My heart swells with pride in our Youth & their Teachers here in Grande Prairie

Today, 8 days in advance of Remembrance Day, I got something very, very special placed in my mailbox.

It was a newspaper, wrapped in a letter, tied with red ribbon. It almost looked like a scroll.



When I opened it fully and read the letter I started to cry. I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.

Here's why:

The Grade 6 students at Harry Balfour School know the importance of Remembrance Day and want to share this small gift with you. What Remembrance Day means to me....

It means take a moment of silence and bow your head. Remember all the soldiers that gave up their lives for us.  We are thankful for a country without war.

November 11 means respect.

William

Well William, I want to thank you, your fellow students, your teachers and who ever gifted you with the newspapers to give out.  

You all represent what is good in and about our country. 

Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Belt Drive Betty

Editor & Rider

Proud Supporter Member of the C.A.V.

Member, Ladies Aux, Unit 389 ANAVETS

When a HOT motorcycle is NOT cool!

Doc with Love-Jugs

You hear it from Harley- Davidson riders all the time, “damn my bike is hot”, but they aren’t always talking about the way it looks.

Many a rider, especially those who ride Harley’s have experienced that excruciating thigh burn that comes from creeping along in stop and start traffic during high the heat of the summer.

It’s not a pleasant feeling and it’s definitely not good for the engine of your motorcycle.

Extreme heat can reduce the life of your engine significantly.

I got a set of Cool Master Love-Jugs this summer from Konquer Motorcycles in Kelowna BC. They are the exclusive Canadian distributor for Love-Jugs. My husband installed them for me. According to him, the install was very straightforward and was accomplished in about an hour and a half. Unfortunately I was not home when the install took place however he was kind enough to take photos as he went through the process.

As for how they perform and what they do, I am here to tell you that they work well, very well in fact. Anyone who rides an older Harley in particular knows how hard idling in traffic is on the engine and even with the shields, the heat on your thigh can be mind numbing. Riding hard for long periods in high heat is also not good for your engine unless of course you ride hard for a bit and then stop to let the engine cool. But if you are running Love-Jugs on your bike, neither of these scenarios needs to materialize.

Instructions and warranties

I do a lot of highway riding. I’m not one to enjoy stop and start traffic and traffic jams so I tend to avoid the larger centers when I am on my bike. But even in a really poor riding season of only 6,5000 K (thanks to being sick most of the spring and summer), I still found myself in rush hour traffic once and creeping along in road construction zones a number of times.

We here in the north don’t get as much extreme heat as say, the Okanagan, Drumheller and southern Alberta or the deep south of the US, but it does get hot 30-35 C, or about 100 F for a few weeks every summer. And if in the north was the only place I rode, maybe I wouldn’t feel the need to protect my investment. But, in a decent riding season I’ll put on 35,000 – 40,000 KM’s and I ride in places that get hot and uncomfortable. Because the engine in my bike is air cooled, anything that can be done to increase the amount of air getting to the back cylinder in particular is beneficial.



Keeping the engine cooler does a few things:


1) It protects the engine oils from breaking down prematurely.

2) It keeps your fuel burning more consistently, meaning that horsepower is less affected.

3) Bearings and other moveable parts are protected better, making them last longer.


With the frame mount kit and the vibration master installed along with the Cool Master Love-Jugs, my motorcycle has become a new to me ride. (The vibration master & the frame mount kit together helps eliminate the amount of vibration coming from the cylinders meaning that you have reduced vibration on the horn and the fans.)

My 2010 Ultra runs way better in high temperatures now that I have these beauties on and they look good too.

Their nice low profile means that they are out of the way and cause no discomfort.

Hubby wired my Cool Master Love-Jugs into the accessory switch on the dash. It makes using them super easy.

You can shut the fans off manually right on the fans too, though why you would, I can’t really imagine. (Oh and just an FYI, the fans are marine quality and will not short out due to riding in inclement weather.)

As you can see my Love-Jugs are the stainless, high polish finish but you can get them in gloss black and flat black powder coat too.



They are available for Indian and Harley-Davidson motors.

Visit Konquer Motorcycles web site: www.konquer.ca to purchase if you live in Canada.

You can also visit: www.love-jugs.com to learn a lot more about this amazingly cool product. 

I truly love my Love-Jugs and the Harley or Indian rider in your life might just appreciate these as a very thoughtful birthday, anniversary or Christmas present!

Belt Drive Betty
Editor & Rider

More Images of the install:

American Automotive Service Solutions Provides a Guide to Use When Inspecting a Used Car for Purchase

So you have come up with a budget that you are comfortable with and even gotten a car you love. This is great. Before you seal the deal, you need to inspect it to make sure you are not getting a raw deal. This is all the more important if you will be buying from a private seller. The safest way to go about the inspection is to have your trusted mechanic have a look at it. But if this is not a luxury you can afford, below are some tips to guide you on how to do it yourself.

Look for Rust under the Car

A car that has a rusted frame is bound to have lots of structural issues. Sure you could opt to repair the damage, but be aware it will cost you a lot and eat up most of your time. You are better off choosing another car.

Check the Wheels and Tires

Ideally, tires wear out evenly. If you notice any unevenness, it could be a sign that the car's suspension system is uneven.

The Exterior

Check to see if there is any part of the car’s body with paint shade that does not match the rest. This could be a sign that the body has been damaged. You should, however, ask the reason the paint job was done as there are also chances it could have been done to pimp the car.

The Interior

You obviously want to have a car with an attractive interior. Given that there are individuals who tamper with the odometer, you should be keen to check the mileage and compare it to the overall wear and tear on the interior and tires as well.

Check under the Hood

If you notice the bolts are smooth on the edges, it could mean that the repair work done was shoddy. On the other hand, if you notice the engine features new spark plugs, it is an indication of regular tune-up and maintenance.

Take it for a Test Drive

Before you make the purchase, take it out for a drive. Feel how it responds to you. If it is sluggish, there is a problem. Below are some tips and practices to make your test drive fruitful.

Drive the car cold. You will learn more from a cold engine than a warm one.

Take your car for a test drive on your usual route or one similar to it. Cars always feel great in neighborhoods streets but perform differently on expressways. Mix things up. Do the freeway, rural roads, parking lots and city streets.

Note how the car reacts when you turn the ignition key. Does the engine make weird noises and does it start easily?

Be sure also to check on the controls, transmissions, and brakes.

For more details on our extended service contracts contact American Automotive Service Solutions at 800-293-5048