SERVICE SPECIALISTS

RIDER ORGANIZATIONS

ABATE OF OHIO, INC. 1 800-25-BIKER

ABATE.COM ABATE OF OHIO-REGION 2

SAM BANNISTER 740-586-7387

WWW.ABATEOFOHIO.COM AMA 1 800-AMA-JOIN

AMERICANMOTORCYCLIST.COM AMERICAN LEGION POST 496

STREETSBORO, OHIO (330) 673-9743 BAVARIAN SPORTS CLUB 2101 LAGRANGE ST.

TOLEDO, OH 43608 419-356-3541 DAYTON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 3515 STONY HOLLOW RD, DAYTON, OH 45417 (937) 609-0931 GREATER AKRON MOTORCYCLE CLUB 1540 SMITH ROAD

AKRON, OHIO 44313 (330) 760-3715 MOOSE RIDERS OF DAYTON 1134 RICHFIELD CENTER

DAYTON, OHIO 45430 (937) 431-5162 MOOSE RIDERS OF AKRON 4444 STATE RD

PENINSULA, OHIO 44264 (330) 928-6323 PUNISHERS LAW ENFORCEMENT MOTORCYCLE CLUB (419) 381-4269 SANDUSKY VALLEY RIDERS 232 COUNTY HIGHWAY 37

SYCAMORE, OH 44882 (419) 927-MOTO TRAVELERS MOTORCYCLE CLUB 8950 DORR ST.

TOLEDO, OH 43617 (419) 865-6327

SALES (MOTORCYCLE)

A MOTORCYCLE BUYING SERVICE

PO BOX 241024

CLEVELAND, OH 44124 800-964-6680

VINTGMCYCLES.COMAA BAIR’S POWERSPORTS 4617 EMMETT BOYD CIRCLE NW

NORTH CANTON, OH 44720 (330) 966-2247

BAIRSPOWERSPORTS.COM CASH 4 MOTORCYCLES 16801 CONE RD.

MILAN, MI 48160 734-508-6754 CYCLE SPECIALITIES 6175 HARRISON AVE

CINCINNATI, OH 45247 513-574-7878 CYCLE SPECIALITIES 7220 DIXIE HWY RT 4

FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 513-860-3232 FINKS HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2650 MAYSVILLE PIKE

ZANESVILLE, OH 43701 740-454-0010 HALES HARLEY-DAVIDSON 1400 HARRINGTON MEMORIAL RD.

MANSFIELD, OH 44903 419-522-8602 HARLEY-DAVIDSON OF ERIE 3712 WEST 12TH STREET

ERIE, PA 16505 (814) 838-1356 HOLESHOT KTM 364 SOUTH ARLINGTON ST. AKRON, OH 44306 att B.G. MOTORCYCLE 110 WEST POE RD. BOWLING GREEN, OH 43402 orneys 1CHILLICOTHE VA MEDICAL CENTER 17273 STATE ROUTE 104 CHILLICOTHE, OH 45601 who ride 800-4-BIKERS TRO NETORK 330-253-7455 INDIAN OF COLUMBUS 5370 WESTERVILLE RD WESTERVILLE, OHIO 43081 (614) 942-0063 INDIAN MOTORCYCLE OF TOLEDO 1212 CONANT STREET MAUMEE, OH 43537 (419) 891-1230 INSANE IMAGE 435 S. UNION ST. BRYAN, OH 43506 419-633-3800 419-352-6640 THE BIKESHOP 351 PEDRETTI AVE CINCINNATI, OH 45238 (513) 484-4294 DIRTY DOG MOTORCYCLE CO. 127 E. HENRY ST. WOOSTER, OH 44691 330-201-3376 GP CYCLE SPECIALTIES LLC 6989 RICHEY RD. CONVOY, OH 45832 419-238-1776 740-773-1141 WWW.CHILLICOTHE.VA.GOV COMBAT VETS 12-1 CENTRAL OHIO 6956 E. BROADWAY ST. COLUMBUS, OH 42313 740-404-9786 WWW.OHIOCVMA.ORG DAYTON VA MEDICAL CENTER 4100 WEST 3RD ST. DAYTON, OH 45428 937-268-6511 WWW.DAYTON.VA.GOV DISABLED AMERICAN VETERANS- DEPT THUNDER ROADS OHIO JOE’S CYCLE SHOP 3315 N. DIXIE DR. DAYTON, OH 45414 (937) 278-8081 HARTFORD CYCLES LLC 7134 STATE ROUTE 305 BURGHILL, OH 44404 330-772-2731 OF OHIO 35 E. CHESTNUT ST. 5TH FLOOR, SUITE 503 COLUMBUS, OH 43215 614-221-3582 LIMA HARLEY-DAVIDSON HOLESHOT KTM WWW.OHIODAV.ORG 3255 FORT SHAWNEE INDUSTRIAL DR. LIMA, OH 45806 419-331-3027 364 SOUTH ARLINGTON ST. AKRON, OH 44306 330-253-7455 MILVETS PO BOX 311 WORTHINGTON, OH 43085 MAD RIVER HARLEY-DAVIDSON IRON HORSE CYCLES 614-785-9002 FAX 5316 STATE RT. 250/MILAN RD 5360 SMITH RD. WWW.MILVETSOHIO.ORG

SANDUSKY, OH 44870 (419) 502-2244 BROOKPARK, OH 44142 216-323-1196 MONTGOMERY COUNTY VETERAN SERVICES MATHIAS BMW CYCLE PONY POWERSPORTS 4TH FLOOR EAST MEDICAL PLAZA 627 851 COMMERCIAL AVE SE 5370 WESTERVILLE RD EDWIN C. MOSES BLVD.

NEW PHILADELPHIA, OH 44663 WESTERVILLE, OHIO 43081 DAYTON, OH 45417 (330) 308-8868 (614) 942-0063 937-225-4801 NEIDENGARDS HARLEY-DAVIDSON IRONPONY.COM WWW.MCVSC.ORG 284 CANTON ROAD WINTERSVILLE, OH 43953 (740) 266-6188 SKIDMARK GARAGE 5401 HAMILTON AVE. CLEVELAND, OH 44114 NORTHFIELD VFW POST 6768 8584 OLDE 8 RD. NORTHFIELD, OH 44067 NORTH STAR POLARIS LLC (440) 591-4822 WWW.VFWPOST6768.COM 50500 VALLEY FRONTAGE RD. ST. CLAIRSVILLE, OH 43950 740-695-3019 SOLES MOTOR SPORTS 101 N. DEFIANCE ST. STRYKER, OH 4357 ROLLING THUNDER OHIO CHAPTER 1 VFW POST 6768 8584 OLDE ROUTE 8 PONY POWERSPORTS 419-682-1108 NORTHFIELD, OH 44067 5370 WESTERVILLE RD WESTERVILLE, OHIO 43081 (614) 942-0063 IRONPONY.COM SOUTH EAST CYCLES 23105 AURORA RD. BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (440) 439-5300 WWW.ROLLINGTHUNDER1OHIO.ORG ROLLING THUNDER OHIO CHAPTER 2 VFW POST 3383 690 WEST WATERLOO RD. ROCK N ROLL HARLEY-DAVIDSON 4985 W. 150TH STREET SPECIAL INTEREST STOPS AKRON, OH 44314 ROLLINGTHUNDERCHAPTER2OHIO.COM CLEVELAND, OH 44135 (216) 252-3111 ROUTE 30 HARLEY-DAVIDSON 350 TARHE TRAIL NATIONAL PACKARD MUSEUM 1899 MAHONING AVENUE NW WARREN, OHIO 44483 (330) 394-1899 SAM CENTER - SERVING AREA MILITARY, VETERANS & WIDOWS 413 LINCOLN WAY EAST MASSILLON, OH 44646

UPPER SANDUSKY, OH 43351 TATTOO SHOPS 330-956-6162 419-294-4951 GREATER GOOD TATTOO COMPANY WWW.SERVINGAREAMILITARY.COM SOUTH EAST HARLEY-DAVIDSON 201 S. FRANKLIN ST. VETERANS OF FOREIGN WARS 23105 AURORA RD ASHLEY, OH 43003 35 E. CHESTNUT ST.

BEDFORD HEIGHTS, OH 44146 (740) 413-4042 5TH FLOOR, SUITE 506 (440) 439-5300 VALLEY HARLEY DAVIDSON 41255 RECO RD. BELMONT, OH 43718 740-695-9591 127 FORT HENRY RD. TRIADELPHIA, WV 26059 304-243-9300 WARREN HARLEY-DAVIDSON 2102 ELM RD CORTLAND, OH 44410 (330) 395-4700 RESURECTION ISLAND RESURRECTIONISLANDTATTOO.COM VETERANS ORGANIZATIONS AMERICAN LEGION PORTAGE POST 496 1945 MOGADORE KENT, OH 44240 330-673-9743 WWW.KENTAMERICANLEGION.ORG AMVETS DEPT OF OHIO 1395 E DUBLIN GRANVILLE RD. SUITE 222 COLUMBUS, OH 43229 614-431-6990 EXT. 101 COLUMBUS, OH 43215 614-224-1838 WWW.VFW.ORG VFW AUXILIARY OF OHIO 35 E. CHESTNUT ST. #410 COLUMBUS, OH 43215 614-227-0358 WWW.OHIOVFW.ORG VFW POST 7570 9160 LAWRENCEBURG RD. HARRISON, OH 45030 513-367-6633 WWW.HARRISONVFW.ORG SERVICE (MOTORCYCLE) WWW.OHAMVETS.ORG VIETNAM VETERANS OF AMERICA BALCER PERFORMANCE & AMVETS RIDERS CHAPTER 71 BUCKEYE COUNCIL RESTORATION 4829 INDUSTRY DR. 35 E CHESTNUT ST. 565 BROADWAY AVE UNIT R FAIRFIELD, OH 45014 5TH FLOOR, SUITE 501

BEDFORD, OH 44146 513-858-3079 COLUMBUS, OH 43215 (440) 945-6829 AMVETS RIDERS OF OHIO 614-228-0188 BENT WRENCH 5985 SR 56 WWW.VVAOHIO.COM 2709 ST RT 60 ATHENS, OHIO 45701 WASHINGTON CTY VETERANS SERVICE

LOUDONVILLE, OHIO 44842 740-590-1577 COMMISSION (419) 994-5812 WWW.OHIOAMVETSRIDERS.ORG 706 PIKE ST. #1 MARIETTA, OH 45750 740-568-9009

Winter Maintenance

The holidays have passed and it's cold. Now I don't completely hate winter because it gives me time to do maintenance on my bike, or the repairs that I have been neglecting throughout the final months of the riding season. Before I dig into the bike I will do a little homework online and see if there are items that are known to be problematic on whatever model of bike I am working on. I take advice on forums with a grain of salt, but I will still look into things that seem to be common, and make a judgment for myself. and maintenance. Since sprocket changes generally come with chain replacement, wither is a good time to check the tension, alignment and wear. If you chain has side to side play, and/or your sprocket teeth are getting pointy, it's time to for replacement parts. Brakes: Look in there and see if you can see the friction material on your brake pads. This may take some time with a flashlight to see. Minimum thickness of the friction material is around .040”. A dime is about .050”, so if the friction material is thinner than a dime, it's time to replace the pads. *A notable exception is the 08 and up Hd bagger brakes. Those pads are thin from the manufacture, but they last a very long time. Refer to your owners manual for measurements. Cables: This is a must do for any motorcycle regardless of miles and winter is a great time to dig into this. Loosen the adjusters and pull the rubber shields back and see what the cable looks like. If it looks frayed or rusty, replace it! Cables are generally cheap to replace, and your average mechanic can do it themselves with some time, patience, and a manual. Plus if you push your luck with old cables, it is likely going to leave you stranded sooner or later. Battery tenders: There is no reason not tow own and use one of these on your bike. The cheap ones work just fine and they are super simple to use. Put it on your battery whenever you are not going to be riding for a few weeks. Regular usage of a tender will make your battery last longer, and it always be waiting with a full charge when you are ready to ride.

Let’s look at the common mileage related maintenance points of most motorcycles.

Tires: How is your tread depth? Winter is a good time to find sales on tires, and get them swapped out before the spring thaw. Even if your tires have decent tread depth, you should consider how old they are. After about 5-6 years you should consider replacing tires because as tires age, the rubber gets hard. Older tires may ride fine on dry pavement, but as soon as you hit wet pavement, you will quickly notice how slick things get. New tires should handle about the same on wet or dry pavement, under conservative riding conditions. I am sure a few of you are going to balk at this notion, but think about how your car handles in the rain vs dry pavement. To find the “born on date” on the side of your tires, look around the sidewall and you will see a four digit number in an oval shaped spot. The first two numbers are the week of the year, and the second two numbers are the year in which the tires were manufactured, Example: “1317” would be the 13th week of 2017. This is also good to check when you buy new tires, so you don't end up with a set that have been sitting on the self for 5 years. Oil/fluid changes: Now you don't necessarily need to change your oil in the spring just because the bike sat all winter. This is especially true with modern synthetic lubricants. Any moisture that accumulates in your oil will likely burn off within the first 15 minutes of engine operation. However if you are close to a scheduled oil change, now is a great time to knock it out, and then you get to start out on fresh oil in the spring. Driveline: AKA Chains and Belts? HD belts should last at least 50k. I have heard of many lasting longer, but it is good to check the alignment and tension. Chain life can vary drastically based on type pf chain Now it's no secret that it gets cold in the winter here, and freezing temps make hitting your knuckles hurt even more. Everything hurts more when it's cold. Now maybe your garage does not have heat, but Skidmark Garage does! So stop on up and become a member, because everyone is welcome at Skidmark, regardless of skill or knowledge. If you join in the winter, Brian, the owner, will help figure out a way for you to get your bike to the garage. If mid repair you find yourself a little stuck, you can always ask another member for assistance. Or if there is an area you would like to learn a lot more about, like maintenance, carbs, or whatever, you can take a class from Knoble Moto. Knoble Moto is a partner of Skidmark Garage. We teach classes for the DIY crowd, on all aspects of motorcycle repair. Entry level maintenance, valve adjustments, carburetor cleaning and tuning, drive line service, suspensions, and even engine work. Our class subjects are updated regularly, so check back often. If there is a subject you do not see covered, shoot me an email at knoblemoto@gmail.com Find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/knoblemoto, Instagram Knoble_Moto and www.KnobleMoto.com