My Star Raider Finally Has All Its' Custom Motorcycle Seats and Saddlebags!

Picked up the Raider at Bitchn Stitchn in Lakewood yesterday morning... and Installed the Raider Saddlebags this morning...

Now anyone who has a Roadstar Raider knows... that nobody is apparently making Saddlebag Mounts or Saddlebags for Raiders... at least if you want hard mount bags... and are using, and liking, for the most part, a Yamaha Raider Backrest.

Well... No Problem! Just fabricate your own Raider Mods... ie. solid, Raider Saddlebag mounts... and then there are plenty of Saddlebags that are gonna fit on a Raider...even if... like me... You are one of the few who LIKE the Stock Yamaha Exhaust pipes! :o)

I'll be building a page on the site in the next few days with pictures from a lot of angles... and some "noise" 'bout how I mounted 'em... etc. but for now... I think those bags... and the two custom seats (Pillion and Drivers seat) are Lookin' Good!

Both seats have a gel insert, with fake ostrich Vinyl and some fancy stitchin'... They added some material to the drivers seat, that moves me about an inch and a half or so, forward... eliminating, for me, I think, the need to replace the handlebars for a better position... right now... I'm happy... so I'll ride it a few thousand miles and make a final decision, some time into the deep dark future.

So... now I'm 'bout to go make a test ride... to see how it all works together... and of course... just because the sun is shining... the road is calling... and there's fuel in the tank!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Saddlebags for My Raider Motorcycle and other Alaska Ride Preparations are Movin' Along...

The Osprey Ltd. Bags are here... and I think they'll work! Though I won't know for sure, for another few days... The Raider is down in Lakewood getting its' Bitchn Stitchn Custom Seat done... to match the passenger seat I had done a while back... and ready it for the comin' 9000 mile journey!

I wanted a fairly plain Motorcycle Saddlebag... and I wanted Leather, genuine, full grain... REAL, leather... when I went looking for Saddlebags for my Raider...

I also needed 'em to be a bit smaller. Like I said... I'm one of maybe three riders in the world, who actually like the factory pipes on a Raider! :o) ... but, 'cause they run so high... they do take up some space... these bags are just a touch over 12" tall.

I'll have to set 'em a touch higher than usual, to clear the pipes sufficient... but if my calculatin' is right... they'll fit... and if' my visualizin' is workin' too... the lines of the bags will fit... I'm hopeful... 'cause it's gettin' late!

The maker at Osprey Ltd. sent me along some loose conchos to mount... 'cause I wasn't tee total sure where I wanted to put 'em... I really like these conchos.

But... with the bags settin' here... I think I've got that figured out already... I just have to punch the strap mounts on the lids... which makes for good "balance"... and they'll cover over the strap rivets at the same time.

Though the Saddlebags are pretty plain, and clean... they are dressed up a touch with a braided binding on all the seams...

The sacrifices with Leather bags are that the seams are NOT waterproof... and you can't lock the bags... but then... I pack my gear in waterproof stuff sacks... and if you think your gear is safe... locked in an ABS plastic box... with most having lids which can be bent up by a palsied four year old...

 ... then your perception of the world I live in... is juuuuust a mite different than mine! :o)

So... at this point I'm pretty happy with 'em... but let's give it 10,000 miles or so... and see if I'm still grinning!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Now... THIS... is a Custom Motorcycle Seat!

A reader of the blog sent me this picture... Not sure if Robert took the pic or he just found it... but that don't change the fact that... This is a pretty awesome seat! :o)... and... uh... just a mite unique! Suh-Wheet!

Yes sir! Hmmm... would appear to be the perfect Custom Motorcycle Seat for an Old Cowboy Biker wouldn't it? :o)

... and to answer his question... Yes... I do believe that Bitchn Stitchn could build a seat every bit the equal of this one! :o)

Wonder how far you could ride... before one of those fellas... ridin' 'round in that sheriffs' cruiser, sittin' in the background... wanna have a "discussion" with you?

Kinda lets a rider know that a lil' inspiration can go a long damn way... don't it? :o)

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Found My Replacement Motorcycle Chaps

We took a run up to Masonville yesterday... to Visit Nostalgic West Leather ...

Mostly, I wanted to scout for a jacket and maybe chaps for Heidi... and maybe see if they carried any leather Over pants... been thinkin' 'bout goin' that-a-way...

I needed to replace my chaps that I ruined a while back from carelessly forgetting them, rolled up in a saddle bag... wet... for a few days... OOPS! ... Don't do that! :o)

Ended up finding far more than I'd expected... and deciding to stay with Motorcycle Chaps... which I bought a set built by First Classics. That company happens to be the same one that built the Jacket which I've been wearing for most of a year now... So I'm familiar and happy with their quality.

Heidi's got her eye on some Motorcycle Chaps of her own... trying to decide between two jackets... and also spotted some likely boots...

It's a good store! :o) if you're bikin' in the Vicinity of Masonville... (just west of Fort Collins, behind Horsetooth reservoir)... stop in and give 'em a look see... good people... and from what I saw... they pretty much only carry good quality... not the "Event Leather" junk... you see at most "Events"...

She did buy a pair of gloves yesterday... but decided to hang fire for a short bit on the other gear... She's taking a Motorcycle Riders Course next weekend... and thinks she wants to wait till after that, to make the decision which gear she wants to wear... Makes sense to me... considering the $cash$ outlay for all of it... and how long that leather Motorcycle Gear lasts!

I have my own opinions... mostly having to do with ATGATT ( all the gear all the time) which I mention here and there :o) but, mostly, I leave the Gear Decision... up to her... though... I push most the folks I know... to use the protective motorcycle gear that's available... to me it only makes sense...

Doing without gear when you ride... so you look "Good"... seems kinda foolish to me... if it has you leaving parts of you... on the asphalt!

That's what it's all about anyway... Riders making their own decisions... walking the talk.

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Sunny Sunday Test Ride on the Bitchn Stitchn Motorcycle Seat...

The weather finally broke a bit. The wind is down, the rain is gone... and we're gonna peel that Motorcycle Cover and put That Red Head on the Road for a test of our new passenger pillion and Star Back Rest system...

I got it put on yesterday... but the road was still muddy... and I'm still "Wussin' Out", when it comes to puttin' her in the mud! :o) ... this was the old seat... the before pic...

... and this is the "New" Bitchn Stitchn seat... with the Yamaha/Star Back Rest in place...

It's a couple inches wider... an inch or so higher... and has a gel insert... The back "Seat" area is fake ostrich, with  stitching embellishing the 1/2 circle insert on the front edge (my pic needs improvement!) ... and they recovered the front panel of the Backrest pad in the Ostrich as well...

I'll get the drivers seat done... as soon as I get the Handlebar 'Pullback' sorted out... so they know where I'll be sitting... but, so far, so good!

Heidi has to be there to open her store at Noon... so I'm gonna haul her in on the Raider... While she's working... I'll do my own "Work"... and ride that Bike! :o) ... well, it works for me!

I'm hoping for some 'progress' this coming week... though it's likely to be expensive... I've got a tail rack ordered that fits the Yamaha Backrest... We also need to pick herself up a new helmet... the one we've got don't fit well.

I'm also, almost, settled on a set of bags out of Texas... anybody have anything to say 'bout a company called Leatherlyke? Their stuff is claimed to be weather tight and lockable... I'd been looking at full grain leather... but... the function of the synthetic stuff is so good... and a whole lot less maintenance needed... so... I'm leanin' that way... anyone have an opinion?... come on... speak up! :o)

A couple of other pieces I want to add to my gear is a full set of Bohn Armor ... and also, to replace my ruined chaps... a set of Leather Overpants...

I'm planning ... uh ... a long ride... and the more complete coverage of full Overpants... more complete than my old chaps... is a plus to me, if it gets a lil' chilly...

... and I'm still trying to find someone who knows where I can find a set of "Pull back extensions"... I saw 'em the other night surfin' around... and forgot to bookmark the site. Can I find it again? Not a chance! aaaaarggggh! :o) These were pretty slick... They fit into the existing handlebar risers... Baron Custom Accessories Makes 'em, I believe... but rather than just adding rise... the top of these were offset... adding 1 1/2" or so of pullback... with only an inch or so of rise... which is perfect for what I need... just can't find the suckers again!

Time for some more Trader Joes, Dark Sumatra Coffee... a lil' more Bob Seeger... and then it's Knees in the Wind!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Motorcycles and Rain...

Now... some folks of the Two Wheeler variety, just hate the rain... they hate every bit and part of it...

Me?... my buddy Mike can attest to it... I can't say but that I love it!

We pull in to some place, and the rain is just thumpin' the ground... bits are dribblin' down your neck... Nasty... right?

I ride in to the stop at a 'coffee break', or a fuel stop, the rain just pouring... and pull off my helmet... gigglin' like a psychotic fool! It's true!... cagers, climbin' out of their cars, just walk into the 'quick mart'... shakin' their heads and wonderin'... at the goofy Old biker... laughin' in the rain! :o)

Why?... For just one reason... It's LIVIN'! Hoo! Ya! 

It's true... just ask Mike!

Now... that said... today I'm just a lil' frustrated... been rain' most of three days... and our rig (we live full-time in a 30' Fiver) is parked at a friends place... 'bout nigh on to three miles from the pavement...

Normally, you'd call that a dirt road... not now... It's a sea of gumbo mud twixt here and there... Even if I could keep my Raider vertical to get there... I don't know that I can bring myself to put her through that slimy muck! :o)

Rain I don't mind... and bein' a cowboy fella... well grounded on agriculture... it's one of those 'blessings' that eases your mind, when it falls... sort of a "There'll be grass for the cows this season" sort of thing... but... mud...

Nasty, slimy, clinging, corrupting, obstructing, crippling, mud... has no place in my world! :o)

I picked up our custom passenger pillion and 'recovered' backrest pad from Bitchn Stitchn yesterday afternoon... We're anxious to put 'em on the Bike... and take a test ride up through the canyons... but not through a sea of that ugly, butt breakin', tank dentin', face mask crusting MUD! :o)

So... till this weather breaks... That Red Raider will stand, protected and waiting, under her motorcycle cover...

That'll give me some time to find a few more parts... One I'm having some unexpected difficulty with is locating some "Pullback Riser Extensions"... They bolt on the top of the factory risers... and are offset a mite, giving another 1 1/2" or so of pullback... I've found some Baron units that are only,  riser extensions... no pull back... I know I've seen what I'm lookin' for... but now that I Want 'em I can't find 'em! aaaaargggggh!

I need to do that part... before I can have Dan and Brian, the Bitchn Stitchn craftsmen/arteests, rebuild the drivers seat... that way, he can adjust the location of my butt... to fit the best... so I'll keep lookin'...

One other 'issue' I think I've figured out is... saddle bags...

The Raider has an issue 'cause of the configuration of it's pipes... I think I'm one of maybe two fellas that actually like the factory pipes!... and I've never found that other biker!

Then... that lil' problem is compounded by the design of the Yamaha Factory Back rest for the Raider... It's a pretty awsome lookin' unit for the most part... juuuuuust one lil' problem...

It's a solid but quick release thing with a key that unlocks the latching mechanism, that lock on to 'spools' mounted on the fender strut bolts. Those 'spools' and the mechanism, are covered by a chrome piece that hangs down and makes a cosmetic shroud for the whole shebang... and, by itself... looks real fine...

How-some-ever... it is also in the way of any sort of 'ghost' or 'easy' brackets....

This is where my stubborn parts come to good use... I was schemin' a clean way of mounting, traditional saddlebags without using 'thow over' bags... which I detest...

...and hit on what I think is a winner of a solution... It will require a small bit of fabrication... and some 'rechroming' work... but will be a solid, permanent, durable and very clean saddle bag mounting solution for my Raider...

The guy that had this bike before me... used a pair of nasty 'throw overs'... which I left where I bought the bike... yyyyyuck!

... but the support bars were still on the bike... I took 'em off and hadn't intended on usin' e'm... but still have 'em!

... So... I'll take 'em... weld four coupler nuts in the right spot on each bar... get 'em rechromed... and with slightly extended fender strut bolts, remount 'em on the outside of the Yamaha Raider Backrest spools...

The "Coupler Nuts" will extend a sliver past the chrome shroud... and allow the clean mounting of Traditional Hard Leather Bags!...If I'm right...that chrome shroud will mostly fill the space between the fender and the bags... How's that for clean?! :o)

...now all I need to do is that welding work... and find the proper bags that will fit, for sure and for certain! ... and they need to fit not only the space... but the look and lines of this awesome Raider Motorcycle! :o)

So... I need it to quit raining!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Passenger Pillion Under Construction at Bitchn Stitchn

The guys at Bitchn Stitchn know their craft... I was impressed. With their help, my start at reworking my new Raider, to be my newest, "Best Touring Motorcycle" is gonna have a Shining beginning!

Heidi has let me know, that although the drivers seat of a Raider is suitably comfortable, the passenger pillion leaves something to be desired. Just like most bikes of it's kind... they just don't put much effort into a passenger seat... After maybe 30 miles or so, that lil' pad gets to holding your attention... and pokin' your butt... or so I'm told! :o) ... so...

I rode into Bitchn Stitchn, just before 9 in the morning so Dan and Brian could set to work strippin' that less than sit worthy, factory pillion.

Brian did most of the skinning, while Dan and I sorted out what it was I was looking to achieve...

They had much of the 'new' base foam put into place by the time Heidi arrived to start the 'fitting' process... and right about then is when oops #2 really took hold...

Bitchin' Stitchin' has their own Backrest system... only... it really wouldn't work, but poorly, with the Raiders seat pan... I'd figured to use their Backrest... and we really needed the rest to know where the seat had to... or could, go... so, a quick phonecall and a Yamaha Backrest, designed just for the Raider was located, in stock, at Coyote Motorsports, up the road a ways...

That was a few hundred bucks I'd not planned on... but... I wanted this done right so I coughed it up!

Uh... oops #2? What was number #1?... Uh... the night before, I flushed the dust off the bike at a car wash... but... they can't work on a seat all full of water! ... so... OOPS! :o) luckily... it wasn't saturated... just had a bit of water that had got into one corner of the foam, that Brian was able to blow dry out in short order... so... if you're heading to get a seat worked on... Keep it Dry! :o)

Took a bit over an hour to collect the Yamaha Backrest, grab some chow at Mickey D's... and run on back to the motorcycle seat shop...  to get it bolted in place...

... and guess what?

The new foam fit like it was designed for that Yamaha Raider Backrest... Their experience was showing! Suh-Wheet! :o)

Dan, Heidi and I spent another bit of time, while Brian was cutting in the gel pad, and installing the final wrap of foam... hashing out how and what the cover would look like... and actually decided to redo part of the Backrest Pad too... so it ties right in to the rest of the bike...

... 'course the total plan includes recovering the drivers seat as well... but I can't do that until I replace the factory handlebars...

When I sit, all the way back in the seat, and sit how I want to sit... the factory grips are too far forward... forcing me to lean, a bit too much... the cure, for me, is to find a proper set of Pull Back bars... to position my hands where I want 'em... Letting me sit in the easy posture I want...

The factory bars are more of a drag bar type I guess... I'm lookin' at a variety of bagger, beach or dresser style bars... just have to make a decision which ones seem to fit the best.

Keep watching... there will be a full article on the site... with more pictures... as soon as I get it all put together...

Then? On to the Saddlebags! :o) This is gonna take some careful calculating as well... I'm apparently one of the few who actually like... and prefer the stock pipes on my Raider. The only problem I'm having is that those pipes run pretty high, taking up space where bags need to sit. Sooooo... I'm going to have to get a mite creative and squeeze bags of proper shape and function... into the space I have...

It's a sweet ride, setting up a bike to fit just you...

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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Motorcycle Passenger Seat for My Raider

I'll Ride to Denver tonight, soon a I get off the day job. We're scheduled in at Bitchin' Stitchin' tomorrow morning at 9.

The plan is to rebuild the passenger pillion on the Raider into more of a passenger touring seat... add some width, a backrest, and gel cushion.. The existing just won't get it done... a typical brick on a fender... 

The guys at Bitchin' Stitchin' have built a good reputation... I've talked to several folks that have used 'em... so we're hopeful for a good looking and good riding passenger seat...

... Then... it's on to getting saddlebags and a fender rack worked out...

I'm looking hard at a company...called Osprey Limited for some more traditional looking, full grain leather bags... just haven't made the final decision yet on which style and just how much... if any... studs or conchos I'm gonna want on 'em...

Fender Racks are probing a bit more elusive... I've only found a couple laser cut versions that don't do anything for me... I may just look into shaping something up myself and then getting it either chromed or powder coated... we'll see...

What I want is to be able to swap between the passenger seat and a solo fender rack with out a whole lot of hassle... should be a doable deal with Yamaha's easy setup... just one key and two cap screws... should be able to swap out in 'bout a minute!

Let you know tomorrow... or the next day... how the seat turned out!

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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It's Springtime in the Rockies... and Time to Get Our Motorcycles Ready for Summer!

Pulled the trigger on a Bitchn Stitchn motorcycle seat and made an appointment for mid April. They actually build the seat right there and then... while you wait!... at least, I suppose, as long as what you want isn't too radical... and hopefully what I have envisioned, won't be.

But... I like the idea of how they do things... Other places... You order what they have. This place... they take the person who's gonna sit on the seat... sit 'em on the seat. Then, carve and whittle on that seat, with the person there to test out what they've done. They actually fit the motorcycle seat to the butt that's gonna occupy it.

Now That is a custom motorcycle seat! :o)

Heidi is gonna take a Motorcycle Riders Course in either April or May... Not sure how much she actually wants to "Ride her own"... but wants to give it a go... so I started 'familiarizing' her on the V Star, last fall.

I don't intend to teach her myself... at least at first... I just want her to be fairly well familiarized with a bike, before she takes the class... I think she'll be able to get more out of it that way... and avoid the lil' "battles" you can often have between "Him" and "Her" in such matters. :o)

I'm not pushin' one way or the other... It's my belief, that's an un-smart thing to do. Riding a motorcycle is way too personal and intense a choice. A person has to want to ride, and answer the question; "Why Ride?" in their own way and for their own reasons... If I Talked her into it and anything bad happened... I don't want to be the one that badgered someone into something...

That said... I'm looking forward to Splittin' the Wind... Together! :o) Two Stars, Rolling on Freedom Road?... SWEET!

I'm also looking into Bohn Armor... for the both of us. Anybody have any experience to share? I like the idea of it... mostly curious 'bout the durability and long day comfort of it... words from someone, not, connected to their site would be good!

Have to get to work on the V Star for Heidi... She (the bike!) needs some maintenance... 32,000 miles and the forks seem a lil' soft... along with an engine leak that's developed this winter... See! HD's aren't the only motorcycles that need some TLC once in a while!

Still haven't settled on Saddlebags for the Raider... I like the Corbin Fleetliner bags... just can't choke up the price just now... So... and when I think about what 'fits' me... not just the bike, I always seem to come back to a Leather covered, hard bag. I just like that style...

... so... I'm snoopin' 'round for such a bag... and likely ghost type brackets to mount 'em... They'll have to be a smaller size bag... and likely mounted a mite higher than usual, to fit over the stock pipes... That's Ok... I'm a 'smaller' type guy... So my jeans are littler and need less packing space! :o)

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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It Ain't over... Till It's Over... Choosing a Motorcycle Seat

Hmmm... I'm still cogitatin' on the Motorcycle Seat change on my Star Raider.

The factory passenger pillion just ain't gonna get it done... Momma ain't comfortable on that sucker... and... if Momma ain't happy... you know the drill!

What I'm wantin' is a quick change... solo/two up seat set up... A solo seat with a classy fender rack for the majority of my riding... and a passenger/back seat for when the Boss Lady rides with me... all made to be "Quick Change" using the ability to do that already built in by Star Motorcycle...

Heidi was talking to a customer of hers that rides a big scooter... a Yamaha... some variety of a Star I believe. The gal had good things to say 'bout Bitchin' Stitchin' down in Lakewood, Colorado.

So... I'm planning on takin' a close look at what kind of a custom Motorcycle seat arrangement they might could build for us... They'd been recommended to me by a dealership in Denver, and that's fine... but... I like to hear the same recommendation made by folks on the Road... who have put their butts on the seat for a few miles!

Maybe they can take my "idea" and create us a one of a kind seat that'll keep the Queen happy... so we can spend a lot more miles... Splittin' the Wind!

... and I'm wafflin' on my Motorcycle Saddlebags as well... I like the Corbin Fleetliner design... but... I like plain, leather covered, hard bags as well. I just haven't found any, yet, to fit the Raider... so I'll keep on scoutin'.

Grab Your Handles and Ride!
Brian

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