Belted Vs Shafted
Q I’m looking at buying a Suzuki Boulevard or a Kawasaki Vulcan. Reading articles comparing the two bikes, I found it interesting that the authors preferred belt drive to shaft. I always thought that shaft was the way to go. I am officially confused; could you shed some light on the subject for me?
Bob
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Photo Gallery: Tech Questions and Answers – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

I like greasy motorcycles. Not dirty motorcycles, but greasy ones. Motorcycles where all the sliding, pivoting and rotating points are protected from harm by a nice film of waterproof high-pressure grease. In blunt language, few motorcycles are greased on a regular basis. Sure, some guys will pick up a grease gun from time to time and pump up whatever Zerk fittings are reachable, but how many of us take the time to grease all the points that need it as often as we should? I know I don’t…

Photo Gallery: Tech Tip: Greasing Your Motorcycle – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

Chain Me Up-Chain Me Down
Q. I’ve got a new 650 ABS V Strom and it’s everything I expected it to be-great. The chain I swore I’d never have is also everything I expected it to be-a pain.

Photo Gallery: Tech Questions & Answers – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

I was a little surprised when someone recently asked me if it was possible to rack up a hundred thousand (or more) miles on a late model cruiser without making any major repairs, and if it was, what sort of maintenance it would take to do it. My knee-jerk reaction was to start cataloging all the things that would need doing, but the more I considered the question, the more I realized that while all devices are subject to the whims of mechanical misfortune, the current crop of motorcycles are for the most part as reliable as anvils, and, barring any unforeseen mishaps, will last almost as long while needing only slightly more attention.inline_mediumwraptextright26152097/tech/1002_crup_routine_motorcycle_maintenance1002_crup_02_z+going_the_distance+.jpgTrue

Photo Gallery: Routine Motorcycle Maintenance – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

Winter is a tough time for riders, and it can be even tougher on your motorcycle, especially if you’re keeping it on the road. Short trips, low temperatures and roads covered in a corrosive slurry of sand and slime can really tear up a bike. Here are six tips to make it easier on you and your ride when Old Man Winter blows in.

Photo Gallery: Winter Riding: Six Tips to Maintain Your Bike – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine

Few things are more aggravating than opening the door to your trailer and finding your bike on its side. I had a race bike come loose once, and was mightily upset when I discovered my custom-painted Bultaco now looked like it had been dragged behind a truck. I can only imagine how I’d have felt if it were a show bike. A better tie-down system would have prevented the carnage, but I’d never installed one-mostly because I needed the trailer to carry gear other than race bikes, and everything I’d looked at required bolting hardware to the trailer floor, which would have interfered with lugging things like lawnmowers and sheets of plywood. By the same token, I hauled a lot of bikes in those days, and often there’d be three or more stuffed in there so I had to be able to configure my tie-downs to suit.

Photo Gallery: Bolt It On Rack System – Motorcycle Cruiser Magazine