Team Latus Harley-Davidson Dealer Site

 

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In a time when many dealers either cannot work on vintage Harleys or just don’t want to, I’m happy to say we still can and do! True they don’t come along often but if they do, we have the technical resources required that many dealers don’t. Recently, we got in a 1931 74 inch that needed some TLC. It’s amazing that seals used to be made of leather, cork and felt, wiring had cloth insulation with screw terminals and to prime the engine for a cold start there is a syringe in the fuel tank you can remove to shoot raw fuel into the cylinders! Oh and for highway riding there was a manual pump you could use to keep oil pressure up. Don’t even think about push button starting.

Old motorcycles are getting scarce but the dealers who will work on them are even more scarce. For more info, give the Latus Motors Service Department a call today at (503) 249-8653.

 

The following message is from Mike Wilhite in the Latus Motors Service Department.

Just got back from a great ride! Yeah it was chilly, wet, but you and the bike were well prepared. You had a plan, it was no problem. Well the ride isn’t over yet. You have to perform some post ride maintenance. Yeah, you got to clean your machine. It helps to think of this part as a labor of love.

When you get back from the ride that’s the time to wipe the bike down real well. It doesn’t have to take long, just wipe it down. If it’s really dirty let it cool some and hose it down then wipe it dry. There are some good spray cleaners like Harley Spray Cleaner and Polish that can make this job quick and easy and always have a clean selection of towels and micro fibers for the paint and windshield, the important thing, don’t let it sit wet, get it dried up. When the bikeis clean apply a wax coat for added protection.

Keeping your ride clean on a regular basis is super important to maintaining your investment but doesn’t have to take a huge amount of time if you do it right and often!

If you do get behind and your bike starts looking a little dull, think about having a professional detail done. You may be surprised how good it can look after a thorough cleaning and a good paint buff.

 

The following message is from Mike Wilhite in the Latus Motors Service Department.

It’s the weekend after Thanksgiving, the sun is shining through some clouds and it doesn’t seem too chilly out, you’re thinking “maybe I’ll take the bike out for a little spin”. Boy have I been there before, what seems like a fun little spin can end up like Gilligan’s three hour tour! First, if you start your bike you need to warm it up well and if you don’t ride it awhile the battery may not charge back up completely. Second, if you go for ride without a plan you may end up unprepared for changing conditions. I remember one such experience in which there were blue skies shining down on snowy yards it was beautiful (the streets were clear) the temperature was probably 40 something, I thought” maybe I’ll take the bike for a little spin”. It was great, fresh air, the feel of riding again, I went to a friend’s place to say hi. An hour and a half later I’m back on the road home, sun went away, temps down a little (low 30’s) and all the melting snow running down the road has re-frozen. The good news is I wasn’t far from home, the bad news I had no experience as a Flat Track rider and as I found myself sliding on ice around the last corner to my home I realized “I should’ve had a better plan” maybe one that got me home sooner.

When you ride in the late fall and winter, wear your gear and know where you’re going and when you plan to be back, be careful in areas that may be out of the sun all day and avoid areas covered by a lot of fallen leaves.

A good plan and preparation will help you have an enjoyable and safe experience and when your  friends or co-workers ask how your weekend was you can smile and tell them “I went for a ride, it was awesome “!

Next time, post ride fun.