43:38Z 2008-07-01T16:43:38Z Frank,

Since I've been a knuckle head and failed to answer your last question, I'll try both now.

First, in regards to oil consumption.  Due to your very low miles, the piston rings are probably not completely seated.  This will cause some oil burning.  I would continue to monitor how much you're using and see if the amount tapers off.  I would not be alarmed about using one quart in the first 5000 miles, but by 10,000 miles I would expect to see very little oil use between service intervals.

In years past, motorcycle tires lasted quite a while, but nowdays with higher horsepower engines and softer tread compounds, tire life isn't that great.  The trade-off is better handling and traction for braking and such at the expense of long tire life.  On your Ultra you should get about 9,000 to 10,000 miles on the rear tire and about twice that much on the front.  I prefer the stock Dunlop tires for all around performance and life.  There are other choices out there but most that handle better wear out faster and long life tires tend not to handle as well.  If you feel bad about the tire life on your Ultra, just check with the Sport Bike guys.  They're lucky if they get 3,000 miles out of the front or rear tire. 

Hope to see you around soon,
Bob L'Hommedieu]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-07-01:1162998 Frank Storms 2008-07-01T16:06:47Z 2008-07-01T14:51:47Z tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-06-14:1120194 Frank Storms 2008-07-01T16:12:27Z 2008-06-14T12:04:35Z tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-04-20:986885 Roni 2008-04-20T19:28:15Z 2008-04-20T19:28:15Z I had heard you should not use "fix a flat" in a tire with spoked rims. Is this true? Also, could you explain how to properly use this in an emergency and approximately how far you can travel after using it?
Thanks,
Roni]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-04-03:942170 Ask FullHOG Bob 2008-04-03T12:58:16Z 2008-04-03T12:58:16Z Doug,
Let me think, a '07 Ultra, all electronic everything, under full warranty,  Huh...HOW ABOUT A CELL PHONE!  All joking aside I need some time to think about that.  I have the same problem and haven't quite figured it out yet.  I'll work on it and publish a list when I think I have it figured out.
FullHogBob]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-04-02:939365 Doug Paulson 2008-04-03T12:36:01Z 2008-04-02T10:46:16Z
Doug P]]> tag:askbob.fullhog.com,2008-03-31:934269 Ask FullHOG Bob 2008-03-31T14:54:30Z 2008-03-31T14:17:32Z Holly,
I'm so glad to see your thinking about this before the last minute.  We'll be logging between 1500 and 2000 miles on this trip, so if your bike is anywhere near being due for it's normal service be sure to get it done before we leave.  The battery on most Harleys is good for about 2 years.  If yours is getting close to that age or beyond, bite the bullet and get a new one.  If it's not that old, at least tighten the connections to the battery as they do loosen over time.  Trying to push start a bagger is no fun.  I know Dave just put a new rear tire on, but this is for anyone reading this.  Check your tires, if there is any doubt about the condition have a pro check them and replace them if they have any problem or are worn beyond 60% (40% tread depth left).  Worn tires are about twice as likely to fail as good ones and long road trips put a lot of stress on the tires.  Be sure to check the pressure as well.  Run your tires at the highest pressure the owner's manual recommends.  Under inflated tires will run hot and this increases the odds of a failure.  Low pressure degrades the handling of the bike also.

As I'm sure you know when traveling two up on any motorcycle, space for your gear fills up fast.  The one thing that I have found really works is to get rid of all the extra air packed with your clothes.  Bob "ABear" showed us how to use zip-lock bags to pack our clothing items in and then squeeze the air out before sealing the bag.  It really makes the packages small!  I could put about three times as much stuff in the same space.

I know I'm looking forward to this trip as much as you.  It's going to be great fun, so prepare well and everything should go safe and smooth.

FullHOGBob

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