Message from OldBikeBarn.com

From The Bear – President & Founder – Old Bike Barn [OldBikeBarn.com] Motorcycle Parts

Some important changes at Old Bike Barn that I wanted to take a moment to reach out to you and let you know about. As you know we are a family run outfit, but we do our best to keep up with the technological changes. I hate hearing that a customer waited for parts, service or a response for longer than they should. I have put in place some measures and policies that will serve you better and address these issues.

Keep it between the ditches and the shiny side up!

Yours Truly,

The Bear

OldBikeBarn.com
1 (888) 851-5559

So here are some of the changes:

• Improved phone coverage with 24/7 reachability, and when no rep is available you need not waste your day on hold – Leave a message and ALL CALLS will be returned by the end of biz the following day! Toll-Free 1 (888) 851-5559 Old Bike Barn

• New, improved, web site with improved search by bike features, as well as the ability to park your bike in the “Your Old Bike Barn Garage” to refer back to at a later time and see all the parts for your machine(s) in one spot.

• Used parts: a vast selection of used parts are now available and in stock, or if we don’t have it we can try to get it through our network of over 200 yards nationwide.

Thanks for reading folks.

We at the Old Bike Barn family are here for you, and your modern or vintage bike

OldBikeBarn.com

New Website Features

A new and Improved Search by Bike Model that allows you to search by brand, year, model. Drill right down into all the items that fit your bike model(s)

Once you’ve gotten to your bike model. When you’re logged in, you can “Park In My Garage” A new great Saved Bike model feature which allows you to add your bikes to
your garage and get notifications of discounts, or just quickly load your bike model listings to find parts in no time.

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by Barrie Haughton AKA Bear, President and Founder of OBB

Again, I’m probably bitching to the wrong crowd… You guys are here reading this, so you’re clearly part of the group that likes to read about motorcycling and be informed…. well at least you can sympathize with my thoughts then.

In recent rants I have complained about people wearing fake dog tags and motorcycle jackets with fake road rash. In general, I have a put up or shut up attitude, but this month my rant is again directed towards the “fake biker”. (more…)

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Another month another rant… this months observation, complaint and commentary is about a thorn in my side. The “Pretend Biker”… you have all seen them; people who wear bike clothing and more and more often these day, mix of leather and skull caps and biker “brands”. These tire kickers are usually bike less, often never having straddled a bike and in general know squat about bikes past or present. This brings me to my next beef I saw one of these pretend bikers wearing, FAKE DOG TAGS ………… nothing makes my blood boil more, with all this role playing going on I wonder who is a real person these days.

The producers of fake dog tags, and new biker jackets that have had a belt sander taken to them so they look used need to rethink a few things… the worst part is this stuff sells. What ever happened to earning something! Dog tags and good worn in leathers with a bit or road rash are two things I own and I did not get them in a store…

Reminds me of a saying “when sex was safe and motorcycles where dangerous” I guess those day are really gone, still that does not mean I have to like all these phony’s parading around in “lifestyle gear” hell it should be called dress up gear!

Play time is over I’m not one to incite any violence but rather give these poor souls some guidance, I have made it my mission to let everyone on these fake dog tag wearing, biker look a likes know if they dress the part they better be it and that fake dog tags are not acceptable under any circumstances.

As for fake dog tags; how can any person with half a brain not see that it’s and insult to those who have severed and a mockery of the rights and freedoms men have fought and died for. Maybe that’s the only good thing about it they have the freedom to do it. I remember when the way I dressed was because I rode near year round and the gear was not looked at as cool… I would be stared at in my dirty jeans motocross jackets and goggles at gas stops; now it’s a fashion statement. hell I even saw a road race style jacket for sale the other day with spray on road rash and track grim… now I’ve seen it all.

If you’re new to the sport take this piece of advice, take your time pay your dues learn to get your hands dirty once and a while and where the gear that suits your riding not what the fashion catalogues try to sell. If you’re a seasoned rider or a reentry rider after a break, join me in the fight against the dilution of our sport by taking a younger rider under your wing and letting them know that fake dog tags and spray on road rash are not acceptable period.

Spread the word “Shut up and Ride”

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Why must the nut always fall in that unreachable place!

Spring is here and there are a few things you should be thinking about when getting back on the road.

Below is a pretty through checklist to run through be for hitting the road this spring!

Have a great and safe season!
Keep it between the ditches and the shinny side up!

Spring Check List:

Electrical
· Check head light high/low beam, tail/brake light, turn signals, instrument and driving lights.
· Test Kill button/switch and inspect overall wiring for chafe. Use wire ties to secure loose wires. A shot of WD-40 will keep switches & locks healthy.
· Check battery levels and clean terminals. Baking soda & water will clean corrosion from the post (Don’t get it inside the battery!), a little petrolatum or grease helps prevent future corrosion.
· Inspect starter connections & mounting bolts. Check shaft for excessive wear if noisy.
· If your bike has a fuse box, check ‘em and get spares or Test Breakers. Fire is bad.

Engine
Fluids
· Check levels. If engine/trans. oil is very dark or black, smells burnt, change oil & filter.
· Inspect fuel filter & screens for crud and check lines for chafe and dry rot.
· Water cooled Engines:
Check coolant/anti-freeze level, and check flow/pump/hoses.

Brakes
· Check and adjust lever & pedal travel. Refer to your owners/shop manual for specs.
· Check master cylinders for clean brake fluid & proper fluid levels.
· Irregular or “jerky” stopping may mean a warped rotor or drum.
· Inspect pads/liners and replace if needed. Don’t let a front brake grab on wet pavement.
· Brakes are possibly the most important component on a bike. Don’t bet your life on worn brakes!

Tires & Wheels
· Inspect tires for even wear, tread depth and dry rot (cracking) or cuts in side walls.
· Inspect valve stems for dry rot (and rim cuts on tube stems).
· Check air pressure. Do not over inflate especially in Hot conditions/climate.
· Inspect rims for dents, cracks (alloy) and Carefully tighten loose spokes.
· Check axles, axle nuts & hardware for tightness & wear and lube the bearings.
· Inspect drive chain(& lube) or belt for excessive wear and adjust/replace as needed.

Engine & Transmission
· Check spark plugs. Brown to grayish-tan is good. Black is probably from burning oil or a rich fuel/air mix., light gray or whitish can mean a lean fuel/air mix or an intake leak.
· Check carb(s), adjust float level(s) & idle/fuel/air. Clean carbs are happy carbs… Aerosol Carb/Injector cleaner can work wonders on carburetor or fuel injected motors.
· Inspect/adjust ignition components & replace old spark plugs & wires.
· About every 500 miles, check nuts, bolts & screws for tightness.
· Inspect oil lines for leaks, cracks or chafe & look for oil leaks from the engine/trans. case(s).
· Inspect air filter(s) and if dirty, replace or clean depending on type.
· Inspect exhaust for leaks (especially at the manifold) and check mounting brackets. · Adjust clutch, replace plates if slipping or dragging. Check primary drive chain/belt.

Frame & Suspension
· Check/tighten/torque all nuts & bolts, & engine/trans. mounting hardware.
· Look for hair line cracks around engine/transmission mounting brackets.
· Check steering head/fork assembly for looseness/tightness and adjust if needed.
· Lube steering(tree) bearings.
· Check fork fluid level (refer to owners manual, use only approved hydraulic fluid).
· Inspect rear shock(s), (replace if worn or soft) and check fender mounting brackets/hardware.
· Inspect handle bars for cracks, check mounts and oil all cables.

Highway Tool Kit & Spares

• Wrench set.
• Sockets with ratchet, extensions, U-swivel.
• Screw drivers.
• Pliers (needle nose, vice grip & slip joint).
• Crescent wrench.
• Hex wrenches.
• Small utility knife.
• Small hammer & punch.
• Hack saw blades.
• File.
• Thickness gauge.
• 12v test lamp.
• Fuses.
• Assorted nuts, bolts, cotter pins, etc.
• Chain mast. link & spare links.
• Spark plugs.
• Ign. points or module.
• Hose clamp.
• Bulbs.
• Spoke wrench.
• Elect. Tape.
• Elect. wire.
• 1 Can Flat Fix.
• Flat tire plug kit.
• Sm. tube silicon/gasket maker.
• Picture (braided)wire.
• 1 Qt. Oil.
• Shop rag.
• Small flash light.
• 8′x10′ poly plastic rain sheet.
• CELL PHONE…

Remember we’re here at the Old Bike Barn www.oldbikebarn.com if you need some tech help or advice on parts.

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