We get lots of motorcycles questions especially about Harley-Davidsons, and here to give us some tips about Harley is Lyndon Abell, he’s the General Manager of Patriot Harley-Davidson in Fairfax, Virginia welcome to the show!

LYNDON ABELL, GENERAL MANAGER, PATRIOT HARLEY-DAVIDSON: Thank you, Pat.

GOSS:  Now, we have a stock Harley here. Why doesn’t anyone leave them that way?

ABELL:  Well it’s wonderful the way it is but - just browse through our catalog and you can make it yours.

GOSS:  Okay, now there are three parts to making it yours that you’ve discussed.

ABELL:  Style, comfort, performance.

GOSS:  All right, comfort.  Let’s start here. We’ve got some luggage.

ABELL:  Two of the most common upgrades that people are looking for are a way to fit themselves to the motorcycle a little bit better, and to carry some extra gear. This luggage right here, which fits on the different size backrest pads, allows you to carry a lot more gear.  There are other options as well: saddle bags and so forth.  This is an option that would allow a rider to move about an inch and a half forward on their seat.  It’s cut a little bit narrower in the front so you can take a more direct path to the ground.  Shorter riders would appreciate this.  There are also a multitude of handle bar options and footboard and foot peg location changes.

GOSS:  Okay now, lots of chrome and goodies and so on, now this bike has it all.

ABELL:  It started as that bike, this is what happens.

GOSS:  Wow, now here is something that intrigues me. This is the new line from Harley with the military insignia.

ABELL:  Available for all five branches of the military, it’s a nice partnership between the motor company and the military.

GOSS:  And there’s a complete assortment of accessories that are done like this?

ABELL:  Yes, five different pieces.

GOSS:  All right, lots of things that you can add.  Of course, very popular are going to be foot pegs and floorboards.

ABELL:  One of the easiest ways in the style department to make your motorcycle look different, special, yours, is - grips, pegs, boards, mirrors. Those are just easy things to grab and change.  This bike has the Skull line, but there are many to choose from.

GOSS:  All right, let’s don’t forget paint, and this paint is pretty radical.

ABELL:  Very radical!

GOSS:  And Harley has their own special paint program.

ABELL:  Radical paint program and a color shop program that you can do a lot with.  Paint is a little expensive but one of the most dramatic ways you can change the look of your motorcycle.

GOSS:  And performance. Now, although this polished rotor wouldn’t perform any better.

ABELL:  It sure looks better!

GOSS:  Yeah, and brake upgrades are very popular.

ABELL:  Very popular!  If you want to make it go fast you want to make it stop fast.  We have braided brake lines which give you a much more tight feel on your brake, as well as floating rotors which give you better braking performance as well.

GOSS: All right, and the engine in this bike has been updated, it started life as an 88 and came up to a 103.

ABELL: Right!  Huge increase in power, a 103 cubic inches after 88 is night and day. Very nice motor.

GOSS:  Now if you stay with your Harley dealer for the modifications, if they’re approved for street use they’re also guaranteed, right?

ABELL:  That’s correct. If the Harley dealer installs it when the bike is new it goes into your factory warranty, which these days is unlimited mileage and two years.

GOSS:  Great, Lyndon. Thank you.


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