Monthly Archives: June 2015

Are Ape Hanger Handlebars Better?

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The debate continues, are Ape Hanger handlebars for a Harley-Davidson motorcycle better than T-Bars? Here is the difficulty with answering that question; it really is based on personal preference. It’s like asking which Harley is better or which pizza is better, it really is up to what you prefer. But here are some possible reasons why ape hangers may be better and why they may not be for some:

  • Comfort: In many cases bikers who switch to Ape Hangers do it because they are more comfortable riding their bike from a different position. El Diablo’s allow you to sit up straight while riding rather than lean forward, a huge difference if you are going for a longer ride.
  • Visibility: Some believe that because you are able to lean back more it helps with your visibility while riding. This may be due to the fact that you’re more comfortable, therefore more focused, but it is worth mentioning.
  • A Different Ride: If you have been riding the same motorcycle for years you grow very accustom to the feel, how the vehicle responds, etc. The same can be said if you only drive one car for years, getting into a new car almost feels like you are relearning how to drive. The brakes feel different, the turning is different and so on. If you are switching from T-Bars your motorcycle is going to have a different feel to it. It will feel like riding a new bike and that’s something you need to be ready for.
  • Measurements: Getting the measurements for these bars is tricky, especially if you have never been on a bike that has them installed. Getting ones that are too big may make riding uncomfortable but how can you really tell which ones are the right ones based on how you sit? You can try sitting on a bike that already has them and see if you like the feel but remember that bike may be built differently than yours so 16 inch bars on that one may not give the same feel as if they were on your bike. The best thing to do is sit on your bike and hold your hands and arms up to a comfortable position. Then have someone take measurements to give you a better idea of what size to order.

It cannot be said enough, measurements for your Harley are extremely important, you cannot overlook them, the wrong measurements can ruin the style, make the ride feel uncomfortable or simply make the part not fit. Measure twice, in fact measure five times just to make sure.

Whenever you make any alterations to your Harley expect that it will take some time to get acclimated to how it feels. Even if you are replacing a single part, the handling, feel or reaction of your bike may feel completely different than it did before. This is also true when you are switching to Ape Hangers. If you are thinking about changing your Harley handlebars out just remember they all do the job, it really comes down to how comfortable you are with the different sizes and styles.

Taking a motorcycle trip? 5 tips to get prepared

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Summer is here and there is nothing better than taking a long trip on your motorcycle. You can take your Harley Davidson around town, across the state or even across the country. It really doesn’t matter as long as you are having a great time. For most people traveling is simply a way to get to their destination but for Harley Davidson touring motorcycle owners, the true fun is in the trip itself. Before you start planning a long road trip you want to make sure you have a check list of things covered to ensure the safest and most enjoyable trip possible.

  1. Map your route: If you are going to be taking a long trip you want to make sure that you know exactly where you are going. For example, if you are taking a trip from Orlando to Key West you want to know exactly which roads to take, the best time to be on those roads and so forth. The less you have to worry about that while riding, the more enjoyable the trip will be.
  2. Check the weather: One of the biggest problems Harley owners have is weather. Driving in the rain for a little is one thing, but having to do a long trip in pouring down rain is quite dangerous. You also want to make sure that you store proper rain gear.
  3. Storage: Speaking of storing gear, you want to make sure that your bike has all the necessary gear it will need for the trip. This is why touring bikes are the best for long trips. They have so much extra cargo space when compared to other Harley motorcycles. That extra storage is so valuable when you are taking a road trip but do not only take your stuff. Obviously you want a phone charger, extra clothes, water, medications, etc. but you also want to make sure you bring stuff you may need for the bike like a plug kit for the tires, road flares if you have to pull over and so forth.
  4. Big parts: There are so many parts to a motorcycle and if you are planning on taking a road trip you want to make sure that all those parts are in peak working condition. For touring motorcycles you may want to replace the dresser bars, fat mammoth spoke wheels, gas tank or any other parts that may need to be upgraded. A great example is the gas tank. There is actually a specific custom stretched gas tank for baggers that you can purchase. It holds more gas than standard tanks, perfect for long road trips.
  5. Small parts: This includes latch covers, dresser hand controls, mirrors and other small items. These are the ones that actually wear down more often because they are moving parts and they are smaller so they may wear down faster than handlebars would. They are also very easy and affordable to replace.

Before you take a long motorcycle road trip you want to also make sure you take your Harley out for a ride around town for an hour or two. Make sure everything feels right, you are comfortable and everything is working as it should. That way if any parts need to be repaired or replaced you can do it while at home, not while you are stuck on the side of the road in the middle of nowhere.

If a part needs to be replaced you want to know about it as soon as possible before your trip but what if you want to upgrade parts as well? Maybe your Harley could use a new set of dresser bars, hand controls, fly by wire grips or something else like that? Touring motorcycles are better for long road trips but they also have more parts on them so they will require more attention. So be prepared as best as you can, follow this checklist for the best motorcycle road trips and enjoy the ride.

Buying Harley Parts Out of State

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When you are looking for Harley parts or anything else online you may come across stores that are not in your state. For example, if you are on Craigslist and you search for Custom Harley Parts you may be surprised to find a large number of sellers that are not in your city and some are not even in your state. How can this be? Why are they advertising so far from where they are and why would you consider even buying something from them? Let’s look at each one of those questions and others one by one:

  1. Why do companies post out-of-state ads: Many businesses rely on online sales as a huge portion of their income. For example, if they sell custom Harley Davidson parts they can actually sell those all over the country if they have a quality shipping department. Sites like EBay and Amazon do not worry about location as long as the customers are happy with the order. It is possible for a company in Florida that sells Harley parts to have a huge number of sales in Texas, California and other states as well. This inspires companies to sell on other sites that may localize their searches such as Craigslist.
  2. What advantage does this give you: Obviously if you need a part ASAP you cannot buy it from someone out-of-state. However, if you are not in an immediate rush to get a custom part then shopping from a company that isn’t in your state gives you the opportunity to find a better deal or at the least, a far better selection of parts. Let’s say you are repairing and replacing a Harley Davidson and you need new handlebars. You want something that will look awesome and the local stores don’t have the greatest selection. When you go online and look you find a set of handlebars that look amazing, they are for sale at a really low price, but they are sold by a company on the other side of the country. What’s wrong with that? You just found a better part at a lower price and you don’t even have to go pick it up.
  3. I miss the face to face: For those of you who get a little lonely understand this, most companies have a great customer service staff that specializes in internet sales rather than face to face sales. That means if you are on the phone with them they can easily walk you through their selection of parts, answer your questions and more. Try going to the local store and see what happens. The owner is out to lunch, the manager is busy and you get someone who has never sat on a Harley trying to answer your questions. Still happy you got the face to face attention?

The fact is that any company that has major online sales can afford to sell their products at a much lower price. Think about it like this; if you sell custom Harley Davidson parts and you only sell them to people who walk into your store you will need to make a large profit off each sale. However, if you sold those same Harley parts online and you sold a lot of them, then wouldn’t you be able to offer those same exact parts at a discount because you are making up the money in volume? That’s business 101 and it is also why you should buy your Harley parts online.

When It Comes To Custom Harley-Davidson Parts, Size Matters!

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When searching for custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts you may come across something that confuses you, the sizes are all so different. It’s not just that there are different size parts to choose from, but the parts that hold the parts come in different sizes as well. Why is this such a big deal? Comfort, if you are not comfortable when you are riding there is a big problem. Imagine trying to run a mile with a pebble in your shoe, it doesn’t feel very good. Now imagine trying to ride your motorcycle for an hour but your back doesn’t feel comfortable. To make matters worse, less comfortability can also lead to you not being able to ride as safely so there is a very big emphasis on why you need to be as comfortable as possible.

The fact is that when you are putting new custom Harley-Davidson parts on your motorcycle you need to make sure that you not only get the right measurements for your bike and the parts you are ordering, but the right measurements for yourself. For example, if you are ordering a pair of Ape Hanger handlebars and you have never used them before you will need to get a lot of information. First you need to know how tall you want the bars to be because that’s where your arms will be while riding. Secondly, you have to figure out exactly how you want to sit on your motorcycle. Ape Hangers allow you to sit up but they also limit your options for moving around. If you have only been on bikes with T-Bars you will need to get used to the different feel a bike has from leaning forward to sitting up.

It may not seem like a big deal but these are things you have to be aware of when you are taking measurements for new custom parts. Here are some other problems you should be aware of when ordering new parts:

  1. Never used it: Going back to the example of Ape Hanger handlebars, if you have never used them how do you know what sizes you want? The best option would be if you could sit on a bike that has them to get an idea of the size you would prefer. If that is not an option your best bet is to sit on your motorcycle and put yourself in a position where you think you should be sitting. Then have a friend take measurements to give you the closest possible measurements before you place your order.
  2. Is it compatible: Make sure that the new custom parts you are ordering are made for the bike you have. Honda parts will not necessarily work on a Harley Davidson, even if the parts are the same size.
  3. Don’t go too big: This is not a joke, the bigger the motorcycle, the more it is going to weigh and that is a lot for you to handle when riding down the road. If you are comfortable with the dimensions of your bike then don’t mess with it too much.

We all want the best looking ride but when you are searching for custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts you want to be sure that you are improving the feel of the bike as much as the look of it.

Demon’s Cycle Bagger Hand Controls for Touring Harleys

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Demon’s Cycle offers the very best custom Harley Davidson hand controls you will find. These bagger hand controls are great if you have a touring Harley and want to handle more features on your bike without having to actually take your hands off the handlebars. These are great for all kinds of touring bikes as they allow you to set the cruise control, work lights, work the horn, adjust the radio and more without having to take your hands off the controls. Touring bikes are the favorites for riders who take long trips because they are extremely comfortable and have more storage space than other models. Here is a look at the list of touring bikes that you can use these custom bagger hand controls on:

  1. Road King: The perfect bike to customize. It allows you to add custom parts, upgrade, adjust and make the bike more of what you want than what you ordered from the Harley dealer.
  2. Road Glide: The best bike built for long distance riding. Excellent handling, comfortable and if you are planning on taking a long trip this is the first motorcycle you should be looking at.
  3. Street Glide: Many models sit lower which provide a more comfortable feel and handling than some of the bikes that are raised a bit higher.
  4. Electra Glide: Many come with a trunk in the rear as well as the setup for small trailers. This is the perfect bike if you need to haul a lot of stuff with you.
  5. Tri Glide Ultra Classic: 3 Wheels allow for a smoother, more stable ride.
  6. Classic: Nothing beats a classic!
  7. Ultra Classic: A great motorcycle if you are bringing someone along for the ride. Plenty of room and stability.

Each of these touring motorcycles offers something a little different from the other one but they are mostly very similar. You have had your bike for a while and you picked it for reasons that are important to you. Now it is time to replace and upgrade some parts and your hand controls are a great place to start. If you want the best bagger hand controls for Harley Davidson touring bikes, Demons Cycle is the place for you. Our selection and prices cannot be beat!

Save Money on Harley-Davidson Repairs

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Repairs on a Harley-Davidson motorcycle can get pricey, especially if you need to replace a lot of parts. Over the years you will see parts wear and tear and they will have to be replaced, but it is also an opportunity to upgrade and transform your motorcycle. The problem isn’t that parts have to be replaced; the problem is the cost of replacing custom Harley-Davidson parts. Depending on what you need, how many parts you need and how custom you want it, you could be looking at thousands of dollars in repairs which is not something you want to deal with. Luckily there are some ways you can save money on motorcycle repairs. These tips are for people who do not do the repairs themselves. It is important to note that unless you are a trained professional you should never attempt to make motorcycle repairs yourself. Any mistake made on installation could lead to further damage to the bike and can even be dangerous for you while riding.

  1. Purchase your own parts: When a mechanic orders parts they have to charge a markup, which can be anywhere from 10-25%. So if you need $1,000 in parts you could be spending an additional $100-$250 on those parts just because the mechanic, who is also being paid for labor, made the purchase rather than you. Not only do you save money when you buy a part on your own, you will also have a bigger selection. You may not be going to the same bike shop so you can look around at more options before making a decision. Even though you are making repairs this is also an opportunity to make some adjustments to improve the feel and look of your bike. Perhaps it’s time to switch to Ape Hanger handlebars rather than the ones you have been using? These are all things you can consider when making changes.
  2. Purchase Harley-Davidson parts online: It doesn’t matter if you have 1 local shop to buy from or 100. Always, absolutely always make sure you compare prices with online stores. That same local shop you are going to may have a pair of Ape Hanger handlebars for sale for over $200. That’s a fair price and you are saving money on the handlebars by not having your mechanic purchase them. However, if you go online to shop you may find the exact same handlebars you want for less than $200, so do the math! If the local shop sells handlebars for $250 and your mechanic marks it up 10% that will cost you $275 before you even pay them for labor. But if you can find the same ones for sale online for less than $175 you are saving over $100 on just 1 part!
  3. Be patient: It’s hard to suggest being patient, especially when you are waiting for your Harley to be repaired. The fact is that some mechanics get busy and they have to take the bigger projects, or the ones that will make them the most money first. It’s nothing personal, if you have one customer who will pay you $100 and one customer who will pay you $10 and you can only help one you are going to go with the one who makes you the most money. However, mechanics do reach a point where work gets slow so if you are not in a rush to get your motorcycle fixed be patient with them and you may actually get a better price on the labor.
  4. Go with someone you can trust: Now this may be a bit hypocritical at first because the most reliable mechanic in town may not be the cheapest. But here’s why this is an area where you want to spend more money; let’s say you did your homework and were able to find the parts you wanted for your Harley online and saved a lot of money. That’s great, but now you have to pay for them to be installed. Going with a better mechanic will cost you more in labor on the project but you know the job is done correctly. If you go with someone who just offers the lowest prices you may have issues down the road. If repairs and installation are not done properly it could cause damage, faster wear and tear or other problems which result in you having to start all over with the process. Go with the mechanic who is going to get the job done right, the first time and it will save you money in the long run.
  5. Subscribe, Like, Follow: Most companies are now on the internet, even if it is just with social media. If your mechanic and especially the company you purchase parts from has a website, a Facebook Page, Twitter, LinkedIn, Google+ or other profiles make sure you follow, like and leave positive reviews. Think of it this way, if you post a photo of your rebuilt motorcycle on Facebook and tag your mechanic and the shop that provided the parts you may get branded a reliable customer so they could throw you a discount down the road. Even if that doesn’t happen, by following them on social media and receiving emails from them you will be informed anytime they have a deal. If the shop you purchased those handlebars from has a special for a holiday, you may want to jump on the sale to help you save money. Motorcycle parts don’t exactly expire so there is no rush to get them installed.

It can be frustrating to make repairs on your Harley-Davidson because of how high costs are. If repairs have to be made it’s important to get them done the right way so that the bike is safe when you are riding. With a little patience you can find great deals on custom Harley-Davidson motorcycle parts by shopping online and that will help you to save a lot of money in the long run.