You love your dad, right? So why dishonor him on Father’s day with golf tees or a silly necktie? He probably has enough of both, and doesn’t want more of either. This is his day, so make it a Father's Day to remember. 

With less than two weeks to go until the big day, you might not have time to ride around Indianapolis looking for things to buy. Thankfully, the perfect Father’s Day gift can be found at one place: Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson. While we can’t think of a better present to give pops than a brand new Harley, we understand a motorcycle might not be in your budget for the big guy. That’s why Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson also stocks all the awesome parts, accessories, and other cool Harley-Davidson products your dad is sure to love.

Let’s highlight a few of the gift ideas you’ll find in stock today at Indiana’s oldest and best-known Harley-Davidson Dealer, Indianapolis Southside Harley:

Harley-Davidson Tour-Pak Luggage & Saddlebag Interior Light Kit

Is your dad a traveling man? Before he takes his Indianapolis Harley out on another road trip, equip him with a Tour-Pak illumination kit that turns night into day when he opens up his luggage carrier or saddlebags. These super-bright LED light pods mount right inside the bags, and mean no more fumbling for gear when it gets dark outside. Each battery-operated pod features a 5-minute auto shutoff timer to conserve power when he needs it the most.

Harley Bike Wash Kit

Long rides leave dad’s Harley looking dirty. Cleaning up is never a chore with the Harley Bike Wash Kit. It’s packed with everything he needs to keep his motorcycle looking like the day he bought it. The Harley Bike Wash Kit includes:

• Sunwash Bike Soap
• Bug Remover
• Wash Mitt
• Bug Eater Sponge
• Synthetic Drying Chamois
• Microfiber Detailing Cloth 

Harley-Davidson Helmet Hanger

Motorcycle helmets can be expensive. They’re also as bulky to store as dad’s favorite bowling ball. Protect his helmet and get it out of the way with the Harley-Davidson Helmet Hanger. This ingenious storage hook comes in two shapes, and both work with any type or size of helmet. Hang the S-hook from a closet rod, or mount the J-hook to a wall. The hooks get your dad’s helmet off the ground, which allows air to circulate inside, keeping liners fresh and dry.   

For Father's Day deals going on in your favorite local Indy Harley store, check out our Motorclothes Weekly Flash Special. But hurry, these deals don't last long!

Not sure which one of Southside’s many Indianapolis Harley-Davidson accessories to choose for dad? No sweat! Call or visit us and talk to a sales associate for friendly, expert advice. You can always opt for a Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson gift card and let dad buy whatever the heck he wants!

No matter which gift you decide, a genuine Harley-Davidson product from Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson is the perfect way to give your dad the Father’s Day he deserves.

This is what you have been waiting for – the summer riding season. But along with this much-anticipated time of year comes some hot-weather riding. You have to deal with heat from the sun, ambient heat from the road and heat generated from your motorcycle. Harley Davidson offers a number of products that are designed to help keep you cool and comfortable while in the saddle.

The key to maintaining comfort during hot-weather riding is proper air circulation, whether it is deflecting hot air away from you or circulating cooling air toward you.

Check out the following HD Accessories that are sure to help cool you down on hot summer days.

1) MID-FRAME AIR DEFLECTOR

This Mid-Frame Air Deflector, designed specifically for severe duty and extreme temperature applications, will improve your comfort during the summer riding season. The kit includes all required mounting hardware.

Here’s how it works:
» Inconspicuous black deflectors attach to the frame and surround the top of the rear cylinder head

» The scoop shape captures the moving air and uses the flow to direct the heat down and away from you to improve comfort

Available for Dyna® and Softail® models.

2) VENTILATOR WINDSHIELD

With the use of side-mounted vents, you can adjust the airflow from the Ventilator Windshield to match your riding conditions. Opening the vents will redirect the air across your chest for a cooling effect and closing the vents will provide maximum wind and weather protection

3) MOTORCYCLE COVERS

Motorcycle covers, such as the Harley-Davidson® Oasis Day Cover, will do an excellent job of keeping your bike cool and protecting it from UV rays while it is parked. Lightweight and compact for travel, the easy-to-store Oasis Day Cover rolls into the built-in bag. With rear hook-and-loop closures, the cover can easily slip over your motorcycle’s antennas, and the elastic bottom hem and footboard stirrups ensure a snug fit.

4) SADDLEBAG COOLERS

Perfect for hot summer rides, the Harley-Davidson® Saddlebag Coolers are fully lined and insulated to keep beverages cold. These zippered bags conveniently fit right into your existing saddlebags and have room to keep up to twelve 12-oz. soda cans cold. Available in Slant or Square Style.

5) SADDLEBAG GUARD BAG AND WATER BOTTLE HOLDER WITH BAR & SHIELD LOGO

The storage section of the Saddlebag Guard Bag features a hook-and-loop outer closure as well as a zippered inner closure to keep items such as sunglasses, wallets and cell phones secure while still allowing easy access. This bag also features a removable water bottle with the Bar & Shield logo, providing convenient access to water anytime on long rides, making it a great warm-weather product.

6) CIRCULATOR SEAT AND BACKREST PADS

The 3D construction of the Circulator pads promotes air movement and reduces heat buildup where your body touches the seat or backrest. Designed to keep you cool by reducing the perspiration buildup between you and the seating surface, the Circulator Pad can be installed or removed in seconds for easy cleaning. The low-profile design minimizes seat-height change compared to inflatable pads, while enhancing comfort with its shock-absorbing construction. Manufactured of UVstable materials, these pads resist fading when exposed to the sun. The elastic under-seat strap and non-slip base provide secure installation. A complementary Circulator Passenger Pillion Pad, which attaches to the rider pad with hook-and-loop tabs, is also available.

7) FAIRING LOWER DETACHABLE HARDWARE KIT

A great way for you to beat the summer heat and prepare for around-town cruising is by removing the fairing lowers on your Ultra Classic® Electra Glide® model. This kit includes highly polished stainless steel clamps that are detachable without the need for tools.

In addition to HD Accessories, here are some other tips to keep in mind when riding in hot weather.

AVOID OVERHEATING AND DEHYDRATION

To keep yourself cool and in control when summer temperatures climb, you must also keep your body temperature in the proper range. Riding when the outside temperature is greater than 90 degrees can be dangerous to your health. Unless you take the proper care to keep your body temperature under control, rides as short as an hour can result in heat exhaustion or heat stroke. Other suggestions include: -keep your trips short -take frequent pit-stops, -drink plenty of water throughout your day and trip -wear breathable riding gear designed to let your body cool down. Below are a few examples of available hydration gear.
 

When you're riding along on a hot day, the wind rushing by can quickly whisk away perspiration, nature's cooling system. It's easy to become dehydrated without even realizing it.

If you feel fatigued or flushed, or if you suffer cramping in the arms and legs, see darks spots, or are dizzy, you are likely suffering from dehydration. If left untreated, dehydration can lead to heat exhaustion. Heat exhaustion in turn leads to heat stroke, which can creep up on you, and it can be deadly! Symptoms of heat stroke are headache, dry skin, and disorientation. Extreme cases involve complete loss of consciousness.

Lack of fluids is the number one trigger of daytime fatigue, and even a mere two percent drop in body fluids can result in fuzzy short-term memory, confusion, and difficulty focusing. Not something you want to experience while on your bike!

How can overheating and dehydration be prevented?

Take precautionary measures, including the following:

· Drink plenty of fluids, especially on hot, sunny days. Drink at least a quart of liquid before you leave and then at least that much every hour you're riding, more if it's really, really, hot. Avoid tea, coffee, soda, and alcohol, as these can lead to dehydration. Drink appropriate sports drinks to help maintain electrolyte balance.

· While riding, take frequent drink breaks and keep your body cool by misting with water or using a wetted neck/head wrap. Rest in a shaded or air conditioned area when stopped.

· Make sure you are taking in more fluid than you are losing through perspiration. A good rule of thumb is you should need to urinate every time you stop. Try to schedule your ride during the cooler parts of the day, such as early morning and late afternoon.

· Wear lightweight, absorbable, breathable, loose-fitting clothing in light colors. Exposed skin can speed up dehydration.

· Protect yourself from the sun by wearing a bandanna or skull cap to keep the sun from beating down directly on your head.

· Protect your skin with sunblock. Make sure it's water resistant so it won't run in your eyes if you're sweating. Use at least SPF 30 and make sure you re-apply often during your ride!

· Know when to stop! Dizziness, flush, weakness, and cramping are all signs of heat exhaustion. If you're riding with friends, know the signs and watch out for one another. In extreme cases, seek medical help!

Harley-Davidson has a complete line of functional, high-performance riding gear that will help you cope with any weather extreme. Made for riders, by riders, HD performance wear is designed to keep you cool. It helps regulate the body temperature to keep you cooler and more comfortable in warm weather. Moisture-wicking and anti-microbial fabric keeps the body cool, dry and comfortable while eliminating bacteria and odor

You've probably had a few Harley Davidson moments.
You know the ones; they stay with you forever.
Here's one of mine.

     Growing up in the inner city of eastside Indianapolis, my folks would daily dispatch me to run errands for them. In 1961 when I was nine, Dad sent me to the drug store very late one afternoon. Near dusk as I was cutting through an adjacent neighborhood heading to the drug store, I notice a small crowd had gathered at the intersection of N. Dorman St. and E. Vermont St. (very near the former Pepsi-Cola Bottling Plant). Bear in mind this was not a large intersection. It was located in a working class neighborhood of small homes.

     A young African American gent wearing the traditional Marlon Brando, “Wild One “ style motorcycle riding cap of that era, was riding solo on a beautiful blue FLH. From his motorcycle a personal trick riding show was being put on for the neighbors. His Harley would have had a Panhead engine for sure, perhaps a Duo-Glide model, since this was before the Electra-glide (1965) came out. This cycle was loaded to the max with chrome. It also had one of those big spring mounted white leather "Buddy" seats adorned with white fringe. In addition, the cycle was fitted with highly embellished black leather saddlebags of which the lids had white fringe as well. The rear of this machine was nicely loaded up with bullet lights...awesome bullet lights.

These two images taken at the Harley Davidson Museum in Milwaukee remind me of the motorcycle I saw that night.

     Neighborhood folks on the sidewalk were mesmerized with the tricks and stunts this rider was doing on his cycle. He would zip back and forth standing on the seat. However, what really caught my attention was... now picture this... while the cycle was moving, this gent would dismount from his seat and place his left foot on the RIGHT footboard. Then he would be riding in a squatting position hanging onto the right side of the cycle like a sidecar with his head about the same height as his arms. At that point he would extend his right leg straight out in the direction of the front wheel. He would balance the cycle while moving and meander around the intersection with graceful agility and confidence, to a perfect level of poise. Honestly, it was a show!

After this exhibition, he would jump back onto the seat while the cycle was still moving. Then he dismounted again putting his right foot on the LEFT footboard and repeating the same maneuvers. Have any of you ever seen this type of stunt/trick riding done on a big, full-size HOG? Some people must surely possess a God-given uncanny sense of balance. 

For the life of me I can't fathom someone being able to perform such stupendous feats of balance on a large moving motorcycle. I saw this with my own eyes and remember it just like it was yesterday. That display of masterful, motorcycle riding magic has never dimmed from my memory. 

A few days later I went back to that intersection and inquired of the neighbors if that gent lived in the area. I was anxious to see this trick riding show again. However, I was told that the “trick rider” lived on the west side of town. I would return several more times in the future, but never saw him perform his trick riding skills again, to my deepest disappointment.

This experience was another one of those Harley Davidson moments I will never forgot. 

For me it was experiences like this that served as a catalyst allowing me to dream of someday owning my own Harley-Davidson Motorcycle. My dream came true, when I picked up my first brand new motorcycle at Indianapolis Southside Harley-Davidson Sales & Service (1997). What a blessing it has been.