The Reefer tucks nicely beneath the voltage regulator

The Reefer is designed to fit the Street Glide, Road King, Road Glide, Electra Glide and H-D Trike models. (The RF-1 fits 1999-2008 while the RF-2 is designed for 2009 and newer bikes. Alternative versions are also available for Softails.) Installation of the Reefer is straightforward with some of the most user-friendly instructions I’ve ever encountered in a project. After draining your oil and removing the filter, clean the filter base of oil and grit. A two-piece adaptor is then taken apart with the internal section being attached to the threaded filter spigot and sealing on the filter gasket surface. The second half of the adaptor is then reattached using the six hex bolts (thread locks recommended). The oil adaptor is finely crafted and finished, with internal cavities that channel the oil through the filter first and then reroute it through the cooling fixture. This rerouting also causes the oil to course over a thermostat switch that monitors oil temperature. The installation of the adaptor is permanent with no need to remove it in the future.

The “magic” of the Reefer is the twin fans that kick in at 220 degrees

Next on the list, remove the nuts securing the voltage regulator to the frame’s front cross member, raising the regulator up high enough to access the mounting studs. (Since you’re in this deep, go ahead and inspect the engine’s front mounting bushing and replace if needed.) Slide the Reefer mounting bracket plate over the regulator’s studs, place the regulator housing back in place and reinstall the two nuts. Remove the chrome cover from the fan module and bolt the fan assembly to the bracket with the two button-head cap screws. Hand tighten only, as you will come back later to make adjustments and to install the cover. Install the two braided steel oil lines to the end of the twin fan assembly. Route the lines according to the instructions (pay attention to which lines go where) and connect them to the oil adaptor. A special open-end, crows-foot wrench is included for this part of the operation. The fan’s electrical conduit is then snaked behind the voltage regulator and the two female spade connectors attached to either side of the thermal switch. The balance of the conduit wiring is run up the left side of the frame, securing it with tie wraps along the downtube. Slide the chrome cover back over the twin fan unit, apply some thread lock to the bolts and secure.

The conduit is run inside your bike’s fairing for two purposes: to access a power source for the fans and to install the LED indicator light. This light is illuminated whenever the fans are activated. (And figuring out exactly where you want to install the LED may be the most difficult part of this entire process.) After drilling a hole in the fairing and installing the LED indicator, it’s a simple matter of sorting out the remaining wiring, splicing in the included fuse holder and hooking the entire harness up to the bike’s existing headlight hot wire as indicated in the instructions.

The unit’s stainless braided oil lines are almost hidden from view

Install a new oil filter on the adaptor and add oil as required. Start the bike, let idle for a few minutes, kill the bike and check for leaks. Then go for a two- to three-mile ride, stop and check for leaks again. It is recommended that after an initial ride and allowing the bike to heat up and cool down that you check the four adaptor hex bolts that lie along the outside perimeter of the oil filter (the other two are behind the filter and cannot be accessed without removing the filter).

The Reefer uses a 17-row heat exchanger located behind the dual fans to cool the oil. The oil is constantly flowing through these fins whether the fans are activated or not. But when the oil temperature reaches 220 degrees (think Main Street Sturgis, South Dakota), the thermostat switch detects the increase, completes the circuit and sends power to the two 150 CFM fans that blow air through the heat exchanger, dropping the oil temperature to 190 degrees before shutting off. (Allowing a motor to heat to 210–220 degrees is considered the ideal temperature to burn off internal condensation.) So whether you’re moving or not, that oil is receiving a constant blast of motor-saving air.

The fans are whisper quiet and the only time you will know they’re running is by the LED indicator (the indicator can be mounted in a multitude of locations in case drilling a hole in your fairing is not suitable to your tastes). Plus the airflow created by the dual fans is down low, under the bike and not directed towards the bike operator. The effectiveness is obvious with a reduction in engine ping and knock and better performance due to consistent operating temperatures. The peace of mind it delivers alone is worth the investment.

The adaptor is machined from 6061 aluminum and is an excellent piece of craftsmanship, fitting perfectly with no misalignments. The dual fans are water resistant and dustproof, while the all-vital thermal switch is rated at 100,000 cycles of service. Installation averages about two hours and only requires basic hand tools. An easy-to-install unit that looks this good and works this efficiently should be at the top of every bike owner’s “must-have” list. You owe it to your motor.

Reefer Oil Cooler
UltraCool Oil Cooling Systems
Model RF-1 $399
www.ultracoolfl.com
831.630.1322

Saddlemen Motorcycle Seats
800.397.7709
saddlemen.com

Harley-Davidson Illumination 360-degree Rain Suit for women – jacket

Harley-Davidson Illumination 360-degree Rain Suit for women – pants

The jacket features pull cords and toggles at the waist and a removable hood. The pants have an anti-slip butt section to keep you planted in the saddle in wet weather, heat-resistant shields on the lower legs and full-length zippers with hook-and-loop storm flaps. Starting at $275, the Rain Suit comes in women’s XS–3W sizes and includes a convenient storage bag to house both during pretty riding days.

Harley-Davidson
harley-davidson.com

In the case of the Justin boots, I was pleasantly surprised when I found my socks nice and dry after being caught in an unexpected deluge miles from civilization. The steel toes mean that even after a long day of shifting gears through the twisties, there’s none of that tender-tootsie stuff that I used to get across the top of my toes with my last pair of boots.

This broad, square-toe, solid work boot is somewhat heavier than most women’s styles and took some getting used to. The Gypsy style proved to run large, requiring a smaller size than I typically wear, and the break-in period was painless due to the J-Flex flexible insert. Considering I wear these boots everyday, comfort is a priority, but the fact that these fancy-stitched boots still look nice enough to go dancing in even after a daily beating on the road is a nice bonus.

Küryakyn
866.277.9598
kuryakyn.com

Daytona Twin Tec LLC
386.304.0700
daytona-twintec.com

Küryakyn
866.277.9598
kuryakyn.com

Belt Drives LTD
714.693.1313
beltdrives.com

Aeromach USA, LLC
800.990.9392
www.aeromach.net

Dante and Diva Dawn, who had her Metal di Muse jewelry and accessorie​s stand set up at the Broken Spoke, check out the bike show

Even those who lament the “death” of all those trees to feed a media hell-bent on devastating our green planet are having a hard time justifying their case since environmentalists have reported that print media is actually a lot cleaner than using a computer. (Most computer recycling companies are, in reality, waste brokers, shipping massive amounts of complex plastic and electronic trash overseas for dumping, causing horrific impacts in a number of developing countries.) The Editor’s Choice Bike Show was offered as a way to promote bathroom libraries of a more conventional nature.

Devised by Editor-in-Chief of Cycle Source magazine, Chris Callen, the Editor’s Choice Bike Show invited 16 of the print industry’s elite publications to participate in a concerted effort to highlight print media in the motorcycle industry. And it included all the heavy hitters—our favorite female editor Marilyn Stemp with Iron Works was there, as was Big Joe Knezevic and Dain Gingerelli in support of American Iron and Motorcycle Bagger. World-famous moto-photographer Michael Lichter was on hand representing Easyriders magazine, along with Englishman and Nurse Nut from The Horse-Backstreet Choppers and a long list of others. No

Bike show entrant James Mead modified his 2000 Road Glide with a left-hand throttle and linked brakes to accommodate his arm amputation that occurred at age 5

matter the class—bobber, chopper, rat, touring—if it was custom, there was a magazine there to represent it. Handling the judging chores for THUNDER PRESS was our North Editor, Marjorie “Shadow” Kleiman and myself, South Editor. Each publication would select one bike they felt best suited to their particular demographic and present an award along with a feature article in a future edition. And although Daytona Bike Week is noted for orchestrating some of the more nonpareil bike shows in the nation, you dangle 16 opportunities to score a photo spread of your personal creation in a national publication, you’re gonna stir up some attention.

Bill Dodge of Bling’s Cycles is presented the Editor’s Choice Bike Show award by Thunder Press North Editor Shadow, as emcee Jack Schit looks on

Held at the Broken Spoke Saloon, the Editor’s Choice was sponsored by Twisted Tea and ramrodded by Heather Walker, assistant operations manager for the Spoke. Registration opened at noon, but a series of thunderstorms rolled through the area at the same time, which extended the deadline until 4:00 that afternoon. On top of the trophies and the photo shoot awarded by each magazine, an additional 12 classes would receive awards from the Broken Spoke and Twisted Tea. On top of everything else, there was no fee charged to enter your bike in the show. So by the time the rain had stopped and I arrived around 2:00, the tall cover that extends between the band stage and the open-air bar was packed with entries. And what an eclectic gathering it was, ranging from tasteful custom vintage models to an extreme Ironhead Sportster that had to be at least 12 feet long. Choosing a winner would be a challenge even for this talented group.

With all the creative customs in the show it was tough to choose a winner, but Thunder Press editors Robert Filla and Shadow selected this Bling’s Cycle bobber built by Bill Dodge

We had been asked to pick our favorite three just in case there was an overlap and two magazines each selected the same bike. Surprisingly, Shadow and I came to a consensus rather quickly without much bickering. But of course with that many magazine judges scrambling to get the one bike they felt best tailored for their rag, there were some conflicts. Instead of settling the matter with knives drawn, each of the parties had a pow-wow, discussing the merits of their nominated machine, eventually coming to a compromise without bloodshed. (We were here to show the unity of print media, not to concentrate on our differences.)

In the end, 60 bikes ended up entering, some on the spur of the moment—like Bobby Seeger, owner of Indian Larry Motorcycles, who rode in on his personal bike just to check things out and it was mandated he enter by the powers that be. He ended up winning the Easyriders Editor’s Choice award along with top honors in the Bobber Class. Shadow and I chose a sanitary build by Bill Dodge with Bling Cycles of Daytona (you can see that feature on page 24 of this issue).

The show was a great success and Callen hopes to repeat it throughout this year and into the future. And it was refreshing to see the loyalty of our readers in such a tangible way. Bikers remain traditionalists; slow to change, clinging to what has been proven to work. This rag you’re holding is evidence of that—so enjoy your dead tree, ’cause it still rocks.