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Heated riding gear in Colorado

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JANUARY 25, 2022 BY MOTORCYCLE RIDER NEWS LEAVE A COMMENT

TFLBike is Colorado-based, and we ride whether summer or winter. Buying the kit, you need to start riding with a heated vest and gloves is expensive, though. Motorcycle Rider News shares a TFLBike product review on heated riding gear and is the reward worth the investment.

What costs less is stacking layers when you go out to ride, but many jackets can restrict your movement and get in the way. Plus, nobody wants to carry all those layers everywhere you go once you dismount.

We teamed up with Revzilla to test out some basic Gerbing gear and see if it is worth the price. TFLBike can be found on YouTube, Facebook, and Instagram

Please take a minute to watch this video and give us your thoughts

https://youtu.be/AMJDugBd-gg

Sharks vs. Bats

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There is a lot of friendly banter between Street Glide (bat) and Road Glide (shark) owners.  Most people are partial to the bike they have and will turn a blind eye to whatever pros they hear about the other bike.  They have a clear favorite between the two bikes and some either love or hate one or the other, no matter if their shoulders get tired after a long ride or if they get shifted on the roads on a windy day.

I owned a Street Glide for a very brief time before I discovered that I like the Road Glide better.  The batwing fairing mounted on the front end made it heavy for me in high winds, to make U-turns, or to maneuver around in a parking lot.  

I must admit a few years ago, I always thought the Road Glide was ugly with the previous two-head lighted style fairing, but the newer, more shark-nosed Rushmore fairing is bad ass!

I asked Frank Nusser who owns a Street Glide why he likes his bat, “I like the classic and clean look of the batwing.  I enjoy how it feels on the open road and have had no problems with wind.  It is a motorcycle; the wind is why I ride.  The controls are closer for me to reach and see as well.  I feel comfortable and in total control with my batwing.”

Kirk Woodward who has a Street Glide but recently bought a Road Glide said, “with one long day in the wind and as advertised, there is a huge difference in how the Shark handles wind with the fatigue factor going way down compared to my Bat.”  He continued by saying, “there are many other things I love about the Shark, but most of those I attribute to the fact that it is brand new and Harley has made a lot of improvements in handling, so much so that this bike almost rides itself and inspires tremendous confidence.”

Hayden James was involved in an accident with his Road Glide earlier this year.  He re-capped about what happened, “I slid the bike low side to avoid hitting the trailer.  The bike laid down exceptionally smooth for doing 45ish miles an hour.  It was not until after the accident, I found out the tires caught traction on the road, and the bike did a barrel roll through the air.  The windshield and passenger seat backrest hit the pavement, the bike continued the roll, landed on its right side, and slid 50 feet.  All things considered it is mostly cosmetic from sliding, scratched bags, fairing, and bent crash bar.  Having gone completely airborne then hitting the ground, I am really impressed.  If it were not for the bent crash bars, road rash on the bags, and the broken windshield, you almost wouldn’t be able to tell it was in an accident.”

I asked Ed Collins, a fellow shark owner what his thoughts were on this topic and he said, “Let’s be honest the bat is a creature known for its unique, mysterious, and exceptional style, which can very well be used to describe the Harley Davidson batwing (Street Glide) arguably the most stylish designed motorcycle ever conceived.  The shark on the other hand is designed for the long haul, decreasing rider fatigue by taking pressure of prolonged exposure to wind and buffeting from riders’ arms and shoulders and distributed into the frame of the bike.”

All in all, both models have some amazing technology packed into the fairing with the Infotainment systems, touchscreens, speakers, and gauges.  We cannot forget the new Milwaukee Eight engine found in all the 2017+ touring models.

So, which one is better?  I feel you would have to ride them both to determine that and everyone has a style and preference of their own.

Results are in for the BEST of the BEST 2020 Contest

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In the July 2020 issue, Colorado Rider News brought back the BEST of the BEST contest.  We have tallied the results and want to thank everyone who took the time to fill out the survey and vote for your favorite biker owned businesses.

Best Breakfast

Best Breakfast

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – Wrigley’s Chicago Bar

Best Burger

Best Burger

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – The Piper

Best Pizza

Best Pizza

   1st place – Wrigley’s Chicago Bar

   2nd place – Wide Open Saloon

Mile High Tattoo

Best Tattoo

   1st place – Mile High Tattoo

   2nd place – West side Tattoo

Best Chicken Wings

Best Chicken Wings

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – The Piper

Best Bloody Mary

Best Bloody Mary

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – Wide Open Saloon

Best Craft Beer

Best Craft Beers (TIE)

   1st place – Yard House

   1st place – Dry Dock Brewery

Shannon – Best Bartender

Best Bartender – Female

   1st place – Shannon Dirty Dogs

   2nd place – Stephanie – Jake’s Roadhouse

Matt Dowse The Piper

Best Bartender – Male

   1st place – Matt – The Piper

   2nd place – Darrin – Dirty Duck

Best Dealership

Best Dealership – Harley-Davidson

   1st place – Rocky Mountain Harley

   2nd place – Avalanche Harley

Best Dealership – Non-Harley

  1st place – Sun Enterprises

   2nd place – Tri-City Cycle

Best Independent Dealership & Best Service

Best Dealership – Independent

   1st place – Wicked Influence

   2nd place – Motorado

Best Service

   1st place – Wicked Influence

   2nd place – Thunderbirds

Best Rally & Event

Best Rally/Event

   1st place – Freedom Fest

     2nd place – Veterans Rally Cripple Creek

Best Local Biker Band

Best Local Biker Band

   1st place – Hillbilly Demons

   2nd place – Brian Hornbuckle

Best Biker Movie

Best Biker Movie

   1st place – Easy Rider

   2nd place – Wild Hogs

Best Colorado Day Trip

   Best Colorado Day Trip

1st place – Peak to Peak

   2nd place – Million Dollar Highway

Best Biker Business Retail

Best Biker Business – Retail

   1st place – Renegade Classics

   2nd place – The Werkes

Best Non-Retail Biker Business

Best Biker Business (Non-Retail)

   1st place – Colorado Rider News

   2nd place – Rider Rescue Towing

Best Sewer

Best Sewer

   1st place – Lydia’s Sewing

   2nd place – Renegade Classics

BEST BIKE NIGHT * BEST BIKER PATIO & BEST BIKER BAR

Best Bike Night

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – Wide Open Saloon

Best Biker Patio

   1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – Wide Open Saloon

Best Biker Bar

  1st place – Dirty Dogs Roadhouse

   2nd place – Wide Open Saloon

The Atlas Hitch

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Expo Vendor #2009

Sturgis always gives small publications like Colorado Rider News an opportunity to see what new products are out there in the biker community, and the Atlas Hitch was a product that I knew I just had to do a review on. The first thing that came to mind when I saw this was WHY HADN’T THIS COME OUT SOONER. As with Shark Tank episodes, it takes someone to with a little ingenuity to solve a problem that all bikers have…which is transporting their bikes.

Traveling on your bike is always the preferred means of travel, but there are times that you just need to tow your bike and drive your vehicle to your destination. Some more mature riders can’t take long rides anymore, and large groups traveling long distances usually travel with some sort of chaser vehicle that can carry everyone’s stuff and help in the event of an emergency. The question is, what do you do when a bike breaks down?

Sure, you can call a tow truck and wait sometimes hours for them to arrive especially when you are out of state and don’t have friends that can come get you.

Women riders are growing in record numbers and wanting to travel independently to rallies and events all over the country, but not everyone has a trailer or means to get their bikes to their event.

The Atlas Hitch is for Motorcycle RESCUE and for TRANSPORT and was invented by JAB Dynamics (Patent Pending) and is a MADE IN THE USA product.

JAB Dynamics was founded in July 1996 by owner & CEO, John Berggren. JAB Dynamics is a 28-year old company, which truly defines outside the box approaches to delivering high quality, long-lasting and easy to use products to our customers. We are not waiting around for the next great idea – we are actively creating it.

Since the first motorcycle was built in the late 19th century, committed riders have struggled to find a safe and convenient way to transport their motorcycle, when riding is not a viable option. The Atlas Hitch is designed to be easy and safe to use. It only takes one person just a few minutes to load or unload a motorcycle or Trike. The Atlas Hitch allows you to safely transport your motorcycle or Trike without the fear of injury, high-risk maneuvers or damage to your motorcycle or Trike.

The Atlas Hitch took years to be developed. The parts are machined, laser cut, and powder coated to last. The Atlas Hitch can be used on any vehicle the comes stock with a 2” receiver & can handle 600 pounds of tongue weight. The Atlas Hitch can handle (most) motorcycles with a tire width of 3.5” to 7”, providing the front foot pegs (mounting brackets) are accessible or up to 10” wide tire with the Spider option. If you choose to tow your motorcycle backwards, then securing the handlebars is REQUIRED so they do not turn (i.e. Dirt Bike, Spider).

The Atlas Hitch is on wheels so you can roll it to your vehicles hitch, then just crank it up until level with your receiver and slide it in. To store the Atlas Hitch, just wheel it under your workbench or in the corner of your garage. Truly our product is built for to be handled easily! Whether you select to utilize our manual crank model or prefer the electric version, both will provide you with the ease of self-independence and care when transporting your motorcycle. Yes, it is that easy!

The Atlas Hitch retails for $1,499.00 and beats the cost of purchasing a small bike trailer. It can easily be stored in your garage and kept in the back of your truck when traveling. It is easy to use for men and women! Jab Dynamics is continually adding accessories to the Atlas Hitch to make it easier for the consumer such as an LED tow light kit, adjustable light bar and Pintle Hitch for 6 different mountain positions

If you ride in a group, club or organization that does a lot of rides, this Atlas Hitch can be an extremely valuable addition as it can be pulled with any vehicle that can handle 600lbs of tongue weight. The Atlas Hitch allows you to get a bike safely and quickly off the road and keep you moving on your ride.

For more information on the Atlas Hitch, please visit their website at and watch their YouTube video. I am sure many of you will see why we gave this product 5-stars!

Q&A with owner John Berggren

What inspired you to create/build the Atlas Hitch?

It occurred to us that when a motorcycle breaks down you only have a couple of options for rescue, an expensive tow truck or a friend with a trailer. Trailers are expensive and you need room to store one. I needed something that allowed me to transport my motorcycle without having to rely on a friend or a trailer to easily load and unload by myself.

Ultimately, I needed a way to take my bike to the shop for routine maintenance without my wife having to pick me up and take me back. I wanted to be able to take the family and bring my motorcycle with me on a trip. The Atlas Hitch solved it all.

Does the Atlas Hitch need to be licensed like a trailer?

No, the beauty of the Atlas Hitch, in addition to its convenience and safety, is it does not require a state license or tab. We suggest you check with your local Department of Licensing for specific towing instructions/restrictions.

Can the Atlas Hitch be used on any vehicle?

It can be used on any vehicle with a 2” receiver able to tow a trailer of similar tong weight. Most all vehicles, slated for towing, will tow the Atlas Hitch with ease.

Can the Atlas Hitch handle any type of motorcycle?

The Atlas Hitch can handle any type of Motorcycle or Trike with a front tire width of 3.5”-7”, if the front foot pegs (mounting brackets) are accessible for the securement system.

Do the handlebars need to be secured by straps to keep them from turning?

Only as a secondary safety system or if you haul your bike backward, then securing the handlebars is REQUIRED so they do not turn. We provide a handlebar strap set to use with off-road motorcycles (dirt bikes) and for a secondary safety system.

Is the Atlas Hitch hard to use?

It is easy to use. We have a manual crank or an option for the electric version. It stores on wheels so you can roll it to your vehicles hitch. You just crank it up until level with your receiver and slide it in. It’s a breeze!!
How do you store it when it is not being used?
It has wheels for storage. Just wheel it under your workbench or in the corner of your garage.

Is the Atlas Hitch safe to use?

The Atlas Hitch is designed to be easy and safe to use. It only takes one person just a few minutes to load or unload a motorcycle. Loading a motorcycle on a trailer is dangerous riding or pushing up a ramp and it is more dangerous coasting a motorcycle backward down a ramp. The Atlas Hitch allows you to safely transport your motorcycle without the fear of danger or high-risk maneuvers or damage your motorcycle.
Does the Atlas Hitch come with a warranty?
The information for the warranty is viewable on the product page under the terms tab.

Ride Free or Die Movie Review

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Ride Free or Die movie is an insider’s look into the political world of motorcycle clubs. The clubs are fighting for their constitutional rights against what they perceive as law enforcement profiling and harassment. The documentary features Mongols MC, Outsiders MC, Devils Disciples MC, Sin City Deciples, and clubs from all over America.  Our local leaders in the Colorado Confederation of Clubs were also featured in this movie.

Motorcycle clubs are regularly portrayed as gangs on shows such as Sons of Anarchy, Mayans MC and The Devils Ride.  The theme of these TV shows is violence, drug running, as well as demeaning women as pass arounds with no value in the club.  While this is entertaining on TV shows, the truth is that most motorcycle club members are family orientated and believe in a biker code of loyalty, honor and respect.

It is important to understand the legal definition of motorcycle profiling because it happens every day to riders across the nation. There are an estimated 10 million registered motorcyclists in America representing all walks of life. They include doctors, lawyers, business owners, military veterans, blue collar workers, and even state legislators. 

Unfortunately, the overly broad outlaw biker stereotype embraced by many in law enforcement results in selective enforcement and discriminatory traffic stops targeting a sizable portion of the motorcycling community.  To understand your rights as a rider, you should know the definition of motorcycle profiling as it relates to the law. 

The definition of motorcycle profiling  is as follow: the arbitrary use of the fact that a person rides a motorcycle or wears motorcycle related paraphernalia as a factor in deciding to stop and question, take enforcement action, arrest or search a person or vehicle.

Solely relying on appearance as opposed to the legal requirement of conduct amounts to discrimination and violates federal law. You should immediately consult a motorcycle attorney and explore your options. Depending on the circumstances of the stop there are numerous potential claims that may be brought under Section 1983 of the Civil Rights Act.

Profiling violates the 1st Amendment. Being in a motorcycle club or organization, and displaying symbols of association, are both irrefutably protected by the 1st Amendment. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in the case of Cohen v. California, 403 U.S. 15 (1971) that individuals have the constitutional right under the 1st Amendment to wear clothing which displays writing or designs and has long recognized and protected the right of an individual to freedom of association. More recent cases confirm that 1st Amendment protection specifically applies to motorcycle club and organization colors and clothing.

Profiling violates the 14th Amendment. In Whren v. US (Supreme Court, # 95-5841, 1996) the Court made a clear distinction between discriminatory stops and mere investigatory stops. The court said, “The Constitution prohibits selective enforcement of the law.”  Although the 4th Amendment is not the proper basis for a complaint, discriminatory or selective enforcement stops are a violation of the Due Process and Equal Protection Clauses of the 14th Amendment.

Profiling violates the 4th Amendment. When the duration of the stop extends beyond the reasonable amount of time to adjudicate the traffic infraction then the stop is may be found unreasonable under the 4th Amendment. There is no set time for a reasonable stop because the circumstances of each stop are unique.

This movie will show dash cam and body cam videos of law enforcement violating the 14th and 4th amendments with no probable cause other than the vests and club colors they are wearing.

Ride Free or Die is available to download on Amazon Prime Video and we hope that readers will take time to watch this movie and will walk away better informed.

Product Review: The Atlas Hitch

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Sturgis always gives small publications like Colorado Rider News an opportunity to see what new products are out there in the biker community, and the Atlas Hitch was a product that I knew I just had to do a review on. The first thing that came to mind when I saw this was WHY HADN’T THIS COME OUT SOONER. As with Shark Tank episodes, it takes someone to with a little ingenuity to solve a problem that all bikers have…which is transporting their bikes.

Traveling on your bike is always the preferred means of travel, but there are times that you just need to tow your bike and drive your vehicle to your destination. Some more mature riders can’t take long rides anymore, and large groups traveling long distances usually travel with some sort of chaser vehicle that can carry everyone’s stuff and help in the event of an emergency. The question is, what do you do when a bike breaks down? Sure, you can call a tow truck and wait sometimes hours for them to arrive especially when you are out of state and don’t have friends that can come get you.

Women riders are growing in record numbers and wanting to travel independently to rallies and events all over the country, but not everyone has a trailer or means to get their bikes to their event.

The Atlas Hitch is for Motorcycle RESCUE and for TRANSPORT and was invented by JAB Dynamics (Patent Pending) and is a MADE IN THE USA product.

JAB Dynamics was founded in July 1996 by owner & CEO, John Berggren. JAB Dynamics is a 28-year old company, which truly defines outside the box approaches to delivering high quality, long-lasting and easy to use products to our customers. We are not waiting around for the next great idea – we are actively creating it.

Since the first motorcycle was built in the late 19th century, committed riders have struggled to find a safe and convenient way to transport their motorcycle, when riding is not a viable option. The Atlas Hitch is designed to be easy and safe to use. It only takes one person just a few minutes to load or unload a motorcycle or Trike. The Atlas Hitch allows you to safely transport your motorcycle or Trike without the fear of injury, high-risk maneuvers or damage to your motorcycle or Trike.

The Atlas Hitch took years to be developed. The parts are machined, laser cut, and powder coated to last. The Atlas Hitch can be used on any vehicle the comes stock with a 2” receiver & can handle 600 pounds of tongue weight. The Atlas Hitch can handle (most) motorcycles with a tire width of 3.5” to 7”, providing the front foot pegs (mounting brackets) are accessible or up to 10” wide tire with the Spider option. If you choose to tow your motorcycle backwards, then securing the handlebars is REQUIRED so they do not turn (i.e. Dirt Bike, Spider). 

The Atlas Hitch is on wheels so you can roll it to your vehicles hitch, then just crank it up until level with your receiver and slide it in. To store the Atlas Hitch, just wheel it under your workbench or in the corner of your garage. Truly our product is built for to be handled easily! Whether you select to utilize our manual crank model or prefer the electric version, both will provide you with the ease of self-independence and care when transporting your motorcycle. Yes, it is that easy!

The Atlas Hitch retails for $1,499.00 and beats the cost of purchasing a small bike trailer. It can easily be stored in your garage and kept in the back of your truck when traveling. It is easy to use for men and women! Jab Dynamics is continually adding accessories to the Atlas Hitch to make it easier for the consumer such as an LED tow light kit, adjustable light bar and Pintle Hitch for 6 different mountain positions

If you ride in a group, club or organization that does a lot of rides, this Atlas Hitch can be an extremely valuable addition as it can be pulled with any vehicle that can handle 600 lbs of tongue weight. The Atlas Hitch allows you to get a bike safely and quickly off the road and keep you moving on your ride. 

For more information on the Atlas Hitch, please visit their website at https://jabdynamics.com/Product/atlas-motorcycle-tow-hitch and watch their YouTube video. I am sure many of you will see why we gave this product 5-stars!

Q&A from owner John Berggren

What inspired you to create/build the Atlas Hitch? It occurred to us that when a motorcycle breaks down you only have a couple of options for rescue, an expensive tow truck or a friend with a trailer. Trailers are expensive and you need room to store one. I needed something that allowed me to transport my motorcycle without having to rely on a friend or a trailer to easily load and unload by myself.

Ultimately, I needed a way to take my bike to the shop for routine maintenance without my wife having to pick me up and take me back. I wanted to be able to take the family and bring my motorcycle with me on a trip. The Atlas Hitch solved it all.

Does the Atlas Hitch need to be licensed like a trailer? No, the beauty of the Atlas Hitch, in addition to its convenience and safety, is it does not require a state license or tab. We suggest you check with your local Department of Licensing for specific towing instructions/restrictions.

Can the Atlas Hitch be used on any vehicle? It can be used on any vehicle with a 2” receiver able to tow a trailer of similar tong weight. Most all vehicles, slated for towing, will tow the Atlas Hitch with ease.

Can the Atlas Hitch handle any type of motorcycle? The Atlas Hitch can handle any type of Motorcycle or Trike with a front tire width of 3.5”-7”, if the front foot pegs (mounting brackets) are accessible for the securement system.

Do the handlebars need to be secured by straps to keep them from turning? Only as a secondary safety system or if you haul your bike backward, then securing the handlebars is REQUIRED so they do not turn. We provide a handlebar strap set to use with off-road motorcycles (dirt bikes) and for a secondary safety system.

Is the Atlas Hitch hard to use? It is easy to use. We have a manual crank or an option for the electric version. It stores on wheels so you can roll it to your vehicles hitch. You just crank it up until level with your receiver and slide it in. It’s a breeze!!

How do you store it when it is not being used? It has wheels for storage. Just wheel it under your workbench or in the corner of your garage.

Is the Atlas Hitch safe to use? The Atlas Hitch is designed to be easy and safe to use. It only takes one person just a few minutes to load or unload a motorcycle. Loading a motorcycle on a trailer is dangerous riding or pushing up a ramp and it is more dangerous coasting a motorcycle backward down a ramp. The Atlas Hitch allows you to safely transport your motorcycle without the fear of danger or high-risk maneuvers or damage your motorcycle.

Does the Atlas Hitch come with a warranty? The information for the warranty is viewable on the product page under the terms tab.

Motorcycle Transport Specialist, LLC.

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By: Mark “Munky Mark” Berman

I have been riding a motorcycle for 53 years, and driving a tow truck for 45 years. In those years, I have seen bikes dragged on flatbeds, dangled off the backs of wreckers and other situations that you wouldn’t believe.

[Read more…] about Motorcycle Transport Specialist, LLC.

The Platte Bar & Grill

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By: Stormy
stormyperfect@gmail.com

When you hear bikers say, “Let’s meet at the Platte,” they are not talking about somewhere along the banks of the 310-mile Platte River. They’re referring to The Platte River Bar and Grill on Santa Fe Drive in Littleton, CO. This is a popular hangout for bikers, especially after a long ride in the canyons. It’s near 285, so it’s easy to get to. You would usually find riders hanging out on the patio deck. This gives them a good vantage point to their bikes down below in the ample motorcycle parking lot. It’s funny to see them discreetly nudging each other when they see someone gawking at their chromed-out masterpieces. [Read more…] about The Platte Bar & Grill