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Cycle Electric 50 amp charging system install – on a 1986 FXR

Installed back in 1994, the 22amp Cycle Electric charging system on my 1986 FXR had finally given up the ghost by the end of the 2010 riding season. The packing in the regulator had started to melt and drip from the housing (but the unit continued to work!). I couldn’t complain, I’d gotten my moneys worth. For a part that lives in such a severe environment the 18 years of service is a testament to the quality and durability of Cycle Electric products. Continue Reading →

45dgree Staff, A Good Read, Products, Reviews, Stephen Berner, Tech & Mechanical
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POTD_ worn brake pads are dangerous

Wearing your pads to this point indicates you are not paying attention and should probably NOT be riding a bike.

45dgree Staff, Picture of the Day, Tech & Mechanical
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EDUCATION… BAKER DRIVETRAIN STYLE!

Join Baker Drivetrain at the Power Sports Institute main campus in Cleveland Ohio in Saturday April 21, 2012 for a full day Drivetrain Seminar with Bert and the BAKER Crew. This will be a very comprehensive hands-on seminar covering every aspect of V-Twin Drivetrain technology. Continue Reading →

45dgree Staff, Tech & Mechanical, The Bump
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BAKER Drivetrain: DD7 Transmission Use & Review Follow-up Report

Manufacturer’s are learning that when a product is submitted to 45dgree for use & review – it gets used & reviewed. We are not going to simply tell our viewers that the part/product  was installed with “no problem ” and worked “great” (and what does that really mean?) unless it did.

Nope, 45dgree ain’t playing that lame game…… Manufacturer’s deserve more thoughtfulness applied to these editorial communications  and we feel our viewers absolutely deserve more truthfulness and information than what is served up by those on a never ending swag hunt.

Yea, we are changing it up, and it’s about time, ya think?

So, with all that said and out of the way, I’d like to report on how the BAKER Drivetrain DD7 has worked for me over the year since it was installed at Rosa’s Cycles by the man himself, Bert Baker (with some help from Professor Kenny). Continue Reading →

Products, Reviews, Stephen Berner, Tech & Mechanical
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Mid Controls by TPJ

So I’ve been getting a few orders for the mid controls lately at TPJ so I figured why not a little tech article on installation. When I made these mids up I wanted something that can take a beating and make your ride way more comfortable. Continue Reading →

Tech & Mechanical, TPJ Customs
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Camshaft Basics

It is pretty safe bet to say that everyone has their own opinion of what camshaft dynamics should be used for a particular engines style and function … kind of like cooks in a kitchen … take 15 cooks and ask them to all cook the same thing and you will get 15 different tastes, some really good and some that flat out suck! Continue Reading →

A Good Read, Steve "Posie" Pfaff, Tech & Mechanical
A metallurgical defect, ya think?
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SNAP goes the crankpin_POTD@45dgree

We got this image from one of our top secret operatives in Nor Cal. Details to follow.

Continue Reading →

45dgree Staff, Picture of the Day, Tech & Mechanical
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Hoppe Industries XLS Fairing: install & review

If you’ve got a bike with a 39mm Narrow Glide front end (Dyna or Sportster) and want to have a proportionate fairing that has the capability of providing musical entertainment and protection from the elements, Hoppe Industries has just what you’re looking for. John Hoppe has come up with an awesome fairing that is a simple “plug ‘n play” item once installed. You can simply plug in any device with a 3.5mm mini jack (like an iPod ‘Shuffle’) and you’re set for miles of polka music, self-improvement recordings (that’s what I need!) maybe even a little rock ‘n roll! Continue Reading →

Doug Wozney, Products, Products & Reviews, Reviews, Shopping, Tech & Mechanical
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FXR Suspension by Race Tech

A check of the paperwork revealed that a few weeks ago, literally 13 years to the day that I first got the front end for my FXR back from Race Tech, I ‘d sent it in again – for the same thing – a soup to nuts rebuild. The truth is, if you keep a machine long enough, you will wind up going back over your original work, refreshing some of your modifications…  because most everything on an older machine is a ‘wear” item and in time will require replacement. Continue Reading →

Reviews, Stephen Berner, Tech & Mechanical
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Tank fab w/ Lock Baker @ Eastern Fabrications/3

Tips and techniques to mount your tank

Now that you have your fully welded tank, we can move on the all the little details like filler neck, petcock bung, tunnel, and tank mounts. I like to do the tunnel first because you have to see where your tank will sit to determine where the highest and lowest points will be. Continue Reading →

A Good Read, Lock Baker, Stephen Berner, Tech & Mechanical
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DOUGZ: Hogtunes Tweeter Pod and 902.2 AA speakers install

Photos and words by Doug Wozney of DOUGZ Custom

If you own one of the Motor Company’s batwing fairing’d touring models you’ve most likely ‘tuned up’ the sound at the rear of the bike already. Now how’d you like to do some ‘tuning up’ in the front as well? Enter Hogtunes 902.2 AA speakers and their HF-1 Dash trim/Tweeter pod. Here is an unbeatable combination of great looks, great fit, and sound quality like you’ve never experienced on two wheels. Continue Reading →

Products, Tech & Mechanical
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CAMSHAFTS, WHAT THEY ARE AND HOW THEY WORK, pt2

By Steve “Posie” Pfaff

It is pretty safe bet to say that everyone has their own opinion of what camshaft dynamics should be used for a particular engines style and function … kind of like cooks in a kitchen … Continue Reading →

Steve "Posie" Pfaff, Tech & Mechanical
Working it hard at Custom Design Studio
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Polishing Basics: Custom Design Studio

In this installment we’re going to discuss the polishing process. Sometimes you get dust or dirt nibs in your final clear coats. If you want a show quality finish, you should consider taking it that last step.

Sometimes you just want to get rid of that “orange peel”. That’s the term used to describe the paint surface that has mild surface texture to it. Most ” orange peel” is caused by low gun pressure, lack of adequate reducers to thin it down, or both. Continue Reading →

Kirk Taylor, Tech & Mechanical
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Proper Gasket Installation – the James Gasket way

Gasket Installation Techniques and Considerations
In these tough economic times, many riders are choosing to service their bikes at home rather than take them to their local shop or dealership. This can be a way to save a few bucks on labor. Keep in mind though, a qualified mechanic at a reputable shop will back his or her work which will give you piece of mind down the road, if your skills are sketchy. Continue Reading →

45dgree Staff, Tech & Mechanical
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Custom Design Studio: on cleanliness

I’m Kirk Taylor and my shop, Custom Design Studios, has been in business since 1988. We started by satisfying the needs of the motorcycle community because there weren’t many good, reliable painters in this area. Now, by way of background, I grew up in a machine shop where Pops was making Springer and Girder front ends back in the 70′s – so to dispel a common myth… I’m not just a bike painter. I do complete custom fabrication work, ground up customs and just about everything in between, including service – to pay the landlord. Continue Reading →

Featured Artist, Kirk Taylor, Tech & Mechanical
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Custom Cycle Engineering & Race Tech partner to fix an FLHR

I was looking for substance and innovation in regards to Dresser products at the VTwin Expo in Cincinnati. I had seen a press release from Custom Cycle Engineering, Rick Whitehead’s company touting a new product, a beefed up, redesigned FL triple tree and so, was drawn to Rick ’s booth at the VTwin Expo, the place where the trade is introduced to new product and gets to learn about some of the how and why’s behind the what. Continue Reading →

Tech & Mechanical
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BAKER DD7 and +1 Oil pan

All of the important steps in prepping your machine for this install are outlined in the service manual and in the excellent documentation that BAKER suppliers with the trans – and you’d be well served to follow them if you are feeling ambitious and are inclined to tackle this project yourself. Continue Reading →

Stephen Berner, Tech & Mechanical