Day 10 of Blogging Challenge- Bobber Idea

This blog post is the 10th in a series of 14 that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

Do you ride a motorcycle? I just started earlier this year and have become addicted to riding. I rarely say no when my friends are ready to head out for a ride. Currently, I have a Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special but I have discovered another type of bike that allows you build your own called a bobber.

What is a bobber?

A bobber is basically a stripped down bike almost minimalist that you only have the bare necessities needed to operate the bike. Some would compare them to a café racer.

To build one there are quite a few ways to start one, the basic steps are to find a bike, strip it down. Usually shorten the fenders and remove most of nonessentials on the bike. Most will setup as a hard tail meaning there are no shocks. They also have as little of an exhaust system as possible which will make for a loud bike.

The internet is full of sites and information on how to build a bobber. As with most projects ensure you do an adequate amount of research and planning. Your budget will control how elaborate you can get with a build.

Including a few pictures below to show you what is possible.

Have you ever thought about building your own Bobber?

Day 9 of Blogging Challenge- Podcast Thoughts On Creating a Podcast

 This blog post is the ninth in a series of 14 that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

Of course, still getting consistent blogging legs is my first priority. I am interested in podcasts as well. I enjoy listening to them and later in a blog I can provide the list of the ones I listen to on a consistent basis. Here I will write a shorter blog on a subject I am just learning about.

From what I have read subjects for podcasting are much like blogging. Find a subject you are an expert in and podcast away. There are steps to setup and equipment needed, I will briefly cover where to review a few articles that will help to start your podcasting journey.

To learn how to setup and care for your platform I strongly recommend reading Michael Hyatt’s blog , Hyatt covers a lot of areas of leadership and creating a platform. For some more specific information on setting up a podcast, here is a great article to explain the equipment and process, read here. Here are few other links to review for podcasting equipment and here. Another great person to follow for podcasting advice is Cliff Ravenscraft known as the Podcast Answerman.

While far from the details, hopefully you have a few thoughts and articles to consider starting your own podcast. As I continue my journey, I will keep posted on my own progress.

Have you considered starting your own podcast?

Day 8 of Blogging Challenge – Deciding To Take a Cruise

This blog post is the Eighth in a series of 14 that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

A little different subject for today on cruising or consider taking a cruise. I have gone on a few and while not an expert, hopefully, I can provide some ideas or thoughts for someone that has never taken one. They can be a lot of fun and a different way to see new countries. Will cover deciding whether to take a cruise, where to consider going, which cruise line to take, and how to prepare.

If you would like an opportunity to have a new experience a cruise may be a choice for you. Do you want to have someone keep your room cleaner than a hotel, be able to eat whenever you want, feel the ocean air, and not have to worry about getting on a plane or in a car to reach your next destination then a cruise may be for you. What about seasickness? I get seasick and you do need to take something for that or get a patch from your doctor. Overall, I have been ok, expect for one time on an Alaska cruise, where I had a few days of being green. I had not taken any medication so that I am not sure if it would have been different for me.

Where should you go? First, decide if you want a warm climate or cold? I have done both Alaska and to the Bahamas, each have their own benefits, but if you have a preference, you can find somewhere that should fit your need. Also, consider where you will leave from, this will be part of your cost depending on the port. For example, if you are on the west coast and leave out of Miami, you will have the cost of a flight across the country. Sometimes you can get a good deal with the given cruise line but many times you can do better on your own.

Which cruise line? Check with your friends that have gone before, each has a different vibe and good and points. Carnival is more affordable and tends to be more of a party atmosphere, where Princess is a little nicer and tends to have an older crowd. Do some research or you could end up with an environment that isn’t what you intended. For example, Carnival has a great weekend cruise out of Los Angeles that goes to Mexico, but it is a party cruise and if you are looking to relax, may not be the right choice.

Once you make a choice, research everything you can about the ship, so you can ensure to take full advantage of all the activities available. When you are on the ship, walk around and get your bearings. Sometimes I have found cool parts of the ship on the last day. Would have prevented that with some long walks to start off with. Briefly, on excursions, they can be really expensive, we have started just finding stuff in port, if at all.  There is a lot more to about cruises, maybe for another blog post.

Any advice for someone thinking about a cruise?

Day 7 of Blogging Challenge - Idea Machine Experience

This blog post is the seventh in a series of fourteen that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

Over the past few years, I have been following James Altucher, I was intrigued with his candid approach and straight forward advice. If nothing else, you always get new ideas from him. His book Choose Yourself!

 was a good read. The book is of the self-help variety and he uses his own story to explain various points. This led me to hear about the next item.

One of the concepts he talks about is being an Idea Machine. This is developed by having a daily practice of writing ten ideas every day. Altucher writes at length about the Idea Machine concept here. Podcast with James Altucher on Becoming An Idea Machine . The book

Become An Idea Machine: Because Ideas Are The Currency Of The 21st Century explains the concept and gives the reader a set of questions to use for creating ideas every day for 180 days. The book is actually authored by Altcuher’s wife Claudia Azula Altucher. Altucher has his wife Claudia on his question and answer podcast. I would consider it coauthored as James talks about the concept at length himself.

I have read the book through and now am going through the suggested subjects for ideas. I am currently at about day 30. While the explanation of being an ‘Idea Machine’ is nothing new from what the Altuchers provide in their blog and podcast, the 180 days of ideas provides a sort of accountability if you are interested in started down the journey of becoming an Idea Machine. I have integrated the activity into my daily journaling as one of the last things I do in my morning routine. There are many days I struggle with the 10 ideas but I then just put something down. Altucher notes that not all ideas have to be the best, in fact many will be junk. This is not a bad thing as you produce more and more ideas. One good idea is all you need, so you can dump a few if you need.

If you are interested in checking out the Altuchers further they have a blog off his personal site at jamesaltucher.com. If you are into podcasts you are check out it out here.

Have you started the Idea Machine habit?

Day 6 of Blogging Challenge - Cycle Sounds My Experience So Far

This blog post is the sixth in a series of 14 (days) that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

This post is a follow up to my post on adding speakers and an aftermarket amp to my Road Glide Special Harley-Davidson. I added new Harley-Davidson speakers and an aftermarket amplifier from Cycle Sounds . I installed these with assistance from my brother-in-law and tuned amplifier after a call with technical support. Tuning basically consist of setting your output control with a few different music selections. I set mine to just shy of 3/4. I have had the setup for a few months and here is my experience with this setup.

I have had some instances where the amplifier cuts out. This has mostly been when it is warmer outside and I had the stereo cranked. Usually have just turned down or off and after 10 minutes or so the unit cools off. I like the sound using my radio or using my phone. When you are going faster than 50 miles per hour, the sound drops off but that is expected. I have asked a few other guys and they have the same experience. Overall, I would recommend the Cycle Sounds setup. I probably would have gone with aftermarket speakers instead of the stock Harley-Davidson speakers.

If you have the new Boom system on your Harley-Davidson, you may consider this change first before adding new speakers or an amplifier is to consider a different windshield. I have one friend who added a taller windshield and this seem to cut the notice down enough that he could hear his stereo much better. I still have the stock windshield so I can’t directly speak to this option. If you are going to do a lot of longer rides, you may want to consider this option anyway and see how this works with your bike. I plan to get one based on the feedback from other guys who have added a longer windshield. That would be a different set of Blog Posts for another day.

Overall, if you have a stereo, I would recommend getting an amp. Another option to go even bigger is add speakers with an amp to your bags. This costs a lot more since you have to buy new covers and get them painted. It does sound cool when you are at stop lights, a few of the other guys I ride with have them. Don’t seem to matter much when you are heading down the highway.

A reminder, if you want to work on your Harley-Davidson I would strongly recommend that you pick up a Harley-Davidson Service Shop Manual for your model of bike. The manual will allow you to pretty much take your whole bike apart and put it back together, probably J

Any advice or comments on changes you have made to the stereo system on your motorcycle?

Day 5 of Blogging Challenge - Adding Cycle Sounds Amp to Harley-Davidson

This blog post is the fifth in a series of 14 (days) that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit again. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

In one of my previous posts I talked about buying a new Harley-Davidson. After riding for a few months, I realized I did want to have a better experience in listening to music why riding. There is a also a lesson for those thinking about buying a bagger is if you like listening to music, you may want to upgrade right out of the chute. I did not know my bike did not come with the 'best' stereo, I made a bad assumption that "special" model of the bike would already have that. Just another item to be aware of when looking at buying a motorcycle, especially one that you may be riding long distances. 

Once I decided to upgrade the stereo I started with Harley-Davidson option. While I it is fairly expensive to buy the stock Harley-Davidson parts, the good part is they are made to fit in nicely and keep the bike looking stock. The downside is that the cost is about double what other options. I started with just upgrading my speakers to the Boom! Audio Stage I High Performance 6.5 in. Road Glide Fairing Speakers . These made some difference, but still needed more driving the speakers, I went with an amp. For this in researching options I found Cycle Sounds and picked up their Bagger Audio Amp , Harley-Davidson wiring harness and ‘magic box’. The ‘magic box’ is basically what I would call a cross over that changes the output from the Harley-Davidson stock stereo. The wiring harness allows the amp and magic box to be added without cutting or soldering wires and potentially void your warranty.

 

A note on installing the amp, in the instructions, Cycle Sounds says you can mount the amp on the top of the deck. This did not work on my Road Glide Special and mounting had to be beside the desk. Unfortunately, I have lost the pictures that showed my installation. If I am able to find these I will add them later. You will also want to tune the amp with music that you will be listening to. Also, you will find that when using the Boom Unit as opposed to your phone will sound a bit different.

If you want to work on your Harley-Davidson I would strongly recommend that you pick up a Harley-Davidson Service Manual for your bike. The manual will allow you to pretty much take your whole bike apart and put it back together.

I will write a second blog article on my experience with the Cycle Sounds setup after installing and using for a while.

How did you decide which stereo system to add/upgrade for your motorcycle?

Day 4 of Blogging Challenge - Buying a Harley-Davidson

This blog post is the fourth in a series of 14 (days) that will be used to reJumpStart my blogging habit. I started a few years ago and lost interest (and the habit) of blogging. I was looking for a way to encourage and prod me to start this habit. Maybe this will get you thinking about blogging again or for the first time. Found this inspiration as I was reading blogs. I hope you will follow me and provide me with moral Internet support.

Today, I wanted to review my experience in purchasing a new Harley-Davidson. Earlier this year I bought a 2015 Harley-Davidson Road Glide Special. I jumped in the deep end and picked up a pretty big bike for my first road bike. I wasn’t 100 percent sure what I would happen but after a few months into I have loved riding and look forward to improving my skill and different riding experiences. 

What spawned this crazy purchased was that my brother-in-law and friends had purchased Harleys and this pushed me over the edge on trying something new. I had jumped with all fours into riding four wheelers at the sand dunes, so I had already tasted of speed and the fun in open space.

Another help or prod is that my brother had been riding a Harley for years. I had a few conversations with him about what to consider and what he would look for in a bike. His ideas led me to the Road Glide over the Street Glide. Having the Street Glide sets me aside from most of the other guys I am riding with but I am happy with it. I even went with the Superior Blue which is a departure from many guys going with the darker colors and even the murder look.

As far as the process of buying, note that Harley-Davidson does not deal on their prices if you have any leeway in dealing it is with the accessories and extras. I would recommend that you ask around and find a dealer that has a good reputation for making deals on the extras. The other key is seeing what guys are doing with their bikes, pipes, air boxes, seats, handlebars. There are numerous options and it is surprising how many different ways you can setup a bike. I would recommend that you get a pipe, slip-ons and air box as you will do this soon enough. Remember highway pegs, sissy bar for your gal and if you will be riding long distances, get yourself a back rest.

Also, make sure to buy protective equipment, including helmet (recommend the modular, full face), leather jacket, heavy boots, gloves and chaps or Kevlar jeans. There are other options, you will find these from asking around and researching on the internet.

Finally, make sure to take the motorcycle safety course preferable before you start riding. Go to the Motorcycle Safety Foundation and find a class near you. I waited to take my class and maybe in retrospect I should have done that first. If you have no or limited experience it will help you.

Do you have any experiences with buying or learning to ride a motorcycle?