Now that the sun is going down earlier, the need for better lighting on your motorcycle is more necessary than ever before.  There are multiple options you can use to brighten up your way and make your bike more visible.  When looking at lighting, there are a few things to consider.  First you would want to decide the type of light you are needing due to the multiple options i.e.: H.I.D, LED, Xenon gas filled or brighter Halogen bulbs.  If you are looking for an extremely bright light with good light transmission I would look LED bulbs or a LED replacement assembly. Most people know about the Harley Day maker and the Kuryakyn Truck Light or the J&W Speaker Adaptive lights.  You can get LED lights in multiple colors and brightness. The color is measured in Degrees Kelvin. A standard halogen bulb is about 4300 Degrees Kelvin; at that temperature the light looses approximately 10% light transfer.  If you use an LED bulb rated at 6000 degrees Kelvin, you will transfer more light to the road than you lose.

For your bikes with Turn signal/Marker lights and fender tip lights, I personally would recommend Custom Dynamics for all your Turn Signal/Marker lights due to the brightness and their lifetime warranty.  There are multiple options i.e.: Light Clusters, Bullet Rings, Flat Rings, or LED replacement bulbs. There are also other styles available in addition to the standard light options.  Any of the aforementioned light options will increase your ability to be seen by others.  The LED light Bullet or Flat Rings, when you put them on the front of the bike, the white lights will give you more light around the front forks whether you have driving lights or not.  They also add to the amount of light the other drivers will see allowing you to be more visible and safer while on the road.

In addition to the standard lighting options you can also add the colored lights to the motorcycle that will also catch the eye of the other motorists.  Colored lights come in multiple options i.e.: solid color, multi-color with key fob, and/or Bluetooth controlled.  You can also get lights that mount on the front of the fairings and across the top and bottom of the tour-pak and saddle bags.

With all the possible upgrades, I could discuss this all day.  If you are wanting to learn more and figure out what upgrades you can get to optimize the light output for your budget, stop in and see me,  Sparky, and I can assist you in all wants and needs for your bike.  As my final remarks I would like to leave you with the question.

If you were driving at night, would you see your bike?

Anyone who has been by the shop since early July has probably been shown or told about Jan’s latest creation, Moonshiner.  Jan took a 2009 Road King and created a sleek, clean beauty full of copper details.  I fell in love with her the moment I saw her.   Jan built Moonshiner as a daily rider/tour bike especially for the Hot Bike Tour which is going through the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and Tennessee.  As Jan does with all new motors, he took it out several times before the tour to break the motor in.  I was fortunate enough to go out with him one sunny Sunday.  At one point along the ride I noticed Jan glancing down repeatedly at the single gauge in front of him.  I thought “Oh, no!  Something is wrong.”  Nope, Jan was just busy checking out different aspects of the bike.  How can this be with only one gauge?

Well, let me tell you as I was quite impressed.  The Dakota Digital gauge can tell you:  head temperature, oil temperature, digital tach, clock, gear indicator, odometer, duel trip odometer, charging system voltage, speedo tach and adjustable shift point, miles to service warnings, oil pressure, performance calculations including 0-60 time, quarter mile time and high speed as well as high rpm recall.  Think I got it all.  Talk about technical advances!  All that information on one gauge.

Jan commented to me over twelve years ago that motorcycles would become as technical as cars.  That it was just a matter of time.  And boy was he right!  Working as a technician at Nissan Corporation built upon Jan’s base knowledge of the electrical engineering components of motors.  Today’s motorcycles are no longer the simple machine’s they started out as (check out Harley & the Davidson’s on Discovery channel starting September 5^th).  Just like automobiles, it is getting more challenging for the average individual to maintain their ride.

Some of the advances include ports to plug in your cell phones and other personal devices, automatic compression releases (ACRs), throttle by wire, vehicle speed sensors (VSS), anti lock braking system (ABS), liquid cooled heads, O² sensors, computers, body modules, alarm modules and the list goes on.  We sell USB ports in case your model motorcycle does not have one built in.  We also carry voltage indicators which are helpful when using LED lighting.

I wrote this as we headed north to Madison Wisconsin with our parts guy and mechanic.  The weekend had two agendas:  first we were invited up to place Moonshiner in the Drag Specialties bike show; second to attend Drag’s product expo.  Chariots of Fire Customs LLC is devoted to keeping our staff up to date with all the newest products out there.  Especially in this fast paced world.  Jan can’t wait to get his hands on the 2017 Harley motor to see what changes they have made to the engine.  If you are interested in doing any upgrades or want a knowledgeable staff to keep your current ride functioning at optimal performance, we can help you out!

Sturgis, A Bit of History by Biker Bunny

What draws you to Sturgis?  Is it your first time and you want to see what all the hoopla is about?  Is the shear mass of motorcycles all in one spot you enjoy?  The camaraderie?  The live bands, Buffalo Chip (a city unto itself), Full Throttle Saloon (now across from the Drag Pipe Saloon), Mount Rushmore, Deadwood, Devil’s Tower, or are you like me and want to enjoy the magic of the Black Hills?  Notice on my list I don’t have Sturgis Racing.  In the eleven years that we have been operating Chariots of Fire Customs LLC, not one person has told me a story about going to the races at Sturgis and yet that is one of the very first events.

For those of you that don’t know, in 1936 JC “Pappy” Hoel opened up an Indian dealership in the Sturgis area.  The following year Pappy and fellow riders found the Jackpine Gypsies MC.  The club became an official charter of the American Motorcyclist Association hoping to increase community support for riders in the area.  The Sturgis Chamber of Commerce teamed up with Pappy and the Gypsies to build a half-mile dirt track for motorcycle racing recognizing the benefits of bringing riders into their community.  In 1939 more than 800 riders turned out to watch nineteen riders duke it out for $500 prize.  The races continued to grow and expand to include stunts and hill climbs during the ‘30s and ‘40s.

As the rally grew, so did the events and the rally itself.  It went from a two-day event to a three-day event in 1964.  It wasn’t until 1975 that the Sturgis Rally grew to its current seven-day event.  The emphasis on racing began to recede in the ‘70’s with choppers and custom iron bikes taking over the town of Sturgis.  And not in a good way as stories have been told of toilets, bikes and even streets getting doused in gasoline and set on fire.  The early ‘80’s brings about venues outside the town such as the Buffalo Chip.  Every year the rally grows.

Racing, the sport that started it all still remains an integral part of the event. Initially, the event began with a half-mile race. There are half-mile races yet today, in both Sturgis and Rapid City. The racing side of the event has expanded to include ADBA drag racing at Sturgis Dragway as well as professional and amateur hill climbs at Bessie’s Knob Hill.  So who will come back with stories about the racing?  Will you go to the half-mile AMA All Star Professional race on Monday, August 8^th or the vintage racing featuring the old board trackers on Tuesday?  Maybe the hill climbs will draw your attention.  The prize money is at $10,000 and they are hoping to increase it to $20,000 in order to attract top national racers.  A far cry from the original $500!  For more information go to: http://www.sturgisdrags.com . Looking forward to hearing about your Sturgis adventure.

Most information taken from Hot Bike Special Sturgis Edition Volume 48.

Photos from sturgisareachamber.com;rapidcityjournal.com;bikernet.com;dragbike.com.

We were sitting around after work a few weeks back and our Techs, Chad and Jan started talking about setting up a “Wall of Shame”.  I’m like whaaat??? For all the mishaps brought in by our customers.  Here is a sampling of just a few of the many oddities that roll through our shop doors:

Hmmm???

What is it???  A mysterious piece of cloth pulled from deep inside a carburetor.  Piece of t-shirt, underwear (gross!), or maybe a pocket from a pair of jeans?  Who knows!

“I don’t understand why my bike won’t roll.”  Brake pads locked up.  Worn out way beyond what is safe!  Check them, keep records of when last installed, have them looked at when replacing tires (we do!).

These are REALLY thin!

Notice the date . . .

This is NOT a motorcycle safety inspection sticker (see photo).  Not always a good idea to try to cut corners . . .

Electronics – oh my, the stuff they have encountered!  Check out some of the photos.  Please make sure you go to a reputable shop that knows mechanics as well as electronics.  A car stereo place is not going to realize that while installing the stereo your bike has now lost throttle response.  Twelve connections to one main wire is probably not such a good idea . . .

Tires – cords showing, unfortunately very common and so unsafe!  Too often we have bikes come in for general maintenance and there is very little air in a good set of tires.  And you wonder why you didn’t get as many miles out of the tires as the manufacturer and mechanics tell you.  Check your air pressure often.  Especially with major changes in the weather.  This will help save you money in the long run as you will get the optimum mileage out of a set of tires.

Is it guitar strings?  No, just standard cables on a set of ape hangers. – Yes, they have seen cables stretched so tight that they look like they could play music!  Nope, no song coming out of stretched cables.  No turning radius either.  When customizing your ride, make sure you know what you need to complete the job.

Jan estimates that about 30% of our work comes from work gone wrong.  Either by customers attempting work on their own or having work done by someone else not knowledgeable enough to complete the work accurately and safely.  Word of advice, just because information is on the internet doesn’t mean it’s true.  Know your source!  We do want well-informed customers, however, bottom line is:  “If you don’t know what you are doing, don’t mess with it!”  Also, when you bring your bike in for service, please tell us as much information as possible.  Knowing exactly what you attempted and how you tried to fix it helps us diagnose quicker.  This will save you money in the long run.  That’s why we are here.  Keeping you comfortable and safe on the road is our top priority!

Custom is in our name, quality is in our product, service is our reputation.

By: Reine Knobbe

We hope you all enjoyed Memorial Day weekend. Jan and I sure did. Driving through the Missouri country side gave us plenty of reminders of why we have the freedom to ride. Every cemetery we passed had American flags out as did many homes and businesses.

Monday was spent at the St. Louis zoo with our granddaughter, her parents and the in-laws. A blessed day celebrated with no worries or fears. As I rode home I reflected on our military out in the world fighting for our freedom. Jan and I were so very grateful to have enjoyed the weekend. The freedom to ride, the freedom to explore the countryside, and the freedom to love our family.

I wanted to say, thank you to those who gave their lives, and thank you to those of you protecting our freedom and way of life.

                                    PLEASE BE AWARE
                                      By: Reine Knobbe

May is motorcycle awareness month.  I love to see all the signs out in yards, bumper stickers and on Facebook reminding others to “Look Twice” and “Watch out for Motorcycles”.  That is great and important, however, we must also take our riding as seriously as we want those we share the road with to.

Susan Lockhart of F.O.R.R. 25 (Freedom of Road Riders) recently posted the following on their Facebook page and I have her permission to share:  “data from 2012 – 2014: Motorcycles represented two percent of the registered vehicles in Missouri but were involved in 12 percent of all fatal traffic crashes during the last three years. An area of particular concern is the number of unlicensed and improperly licensed motorcycle operators involved in crashes. Between 2012 and 2014, 38 percent of the motorcycle involved fatalities involved an unlicensed or improperly licensed motorcycle operator.  I’m not sure what we can do anything about the license matter but we can all be a bit more careful and watch out for each other. yes?”  Susan has shared other statistics with me that I won’t bore you with, however it is worth mentioning that a high percentage of motorcycle related accidents don’t even involve other vehicles.

Let’s each make a commitment this riding season to think safety first!  Remember T-Clock every time before you ride by checking the following:

T = Tires & Wheels – condition, air pressure, spokes, cast, rims, bearings, seals

C = Controls – levers, cables, hoses, throttle

L = Lights – battery, lenses, reflectors, wiring, head lamp

O = Oil – levels, leaks

C = Chassis – frame , suspension, chain/belt, fasteners

K = Kickstand – center stand, side stand

Don’t ride beyond your abilities.  It is better to get to a destination last than not at all.  When riding in a group experienced riders have inexperienced riders in the middle.  Ride staggered.  We also have to look twice and share the road.  Remember we are hard to see, so use your high beam headlight during the day.  Use your signals.  Ride smart.  Make sure your ride is well maintained.  Go to that riders education course.  Experienced riders take the riders education course designed for you.  We all develop bad habits and taking the course every year or two will sharpen your skills.

Let’s take responsibility for how we ride.  It is okay to make sure this month that four wheeled vehicles are reminded that we are out in force with riding season well underway, but let us also be smart and safe on the road.

Spring is a time to rejoice and be glad!  Riding season has begun in earnest with warmer days and sunshine bringing out motorcycle enthusiasts.  The calendar is filling up with various events for the riding season.  April’s highlights are the Bike Blessings.  There are three that we know of, and I’m sure there are many more in surrounding areas.  Check out our calendar for when and where.

Having our bike blessed at the beginning of the riding season is an annual event that I really enjoy.  Having our bike blessed by my Christian friends gives me comfort throughout the riding season.  Being on two wheels is a joy, but it comes with risks like any sport.  Being prepared with the right gear from the road up reduces risks.  Good tires, smooth running motor, gas in the tank, leathers on your back and the good Lord above!

Those of you who enter Chariots of Fire Customs LLC from our side door may have noticed the sign on our building above the flower bend.  It says BLESSINGS.  A reminder to all of us to be thankful for all of our blessings.  Family, friends, customers, freedom to ride and the list goes on. No matter your spiritual affiliation, a blessing is a blessing.  So be sure to check out at least one if not all three of the bike blessings this April.

Almost everything around us is about technology these days.  Including our two wheel rides.    Harley has been able to upload fuel and ignition maps to help the bike run correctly for new exhaust, air cleaners, and cam or motor combinations for several years now using their own tools.  We went to the V-Twin expo again this year in Cincinnati, OH.  I brought one if our mechanics with me this year.  We found several interesting equipment/tools that will aide us in keeping up with the newest technology in Harley Davidson, Victory and Indian motorcycles for tuning all the way up to 2016.  This also includes being able to flash stereo and upgrading for any different wheel combinations that people are putting on their bikes with the big wheel bagger craze going on.  With this new upgrading individuals can ride their bikes safely without the distracting lights on the dash flashing as is currently the result without the proper tuning.

We came home with the tool to flash the original ECU just like Harley does for anything from turning on ACRs (automatic compression releases), diagnosing codes, flashing radios so that the radio has all the capabilities of having rear speakers, saddlebag speakers or any stereo combination.  We also have the capability of flashing the original ECU for stage I, II, III, and IV engine builds to give them proper fuel and ignition maps.

When I opened up Chariots of Fire Customs LLC eleven years ago, we were working on  Panheads and Shovel Heads and tuning was done by changing jets in the carburetor and ignition timing using a timing light.  Since 2000 all motors for the big twins are now fuel injected and sportsters, as of 2007, are fuel injected as are Victories and Indians.  With people building motors to a much bigger cubic inch, tuning the motor correctly is hugely important.  We strive to find the tools to perform these technologic services for our customers.  I strive to take care of my customers by learning all the newest technology out there.  I’ve been an engine builder and tuner on my drag bikes, customers bikes and my own turbo charged road glide for the eleven years we’ve been in business plus an additional three decades prior to opening up Chariots.  I am proud to continue to make Chariots of Fire Customs LLC the very best.  Come by and see us if you have any questions we will be glad to show you our new toy.