I am 5’10″, with an inseam of 32″. Fairly common I am lead to believe. In order to increase the comfort of my bikes on long rides (and even short ones any more), I have installed both Kuryakyn tour pegs and an H-D backrest. But I have a problem in tying these two items together.

When I stretch out my legs, my heels end up at just about the end of the running boards. Not much further. If my tour pegs are too high, it puts unwanted pressure on my lower back. Having my tour pegs at a level slightly higher than my running boards allows me to rest my heel on the running board and place my foot on the tour peg. This allows me to stretch my legs out while resting into my backrest. Almost perfect.

One little catch. My lowers. And no, I will not remove them. You see, probably from years of running in sand in boots, my knees are not what they once were. Because of my lowers, I have to “wing” my feet outward to clear them, putting pressure on my knees and hips. On a long ride, this is unacceptable.

When I try to move my feet outward to the outer edges of the running boards, I find that I am working hard just to keep my feet from slipping off the edge of the boards. Too much work for a long ride. I knew what the answer was, my quest as to find it.

Tom at Harley Goodies had the answer to my dilemma, and that answer solved more than one problem.

Harley Goodies has manufactured extensions for floor board mounting brackets that allow you to move your running boards away from your engine, giving a much better ride. Tome states it on his website quite well:

“These Floorboard Extensions are a simple and inexpensive way to solve many rider issues. Many riders experience hip, knee and ankle stress while riding because of the close placement of the stock floorboards. These footboard extenders will give you a significantly better riding position, which means a MORE COMFORTABLE RIDE. These Extensions are guaranteed to greatly increase your riding comfort or your money back.

Now… NO MORE burning your boot on the exhaust pipe, NO MORE sore legs, NO MORE fighting to keep your feet on the floorboards at highway speeds. And what can I say, a wider floorboard position makes your Harley look even FAT’R and MEAN’R.”

I received my kit the next day. The installation is easy, only taking about 10 minutes per side. Not mechanically inclined? Not to worry, the instructions are real easy and written in clear English (imagine that!).

Once on, I was surprised. Although the mounting spacers are only slightly longer than the stock ones, the changes are quite noticeable. Just looking at the running board location, you can see that the boards are now moved much further from the pipes and side case. The bike takes on a wider look, too. This is nice, especially on a fat Ultra!

The true test came once I sat on the bike. My feet were noticeably further from the pipes. My hips felt better, and the normally “too wide stock seat” was now not quite too wide.

But the best result is when I kicked my feet out to their touring position. My heels were now solidly on the running boards, while the balls of my feet rested on the tour pegs. My feet were no longer cocked in an uncomfortable “winged” position. My knees, hips, and even my ankles feel much better. This is a natural position for me.

I am sure that many of you have the same problems I have in “dialing in” our rides. I highly recommend that you take a look at the floor board extensions from Harley Goodies. If your Harley has running boards, regardless of make or year, Harley Goodies makes an  extension for you (Including Softails). Check out their website at http://www.harleygoodies.com. They stand behind their product, and Tom is a great guy to work with. Tell him Coach sent you.

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Here is the $20 dollar question. Where do we go for quality gear at good prices. In today’s economy, there seem to be fewer and fewer choices in my own community. This allows for higher pricing and a lack of selection. The next best choice is the internet. But is that safe?

There are plenty of concerns to be had regarding purchasing on the internet. First is, “Is this a scam?” You may be surprised, but most online vendors are reputable. But it only takes one to ruin the whole experience. So how do you know if the vendor you are looking at is reputable?

First and foremost, do they have a privacy statement? Some vendors will try to make additional money by selling your personal information to email companies (spammers). Always check to see if the company you are dealing with has a posted privacy statement.

Next, are they certified as a verified business in good standing. There are a few outfits that do this. One is Authorize.net, while another good online verification company is Trust Guard. Both of these companies are good, and I especially like and trust the Trust Guard Seal. To get these seals, the vendor has to pass a variety of tests. These tests include a privacy statement, email and website address verification, and at least 128 bit encryption for payment systems.

Next, does the vendor offer a few different ways to pay? I feel more comfortable when I have the option to pay by PayPal, but I also want the option to pay by credit card or debit card if necessary. The more options, the more this company has thought about their customers and made things as easy as possible. I like this.The last method that I recommend that you employ is to always look for online reviews of the company you are considering buying from. If there are a few negative reviews, you need to take a closer look and see what they are. Keep in mind that some people just seem to rejoice in complaining. Mistakes happen, I have always judged a company on how they respond to those mistakes. But if I start seeing a pattern of similar complaints, then the red flags go up.

Why purchase online with all this extra research that you should do? Because the savings can add up in a hurry! And since they don’t yet tax internet sales in from another state, that can also add up quickly (10% here in California!).

So OK, where do we go form here? Well, where do I find quality items? If we are talking about clothing and related items, I still like some of the brand names, especially Harley-Davidson. But Harley-Davidson jackets, boots, etc. can be restrictively expensive at the dealers. You know that you are getting great quality, but you also know that you are going to pay for that quality.

I found a company out of Pigeon Forge, TN that fits the bill. Certified and verified as a known and legitimate company. They offer payments by PayPal and other methods as well. They are not in my state, so I can save a lot of money on taxes. They offer $9.95 flat rate shipping (wow, I like that), and can expedite my orders if I need. There is always someone there if I have questions. And they carry a wide variety of  Harley-Davidson jackets, boots and clothing. And  they carry a wide range of additional products that meet my needs.

So let’s see, great customer service, low cost shipping, no taxes if out of state, and the products I need. Not to mention an excellent return policy if I am not satisfied, Yeah this looks pretty good.

The company that I am talking about is Rocky Top Leather. I have been impressed since the first day I started doing business with them. They carry a large selection of leather goods, including chaps, vests, jackets and gloves. And of course they also carry the Harley-Davidson line of boots, jackets, and apparel. They also have leather saddlebags, luggage, and even helmets. And all at substantial discounts to the traditional brick-and-mortar store.

Yeah, I am thinking that I will replace my old leather jacket, get a new pair of chaps, and maybe some better winter riding gloves. And of course, I am going to have to get some winter riding boots. And I will get it all at Rocky Top Leather.

Check them out. I think you will find what you are looking for, and save a little dough also. Just tell them that Coach sent you.

You can find Rocky Top Leather at Rockytopleather.com, and email them with any questions at sales@rockytopleather.com.

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Rocky Top Leather sent me a pair of Harley-Davidson Bandera boots. These boots have a western cut to them. I like a good western boot, especially when I am kicking it with friends on a night out or at a local watering hole. And the Bandera’s have a very classy look to them.

But a good riding boot and a western boot do not always have the same things in common. I was pleased to find that these Bandera’s not only looked great, but were worthy of the Harley-Davidson logo they sport.

Made with full grain leather uppers, a full length cushion sock lining, Goodyear welt construction, and oil resistant rubber outsoles, the Bandera is designed to look great and give you years of riding in style. And of course I like the etched upper details. These boots fit easily in a class of some of the best western boots out there, but with a rubber sole so important if you are going to wear them while riding.

Take a look at a pair of Harley-Davidson Bandera boots today at Rocky Top Leather. Rocky Top Leather has over 5000 products, including leather saddlebags, jackets, chaps, and so much more, all for really discounted prices. A great return policy, and $9.95 flat rate shipping, you can’t go wrong. And the folks at Rocky Top Leather are great people to work with, as well. Have a question? You’ll want to talk to the folks at Rocky Top Leather.

Check them out today, and let them know that Coach at HD Open Road sent you! Rockytopleather.com

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They dart out of side streets, pull away from curbs without looking, fail to stop in reasonable times, and change lanes into us (to name a few). All to the detriment of us, the motorcycle rider.

In our defense, we have a few tools at our disposal, besides an increased level of paranoia. Our bikes are lighter, quicker, and more agile. We are able to put our bikes in positions where we will have fewer intrusions by the larger cars and trucks, and we can stop so much quicker. But in our stopping ability, there lies another problem.

While searching the National Traffic Safety sites, I found that many of the accidents involving motorcycles stem from the loss of control encountered during emergency braking. A vehicle will pull into our lane or dart out from a side street, and the riders first reaction is to grab a fist full of brakes. Not an unreasonable decision, but one that starts a chain reaction that can quickly get out of control.

Once a rider initiates a panic stop, with all but the most experienced riders (how may of you have spent your adult lives dirt track racing), the brakes will almost immediately lock up. This begins an uncontrolled sliding effect as 400-1200 pounds of steel and rubber at speed begins to slide on the pavement.

The ability to stop the slide is reduced to rider experienced to unconsciously feather the brakes (because you will never think that fast in an emergency situation). Once sliding, the gyro effect caused by the engine in the motorcycle frame is stopped and the bike will now assume the angel created by the rider as he/she pushes away from the bike to avoid the accident (fight or flight rule).

From this all too common scenario, you can see that once the bike begins it’s slide the chances for avoiding catastrophe degrades rapidly.

Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) came onto the scene for exactly this reason. Developed by BMW to stop aircraft when landing, this system has enjoyed a lot of success in cars for years now. Only introduced in motorcycles over the last few years, most motorcycles are not equipped with ABS. But now there is an alternative.

The TCB Braking System was developed by Mark Lipski in Texas, as a response to a tragedy Mark experienced with a child. After many years of effort and trial and error, Mark has developed a simple valve the when added to the calipers, provide for a traction controlled braking system. Although not an anti-lock braking system, this system is designed to put control back into emergency braking.

Panman and I had heard about the TCB Braking System, and we spoke to Mark Lipski several times trying to get our heads wrapped around the concept. Panman, being an old skool type, just could not let himself be sold on the concept. While my 2008 Ultra is equipped with ABS from Harley-Davidson, Panman’s flatly states in response, “I want to stop”. Well, that sounds like a challenge.

We ordered a set from Mark and decided to put them to the test. The TCB Braking System came individually packaged, and look of good manufacturing. Larger than the banjo bolts they would be replacing, but not exceedingly so. Installation was simple, pull the old banjo bolt off, replace with the TCB Braking System banjo bolt, and bleed.

There is obviously a more scientific way to test a braking system, but we decided to do it the same way you would. Brake at different speeds and measure the distance. Then put the TCB system on and repeat. Compare the results, and tada… instant test.

We chose  an area of new commercial buildings (you know they are going to be vacant now) to conduct our test. We gathered our tools, cameras, and a few beers and headed off for our “proving grounds”.

The first test was at 35 mph. We wanted to simulate daily in city riding. During the test, Panman stopped as fast as he can on his ’08 Ultra, but did not lock the brakes up completely. Even he fears an out of control bike!

The Ultra stopped at 35 mph in 27 feet. That is a whole lot faster than any car can stop.

Next we tested at 45 mph. Panman brought his Ultra to a stop in 34 feet. The is less than a car length for each 10 miles per hour. Again, far superior to any car or truck.

OK, a quick intermission while we changed the banjo bolts out to the TCB Braking system and bled the brake lines. Keep in mind that we did this in a parking lot, so the change out is quite simple.

Now installed, we were prepared for the next phase of our test. First speed, 35 miles per hour. The bike stopped in 17 feet! That compares with 27 feet without the TCB Braking System. Damn, that was impressive. We had to repeat that speed just to make sure. Same results! Panman was starting to believe.

Then we tested at 45 mile per hour. The bike stopped in 27 feet.That compares with 34 feet without the TCB system. That could easily be the difference between successful emergency braking and a trip to the hospital.

But the biggest differences to note came from debriefing Panman. “The difference that I can feel is that without the TCB Braking System, the bike wants to lock up when you panic brake. Right away, the bike starts to move sideways and begins to slide. Without feathering the brakes, you quickly lose control of the bike.”

“When I grabbed the brakes with the TCB Braking System, The first fraction of a second the bike will not lock up. this felt like it began the braking sequence before the brakes would lock up. It felt like I had more control over the bike in the sequence because it did not move to a sideways angle”, said Panman.

This got me thinking. On a stock bike, when you pull hard on the brakes, the bike begins a slide and can quickly adapt an angle that puts the bike out of control. With the TCB Braking System, the lockup does not occur immediately. This allows for a straight angle to be adopted by the braking bike, and maintains control once the lockup begins.

OK Panman, simple question. Did you have more or same control with the TCB Braking System, and would they warrant purchase by the average rider?

“Oh, hell yeah! My control of the bike was much improved. I didn’t think I was going to like them. I don’t like ABS brakes because I want to stop (yeah, yeah, yada yada). But the TCB Braking systmen still does stop. It will lock the brakes up, but only after the braking sequence has started and you have begun to quickly slow down. This kept my Ultra from sliding sideways out of control.”

The last part of the test was a planned head to head of the TCB Braking System versus the stock Harley-Davidson ABS system. Wait for it… wait for it… we didn’t do it. We found that the test was too subjective of rider style/ability for the test to make any sense. We did, however, measure the braking distances for my Ultra with ABS. Keep in mind that this is the same ’08 Ultra, set up the same way as Panman’s except with ABS.

While my bike did stop faster than Panmna’s bike before the TCB Braking System, I could not stop as fast as Panman with the TCB System. But again, that is subjective since I was riding my own. But we were both admitedly impressed with the performance that the TCB Braking System provided. Mark Lipski is definitely on to something here!

End of the day, and Panman won’t give me back the TCB Braking System banjo bolts. He says that he wants to test them riding 2 up going up to Big Bear that evening. Call is for thunder showers, and he says that will be an ultimate test. I think he feels safer with them now!

The TCB Braking System has proved it’s worth. One of the questions we had during testing was would the average rider be able to justify the cost versus the value of the TCB System. Hell yeah, without question. These should be standard on any bike that is not equipped with ABS brakes.

Check out the TCB Braking System yourself! You have nothing to lose, but possibly your life if you don’t! Contact Mark Lipski at 903-569-2998, or email him at lipskimark@yahoo.com. You WANT these on your bike!

Editors note: Panman returned from Big Bear the next day with a smile on his face. He still won’t give me back the TCB Braking System! That’s a brothers love! Must be a good endorsement, huh? Get yours today!!

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How many times have you seen the little bobble head in a car where the bobble head looked like it was going to come off? That is what riding at 70-75 mph, especially into a headwind, is like. It seems that a vortex is formed right on the bridge of my nose. My glasses bob on my face, and every bug in my path inevitably smacks me like a BB on my forehead! Time for a change!

A friend of my bought the Klockwerks windshield. This is a revolutionary design, but a little too futuristic for my taste. Also, when asked my friend never could quite give me his full endorsement. The search went on for a viable alternative.

Then my research lad me to Clearview Shields, from Bailey, Colorado. Clearview Shields makes windshields for all types of bikes with windshields, but my only concern was my Harley.

I took a look at the different types and sizes of windshields available. They have a wide variety of windshields for every need and taste, and include on their website a tutorial on choosing the right size windshield.

I chose the 8″ smoke recurve windshield. This windshield has the same smoke coloring as the 6″ windshield I had been running. The extra 2″ height is barely noticeable, but the difference is amazing. The curve of the windshield is also very slight, but works amazingly well.

As soon as I put the windshield on, it was road test time. I was fortunate (if you could think of it that way) that there was a stiff breeze blowing that day. Perfect for my test.

I first started down the Temescal Canyon. I can usually get my speed up to about 80 in several stretches of this canyon. The feel was amazing. It was as if I had the big stock windshield back on. I did not have any movement of my glasses, no “vortex”, and no bugs hitting me in the mug. But it was also curious that my bike seems to crouch slightly at speed in front. The wind seems to be putting downward force on my front end. Anyone who has ridden for a while knows this is a very good thing, and if you have raced, you know it is indispensable.

Out of the other end of the canyon, no time to try the freeway. This is where I get to test it into a headwind. Again the downward force seemed apparent. All the while I did not have the noticeable “bobble head” effect that I would normally be experiencing. I did notice that I was getting a lot more of a rush of wind just outside of my shoulders than I normally experienced. Either more wind is being channeled to the side, or I just notice it more since the wind isn’t smacking me in the face. Either way, it’s good by me. I don’t ride out there anyway!

I am sold on the Clearview Recurve Windshield by Clearview Shields. I was able to maintain the sleek look I wanted for my Ultra, and at the same time get rid of the wind vortex on the bridge of my nose making my road trips far more enjoyable. Check it out. I think you will like them too.

You can find them at http://www.clearviewshields.com. Or call them at 1-800-798-6089. I think you will be glad you did!

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