Tune ups, servicing, tires...Questions...

[Hox]

First...thanks for the replies to my questions about 1st to 2nd gear and back rest issue.... Are there any videos showing how to do tune ups, oil changes etc. Just got an 05 Nomad with 50K miles and want to redo everything so I know it is all good for the season... Tires.... Bridgestones are recommended in the manual... Dunlops by others... price difference is huge... any feedback...

[Zkovach]

Yes a lot is on YouTube

[DragonLady58]

Don't mean to sound rude, but theres been threads exactly on this topic (tires)....just look back, you'll find them. Also, you can do a search for the other things....
We've pretty well covered just about every conceivable area and idea....just look in the past posts.
Then, if you need any help, we'll be more than glad to help out.
Between all the great wrenches we have here, theres great bit of experience....and alot of our riders have 30-40+ years of riding experience.
All ya gotta do is ask....

[MAS Tequila]

First and most important question, where are you located?

You may be around the corner from someone who can mentor you.

Mentoring can get pricey though.

All those cold adult beverages can add up.

You will find that a lot of the members here are willing to get together and lend a hand.

It's been a while but there have been 'shop days' in the past.

I've met several who are kinda close by and talked a lot of others through major repairs, let alone maintenance.

My number is out there so here it is again, 5612103399, email is dragonchasers@yahoo.com use it if you need it.

It's on the emergency contact list also.

If you're a spammer or scammer remember that I'm in the construction business and have access to large excavating equipment which can be used to dig large holes you can disappear in.

Tires are like oil threads, you can start arguments about tires.

I've been running Shinko's on the Nomad, I'm on my 2nd set.

I have ridden in all kinds of conditions, including through a tropical storm up I95 with 40+ mph winds and driving rain, mountain roads, and flat blistering hot Florida roads and they have never skipped a beat. And the mileage is as good or better than the Metzlers, Dunlops, Continentals, and others that I ran before.

No, they're not Chinese, they're made in South Korea by a Japanese company.

Shinko bought the molds and process' from Yokohama in 1998.

MT

[Loafer]

Hox, you can use the 'Search' feature here on this site and with enough time one can learn
a lot. Or...you can use this site, http://gadgetsfixit.com/ it's easier to get to the topic
you want to know about. You could add some more info in your signature, so we know what
year and which bike you have. Best.

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by MAS Tequila

lend a hand.

If you're a spammer or scammer remember that I'm in the construction business and have access to large excavating equipment which can be used to dig large holes you can disappear in.

[Hox]

Thanks for the feedback.... I did do a search on these topics via the search window and not much came up... maybe I am going at it the wrong way... will give it another shot.

[Hox]

Located on the west end of Canada on Vancouver Island in Victoria. Island is NW of Seattle, across from Annacortes to the east and Port Angeles to the South.

[cactusjack]

Buy a service manual. It's money well spent.

[Hox]

Dragon Lady... no worries... did a search of the site and was surprised how little I found at first glance... will try and did deeper... Hox

[Hox]

Plan on that Cactus Jack... I seem to grasp things better via video. Ride safe. Hox

[Top Cat]

Originally Posted by Hox

Thanks for the feedback.... I did do a search on these topics via the search window and not much came up... maybe I am going at it the wrong way... will give it another shot.

Actually the search window on this site leaves a lot to be desired

[Spondulas]

A tire that I haven't seen mentioned in other posts is a Dunlop American Elite. It was designed for Harley's but doesn't have the Harley brand on it. I have them on the bike now. Front rides good and performs well but not enough miles on it to tell about wear. The rear has 14,000 miles and has performed very well. It has about 2 thousand left it in and I'll replace it with the same. Had a Harley dealer tell me once that Harley tires won't fit metric bikes. Not sure if it was his inflated ego or woeful lack of intelligence since the ones I bought from an independent shop last year fit just fine.

[DragonLady58]

Had a Harley dealer tell me once that Harley tires won't fit metric bikes. Not sure if it was his inflated ego or woeful lack of intelligence since the ones I bought from an independent shop last year fit just fine.

Since I was a Authorized service factory tech, they try to produce brand loyality, and talk down the metrics. Harley had been sitting pretty and was fine with the 1000, 1200, then the 1340cc's, until Honda and Kawasaki starting building exellent cruisers in the 1500cc range.
S&S, RevTech were always into big motors...There were alot of folks going metric because those huge engines were watercooled, and could cruise all day and night long, plus had the stones to pull a bike fully loaded, 2 up, a trailer packed, and not even be taxed.
When they heard the big 1800 hondas, and the 1700 yamas, the kawa 1500s were the standard, Harley said thats it! After all the big metrics coming out, you saw the 98s, 103s, 108s, 110s.
S&S had been making the big stroker kits since the 70's, and folks were slapping them in the Harleys as fast as they could make them. Harley said, hell, we'll just sell the bikes with these big kits already install....

Alot of us got put on Metric duty, folks were trading in the older metric bikes, to get a Harley. After we'd tweek them or repaired them, hell, they were selling like hotcakes! We'd sell Trade-in's 5X's faster than the New Harleys....Harley got the message fast! Their sales were really hurting, folks couldn't get enough of the Vulcan 1500 Classics.
You could get a bigger Metric, looked as good, ran better, than a New Harley....