Fox Creek Leathers

He Said/She Said
By Fred Mathews & Cindy Knower

Fox Creek Leather

Fred: Have you ever seen that guy with leathers that look as old as Daniel Boone? I’m not talking about the ones that are made to look old right off the hanger. Until now I haven’t owned any leathers that would make it that far. Fox Creek Leathers out of the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia make leather goods that will out live most of us. Their lined chaps are something I will be wearing for years to come, as long as I don’t out grow them.

Cindy: In the last five years since I began riding, I have gone through many jackets in my quest to find the perfect riding gear that offers the comfort, protection, and the stylish look that I want all rolled into one. Fox Creek Leathers has a great selection of jackets that are sure to please any rider, no matter what your taste is.

Fred: Their lined chaps they sent me are from some of the best leather I have ever seen. The stitching is better than any thing I have owned. Their selection of zippers will out last me without fail. I like the seamless front piece that is not standard on all chaps. The liner zips in & out quickly to boot. When Cindy says she has had a few leather coats she is not kidding.

Cindy: Fox Creek sent me the Riding Jacket from the women’s line, and it is the 7th jacket I have owned since I began riding. I have to agree with Fred, the leather itself and the construction of the Fox Creek products are superb. The jacket came with a Thinsulate full sleeve zip-out liner, and came equipped with venting in the front and back of the jacket, longer curved sleeves for comfort while riding the bike, zippered sides to adjust the fit of the jacket at the waist, and a snap down collar to keep it from flapping in the wind. I was also impressed with the fact that when ordering the jacket, I was asked to take my measurements while wearing my typical riding clothes so that they could make sure to send me the just the right size jacket. The Riding Jacket doesn’t have the look of a typical motorcycle jacket, so it is versatile and can be worn for all occasions. I have to get myself a pair of Fox Creek chaps like Fred’s too. I have a lined pair of chaps that I bought at a swap meet, and they have about 20 snaps to attach the liner and it’s a huge pain in the butt to remove it or put it back in. And the liner in Fred’s chaps is actually worth having, about 4 times as thick as the liner in my swap meet chaps.

Fred: They asked for many measurements when ordering chaps and the fitment was perfect so don’t fudge any numbers, they won’t tell anyone your secrets. As Cindy mentioned, the liners are functional and easy in-easy out. I often see Cindy give up on putting her liners in from her cheaper swap meet chaps.

Cindy: For the most part, the Riding Jacket that Fox Creek makes is a great jacket. One of the things that I don’t like about it is the fact that there is no leather flap behind the zipper to keep out the wind. I wore the jacket on a day of riding when it was between 55 and 60 degrees outside, and I was rather chilly because of the wind coming in right through the zipper. The only other feature I don’t like is that the side pockets have snaps, not zippers, to close them. I tend to lose things out of my pockets if they are not zipped shut.

Fred: Cindy makes a couple of good points about the zipper and pockets. After talking with Rachel at Fox Creek Leather, she said all this is available upon request when you order. Being that everything is made in house and in the USA with a lifetime guarantee you can’t go wrong here. See www.foxcreekleather.com for more details.

Conclusion-We would recommend Fox Creek Leather to anyone as the price does match the quality and they stand behind their products.

Telephone: (800) 766-4165 or +1 (276) 773-3131
Fax: (276) 773-3127
Address:
Fox Creek Leather Company
2029 Elk Creek Parkway
Independence, VA 24348

http://www.foxcreekleather.com/

Progressive Suspension’s Touring Link

He Said/She Said
By Fred Mathews & Cindy Knower

Progressive Suspension’s Touring Link

Progressive says:
Finally an inexpensive and easy to install solution to the handling challenges faced by most touring models. Does not hang below the frame or impede ground clearance.
Keeps motor/swingarm assembly aligned with chassis without introducing unnecessary vibration to the rider.
Fits 1993-2008 Harley Davidson Touring Models.

He said: Have you ever had the feeling when making a turn on/off an interstate ramp that your back wheel is all out of whack like it might fall off? Or, you are challenging the speed limit and you start to feel a tank slapper coming on? This is often called the bagger shuffle. Some people think that it is their tires, the pressure in the tires, or their suspension settings.

She said: He also had the feeling of getting jabbed in the ribs when I was a passenger on his bike every time he would take off and it felt like the back end of the bike was going to slide out from under me.

He said: After researching the various items on the market the Progressive Touring Link appealed to me the most. Easy installation, no ground clearance interference, and affordable pricing were some of the factors. Many cycle shops recommended it also. Hawg Pasture Motorcycles in West Salem, WI has had great luck with their customers that have bought them. Dave @ Hawg had me bring in my bike so they could install it. After about an hour I was ready for testing. Most anyone with the proper tools can install it in less than 1 ½ hours. Look for their ad for more details on Hawg Pasture Motorcycles.

She said: My thought was “Great, one more thing to encourage him to drive too fast! We’ll see if this thing really works.”

He said: Testing included hard cornering, high speeds (on a closed course), and rapid accelerations. No matter what I did the bagger shuffle would not show up. I also noticed that my engine upgrades were more noticeable as torque was not lost through the stock mounts. At no time did I notice any extra vibrations.

She said: On a closed course, my ass! It was more like on-ramps with a marked speed limit of 25 mph that he took at 65 mph! But, he’s right, when I hopped on the back for the test ride, there was no more wobble in the back end of the bike.

He said: Install the Progressive Touring Link and enjoy your touring Harley with more confidence in the corners and at speed. Many riders thought the bagger shuffle was normal and just dealt with it. Now you don’t have to “deal with it” any more. It also creates the look of performance if someone notices it on your cycle. You can find our more at: http://www.progressivesuspension.com/tourlink/ or check with your local motorcycle shop.

test on parts

test on parts

Motorcycle Parts

This is where you will find the reviews for necessary parts of the motorcycle. I.E. seats, handlebars, suspension, tires, etc.

7eye Sunglasses

He Said/She Said
By Fred Mathews & Cindy Knower

7eye Sunglasses

He Said:
How many pairs of eye wear do you own for motorcycling? There’s that pair that some girl said looked good on you, the yellow pair with cheap foam liners, the building supply cheap clears, and then that pair you had to have that look really cool but don’t keep the wind out of your eyes. 7eye has solved this for us.

During this review I was wearing a pair of their Whirlwinds with the 24/7 photochromic lenses, they change from dark to light. This meant 1 pair of glasses for both day and night with nothing to change. The lenses are guaranteed not to break for life. The rest of the glasses have a 1 year warranty and are also repairable after the warranty is up. Follow the simple care instructions and use the included strap and these should last a long time. Mine fit well without the strap but I like the strap for helping keep my dew rag on while on the highway.

Riding in all conditions I found these to be very versatile. Night riding was great, the glare from lights seemed to be greatly reduced. Day time color was also great. While not as dark as standard daytime only glasses the 24/7 lenses still did a great job, glare reduction was a great benefit. The removable eye cup worked great to keep wind and flying debris out of my eyes. The 50mph cross winds on the way to Sturgis did not penetrate them.

After wearing these for about 5 months now I have eliminated all but 1 back-up pair of glasses for the time I goof up and break or lose these. Not likely since I really like these.

She Said:
When I am getting dressed and ready to head out riding, I usually choose what I wear according to functionality. But let’s face it, all of us lady riders want to look good while cruising around too. When it comes to glasses, I am extremely picky. My glasses have to be fashionable as well as have the proper fit. For the past few months I have been wearing my new glasses made by 7Eye every time I ride my motorcycle.
7Eye offers many styles of frames and lenses for women to choose from. When ordering these glasses, I chose the women’s Zephyr style in Sandalwood color, with the lenses that transition from clear to dark. I like this style because the frames have a modern, stylish look, and don’t look at all like your typical motorcycle glasses. They could be worn for everyday use. But they also fit close to my face and have a small air dam that is not visible from the outside of the frame, so they keep the wind out of my eyes. They also came with an adjustable strap to keep them in place on your head, and a hard case to protect them when you are not wearing them.
The best thing about these 7Eye glasses is the transition lenses. I can keep riding from daytime till after dark without having to stop and change my glasses and put on clears. Another advantage to these glasses is that I only have one pair to keep track of! Over the years I have bought dozens of pairs of motorcycle glasses, trying to get just the right ones that look good and keep the air and dirt out of my eyes, but have rarely been happy with any of them. Now I have one pair that is versatile and I can get rid of all the rest!

Conclusion:
7eye glasses have something for everyone, even prescription versions. They might cost a little more but add up what you have spent on cheap glasses. The quality is topnotch with styles for everyone. Warranty and customer service is hard to beat. Find a pair for you or your best riding buddy at http://www.7eye.com/

exo2 The Heat Inside StormRider Bodywarmer

He Said/She Said
By Fred Mathews & Cindy Knower

exo2 The Heat Inside StormRider Bodywarmer

He Said:
Tense shoulders, tight neck, shivering…. All things we want to avoid while riding our motorcycle. I have found the secret to making this a thing of the past. Studies have shown if your core is warm it will radiate heat out to your extremities keeping them warm. To keep your core warm grab some exo2 heated gear, like the StormRider vest. We hooked up the thermostat to my bike and wired Cindy’s vest direct with the quick connection. Recently there were many days I rode when the temperatures dropped down to 33 degrees. On those days I left the controller temp all the way up. A couple of days it was only in the mid 40’s and I ended up turning the controller down to about level 5 of 10. Even on the cold days my whole body managed to stay much warmer. I was wearing insulated chaps from Fox Creek Leather which helped keep the lower half warm. I day we both rode on my cycle and went 100 miles in about 40 degree weather. The 1st half we rode with no heated vest. I could feel my shoulders getting tense and a bit of shiver coming on. For the 2nd half we put on the vests and turned the heat up about ½ way. With that we could have kept riding all day in comfort. Besides being totally functional it looks good as a basic black vest.

When I was learning about this technology I was told the great benefit was that you do not have to worry about breaking any fiber optics that power most all the other heated gear. This vest has no fiber optics. I have been cramming it into my saddlebag when not in use. I was even told if you end up putting a hole in it the heat will still work. If you have seen what I put in my saddlebags you would know this is a test.

As far as connections; there are many ways to get it hooked up. You can use the included battery connection with a quick plug. We tried that and the thermostat with 10 levels of comfort. It wires to your battery and runs up to your clutch perch. With a “Y” connector you can hook up many heated items. There are numerous ways to connect or you can even get a rechargeable battery. Make sure to check out their web site for more options.

She Said:
This time of year with the temperature outside down in the 40’s and 50’s, many riders just decide to stay home because of the chilly weather. I know I think twice about getting out in the wind when it’s 45 degrees outside! In order for me to be warm enough to ride in the colder temperatures, I have to wear my thermal underwear and stuff as many layers of sweatshirts inside my coat as I can. And no matter what I do, my fingers and toes get cold. By the time I get dressed and ready, I am so stiff from all those layers that I can hardly get on my bike! Then I think, is all that hassle really worth it just to go for a ride? I want to ride as much as possible before there is snow on the ground, because the winters here in the Midwest are ridiculously long. So, imagine how excited I was when I found the line of heated gear made by exo2 The Heat Inside. We decided to try the StormRider Bodywarmer vest, knowing that if you keep your core warm, your whole body will stay warm. The first day that we tested these vests out, it was about 45 degrees outside, windy, and rainy. We set out without wearing the vests, wearing our jackets and a sweatshirt. I was freezing. We stopped and put the vests on, cranked the heat up as high as it goes, and were comfy for the rest of the ride. As the vest warmed up, I could actually feel my fingers and toes warming up! Then, another time when I used it on a 50 degree day, I noticed that it only took about 3 minutes for the vest to get warm. I wore the vest for the whole day out riding and eventually had to turn the temperature down because it was cooking me out! I wasn’t chilly at all on that ride. Check out www.exo2theheatinside.com to see what other awesome heated motorcycle gear they have available.

Conclusion:
Staying comfortable will help you enjoy your riding season and get more time on the seat. Not having to put on 15 layers of clothing to stay warm just to have to find room to pack it when it gets warm outside makes this heated vest worth it’s weight in gold. Use IC010FMX at checkout.

PPC Bike Wash Products

He Said/She Said
PPC Bike Wash Products

He Said
By Fred Mathews

World’s Largest Bug Collection! That was the nick name of my motorcycle. Riding hard and getting home late and leaving again the next day doesn’t leave much time for cleaning your chrome horse. My bike is a 2006 and up until recently some of the bugs and dirt were from 2006. I would rather ride than spend a whole day cleaning. After trying many of the “all you need is this one product” stuff that did not perform as promised I gave up and pressure washed once and a while.

After watching Wally clean bike parts at the two different cycle shows I decide to try the PPC Speed Line products. Wally talked me through the process and explained the 1st cleaning might be difficult but each cleaning after that would be almost effortless. I spent hours getting expired bugs & dirt off, and then sealed it with the protectants as suggested. Each ride after that I took about 2 minutes to use the Nano spray and my bike was clean again! Wally was right. Keeping my cycle clean is now fun. I will need to use the wash and protecting products once and while with a quick follow up of the Nano spray to keep the bug collection away. Compared to everything else I have tried PPC products area dream come true! Thanks Wally!

She Said
By Cindy Knower

I like having a clean, shiny bike just like all motorcycle enthusiasts, but come on, who has the time to spend hours detailing their bike after every ride? I’m a busy gal, so I certainly don’t have the time! In fact, I got to the point where I dreaded having to clean my bike so I would just quickly wash and rinse it with the hose just to get the loose dirt off. Eventually I began to procrastinate so much that I only cleaned my bike a couple of times during the last riding season. I always figured I would give it a good cleaning after the next ride. But I never did get around to that and ended up parking a filthy bike for the winter. (I know, shame on me!) So this spring when I got my bike out of the garage, I decided that I needed to do something to simplify the cleaning process.

While at the Donnie Smith Cycle Show in St. Paul, MN, Fred and I met with Wally, who is a rep for the Speed line of motorcycle cleaning products made by PPC. He walked us through the process of getting our bikes clean and how his products will make the future cleanings faster and easier.

So, when we got home, I got out my filthy motorcycle and started with the Speed Total Bike Wash. I sprayed the whole bike with the bike wash and let it set for a few minutes. I then wiped down the bike with a sponge. A few spots with year-old bugs and grime took a little elbow grease, but overall, the bike wash dissolved the stuck on bugs.

Then, I sprayed the PPC Real Wheel Cleaner on my wheels. I allowed that to set for a couple of minutes and rinsed away the cleaner and the dirt. Easy as pie! And you know what else is great about this product? It can be used in the house also. I used it to clean the hard water deposits off of my sink and also to clean burned-on food off of my smooth top range. This was the first product that made it effortless to clean those two surfaces!

The next step was to polish the bike. I used the Speed Metal Polish and Sealant on all of the metals and chrome on my bike. On the painted and plastic surfaces on my bike, I used the Speed Bike Polish and Sealant. I used a microfiber cloth to massage it into the finish, and then wiped it away.

Now, I know you are thinking, how did this process save you any time? The reason this is a time saver is because after using all these products, the bike is now protected and will clean up much easier after the next ride. So now, when I get home from riding, all I have to do is spray on the Speed Nano Spray and buff the bike dry and I am done cleaning! It actually melts the bugs and dirt right off!

I am really glad that I found these products because now I don’t have to spend hours on getting my bike shiny and clean, and I can spend more time riding!


Check out http://www.ppcbest.com/