One Monster Of A Clutch
Baker Drivetrain's King Kong Klutch is known for its ability to handle the increased power of big-inch motors, but it is now making a name for itself from the easy clutch effort it promotes. The King Kong Klutch has a tremendous gripping ability that doesn't rely on hard spring tension, which can be heavy on the hand. The light, slipproof clutch effort heavily benefits anybody who is subjected to stop-and-go traffic.

Harley-Davidson Guts & Stuff
By the 1990s, the Evolution proved to be a phenomenal engine and was a critical ingredient to the revival of Harley's success. Although the Evo motor revitalized the charisma, feel and rumble that made a Harley appealing, it also was saddled with design and production flaws, like crankcase breakage, left-side case leaks, weeping cylinder base gaskets and pulled cylinder studs. The early to mid-1990s Evo cases were the most prone to catastrophic disaster. Building an 80ci engine beyond roughly 80 to 85hp with the early '90s-style cases became risky at best. That meant that aftermarket components were required to fix the Evo's design and production flaws. The factory realized the Evo bottom end needed a complete redesign to make it robust enough to handle mild modifications let alone serious performance work. Moreover, EPA regulations were dictating the elimination of the clicking and whining noises from the cam gears.

One of the biggest changes you can make to your bike is the addition of a set of bag extensions. They traditionally get molded to the bottom of the factory fiberglass saddlebags and look great. Most of the bag extenders also look nice with a set of filler panels between the fender and bags and are cut out for dual exhaust. The thing about putting a set of bag extensions on your bike is that you're really not gaining anything except a new lower look.

What A Difference Hard Bags And Fairings Make
Anyone in the market for a new Harley-Davidson touring model should take a moment to reflect on what they may already own or can acquire at a much slimmer price. This is, however, the realm of customization, and there are oftentimes prefabbed kits to feed your healthy imagination. With that said, let's try an idea on for size, shall we? What about considering the Sportster as a viable bagger solution? Think about it: The Sportster is light on its feet, agile, and its performance parts aftermarket is exceedingly bountiful. Who wouldn't want this bike as their next bagger? True, the one thing the Sporty does not come factoryequipped with is, well, bags. Come to think of it, it doesn't have a fairing, either-but don't let these minor setbacks kill your dream. It can be done. The Sportster can, in fact, become the next bagger you take to tour the country.

Six-Speed Transmissions
Regardless of whether you're cruising the local freeways or jamming on the intestates to a major cycle event, you've probably found yourself wishing for another gear, wanting to upshift into a higher cog to reduce the relentless vibrations the V-twin engine emits at highway speeds. Raising your bike's final gearing would move you in the direction of having a higher gear, but it would also render all lower gears equally higher, reducing acceleration and making passing on hills when fully loaded more difficult. However, if you own a 2006 Dyna or a 2007 and later big twin, you found that extra gear without encountering the lethargic acceleration pitfalls: It's called sixth gear. Adding a sixth gear reduces vibration on the highway, making long rides less tiring and more enjoyable.

Spring Cleaning, Bagger-Style
Ah yes. It is starting to warm up over most of the country, and it's time to bring your bike out of its deep freeze. You could just strut on out to the garage, throw a leg over the old girl and claw away at your bike until it starts. We all know that's not the way to treat your two-wheeled baby and that being hasty could lead to some major damage for the both of you. We suggest taking a weekend to get your bike ready for the rest of the year, and by following a few simple steps while bringing your bike out of hibernation, it will ensure many trouble-free miles on all those sunny days coming your way.

Installing RWD Led Taillights Turn Signals On A Bagger
Safety is a big thing when you ride. Let's face it, we have all heard that same old excuse from some driver after an accident: "I just didn't see the bike." Well, we all know you're pretty much out there on your own when it comes to being seen and heard by those on four wheels. What do you do? Ride defensively and hope that others see you and that your pipes are loud enough to alert drivers that you're there. Another solution? The brighter your brake lights are, the better your chances are to be seen. On a stock Harley-Davidson, the brake light (one little 1157 bulb in the center of the fender) along with two turn signal lights on the light bar work well enough but could be brighter.

New Products
New Helmet Technology From SharkWe can't count the number of times a helmet manufacturer has shown up with a bunch of helmet bags in tow bragging about their "new helmet technology," which means they've found a new way to apply graphics, they've introduced graphics on their liner or they're introducing a new material for the chin strap. Honestly, it is hard to get excited about 20-year-old technology with a new paintjob. And while the manufacturing processes have made getting a carbon-fiber or carbon-Kevlar shell more affordable, it is technology that was available in 1985 and was being used in NHRA and F1 racing, so there hasn't really been anything new from a helmet manufacturer in a long time.

It seems as if one of the first things touring motorcycle enthusiasts do when they get a new ride in their garage is start cruising the Internet or the pages of this very magazine to find ways to make their steed just a little different from all the others that came off the assembly line.

The King Gets Some Serious Rear Meat
Following a trend that gained momentum with nontouring bikes, wide rear tires are definitely the hot-ticket custom touch for the dresser pilot. It's more than just adding a fatter rear skin, as additional modifications to the fender and swingarm are usually necessary. This allows more real estate for paint, graphics, hidden tail and turn signals, etc. Wide-tire kits and individual components are increasing in popularity and, best of all for you, quality. When it was time to add some more flash to the already blinged-out '00 Road King in our stable, we contacted Custom Valley for one of their FLH 200 kits.

Anyone with a fuel injected Harley should be paying close attention: Quite simply, it is not only far better when EFI systems are controlled by actual feedback directly from the engine (via sensors) it is also easier.

Grip It ... Grip It Good
Not a fan of Devo, huh? Well in any case, check out these new, impressive grips from Billet Boys. The grips are a perfect blend of chromed billet aluminum and the soft feel of a supple polymer cushion-an ideal balance of looks and comfort. Billet Boys offers their custom cushion grips in three finishes, including chrome, gloss or satin black, to better fit your bike's appearance. The grips are designed to fit all '82-and-newer Harley-Davidson bikes, including touring models, and are proudly made on American soil. Pure billet or chrome grips look great, but they can sometimes be a real pain in the palm! Billet Boys' cushion grips are the solution to your hand aches and are available at select motorcycle shops nearest you or by contacting the boys directly.

Pack Rat
Ditch your bagger's Tour-Pak and store it securely without worrying about accumulating scratches and dents. Bagger-Parts.com has produced a rack that mounts to your wall and utilizes existing detach hardware to keep everything tight and locked into place. There is also a mounting location for your detachable sissy bar. The Tour-Pak rack is crafted from 1-inch square tubing and is black powdercoated for durability. When cruising without your Tour-Pak, know that it is safely waiting for you-easily accessible and ready for action.

2007 H-D Ultra Glide
You have heard this scenario before. A guy steals his friend's ride, gets it tricked out and then returns it to him with much splendor and fanfare. We helped a son do just that for his father during this year's California Bike Week.

More Cool Stuff To Stick In Your Saddlebags Or Tour-Pak ...
Harley-Davidson Ride Atlas of North America, 2nd Edition
Vehicles get you from point A to point B, but motorcycles take you from a departing point to a destination with a journey in between. Sure, some days you just want to jump on your bike and get lost, while on others it's just transport for your daily routine. However, what about those days when you want to be Joe or Jane Explorer, but you're unsure where the treasure roads are buried within this vast country and beyond, like Canada and Mexico, yet to be discovered on your motorcycle? Do you open a U.S. map and throw a dart or sift through Internet blogs and chat rooms for the answers? Well, those are some options, or you could make things easier on yourself and save time by picking up and traveling with the Harley-Davidson Ride Atlas of North America (MSRP $34.95) by Rand McNally & Company. This photo is just the cover, but once you start reading it, you might feel a sick day coming on so you can jump on your bike and explore these rides.

Power
House Plus Automatic Charger for 12-volt BatteriesMid-USA (800) 632-0024 www.mid-usa.comThis compact wall mount unit measures only 2-inches long by 2-inches wide by 3-inches tall, but keeps your battery at peak performance. It features two-color LED indicators that let you check the charging status at a glance. Battery connection can be made with alligator clips or permanently with eyelet terminals. Float mode prevents overcharging.

When I arrived in Scottsdale, AZ, for the Westside Motorcycle Expo, I noticed that I was having trouble hearing the hotel clerk when attempting to check into my room. It was due to the excessive wind piercing my eardrums from the six-hour duration of the ride, and I wished I had brought a set of earplugs to block the wind from butchering my hearing.

The new line of Z-Bars from V-Factor are now available through Mid-USA. For those of you looking to switch up the way you ride, these V-Factor bars are show chromed and available in 1-inch and 1-1/2-inch O.D. There is a wide variety for you Z-enthusiasts to choose from: Highnoon, Rodeo, Mustang, ZZ Top, Z-Bar, and Tomahawk. V-Factor Brand products are sold exclusively through Mid-USA Motorcycle Parts dealers worldwide.

Some of the handiest items we come across are recycled motorcycle parts. Yes, really! For instance, motorcycle tire inner tubes make handy-dandy rubber bands. Inner tubes come in different sizes (depending on the size of tire tube) and have an unlimited range of uses, from acting as a cheap bungee cord for holding items on the sissy bar or luggage rack to holding your rain gear in a nice tight roll so it doesn't take up much room in the saddlebag. Even in the shop, these big rubber bands come in handy for holding a box closed for storage...or how about a couple of rubber bands wrapped around the vise jaws to protect a part from scratching? On the road, a couple of these bands around your tool kit doesn't take up much room, and are close at hand if you need them.

Despite the popularity of custom bikes in the last 20 years, and the enormous amount of parts and pieces readily available to build the bike of your dreams, there are still some items that you'll have to modify on your own to achieve your desired results. Take, for instance, our friend Chuck. He rides a mildly customized Dyna and somewhere along the line-between reading magazines and checking out events-got the bug to build a bike from scratch.

Overall Rating +

Brakes aren't cheap. But how many other bolt-on parts will give the same upgrade in looks and performance in a couple hours in the garage? Arlen Ness' six-piston brakes do just that. With Ness' signature style and internal components by renowned brake maker Nissin, the fully rebuildable calipers change the whole look of the frontend while providing a considerable increase in stopping power.

Overall Rating: ++

Too many customs go together without much thought, or one piece at a time, without any concept of what the finished product will look like. This 1987 Sportster was just such a creation. Since the start of its existence, it's been a custom machine. The 4.5 gallon tank off of an '80s FXLR was its first mod, effectively doubling the little paint shaker's cruising range. That was before I got my hands on it. Even in the years before it became the guinea pig for every ill-conceived magazine install project under the sun, it had been through three carbs, two sets of pipes, and two frontends. Once I started working for motorcycle magazines, the process only accelerated. The irony of all this tinkering is that it really didn't get ridden that much.

Bikarage Bike Storage
Bikarage (636) 916-0744 www.bikarage.com

Bikarage is a patent-pending product created to safely and securely store your motorcycle. The fiberglass body is constructed for longevity, made to withstand natural elements while your motorcycle is protected from rain, sleet, snow, hail, rakes, shovels, and the occasional bad driver. Bikarage access is semi-automatic via wireless key operation. Custom created for any size motorcycle, Bikarage's standard features include interior lighting, green-friendly solar panels, solar powered trickle charger, and much more.

Overall Rating ++
We've been hauling around an '86 Sportster for a few years now, just waiting for a chance to resurrect her. The hot 1200 engine blew up, and other projects relegated the first-year Evo Sporty to the corner of various garages and warehouses. Finally this year we decided to overhaul the motor, but why keep it ordinary? That's not how we like to roll. So we contacted S&S Cycle to outfit the original four-speed cases with a stroker flywheel and assorted other S&S go-fast goodies. When all was said and done we ended up with an 89ci mill that wouldn't fit into our stock frame. To make a long story short, the backbone and seatpost were cut to accommodate the motor. After attempting to mock-up the sheetmetal we found the taller motor wouldn't allow the gastank to even come close to fitting. The rocker boxes made the tank sit 2-inches higher than it was supposed to and there was no way to mount it. (All of the wonders of this build have appeared in HOT BIKE earlier this year).

You're probably living under a rock if you haven't heard of Corbin. From their proud leadership in the custom seat business, to their self-titled cable TV show, to their distinctive tag adorning what seems like every third custom seat you see, they're hard to miss. We recently had a chance to take a tour of their main factory facility in Hollister, California, to give you a look at what goes into their products.