Wear and tear is one reason for replacing parts, time along with miles will break things down eventually.  Matching performance upgrades is another reason.

When you start to upgrade one aspect of your vehicle, in this case my 1996 Sportster you have to consider it’s affect on other components of your bike.  I started with a stock 1996 XL and over the years have done certain things to better the performance of the bike. The first being headwork, the better the flow of the air/ fuel mixture into and out of the engine will make it run more proficient. With my bike running great  the braking needs to work that much better.  So, It was then time to upgrade the braking system on the bike, I opted for  PM calipers and rotors. When I purchased the bike it was already equipped with a set of Progressive Suspension 418 series shocks.  I honestly loved the way my bike handled and never thought twice about the suspension, until this last riding season. Out on a ride I noticed how uncomfortable I was, my back was getting jarred, my knees were feeling pressure and the bike was taking hits in the road pretty hard. After getting over the fact that I wasn’t the only one getting older I realized my bike is 14 years old now and more than likely due for some upgrades. Where the hell did the last 14 years go??? After trying to figure out where I have been and what I have done for the last 14 years I decided to focus on the suspension. This bike still has the stock fork springs and the 14 year old 418’s.  I decided on the Progressive Suspension 430 series Shock, a high pressure gas mono tube shock, this paired with the progressive front fork springs is going to be a set up to make my bike handle the way it should; smooth!

I want my suspension performing at it best since a motorcycle’s suspension is critical to its handling, and components like forks and shocks will make all the difference in how your bike will respond on the road.    Once I got my springs and shocks I put my bike up on the table lift and went to work.  Changing out the rear suspension is probably the easiest job you can do, well at least on an exposed shock chassis like an XL or Dyna.  First things first, you need a service manual for your model bike, this will have all your torque specs listed and fluid capacity’s for the front forks.  If your not comfortable doing this type of work yourself, bring your bike to your trusted mechanic.  I have a K&L table lift and that makes this type of work so simple, you don’t need a table lift to do this job, you can use a floor jack, since you will have to lift the rear wheel slightly off the ground. A table lift makes the job much easier; I’m able to work at standing height, and not have to be bent over, kneeling down etc.  Once situated,  I started with the rear, removed the top and bottom shock mount, cleaned the threads off on my bolts, added anti seize and used a multi purpose lubricant on the spacers supplied with the shocks and mounted the 430’s on the bike and torqued to spec.  The Progressive’s come with an install sheet and give you all the information for setting the ride sag and spring pre-load adjustments. I took advantage of the shocks being off the bike and cleaned my rear wheel, it gave me plenty of room to reach the caliper mount bracket and the pulley.  Next I moved up front.  Since my bike is already up on the table lift I only needed to lift up the scissor jack under it to take the load off the front wheel. I drained the fork oil from the drain plug and  I followed my service manual instructions for removing the fork springs, NOTE the fork cap nut is under extreme tension so wear eye protection and remove the fork cap slowly with caution.  I removed the old springs and inserted the new Progressive springs along with the supplied spacer. My Service manual showed the fluid amount to place back into each fork leg. I used Spectro 20 weight fork oil as this was the recommended fork oil weight  by Spectro for my model.  Again I took advantage of the time and removed my front wheel so I could clean it thoroughly. The fork cap nut was then torqued to spec and I was ready to test the new suspension out.

On a perfect Fall night I took the sporty out for a ride and the second I pulled out off the curb I was smiling. The 430’s are so superior I could feel them catch the movement and carry it out so smooth.  I did not “bottom out” once on any bump, or pot hole, it was a smooth ride that I was impressed with. The front end felt strong and did not “nose dive” when I came to stop with my front brake. The ride was perfect, October rust colors all around me, the smell of fresh earth and fall fires burning, the bike was running strong and riding smooth, only problem it didn’t last long enough.  I’m waiting for another repeat of that night for another perfect fall ride with my perfectly “set up” bike!

We came across this on YouTube and thought it was appropriate to share with you. Seems you can remove the pull string and Zip Tie the lever to the slider, eliminating this from happening to you.

Hey check this out, Mustang is proud to announce “BikerEssentials.com” This NEW website, a division of Mustang Motorcycle Products, Inc., features thousands of lifestyle items for the riding enthusiast: gifts, apparel, jewelry, leather, collectibles, seasonal and much morel. FREE shipping on orders of $50 or more (use promo code BE1010) so start your holiday shopping early! Above is a video during the Cincinnati V-Twin Expo where Sara had a chance to check out some of the products available through Biker Essentials.

Look it’s inevitable as time goes on certain parts on your car, motorcycle, dirt-bike or whatever vehicle you cherish most will eventually deteriorate. It’s a part of life, things wear out. Take your own body for example, there are certain things you just can’t do like you used to, especially if you have played sports for a while, your knees may start to hurt, shoulders or hips. Wear and tear does take it’s toll and thats when maintenance comes into play.  We might start to add a vitamin supplement or focus on different nutrition, or maybe even medication to help our “wore out” body parts. If things get real bad some may even have to opt for surgery or part-replacement, such as a hip replacement or knee.

Much like our bodies, our vehicles will wear out after so many miles.  Wear and tear will take it’s toll and eventually break things down.   I (Sara) personally have come to the realization over this summer season that my own bike (96 XL) was in need too of parts replacement.   I started with my seat……..  This is the stock seat that has been on this motorcycle since 1996, that is 14 years old. Well after 14 years there really was much left in terms of support or “cushion comfort” plain and simple it was not only hurting my ass to ride I was starting to feel the pressure it was putting on my back and knees…     Now, some of you may know me and what I do for a living, I run a motorcycle business, RT’s North Hills Cycle where we specialize in custom motorcycles. We either build ground up customs at my shop or we take a stock bike and transform it into what the customer wants. All during this process my art background comes into play and it’s my responsibility to make sure the project looks great, aesthetically pleasing while functioning safely and properly. So to be faced with trying to find a seat that was going to provide my aging body with the comfort it so desperately needed while maintaining the “good looks” of my bike made me cringe.  How in the world am I going to find my cake and eat it too?

I turned to the company I knew with the best reputation for their comfortable seats; Mustang.  After looking through the complete selection of seats to fit my model bike I was torn between a few different styles.   Again I have to admit my worries were all about the “look” of my bike, I love my bike the way it sits and really didn’t want to go changing the dynamic of it.  After speaking with staff at Mustang it was decided the Vintage Solo with Vintage thin rear pad was going to please both my mind and body!  I was informed this seat vs. the wide Vintage would be the way to achieve the comfort I needed all the while keeping the seat within the lines of my chassis to maintain the look I desired.  I couldn’t be happier!  I now have a seat that supports me the second I sit down vs. my old stock one that would squish right down to the base plate as soon as I planted myself down. I now can ride without extra tension on my back and knees and boy does that feel amazing, especially for someone like me that will soon be focusing on maintaining this worn out body!  I even had the chance to test out that thin rear pad, Ron took me for a spin and  I was a happy rider!               Now on to the next task, Suspension………..  stay tuned as I tackle updating my rear shocks and fork springs.  They are overdue for an upgrade, 14 years it’s time to freshen the suspension up, especially since I have updated the power and braking.

If you have not been checking out the Baker Facebook page, we found this great video by Bjorn Martinsen, a rider from Norway who lost his left leg in an accident involving his V-rod. Not willing to give up on his riding career Bjorn went to work on a trike project that would utilize the new BAKER F5R reverse gear. The trike is now finished and Bjorn has spent the past few weeks breaking it in.