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Tech Tips

How to get stuck on the side of the road By:KinG JaKe

I know everyone is looking back at this past year, and saying, “Gee I didn’t get stuck on the side of the road even once.” Well don’t worry I can help get you there. First step is to stop caring about your bike. This means no washing, checking tire pressure, or oil levels. Also, if you have the habit of taking pride in things, you’re gonna want to quit that, or you’ll overdo it and it won’t seem genuine. Remember, your letting it go to get dirty on its own, not by smearing it with mud.  Don’t cheat and you’ll feel more successful in the long run.  Just ride and the dirt will come. Second step is to not service your bike. Remember oil has lasted 1000’s of years underground, it will be fine.  Once again after this step, you just ride. Some of you are like “O yea Jake like that’s gonna work,” saying “I’ve been running my bike for the past year like that and it hasn’t quit on me yet!” Well don’t worry we’re not to the end yet. Next we’re gonna have you: tune your own carb. or fuel injection, drill holes in your exhaust, wire in your own accessory lights, and fix any rattle or squeak with bailing wire!  Once this is done your gonna start doing burn outs and launching the bike.  This may seem exciting, and even get you in the racing mood, but remember, if you have properly done the steps up till now your bike should be a jigsaw puzzle of bailing wire and duck tape. So actual racing is frowned apon.  Remember, were not looking for speed,  just breakage. Continue Reading →

First Year Under Our Belt by: Reine & Jan Knobbe

When Jan told me that he was going to build a drag bike I had my doubts.  Then he told me that our son, Jake was going to race. . . well, I surprised even myself by being completely okay with it!  For our first year out we were very competitive even though we had a short season.  The Chariots of Fire race team was able to keep up with seasoned riders.  Our times and mph were consistent in the classes we competed in.  We had 36 runs and no major breaks.  Our rider, Jake Knobbe, was told by seasoned riders that he did an excellent job his rookie year.  Jake was very focused on race days exceeding our expectations.

The classes we competed in were S/G (super gas), S/E (super eliminator), and E/T (estimated time).  As of the writing of this article, Jake placed 18th in S/G out of 40 competitors and 49th in E/T out of 60 competitors.  S/E was a non point class.  Not bad the first year out huh? Continue Reading →

Safety First by: Jim Childers

As we are in the best time of the year to be riding I hope all of us do the normal things.  Check the tire pressure, tread, check the oil and make sure all the lights work.  A preflight check before every ride.  We have to start out our travels with safety in mind.

Let’s not forget that the sun goes down earlier every night and we should have a few items with us in case we are out later than we planned.   A pair of night glasses, a light jacket or sweatshirt, a pair of gloves, something to put on to keep us warm if the temperature drops down.  We don’t need the distraction of being cold while driving a motorcycle in the early evening with all the other obstacles out there for us to be looking for. Continue Reading →

Racing 101 – Every Day is a Drag by: King Jake

Ran our Chariots of Fire Customs, LLC drag bike for the first time at the AHDRA May event. We went all the way up to Pennsylvania. This is a long way  from Missouri. I think I watched 10 movies there and back in the truck. When we arrived on Friday it was raining, but Saturday and Sunday it was overcast, so that worked out. First thing Saturday morning we had the bike in tech inspection. It didn’t pass due to the oil tank being too close to the front wheel. So Vreeland’s Harley-Davidson helped us out with a different tire, and we dropped the tubes in the front end as much as possible. We got tech approval. Continue Reading →

Tips for Hot Weather Riding by: Biker Bunny

Happy Fourth of July!  With this holiday has come the usual Missouri hot weather.  Just a few reminders for hot weather riding.  Drink lots of water and wear loose fitting, light colored clothing.  Please do NOT wear thongs (oops, dating myself) I mean flip flops (you can wear a thong if you want to).  Even though boots are hot, they will protect your feet in case you go down.  Long pants will also protect and 100% cotton under your leather or jacket helps prevent sweat from wicking off your skin.  Make sure you wear sun tan lotion.  I also recommend stopping for ice cream.

Jan recommends the following for your beloved motorcycle:  Check Your Tires:  Low tires create heat.  Heat expands tires to possible blow out stages.  Low tires and the heat of the road is a poor combination!  Continue Reading →

Father’s Day by: Jan Knobbe

Have you checked out the latest pictures of the drag bike on the website?  Not only do they show the progression of the bike from raw frame to a finely tuned machine, but they also tell the story of a shared interest between father and son.  I feel blessed that Jake and I have a common interest.  Something we can share and have solid father/son time together.  A piece missing as I grew up.  My father pushed me to be what I wasn’t and I pushed back.  Life is too short to try to live it through your kids.  Find a common interest and explore that hobby together. Continue Reading →

Motorcycle Awareness Month by: Mr. Jim

May is officially motorcycle awareness month; this is something that we should be doing all year. We should be making people aware that motorcycles are there in all weather and times. I don’t mean we should be loud, noisy, or a bully you get the idea, instead we should remind the cage drivers that we are hard to see and the head light that they see down the road is closer than they think. That we are normal people that raise families and have jobs in the community go to church and we are not different than they are other than the sport we love, riding motorcycles. Continue Reading →

Keep the Shiny Side Up by: Miss Reine

We use this saying often as another way of saying ride safe and come home in one piece.  We do all we can to be safe on our motorcycles; wear the right equipment, get trained, get licensed, ride sober, ride responsibly and keep an eye out for those on cell phones, texting, putting on make-up, drinking hot coffee. . . . You know what I’m talking about.  Well, I hope to bring awareness to those on four wheels to watch out for those of us on two. Continue Reading →

Idea’s of Cool by: KinG JaKe

There’s been a shift in the motorcycle culture.  Propelled not by one man but an idea.  The idea being if you don’t need it on your bike, then why have it? TV has made Indian Larry the poster boy, and we couldn’t ask for a better fit.  He is the one who brought this idea into our homes and into our culture. Almost overnight the “kustom kulture” started looking at the choppers they were creating and asking themselves why?  The bikes at this time had gotten long stretched out, and had the widest tire you could throw under the rear.  I love choppers, but people always have to take things to extremes. Continue Reading →