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Tech Tips

Tips on keeping You and Your Bike Cool

With summer rapidly approaching in most parts of the county (not sure about ours just yet) many riders will be heading out on their bikes for frequent road trips. however, the enjoyment of summer has a way of making us forget that having fun in the sun can also lead to overheated motorcycles as well as overheated riders. Heat is the cause of many broken down bikes and vehicles we so often see on the side of the freeway. Heat can also be the cause of the motorcycle driver ending up in dangerous situations. Here are some precautions to take to avoid mechanical failure and keep yourself running cool all summer long.

First, proper maintenance greatly decreases the chances of an overheated bike. this includes regular oil changes (engine, transmission, and brakes), as well as proper radiator and cooling system maintenance. Every change in season signals you to have your radiator and fluid looked at or changed. Several radiator additives on the market can help raise the boiling point of the water in the radiator several degrees. Much like antifreeze or coolant, which raises or lowers the boiling/freezing points of water, these additives work in the same manner. The additives prevent corrosion and act as a rust inhibitor so that you won't have to worry about the inside of the radiator falling apart. For maximum peace of mind, take your bike to an authorized Harley dealer for a complete summer checkup.

To keep yourself cool and in control when summer temperatures climb, you must also keep your body temperature in the proper range. Riding when the outside temperature is greater than 90 degrees Fahrenheit (32 degrees Celsius) can be dangerous to your health. Unless you take the proper care to keep your body temperature under control, rides as short as an hour can result in heat prostration and sunstroke. Other suggestions include: keep your trips short, take frequent pit stops, drink plenty of water throughout your day trip, avoid becoming agitated or impatient, wear breathable riding gear designed to let your body cool down (your local Harley dealer offers many warm weather clothing items and gear specifically designed to keep your body as cool as possible).

While these tips might sound simple, they can make a huge difference in keeping you from becoming one of those broken down bikes on the side of the road, as well as in ensuring your safety.

Tire Tech

If there's one thing that both car & motorcycle drivers & enthusiasts share when enjoying a nice drive down the coastline or a winding backwoods trail, is the contact that is made between them and the road. Tires are probably the most important piece of equipment found on today's roads. Not only are tires the only things that touch the asphalt when you ride, but they account for much of the safety issues in keeping road travelers away from harm and injury.

The relationship between rider & tire is much more important than riders realize. In today's fast-paced technologically advancing society with engines & vehicles being built stronger, bigger, & faster, tires play an even larger role. To help you get better acquainted with today's tire  technology & specs, let's take a closer look at what comprises the    make-up of the tire & what all of the letters & numbers mean on the  sidewall of the tire.

There are 6 parts or sections of a typical motorcycle tire that when   constructed make it complete:

Tread - The tread is the outermost part of the tire made from vulcanized rubber and is what riders are most familiar with seeing. This surface or tread is what makes actual contact with the road, so it's essential that the tread have a particular pattern with grooves or sipes, which help channel water away from the contact patch.

Carcass - Otherwise known as the inside of the tire when it is not mounted on the wheel. Consisting of overlapping synthetic cords also referred to as plies, the carcass's build will ultimately dictate the tire's strength, resiliency, & flexibility on the road.

Bead - The bead of a tire is the inner lip or edge that touches the rim or wheel. Made from high-tensile strength steel wires, the bead sits snuggly along the rim to form an airtight seal. Without the bead, air would not be able to stay inside the tire.

Tube - The tube is located inside the circumference of a tire and although most tires today are tube-less, they are still being used specifically with motorcycles with spoked wheels. This is to prevent air from leaking out around the spokes.

Sidewall - Another critical area of a tire is the sidewall located between the tire's bead and the tread. It's important because it needs to be soft enough to handle the road's bumps and potholes yet tough enough to handle the rolling resistance when turning or leaning into a turn. The other important feature of the sidewall is that it specifies the tires characteristics, which are all of those letter and numbers on the side.

Ply - These are the layers immediately underneath the tread layer on bias-ply tires (versus radial) and are sections of plies that run diagonally from one bead to the other with alternating plies going in opposite directions.

Lastly, the numbers and letters designated on the side of each and every tire have a specific meaning. Take this for example, 160/90 V# 15, which would be located along the sidewall section. This seemingly innocuous data contains important information. The 160 number is the cross-section width of the tire in millimeters. You can convert it to inches by dividing it by 25.4, as there are 25.4mm in 1 inch (for this example, 160mm divided by 25.4=6.299inches).

Next you will see the 90, which is the aspect ratio or the ratio between the tire's height to the width. So the 90 means that the tire's height from bead to contact patch (from both top and bottom portions of the tire) is 90% of the tire's tread width. The V illustrates the tire's speed rating or resistance to heat and speed, and specifies the maximum speed a tire can safely withstand. The last number is the diameter of the rim or wheel that this specific tire should be mounted on. In this particular case, a 15-inch wheel.