Laidlaw's Customized New Bikes

             After being in the Harley-Davidson business for over 50 years we have seen a lot of bikes come and go. We have seen a lot of customized bikes and have gotten a feel for what people want to bolt onto their iron steeds. So on occasion we will take a fresh bike from the factory and equip it with some custom bars, chrome, wheels, paint, etc. to give it that “stand-out” look. Plus it’s easy to see stock Harley-Davidsons at any dealer and we like to give our customers some extra eye-candy.

Now these bikes don’t get built to win any trophies or get into magazines, they are built for our customers and are all for sale. We try to create a nice “start” for potential riders who are looking for a custom/radical look. Going over-the-top and dumping a bunch of money into them isn’t what we are after for a couple reasons. First, we want to still keep them in customer’s price range and second, the more you change/add the more the finished product has to fit into the image of what the ultimate buyer is looking for.

The last benefit these bikes have is one of economics. Basically we can make these upgrades a lot more cost effective than if the final customer bought the bike and turned around and did the same stuff. This is accomplished by performing multiple tasks at once and reducing labor costs. The savings is then past onto the buyer of the bike.

So check back here periodically even if it’s just to get some ideas for your own bike. But you never know, we may have already started your dream bike and laid down the initial modifications for you.    


2012 Road King Classic (FLHRC) in White Hot Pearl

The first thing you notice when you lay your eyes on this Road King are the ape hanger bars. We equipped this beast with 16 inch Carlini Gangster Apes that are 1.5 inches around, so they are meatier than most. They’ve been topped off with chrome switch housings and brake master cylinder. The clutch and brake lever were also swapped out with their chrome counter parts. Custom Harley grips were also installed to complete the fully chromed-out controls. New braided cables were strung for the brake and clutch and the electrical was internally wired for a very clean Ape Hanger look.

Chrome front forks are the next big item on the list. The Road King has Harley’s kit that includes the upper fork sliders and lower forks. The axel nuts have been covered with the chrome caps and both brake rotors replaced with the high polished ones. Basically the front end of this bike shines!

Next the front headlamps, passing lamps, and the turn signals all have the chrome visor trim wrapped around them giving the lighting situation upfront a serious make-over. The turn signals in the back have also received the same treatment. All around you will see the smoked lenses as well.

The Road King is then finished off with a few other touches of chrome such as the V-logo fender skirt and passenger footboard covers. Overall, the white color accented with tons of chrome makes for a bright, very clean showing motorcycle.   

   by Matt Laidlaw       

77th Street Tribute Ride 7-7-2012

The Los Angeles Police 77th Street Division convened together to organize a committee to promote the ongoing respect and tribute to officers who have lost their lives in the line of duty. This committee was formed in June of 2007 and they have done several things since then to remember these officers. The 77th Street Tribute ride was born and has been held annually for several years now.

Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson has had the honor of hosting this great motorcycle ride 3 years in a row now. By participating in this ride anyone and everyone can pay tribute to those fallen officers and their families. The turn out this year was quite impressive. The number of riders seems to grow each year at this event. There were probably 300-400 riders this year ready to ride and represent the spirit of law-enforcement remembrance.

After everyone lined up and created a sea of chrome in the parking lot they could check out a few booths and grab a quick bite of breakfast. 77th Street had some shirts and other apparel for sale to commemorate the event. There is always the flag ceremony and bearing of colors by the 77th Explorers which adds a great patriotic touch to the event. After a few words of remembrance by a couple of the event organizers everyone saddled up and STARTED THEIR ENGINES!

 Having a police escort on the ride makes a huge difference when compared to not having an escort. Both types of rides can be really fun and awesome experiences but having an escort makes everything more organized and formal. Unescorted rides can create a lane- splitting frenzy that can some times be out of control and more dangerous. Either way big rides are something that every rider needs to try at least once. 77th Street Tribute ride had multiple police escorts both on motorcycle and automobile.

 The Ride was from Laidlaw’s to Original Mike’s in Santa Ana. I personally didn’t participate in the ride but I think the ride went on the I-10 west to the 605 south to the 405 south then exited for Original Mike’s. I plan to join the riders next year, though, and hopefully get some video of the whole event including the ride down. Thank you 77th Street and everyone who made the ride a success!

-by Matt Laidlaw

Wind Splitter Windshield for Touring Bikes!

A couple months ago I mentioned the wind splitter windshield for touring bikes with fairings and now you have the opportunity to demo/test one. We have several to choose from and if you’re looking for something different from a windshield, this is the time to at least try it. This windshield has great styling and great functionality with its capability of effectively managing the airflow (I think better than the stock windshields). If the windshield is not in future plans but a seat is, we also have demo seats! We have several seats that you can try. From a sundowner, to a tall boy, to a reach seat. There is a seat for every style. I happen to be shorter and on a touring bike the reach seat demo made me seriously consider a new seat so that at stops it’s a bit more comfortable balancing a 900 lb. plus bike. Whether comfort or fitment (eg. A tallboy is perfect for the taller rider to stretch out on the road), there are several styles to choose. Visit the Fit Shop online or see or call our Service Department for more information and how you too can try either of these products before you buy.

New Laidlaw's Harley-Davidson Video

New Laidlaw's Harley-Davidson Video...check it out!

Form and Function-Wind Splitter Windshield

Recently I got the HD wind splitter windshield to replace the stock windshield on my touring bike. The 7” dark smoke fit easily and I thought looked perfect on the black bike. Rather than the plain simplicity of the stock one (nothing wrong with the minimalism look but all of us who ride work to create our own distinctiveness with our ride), this sweeping design and curves adds to the fairing and provides true functionality.

The shape decreases noise and improves one’s ability to hear your tunes. With a little height in the center it helps with air deflection (and really does work despite its size). Also the size alleviates the common complication of whether the rider can see the road rather than split your view (like on most when you purchase a windshield you’re sitting straight and thought it was the perfect height until you started riding and after a couple hours you’re slouched and suddenly the windshield is in the middle of your line of site).

Click here and check it out! Let us do this simple install while you wait.

ABS vs. Non ABS

A couple weeks ago I jumped on the freeway by work and quickly got up to the flow of traffic, which at the time was around 50mph.  However, just as quickly as I got up to speed I had to grab a fistful of brake as the cars in front of me came literally to a screeching halt.  The difference this time I had ABS brakes to bring me to a very safe stop less than a foot behind the car.

Since I’ve ridden bikes, until my most recent purchase, that didn’t have ABS it was quite a sensation.  No vibrations, no chattering, no pulsing, no skidding, no fishtailing (and hanging on for dear life), just a quick smooth stop.  It scared the bejesus out of me, like most near accidents do, but I was impressed.  It wasn’t like cars I’ve owned where that pulsing comes into play.  Just smooth (because I can’t think of another word) and safe.  There’s a saying that it’s not if the motorcyclist will go down but when…and I have gone down a few times, twice as an adult.  

I definitely owe this one to my brakes (and yes a bit of luck and experience).

Check out the following if you’re considering a bike with ABS:

Click here to view video online!

Click here to view full article! 

Get out and ride

Looking at the email blast we just sent and one thing strikes me, we’ve been running an iron seat contest (who can ride the most miles in a month), win an easy $100 gift card and a chance for a $1000 gift card, and the same guy keeps winning. In the month of April Bryan DeAvilla rode 3934 miles…that’s 131 miles per day. He ain’t no commuter!!

Did you know that the median average of miles ridden by new riders over an 18 month period is 6600 miles or 12 miles a day (based on nationwide survey respondents to a Harley-Davidson® survey given to people who have purchased a new HD® bike)? Laidlaw’s customers average 485 miles per month or 16 miles per day (data from the same HD purchase experience survey). Mr. DeAvilla is doing 8X that.
It’s disturbing to know people who have a bike over 2 years old don’t even have a 1000 miles. What’s the point? To say you’ve got a Harley? The prestige? What’s the use if the thing isn’t ridden? One doesn’t need to be hardcore and ride in all kinds of weather conditions, which some of us do, but being a poser and having the bike sit in the garage isn’t much fun either.

We started this contest to encourage people to ride. There are lots of good reasons to hit the road on your bike. One reason is that its fun. What’s your reason? Tell us please.
Just get out and ride!

From your Laidlaw’s Harley-Davidson GM