Editor’s Note: This blog is co-authored by J&P Cycles bloggers Scott Holton and Brett Koranda.

It’s always a feather in your cap as a writer to know that your submissions are read and taken seriously. As a technical writer, it is very gratifying to know that you helped others out. In the past few months, I’ve written a couple of articles detailing issues that are possible with the cam chain tensioners in our beloved Twin Cam engines. These articles have been some of the most viewed posts in the history of the J&P Cycles blog. That in itself is very humbling, and I would like to thank all the … Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: In January we introduced you to our most recent project of updating four bikes: a 2012 Sportster® XL1200V (72), a 2013 Softail® FLS (Slim), a 2012 FLHTCUTG Tri-Glide® and a 2012 Goldwing GL1800P, here. Well since then we’ve shared the work on the Sportster 72 and now we’re showcasing the Slim. Here is the low down on the work done.

Ok, ok, I’m sorry, ok?  I offered Scout’s honor that my blog entries on the build projects would be more timely.  Well, let that be no reflection on Scouts of any kind.  The dishonor is mine.  My humblest apologies – now – … Continue Reading

Editor’s Note: Rick Jessen joined the Daytona J&P Cycles staff in May of 2005 as a phone technician (prior to the opening of the Destination Daytona SuperStore). In mid-2008, he transferred to the then-new Destination Daytona SuperStore showroom to hold a showroom sales/tech position. A below the knee amputee, Rick loves giving back and does so by assisting the disabled with their disability applications. When not working or helping others, Rick and his wife, love riding their Shovelhead.

This first blog in a series from Rick is to show you what can be done to personalize your motorcycle with a little imagination and a J&P Cycles catalog. A plus, one … Continue Reading

Well, how do I top that? My previous blog about the Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam chain tensioners was the most read blog in J&P Cycles’ blog history. We have been asked for permission to reprint or repost a number of times, and in general, I believe it accomplished exactly what I wanted it to.  You can see we had numerous responses from riders sharing their personal experiences. This shows that education regarding how to handle and prevent this was needed. I’d like to thank our readers for taking the time to share with us exactly what they went through. Now, I’d like to address some of the responses.

The most prevalent question … Continue Reading

Here is the ignored elephant in the corner……

There is a potential major issue in the Harley-Davidson Twin-Cam engines. This is a statement of fact, not a bunch of wild guesses.  I’m not here to bash Mother Harley, but you should be educated to its causes, and possible solutions. 

Okay, what issue are we looking at? It’s a very serious one that is enough to alarm you.   However, you can fix these defects and end up with a nice bike. Our objective today is to educate, and we are also going to outline some ways to fight back.   Yes, even the new Harley’s have serious, potential problems.  Even the expensive … Continue Reading

The art of the motorcycle engine has evolved dramatically since the days of the F-Head. In 1921, a Harley-Davidson became the first motorcycle to win a race with an average speed of 100 miles per hour.

The engine — and motorcycles engines in general — have changed dramatically since the early days. Time and technology have taken their toll in both good and bad ways, some would say. During a recent staff meeting here at the J&P Cycles headquarters in Anamosa, Iowa, our resident motorcycle experts and enthusiasts thought it would be interesting to highlight the history of the v-twin engine. From the F-Head, to its evolution as a Harley engine… Continue Reading

There’s always been confusion and conflict when it comes to any discussion about oil, which is of course, the lifeblood of our beloved motorcycles. And I’m probably not going to bring world peace to this topic with anything I’ll say in today’s blog post. Truth be told, this topic has created more debate on our Riders Forum on the J&P Cycles website than any other subject.

In fact, I’m mostly going to stick to the facts in this post, steering away from the controversies for the most part. First off, let’s explore the function of oil in an internal combustion engine — the educational portion of this segment. There are … Continue Reading

Here’s a basic fact about the internal combustion engine: Every single one of them is just a variation of an air pump. As the piston goes down with the valve open, air — mixed with fuel — rushes into the cylinder. As the piston goes up, it’s compressed, spark occurs, power is made, and the spent gases are sent merrily down the pipe. To make more power, we need to get more air in and out of the motor.

“More air means more power” is the mantra for this blog post and the easiest place to show this is with the motorcycle air cleaner assembly. Mother Harley is handcuffed by EPA … Continue Reading