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Cycleshifty December Get-Together

onebadbiker December 8, 2011 Cycle Shifty, Events 1

CANCELED! Get together this evening 7 PM at the Phoenix Bar near 120th and Blondo

What’s up everybody. I hope the white stuff on the ground isn’t getting you down. Each day we get a little closer to that first ride of Spring…or farther away from that last ride of fall.

Hey, Bikers, motorcyclists, riders, and shifty people alike are good guys and gals. The moto community does a lot for others throughout the year, and Christmas is no exception. If you have it in your heart to do something for kids this year, find a motorcycle related effort to support. There are many, but find a good reputable one and keep your eyes out for Dillon Brothers special initiatives as well.
We will get together this evening at Phoenix bar for some holiday cheer. Come on out and share a drink with us. We will start talking about all the things we can do in the Spring, and I’d like to keep this group going.
Be Merry, and stay Shifty
Biker Claus is watching…
Santa Bike is Named Rudolph

Cycle Shifty Thursday and Sunday Rides (and Helmets too)

onebadbiker September 28, 2011 Cycle Shifty, Events, Rides & Poker Runs, Riding Apparel 0
What’s up everybody.
Well, we went on a ride last week, and there were no problems with anyone going off the road……so that’s good!
We will meet tomorrow night (Thursday) at Clancy’s on 114th and Miracle Hills Drive. It’s a pretty cool place, and they have good food. 7PM if you are interested. See below my Story for the KEN RIDE 2011!!
As promised, here is a story about buying a new Icon helmet from Linjo.
Those of you who know me, know that I love to ride. What you may not know is that I am also satisfied with the way my face looks. When I saw the damage to Linjo’s helmet after she had to ditch the bike, I noticed 2 things…..the helmet did it’s job, and Linjo was still cute. Both are good things. I also realized that if I had to ditch my bike, I might not be in quite as good of shape because I wear a half helmet. I had an old full face in the garage, so I put it on and went for a ride.
Immediately, I thought it was heavy….but I wear a Hybrid half helmet which is designed to be light and easy to wear. (Got this one at Dillon Brothers too.) After a while, the weight got burdensome, and the wind noise was not to my liking. I wear ear plugs with my Half helmet. I also noticed, that I liked having a shield this time of year for bugs, and that in the cool weather it is nice to have something on your face. I decided it was time to pitch my 10 year old full face helmet and get a new one. When I say pitch it, that’s exactly what I did. I threw it in the garbage. Normal helmet life is 3-5 years, so I didn’t want anyone using it thinking they would be protected. Over time, the padding material drys out and breaks down. You can’t see it, but it happens. I didn’t want to donate to Goodwill or put it in a garage sale for that reason.
What did I do first? I did what most everybody with a computer does, I went online. Now, there are literally thousands of helmets available online. The problem for me was that I couldn’t tell how they would fit. It’s a bit like buying shoes….different manufacturers interpret sizing differently, and in the case of heads, there are MANY more differences in the way things fit.  I decided that no matter how long I looked online at pricing and colors, nothing would help me out as much as trying a few on.
I went to a local shop and tried on a few from the very limited selection. All of them felt just OK, but that is not what I wanted. The prices ranged from $69 all the way to a few hundred. Not satisfied with anything I tried (Which were by the way good enough that I could have bought them and been less than satisfied) I decided to go to Dillon Brothers to see what they had. Once I started looking, I realized that Dillon Brothers Motorsports has the $69 helmets in full face, but they also have Shoei’s that are several hundred dollars. Being one of those “I ain’t paying for a fancy name” guys, I tried on the few models that I liked in the lower price range. Dillon Brothers has a good selection of colors and styles in the low price category. Truly skeptical and not wanting to spend a ton of cash, I decided to look into one of the entry level ICON helmets. Again, I am not a pay for name guy, so it was going to need to impress me.
Well, I am here to tell you that it did impress me. Not only was the helmet comfortable it was fairly light, very well built with good quality materials and probably most impressively…..had HUGE peripheral vision. My eyes stop being able to see before I run out of peripheral space on the shield. The interior is removable and hand-washable, and all sorts of shield colors and tints are available. The other impressive thing was the price. I had never seen this quality of helmet for under $200, and I went everywhere to look. It was actually in the $170′s for price and comes with a bag to keep it from getting scratches when not in use. Mine is the flat black, but a ton of cool colors are available……and Dillon Brothers has most of them. I went ahead and bought it thinking I might be able to get a better deal online but not caring…..remember that I am also a buy local guy. To my surprise, I was also wrong on that. I looked online and the reputable places were right about the same after shipping, and every helmet fits differently…even same size same manufacturer, so it was a great deal that I was sure fit before I bought. Nobody takes back used helmets. Once it leaves the store, it’s your for safety reasons.
Now, I know that cruiser guys “aren’t supposed to wear full face helmets”. Whatever dude. It’s my face, plus my son said I look “Bad Donkey” when I am wearing it on the bike…….he’s not supposed to say bad ass….he’s 12. If you still aren’t convinced, tell that to some of the bad donkey cruiser riders you will see at every rally you go to sporting a patch and a full face helmet. Riders ride, and it’s not about looks as long as you are comfortable with your gear. I was skeptical, but have been converted to a full face guy for this weather. I am sure you will see me in a half helmet at 100 degrees next summer, but for now my face and my “rugged good looks” are safe behind the Icon Alliance Rubatone helmet. Linjo can give you the straight scoop on what fits, how it should fit, and what features are built in. In the case of Icon at least…yes, it’s a brand name, but you are paying for quality materials, good design, and light weight. In my humble opinion…..it is worth every penny. Few pieces of gear have had this much impact on my riding experience, but a good jacket and a good helmet are worth their weight in gold during the fall.
 

Icon Alliance Rubatone helmet
Icon Alliance Rubatone helmet

 

THE KEN RIDE 2011!!
Damn Ken likes Ice Cream…..and really, who doesn’t? Let’s head on up to LeMars Iowa to the Blue Bunny factory. The Harley Owners group will be going up there as well. They are leaving at 11 AM, so we should leave about 11:15. Their times aren’t moving targets, so they will be kickstands up gassed and ready to roll at 11.  We can follow along behind, but we can’t ride with them in the same group. They have group insurance so you have to be a member to ride in the formation. Still, I think they are cool with us tagging along behind, and are a really great group that does a lot to support the Dealership, the MDA, Omaha Beef, and each other. I know many of them, and they are great riders…..but when it comes to Ice Cream, we have the advantage….KEN! We will ride up, get ice cream, and ride on back. Not slow, but not fast. We are aiming for a good formation in this ride meaning we will spend some time talking about following distance and keeping the group tight before we take off. It’s not a preference, it really is safer if we stay a bit tighter than we do now. Here’s what you are in for:
Dessert of the month for October: Brown Derby (We start with a warm cake doughnut, add a scoop of Blue Bunny Vanilla Ice Cream and then top if off with hot fudge, nuts, whipped cream and a cherry.)
Ride to LeMars,Iowa to Wells Blue Bunny.   Meet at Dillons at 10:45am with kickstands up at 11:15am.   Wells Blue Bunny 115 Central Ave NW Le Mars, Iowa.   Exit 118 Highway 75 to downtown Le Mars
Hours of Operation: Mon – Sat: 9am – 10pm Sun: Noon – 10pm
Rubber side down everybody….
Shifty

Cycle Shifty Rider Meeting 08-11-2011

onebadbiker August 11, 2011 Cycle Shifty, Events, Rides & Poker Runs 0

What’s up everybody. We WILL be getting together tonight, but we are heading to a classic car show. Meet at the Zone at 7:00 PM for departure AT 7:15. You not there at 7:15…….we not waiting. Good news is you can meet us at the Brewsky’s off of 84th and ParkDrive. We are riding directly there for the car show. Lots of classics in a friendly hang-out environment. Also, it’s Brewsky’s so we have that going for us.

Hey! Dillon Brothers is at it again! Customer appreciation day is going to be On Saturday August 20th 2011 – 9AM to 4:30 PM

http://dillonharley.com/hog_blog/2011/08/august-20th-2011-dillon-brothers-customer-appreciation-day/

They will have games, stunts, and a whole lotta fun. The Dillon Brothers crew is GIVING AWAY a 2011 Kawasaki 250 Ninja to one of the people who registered from the dealership on the Kawasaki website…..you know……if you didn’t know about this, you should visit the dealership or call Linjo more often. she had all the details and someone that registered online and is a Dillon Brothers customer is going home with a new Motorcycle.

SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!Folks, it is going to be way too nice not to ride on Sunday. Problem is, I have stuff to do almost all day. Let’s try Breakfast again. I am open to suggestions on time and place. We will most likely discuss tonight at the meeting, but will put out an email as well.

Bike NewsEvery damn time I get a new bike, Harley comes out with something cool 2 years later. Never fails. When I got my Nightster, they made the 48. Now that I have my Dyna, they come out with the Switchback.

Now, I know not many other Harley Guys would say this, but if you like your Metric Cruiser, you would LOVE the Switchback. It’s all the power and versatility of the metric stuff in AIR COOLED V-TWIN HARLEY style. Here are some of the changes for those of you that think Harley puts out the same stuff with new doodads:

Bigger Motor – 103″ Vs. 96″ last year’s Dynas had (Mine included)Floorboards – First Dyna to have them since the Dyna Defender (police model) was discontinued…I think around 2003Hard Bags – All the technology of the big bags scaled down a touch for the DynaImproved Steering Geometry – No same old rehash here, this thing handles. Headlight Nacelle – Never seen a factory one on a Dyna. Pretty darn cool.Full rear Fender – I LOVE this. Some people think less is more on Fenders…those people need to ride behind me in a group.

Customer ServiceOk, so I need to tell you a story. I buy a fair amount of stuff from Dillon Brothers Parts guys. Kurt and DVS (Dan) know me when I come in. I appreciate that. It’s not like I buy thousands of dollars in stuff all the time, I am just a guy that is improving the fit, function, and style of my bike to suit my needs. I am certainly no money bags big shot…but still these dudes know me by name. They even know what I might be interested in. Kurt and Dan know I am looking for a solution for my footrests. The new Dyna has floorboards that (as I said above) have not been available for several years. I went into Dillon Brothers the other day to see the bike and check out the floorboards. Well, let me tell you Shifties, DVS of course knew me, but he also anticipated that I would be interested in the floorboards. He told me Kurt was already checking them out for a parts list, and then handed me a schematic print out of the parts. NOW THAT’S SERVICE! Again, I am no big shot guy buying thousands of dollars a month in parts, but DVS and Kurt still are keeping their eye out for stuff I might think is cool. They are truly helping me build my bike to my liking, and are always ready to help me with fit, function, and style questions. If you don’t have a “Parts Guy” at one of the Dillon Brother dealerships, stop in and meet one. These folks do this for a living all day. Yes, I know the Internet is cool, but to me, there is nothing better than talking to a live person about what they think…..and they are price competitive too. I guess I have reached that stage in life where I would rather pay $3 more for a $100 part;  give a local person a job, and know what the hell I am getting than to go online and spend hours searching for a deal. I’m not going to say I haven’t bought stuff online, but when it really matters I trust the dudes I work with at Dillon Harley.

Cool Stuff - We now have small business cards with our information on them, and Cycleshifty Stickers! Come to the meeting and I will show you. Pick a couple up to give out so we can get more riders. Linjo and Roz will have a pile of them too. We are thinking about t-shirts still. I haven’t had a ton of interest, but some.

Well, that’s about it for this week. Thanks to Linjo and Roz for stepping up the past few weeks. THis is OUR group, not mine so jump in wherever you want and help us make it better.

Friendly reminder – I am one of those “fluid on time” people. This means I usually tend to show up fashionably late. Some folks really don’t play that way. Time for a decree….

START TIMES FOR EVENTS ARE NOT ESTIMATES, THEY ARE INTENDED TARGETS. IF YOU CAN’T MAKE IT TO AN EVENT ON TIME, IT’S COOL. COME ANYWAY AS THERE WILL UNDOUBTEDLY BE A GROUP LEAVING 10 TO 15 MINUTES AFTER THE SCHEDULED TIME. THE MORE TIME-SENSITIVE AMONG US MAY LEAVE ON TIME. WE WILL MEET UP AT OUR DESTINATION OR PRE-DETERMINED RENDEZVOUS.

Hey, it’s all cool as long as we stay shifty. This group is about the comfort and fun of all riders, and there’s nothing wrong with breaking up into 2 teams.

I will see some of you tonight, Some of you on Sunday, and some of you another time. Just make sure you are SHIFTY.

Saturday Flood Ride: The Plan

onebadbiker July 1, 2011 Cycle Shifty, Events, Motorcycle Rally, Rides & Poker Runs 0

Hi Everyone.
Plans for the Saturday Flood ride are set. Please let me know if you have any questions. Remember to Hydrate yourself, and keep an eye on your bike temp in these hot conditions. Just because you aren’t sweating doesn’t mean you aren’t dehydrating. If you are on your bike, you probably aren’t sweating because you are going 70 MPH and it’s evaporating.
 
If you are not on your bike, and you stop sweating, it means you are getting close to having some real medical trouble. Keep an eye on yourself, and on your friends. Water is best for hydration according to the experts. Soda with Caffeene and/or alcohol will not help you. Just because it’s “wet” does not mean it will keep you from dehydrating. Cramps in the Hands, arms, legs, or stomach are also an indication that you need some water.
 
For all of us Harley, BMW Airhead, and other air-cooled guys, remember: Idling your motor in 100+ degrees for an extended period is not good for your bike (or legs). I recommend shutting it down at anything longer than a stoplight if you can safely do it. THe most common situation for me when I am out riding is a train crossing. I see riders all the time in the summer sitting at the crossing while the train passes with their bike idling away and building up heat.
 
Some of the newer Harley models have a rear cylendar shut down. It’s almost like parade mode. They just have to twist the throttle by wire system opposite of the direction you turn to accelerate, and it shuts the back cylendar down. Upon rotating the throttle back to the open position from rest, the cylendar fires right back up. This is common on Harley touring bikes with the new can bus electronics systems. What’s a can bus system…Better technology for the electronic signals your bike needs. Cheaper, more reliable, less wire bulk in a few words.
 
Same bike Harley has been making for decades right? Maybe similar on the outside, but there are a lot of sophisticated innovations necessary to keep the classic look and sound of a Harley and still provide the power and performance discerning motorcycle buyers expect. Don’t let “Common Knowledge” get you. If you haven’t taken a look at the changes Harley has made in the last 5 years, stop up and see Scott Hill at the Dillon Harley store. Riders, non-riders, and anyone else is welcome all the time at both stores. Also contrary to so-called “Common Knowledge” there is no secret knock or handshake required to get a Harley salesperson to talk to you. They’re riders just like us, and they’re nice folks.
 
Pop Quiz, What’s the name of the only current liquid cooled Harley platform….Yes, there is one and NO, it’s not a regular Harley left out in the rain.
Give you a hint, it is the one that uses a frame production process called Hydroforming. This reduces the number of welds, allows for complicated bends, and results in a stronger piece. It’s also made in Kansas City.  
 
See some of you tonight at the Zone 120th and Center. I did an upgrade to my bike last night in the garage. See if you can spot it. First one who does gets a beverage courtesy of Shifty this evening.
 
Flood Ride:
The plan is to leave Saturday morning. KICKSTANDS UP AT 8:00 am @ Bucky’s located on 102nd and Maple St
Planning to ride to Stanton, Ne about 110 miles from Omaha and have breakfast at a Biker friendly place called the Wolf’s Den.  (excellent breakfast)  top off at the Casey General Store and head to Yankton, Sd.  about another 80 miles up the road. check out dam, ect.  On the return we plan to catch I-29 cross either in Onawa/Decatur or Mo Valley.
That’s the plan so far for Saturday. Back by 5:30 at the latest.

Cycle Shifty Weekly Ride Newsletter 06-29-2011

onebadbiker June 29, 2011 Cycle Shifty, Events, Motorcycle Rally, Related Links, Rides & Poker Runs 0

What’s up Star Spangled Shifties?
 
Lots of info in this edition of Cycleshifty’s Wednesday news email. Couple Reviews, couple rides, couple of raves, and maybe even a rant. Definitely a rant.
 
Let’s start the news off right with something lame.
I have a lot of wishes. I wish people would let the “real” biker versus wannabe biker debate go. As long as you are on 2 wheels, you’re cool with me. I wish there was a ribbon of asphalt all the way to the moon.
Mostly, I wish that when you google “Batman Motorcycle Suit” you wouldn’t get any results…..but alas you do…
 
Today I am wishing that Gmail would let me include a picture because this is the funniest darn thing I have seen in a while. These people are serious, and they think this is cool. Everyone has their right to an opinion, and I think it”s the LAMEST BIKER GEAR I HAVE SEEN THIS MONTH.
Send in your emails with photos of lame biker gear….not on someone you know…..and if yours is the lamest, we’ll feature it. BTW, to see this lame dude’s outfit, check the attachments of go here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/92036530@N00/sets/72157624018495537/detail/
 
 
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
 
Chances are that if you know where that phrase is from, you are either (A) old, or  (B) a drama club leftover from High school. Don’t feel bad. Dave Cantrell (scooter rider extraordinaire) is no Spring Chicken either, but that didn’t stop him from destroying the hopes and dreams of many Harley riders this weekend at the Maiden Voyage. You see, lucky Dave and his scooter won the $500 prize.
 
That’s right Cycleshifty….we sent a representative to the ride, and a self-described “old guy on a scooter with handicapped plates” left as the Grand Champion. He’s going to look really cool with that new Harley T-shirt, but what is he going to do with the $500? Ask him or stay tuned to find out. Word on the street is that he would have bought a Batman Motorcycle Suit, but then some smart ass had to make fun of it and ruin the whole idea….Kidding. It was the Tron Motorcycle suit that Dave wanted….
 
FLOOD RIDE 2011!!
One of the guys in our group is planning to ride up to Gavin’s point Dam on Saturday AM with a few friends. They plan a couple hundred mile day and will be back in Omaha by 5:30. I will put out more details about the ride meeting place and time. He is on a Harley Softail, and there’s a couple other bikes going. You’re welcome to ride if you can keep up as these boys have a deadline of being back in the big O at 5:30 PM. Either that, or ride to your heart’s content and turn back when you must. No harm, no foul. Probably an 8 AM start. Meeting place undetermined as of yet, but I will update you when I know more.
 
Day of the HOG!!
Attached is a sign up sheet and a flyer about Day of the Hog. We keep talking about this, but it’s a great cause, lots of fun, and a special project of your very own dealership….Dillon Brothers. I am still selling raffle tickets, so let me know how many you want through email. I will bring them to you tomorrow PM at the meeting, or make arrangements to get them to you. $10 each for a 2011 Road King.
 
Tomorrow night at the Zone 7 PM
You know, I have never been accused of being made of sugar, so I don’t worry too much about rain. I figure I won’t melt. Tomorrow might just test that theory but instead of rain, it’s heat that might melt me.
Because it’s going to be so darn hot tomorrow night, we will meet INSIDE the Zone at 7 PM. You are welcome to bring your bike and go for a ride with your cycleshifty buddies. 7PM at the Zone 120th and Center.
 
SUNDAY SUNDAY SUNDAY!!
Anyone up for a Breakfast ride Sunday AM? Celebrate your Independence by going out for Breakfast on your motorcycle. What? not Patriotic enough for you? Then please feel free to wear something Red, White, and Blue, or make a donation to your local Vets group, visit a Veterans Hospital, pray for our soldiers, or visit the SAC museum. One of the thoughts that I enjoyed while I was in the Army is that people are living free lives because of a soldiers sacrifices. Yep, cheesy as heck, I admit it, but it’s the truth. They don’t need a “thanks”, the best thing you can do to show a soldier how much you appreciate what they do is to live a life of enjoying your FREEDOM! It’s a gift.
For breakfast, please meet at IHOP on 12423 West Center Road, Omaha at 9:30 AM. Depending on how many “freedom cakes” I pack in, I might be up for a ride afterwards. Please also feel free to gather before the breakfast for a ride. If you want to go for an early morning ride, meet at IHOP at 7:30 with kickstands up at 8 AM………We will not be there past 8:05 so please be on time. Not sure who wants to go, but whomever shows up, pick a direction and ride out. plan to be back at 9:15 so we can get a headcount for table reservations.
 
CYCLESHIFTY T-SHIRTS
You read that right. I am getting us Cycleshifty T-shirts. To pre-order, you will need to let me know your size. I think they will be $12. $5 more to put your name, or a made up name on the back. I will get one for Dave for so honorably representing us by winning the Maiden Voyage run. Dave Cantrell shall henceforth be known (Sometimes) as ……. Shiftless.
 
If you don’t get it, consider that Dave rides a Bergman scooter, and then look up what a CVT transmission is on that bike. If you have questions, ask Linjo to explain it. If you end up more confused than when you asked the question, bring it up at our next meeting. Lots of us can help.
 
SAFETY TIP….It is best NOT to ride home from the fireworks stand with your new load of fireworks in a plastic bag resting on your hot motorcycle exhaust……. Yep, I saw someone doing it today at lunch. You’d think Darwin would have taken care of that person by now….
 
Well, that’s it from me for now. Stay tuned to your email for rides over the long weekend as they develop. Please email me if you want to do a ride of your own and let me know the details. I would be happy to put it out to the group, or feel free to put out an email of your very own. we’re all friends here. Watch out for Deer, Drunks, and Dehydration this weekend on your bike. We want you all back riding next week too.
 
Shifty 
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Cycle Shifty Weekly Ride Newsletter

I AM BATMAN