Snaps Photo
Mr. Whitehead, what a great feeling it is to see my Snap in American Iron Magazine. That is probably one of the most desired things a Harley rider could wish for (to be in your magazine). You did great with the pic (May '07 issue, the very first snap, The Harley Family). But lo and behold, it was short-lived due to the wrong description of my bunch. If my daughter or granddaughter was to touch a Honda, she would get caned with a bamboo cane to bring her back to reality. Also, we're from Hurley and Escatawapa, Mississippi, not Canada. Again, you did great with the pic. But the rest is overshadowed by disappointment.
Al Lewis
Via Internet
Ouch! Sam really blew it big time, eh? The proper caption would have stated something about the entire family riding Harleys, whether new or hand-me-downs from the older folks. The patriarch of the clan is granddad Al Sr. Al is 80, rides a 1994 Hugger, and is a life member of the Mississippi Coast HOG Chapter. The youngest rider is Bo, who’s got a 1978 250 motocrosser. Our apologies, Al. And thanks for the caning idea! Das Boots
Like Bob Krimmer’s letter in the May issue, I have a 1995 FLHT that had torn shock boots. I also couldn’t believe no one carried replacement boots. I tried repairing them with a black RTV adhesive, but it worked for only six months. Finally, even though the shocks were still holding air, I decided to replace them, but instead of going with the H-D shocks, I went with Progressive Suspension’s black 440s. Wow, what a difference! I don’t know if my old shocks were worn out or the 440s are that much better. Other than the torn boots, I think my stock air shocks were still serviceable. There was no sign of oil leakage and oil did come out of the shock when I turned it over. I guess what I’m trying to say is, if your boots are torn on your stock shocks; don’t waste your time trying to replace the boots. There are shocks out there that will give you a better ride ... and don’t have boots to tear!
Jim Gabel
Las Vegas, Nevada
Message To Gen
Women authors! It’s not about you. It’s not testosterone. As a lifelong adrenaline junkie, I was not surprised by the latest findings. It seems there is a gene that controls the need for adrenaline. Both my parents raced cars when I was young. I could tell you stories of the things I have done in cars, planes, and on bikes. I didn’t do them to impress anyone. I didn’t do them because of someone else’s perception of me. I did them because they were fun! On the rare occasion that I feel like riding at a parade pace, I go on a HOG ride with the local chapter. I respect anyone who rides, no matter what the machine, no matter what gender, no matter what pace. If you ride at my pace, we can have fun together. If you don’t, we can meet for lunch and still be friends. So some squid loses control on a track. Why is it about your gender? So someone tries to figure out if they are comfortable riding with you. Why is it about your gender? If you pass me, that’s cool. If I pass you, get over it. I have. Please share your experiences as women riders with the rest of us. I really enjoy that. Just keep the pseudo-psycho mind trips out of it if you can.
Dan Rodemsky
Concord, California
It’s The People
As an American Iron Magazine reader and subscriber from issue #1, I never was a monthly fan of Stephanie Feld's column. More than once I've felt that she got some of it right and most of it wrong and spoke to readers like Mr. Blundell in your May 2007 issue.
Mr. Blundell says that we Harley people rebel by buying a Harley when "certainly more practical choices" are out there. I'm sorry to hear he feels Harleys are an inferior product when I've always figured they are the gold standard. I think back to the 1980s when my (yes, I did own 'em) import bikes had chrome-plated plastic covers, chrome that peeled off, shocks that lasted 8,000 miles, torque curves that would throw you across the centerline of a curve when they finally kicked in ... I could go on. When it came time to sell -- well, they didn't. I bought a new 1988 Low Rider for $8,000. It still looks great, so what's it worth today?
The quality that H-D was providing at that time forced the imports to produce the bikes they are today ... and that's reflected in the rising prices of high-caliber imported bikes and in line with H-D models. My Harley (a silly '03 gold bike) isn't perfect by far, but I'm not rebelling by owning it. I'm truly amazed at how well its inferior engine runs, day in, day out, and makes one smooth hp per cubic inch (103) to the rear wheel. Yes, it's antique engineering. Wanna race? Perfect engineering? There isn't such a thing, not made by man. If Mr. Blundell really wanted to rebel, why didn't he buy the Vulcan instead of trying to keep up with the Joneses? I bet he even lives in a house that looks a lot like all the others.
My last point is, forget about all said prior; it's about the people you meet. Sure, Harley-Davidsons are a great ride -- I hate to say this -- but they are still just an iron machine. It's all the people that we encounter during our rides, be it to the gas station, or to Sturgis, South Dakota. I have stopped in to fill up and met riders that invited me for a weekend stay. I've been broken down and met people who became a true brother for their offer of help and continued camaraderie. In this group of people, be it HOG or any other, there's the one thing we all have in common -- the cat's meow of motorcycles, Harley-Davidson.
The Old Kickstand
Portland, Michigan
Super Sizing
Genevieve, I couldn't let another issue of American Iron Magazine go by without writing to you. I have been reading your articles for a long time and agree 100 percent with most of them. I, too, am a female rider of 26 years and the leader of an all-female riding group. I especially liked the article about a female leading the pack. I could relate to it so much that I sent copies to my entire group. They loved it. Your most recent Sizing Me Up in the April edition struck home again. It's true. As women, we are always being sized up to our riding abilities, as well as our right to even ride. I must admit that acceptance of female riders has come a long way since I first started riding, but there is still a stigma hovering around us that the testosterone-pumped males won't let die. I say a secure male rider is one who will ride with women, and an insecure one will always ride ahead of them. Keep those articles coming. They keep us going down the road.
Joanne Rich
New Lenox, Illinois
Cover-To-Cover
Great job of keeping us 66-year-young kids informed about current events, trends, and the future progression of motorcycling. Love the rag. Can’t wait to read it over my afternoon scotch. After reading cover to cover, I send it out to Tyndall AFB for other motorheads to enjoy. John Matheson, USAF Chief Master Sergeant (retired), riding strong on my H-D Wide Glide, but may have to switch to a bagger when I reach 70.
John D. Matheson Jr.
Via Internet
Radio Rebuild?
Guys, great Harley magazine. I’ve been a subscriber for years. My radio on my 1994 FLHTCU went out to lunch, along with my CB rig. (I guess it's all tied in to the radio.) I really do not want to spend $30,000 for yesterday's technology. (Swap in your old one and receive a rebuilt unit as per H-D.) Is there anyone out there that rebuilds them, or better yet, any aftermarket units available?
Steve Schiffel
Haskell, New Jersey
Not that we know of, Steve, but let’s see what our readers come up with. Competition Plus
Genevieve, everything guys do is a competition. You’re just now discovered this? Us guys always have and always will try to go faster, pee farther, spit farther, fart the loudest (and light some on fire!), do the longest burnout, jump the most buses, drink the most beer. Need I go on?
The bottom line is, you should be thanking us guys for always making a competition out of everything. If we didn't have this kind of spirit, what a boring place this world would be. Not to mention all the world records that would not have been set/broken due to this type of thinking. Get over it. That’s what guys do!
I'm going out to change the baffles in my pipes today to louder ones because my neighbor's are louder than what I currently have. And have fun riding with all your girlfriends. Just be sure to tell them to make room, because I'm coming through!
Jeffery S. Bush
Via Internet
Down On Donny
I have been a subscriber to American Iron Magazine for a couple of years and find most of your articles of interest, but the series on Shovelheads by Peterson makes me want to laugh or puke. What the hell's the matter, Petersen, some Shovel rider kick your ass or blow away your beloved Evo some time?
I've ridden my '82 FXR for a number of years now and have never had a problem running with any of the highly advanced, superior, awesome, wonderful Evos that Peterson is so thrilled about. And guess what? My Shovel has not had the benefit of Petersen's complete bottom-up redesign, just a mild cam, Crane HI-4 ignition, pipes, and S&S Super E carb. After following this series from the start, one has to wonder how the poor old stone age Shovel managed to pull itself off the showroom floor without all of Petersen's glorious tech advice. Poor Harley-Davidson. If only they had Peterson there to advise them, they might have sold more bikes and been more completive. Who knows, with Peterson's advice, they might have managed to build a Kawasaki Vulcan engine before Kawi did. Oh well, I guess I'll still struggle down the road with my poor old inferior Shovel. I kind of like the classic look and sound of it. Maybe the boys on the advanced engines will let me plug along behind them if I mention Peterson's name.
phelpsmarke@cox.net
Via Internet
Man, talk about chewin’ on the bitter pill! You totally misunderstood what Donny is about, but I’m not going to argue with you about it, since I doubt anything I’d say would change your mind. -- Chris Caught Bare-Fingered
I’m reading the story in May issue about the MSF Advanced Rider Course and on page 42 it mentions the minimum safety gear, i.e. full-fingered gloves, so I would think you would show a picture with a motorcyclist riding with full-fingered gloves. Well, he is almost pointing at the words with open-fingered gloves. Come on. Match the pictures to the article.
Marc Fischman
Via Internet
Okay, you snagged us. We staged those photos after the MSF course, since the rider was busy taking the class, and not photos when he was there. My bad. -- Chris Stator Saver
In reference to Donald Hays’ stator plug leak mentioned in May’s Hog Helpline, I had the same problem. The fix was to clean the plug well and use silicone on it. No leaks so far and it cost about 20 cents versus $250 for a stator replacement.
Ydusty
Via Internet
Cold Storage
I have a 2000 FXDX with 27,000 miles on it. I’m in the 3rd Infantry Division at Fort Stewart in Georgia. I’m preparing for a 12- to 18-month deployment to Iraq. My wife doesn’t ride, so I’m going to have to do one of two things: either prepare my bike for long-term storage or have my wife start it up and let it idle for a while once a week. I know this is no substitute for getting it out and running it, but it is one of my only options. What do you recommend and what are the best procedures for long-term storage?
Robert Green
Via Internet
Robert, we’re putting together a story on prepping a bike for winter or long term storage at the moment. Readers can look for it in the Oct issue of the magazine. 
August 2008 Letters 
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