7th Annual Bikerday at the MN State Capitol February 24th, 2010

ABATE of Minnesota will be holding its 7th annual Bikerday at the state capitol on Wednesday, February 24th.

At 9am, several hundred motorcyclists will assemble at the state capitol rotunda to meet with lawmakers and discuss ways to maintain our riding freedom, how to improve the safety of everyone who rides a motorcycle, and discuss other legislative issues that would impact two-wheeled riders in Minnesota.

Your presence is requested to help show support for the sport of motorcycling in Minnesota and help ensure that the safety and freedom of motorcyclists is taken into consideration during the coming 2010 legislative session. If you'd like to participate, feel free to meet your fellow riders at the rotunda at 9am. Just look for the big group of several hundred bikers... they won't be hard to spot!

ABATE (American Bikers for Awareness, Training, and Education) of Minnesota is a non-profit organization that works to educate motorcyclists and the general public about motorcycling. Its members ride a variety of motorcycle brands and styles, but all share the common goal of supporting and promoting the sport of motorcycling in Minnesota.

More information about ABATE of Minnesota and the 7th annual Bikerday at the state capitol can be found at www.abatemn.org

Special Olympics Northland 300 Snowmobile Ride a Big Success

Hitching Post was proud to be a sponsor of the 2010 Special Olympics Northland 300 charity snowmobile ride this past weekend in Two Harbors. The three day ride covers over 300 miles of trails from Two Harbors to Ely and back to Two Harbors.

135 riders turned out for the annual ride and were able to raise over $190,000 for the Special Olympics of Minnesota by selling raffle tickets to win a 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 700 ATV donated by Hitching Post. Over 22 years, the Northland 300 has raised over 3 million dollars that directly benefit the Special Olympics of Minnesota. Impressive to say the least!

Participants battled poor trail conditions and a weekend of crazy weather filled with rain, sleet, ice, snow, and everything in between. Despite all of this, everyone on the trip found a way to have a good time at the event and returned home with memories that will last a lifetime.

At the closing dinner and banquet Dan Weber from Andover, MN was the big winner of the evening taking home the grand prize - a 2010 Yamaha Grizzly 700 ATV.

A special thanks goes out to Kathy, Janel, Mike, and everyone else from Northland 300 for all their hospitality at the event!

ISOC Snowcross Series this Weekend at Canterbury Park

The ISOC/AMSOIL Championship Snocross Series will be making a stop at Canterbury Park in Shakopee this Friday and Saturday, January 22nd & 23rd.

The action kicks off Friday with practice and qualifying rounds starting at 1:30pm. Opening ceremonies are slated for 7pm and will be followed by an exciting freestyle show put on by the Monster Energy Slednecks Invasion Tour.

Click here to check out some sick YouTube footage of these guys in action - it's pretty amazing what they can do on a sled!

The excitement starts back up bright and early Saturday morning at 9am with a full day of racing action scheduled. Qualifying rounds will run through the afternoon and opening ceremonies for the evening finals are slated for 4pm.

Tickets are still available for purchase at the gate. Daily passes are $35 for adults and $15 for youth (7-12) or $45 and $20 respectively for a weekend pass.

The ISOC Snocross Series is always an action packed event that is fun for the whole family, so make plans to check it out this weekend!

Directions to Canterbury Park can be found here and lots of great info, photos, videos, and more from the ISOC Snocross Series is available on their website.

Have fun!

$100 Off Moose Plow Sets This Month at the Fridley Hitching Post

Don't get caught off guard by the next major snowfall and left wishing there was a plow on your ATV to make quick work of clearing your driveway!

This month we're offing a special promotion on Moose plow sets at our Fridley Hitching Post location. Come by and get set up with a new blade, push tubes, and mounting bracket and take $100 off the retail price!

We've got several blade options to choose from including flat blades and angled country style blades in 42", 50", 55", 60" and 72" widths to make sure you get the plow that best fits your machine and your needs. Our professional service team will also be happy to install your new plow to ensure it functions properly when it comes time to put it to the test.

Believe it or not, snow removal can actually be fun when you've got the right tools (and toys) for the job!

Print out the coupon below and stop by our Fridley location today to get set up with a plow from Moose Utilities - one of the leaders in the ATV and UTV accessory industry!

Don't have an ATV or Side-by-Side? Check out our current specials and get on your way to discovering how much fun snow removal can really be!

Links & Resources for Making the Most of this Year's Sled Season

The 2009/2010 snowmobiling season is off to a promising start and looks to get even better with another major snowfall predicted for the long holiday weekend. If you asked Santa for snow this sledding season, it looks like he is going to deliver right on time!

Early indications suggest that we'll be avoiding the dreaded "snow drought" that has hampered the riding season during recent winters. To help you make the most out of this year's snowfall and take advantage of all that Minnesota has to offer during the winter months, we have compiled the following list of online resources for your riding pleasure.

Enjoy!

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources (DNR)

• Snowmobile Homepage
• Snowmobile regulations
• Trail maps
• Snow depth and trail conditions
• Traveling on ice
• Snowmobile safety training and certification
• Informational podcasts

Other Great Resources:

• Minnesota United Snowmobilers Association (MUSA)
• Blue Ribbon Coalition
• GoSnowmobiling.org
• Minnesota Snowmobiling Destinations brochure (free from ExploreMinnesota.com)
• NOAA snow depth maps for Minnesota
• Places to stay and ride
• Snowmobile rentals
• ExploreMinnesota.com
• Snowmobiling in Wisconsin
  
• Minnesota Trail Finder

Metro Area Riding Clubs and Organizations

• Dakota Trails Snowmobile Association
• Sno Barons
• Andover Sno Dragons
• Carver County Snowrunners
• Hastings SnoMos
• Delano Snowstormers
• Monticello Trailblazers
• Westonka Snoblazers
• Coon Rapids Sno Cruisers
• Eden Prairie Snowdrifters
• Savage Sno-Pacers
• Ostego River Riders
• All Minnesota Snowmobile Clubs

Just For Fun

• Snowmobile Hall of Fame and Museum (St. Germaine, Wisconsin)
• Special Olympics Northland 300
• Sled Heads Magazine
• Sled Head 24/7 - snowmobile radio and television
• Sno Barons Hay Days - the "official" start of the snowmobile season - grass drags, stunt shows, swap meet, and more

We hope this helps you get off to a great 2009/2010 sledding season! Got questions? Give us a shout, we're happy to help!

Taz the Monster Truck to Make an Appearance at the Fridley Hitching Post!

If you've ever wanted to see a monster truck up close and in-person, you'll have the chance to do just that this coming Friday, December 4th.

That's right, we are excited to welcome Adam Anderson and his 1475 horse power monster truck Taz to the Fridley Hitching Post.

Stop by anytime from 2 - 6pm this Friday for snacks, refreshments, and the opportunity to meet Adam and take pictures with his one of a kind monster truck based off the famous Warner Brother's cartoon character the Tasmanian Devil.

Also, while you're there, don't forget to pick up your discounted kids tickets (only $5) to see Monster Jam at the Metrodome on Saturday, December 5th!

Hot Deals This Holiday Season at Hitching Post

You don't have to camp out overnight or face potential stampedes to get great deals on motorsports parts, accessories, and clothing this holiday season!

Hitching Post is featuring incredible sales pricing on almost everything in the store now through the end of the holiday season. If you've got a powersports enthusiast on your shopping list, or just want to splurge and treat yourself, we've got you covered with a great selection of parts, apparel, and accessories at unheard of prices.

Click here for a few examples of the great deals happening right now at Hitching Post or stop by any of our 3 metro locations and check out the savings for yourself!

Happy Holidays!

Motorcycle Winterization Tips and Tricks

It was with a heavy heart that I decided last night was the night to winterize my bike and put it away until the spring.

Despite temperatures forcasted to be in the 50's this weekend, the deer woods beckon me and I had to accept the fact that my riding season has come to an end. I suppose the 10 mile ride to work at 25 degrees helped make the call a little easier too :)

If you are still holding out for those final days of the riding season and plan on servicing your bike yourself, below is a motorcycle winterizing checklist and some tips to help you get the job done right:

1. Find a well sheltered place to store your bike. Avoid places exposed to the elements (snow, rain, wind, dirt, direct sunlight, etc).
2. Thoroughly clean your bike. Wash with a mild automotive soap and dry thoroughly - compressed air works great for drying without leaving spots! Wax and polish chrome and metal parts - I used Original Bike Spirits spray cleaner and polish - the stuff rocks!
3. Clean and lube your chain (if it has one).
4. Fill tires to their maximum recommended pressure.
5. Stabilize the fuel system by adding the necessary amount of fuel stabilizer based on your fuel capacity and FILL your tank with gas. I used Seafoam, but Sta-bil is also a popular choice that works well.
6. Change your oil and oil filter. Be sure to run the motor for a couple of minutes afterwards to re-coat all the engine parts with oil. This also allows the stabilized fuel to run through your fuel system and gets rid of any "old" gas sitting in the fuel lines.
7. If your bike is carbureted, turn off the fuel supply and drain your float bowls.
8. Clean all leather with an appropriate cleaner and treat with leather oil.
9. Treat all vinyl with an appropriate product such as Armorall.
10. Lubricate fork tube seals to keep them from drying out and cracking.
11. Add distilled water to your batter if required. Remove battery and trickle charge once a month while in storage. You might also consider getting a Battery Tender that you can leave connected through the winter and will charge your battery periodically as needed.
12. Check engine coolant level and add a manufacturer recommended antifreeze as needed.
13. Put bike on center stand if it has one. If it doesn't, consider placing a piece of plywood under each tire to prevent moisture buildup around tires caused by concrete floors.
14. Seal muffler outlets with plastic wrap and rubber bands to keep critters from making a home in your exhaust pipes over the winter.
15. Use a breathable motorcycle cover to keep dust off your bike over the winter. Avoid using a tarp as it can cause moisture to build up under the tarp as temperatures fluctuate.

All in all, the process wasn't bad and only took me a couple of hours to complete - most of it spent cleaning and detailing! If you're a do-it-yourselfer, I hope this helps you get your bike properly prepared for the winter. If you have any questions feel free to ask in the comments section below!

Prefer to leave the job to trained professionals? Hitching Post is happy to prepare your bike for the winter. We even offer a storage program that includes winterization and heated storage through May 1st for only $299! Click here for details or feel free to call any of our three metro service departments for more information.

Happy Riding!

- Jake

Enter to Win a Pair of Vikings Tickets vs. the New York Giants!

ATTENTION VIKINGS FANS! If you'd like the chance to see the Vikes play live and in-person, the Hitching Post would like to help make that happen.

We will be giving away a pair of tickets from each of our three locations to see the Vikings in action versus the New York Giants on January 3rd.

To register, visit the parts department at any of our 3 Twin Cities locations in Fridley, Hopkins, or South St. Paul and fill out a short registration form and you will be entered to win. It's that simple!

The drawing will be held during the week of December 14th and the winners will be notified by phone or via email. One entry per person per visit please.

Don't miss this opportunity to see the Vikings in action during their final game of the season!

Ever Dropped Your Bike? Don't Feel Bad, So Has Brad Pitt!

Anyone who has ever suffered a bruised ego from dropping their motorcycle will take comfort in knowing that it happens to the rich and famous too.

The celebrity gossip website TMZ reports that actor Brad Pitt was in a minor motorcycle accident last week in Los Angeles. According to witnesses Pitt lost control of his custom bike while trying to squeeze between two cars at a red light. Watching video of the accident it would appear that Brad clipped a parked car with his handle bar causing him to drop the bike.

Click here to watch video footage of the accident

Goes to show that these sort of things can happen to any of us - luckily, most of us don't have the paparazzi following us around to share our embarrassing moments with the entire world!