Hitching Post Motorsports

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Thu, 18 Feb 2010 16:44:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Wed, 27 Jan 2010 21:00:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Wed, 20 Jan 2010 16:12:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Thu, 14 Jan 2010 17:32:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 20:45:00 +0000

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)

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

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 01 Dec 2009 20:59:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Fri, 27 Nov 2009 19:19:00 +0000

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

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Wed, 18 Nov 2009 21:39:00 +0000

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:

Find a well sheltered place to store your bike. Avoid places exposed to the elements (snow, rain, wind, dirt, direct sunlight, etc).
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!
Clean and lube your chain (if it has one).
Fill tires to their maximum recommended pressure.
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.
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.
If your bike is carbureted, turn off the fuel supply and drain your float bowls.
Clean all leather with an appropriate cleaner and treat with leather oil.
Treat all vinyl with an appropriate product such as Armorall.
Lubricate fork tube seals to keep them from drying out and cracking.
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.
Check engine coolant level and add a manufacturer recommended antifreeze as needed.
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.
Seal muffler outlets with plastic wrap and rubber bands to keep critters from making a home in your exhaust pipes over the winter.
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!

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:40:00 +0000

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!

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 03 Nov 2009 18:57:00 +0000

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!

Free Motorcycle Winterization Workshop Saturday October 24th

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Wed, 21 Oct 2009 20:03:00 +0000

For many motorcyclists the time to think about fall service and winter storage is just around the corner. While it is never fun to put your machine away for the winter, there are some important service items that must be addressed before saying goodbye to your bike until next spring.

At Hitching Post we want to make sure you are ready to hit the road without incident when next year's riding season arrives. To do this we will be hosting a winterization and storage workshop this Saturday, October 24th from 11am - 12pm at each of our four Metro locations.

Our knowledgeable service team will cover a number of important winterization topics including:

How to change your oil and filter
Fuel stabilization
Battery removal and charging
Draining your carburetors
Tire care
Cleaning and caring for leather and vinyl
Checking engine coolant levels
Cleaning and detailing your machine
Things to consider when choosing a location to store your bike
Question and answer session

You'll also get a handy checklist to take with you to make sure you don't forget anything when you go to tackle this important job.

If you are planning on winterizing your machine yourself, or would just like to learn more about basic motorcycle care and maintenance, this workshop is right up your alley!

We hope to see you Saturday!

A Handful of Brave Souls Turn Out for the Final HP Group Ride of the Year

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 15:47:00 +0000

While it was the smallest turnout of all the group rides we've hosted this year, our final ride of the season on October 10th was certainly the most memorable. Waking up with an inch of snow blanketing my yard, I couldn't help but think that I had picked a better day for a snowmobile ride than a fall colors motorcycle ride!

Despite temperatures fighting to break out of the 30s all day, eight brave riders showed up knowing full well what they were in for: a unique, albeit cold riding experience. In fact, many of us looked better dressed for a day on the sleds than a cruise through the countryside on two wheels.

Nonetheless the ride went on as planned and provided for some great views of Minnesota's famed fall colors lightly covered with the remnants of the first snowfall of the season. At times we were even treated to periods of light snow flurries that couldn't have been a more fitting addition to the overall experience of the ride.

Not surprisingly, we got more than a few strange looks from passing cars wondering if we had lost our minds. For me this only reinforced the fact that my first sub-freezing, snow-flurried motorcycle ride was an experience that I won't soon forget. A big thanks goes out to the hardy riders who came out to join us and made the ride a reality!

I'd also like to take this opportunity to thank everyone joined us on our other rides this season- I can't thank you all enough for your support and participation. I am excited to do this again next year and look forward to seeing everyone again sometime soon!

- Jake

Congrats To Our August Survey Drawing Winner!

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 18:46:00 +0000

A big congratulations goes out to Wendy W of Minneapolis for winning our monthly Customer Service survey drawing!

Wendy visited our South St. Paul location for the first time last month and won a $100 gift card after filling out a short online survey sharing her experience with our store.

Want a chance at winning a $100 gift card to the Hitching Post? Check out the bottom of any HP invoice or repair order for directions on how to complete a short survey to get entered into our monthly drawing.

Can't find your receipt? You can complete the short survey any time at http://www.hpost-survey.com

Congratulations again, Wendy!

43rd Annual Haydays this Weekend, September 12-13

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:30:00 +0000

While it might be warm and sunny today, the "official" start of winter is only a few short days away...

At least it is for the masses of snowmobile fanatics that flock to the 43rd annual Haydays event presented by the Sno Barons Snowmobile Club this weekend in Forest Lake, MN.

If you are unfamiliar with Haydays, the event started over 40 years ago as a snowmobile drag race across an alfalfa field (hence the name Haydays). Over the years the event has evolved considerably. While the drag races are still the focal point of the event, much has been added including a popular swap meet between private buyers and sellers, vendor displays, a freestyle motorsports exhibition, beer gardens, food courts, and much more.

Drag racing begins Saturday and Sunday morning at 9 a.m. and offers over 20 professional and amateur classes for spectators to enjoy throughout the day.

This year's Haydays also marks the end of an era for the event as it will be the last year it will be hosted at its current location in Forest Lake before being moved to a new venue in Almelund, MN.

If you're a fan of snowmobiling, or even motorsports in general, you don't want to miss this exciting two-day event this coming Saturday and Sunday, September 12-13th. Admission to the event is reasonably priced at $15 a day or $25 for a two-day pass. Even better, the event is free to children under age 12, making Haydays a great option for a post Labor Day family outing! Tickets are available at the gates.

While you're up there, be sure to come and visit us at the Special Olympics booth where we will be displaying a new Yamaha Grizzly 700 ATV that we will be giving away at the Special Olympics Northland 300 Snowmobile Ride this winter. Raffle tickets for the ATV will be available for sale at $5 a ticket with proceeds going to benefit Special Olympics Minnesota.

We hope to see you out there!

More info on Haydays:

Maps and Directions
Swap Meet
Frequently Asked Questions
Race Information
Photos from Past Events

Hitching Post Proud to Sponsor Ride for Survival on August 29th

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 18:30:00 +0000

Hitching Post Motorsports is proud to sponsor the 6th annual Ride for Survival on Saturday, August 1st presented by the Minnesota chapters of Women on Wheels. Cost for the ride is $30 for riders and $15 for passengers with all proceeds going to Day One Services.

Registration runs from 9:30 - 11:00 a.m. with multiple group departures leaving from 10-11:00am. The ride will depart from Cities Edge Motorsports in Shakopee and will cover 75 miles before ending at the Hitching Post in Fridley. Lunch will be served following the ride along with live entertainment and prize drawings.

If you're looking to join a charity ride for a great cause, the 6th annual Ride for Survival is a great choice and promises to be a great day of riding, food, and entertainment. For more information on the ride click here to download a ride flyer or feel free to contact Ramona (763-878-1330) or Karen (763-477-5197) with any questions you might have.

Day One is a network of shelters and safe housing programs throughout Minnesota that work together to provide safety and shelter to domestic violence victims and their children within the first 24 hours of being hit or injured.

Good Times at Fridley Group Ride

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:11:00 +0000

Danny Larson, Billy G, and the rest of the crew at our Fridley location had a great time hosting their first group ride of the season. The turnout was great with 60 bikes counted leaving the Dairy Queen we stopped at on our way to Taylors Falls and the weather couldn't have been better.

Danny and Billy put together a great route and did an excellent job of getting everyone there and back safely. A BIG THANKS also goes out to Twist from the Chosen Few MC who helped keep the group together serving as a Road Guard on the ride.

It was also a real pleasure to get to ride with Bruce and the rest of the STAR 292 club that the Fridley Hitching Post sponsors.

This ride was different from previous rides in that we didn't depart until after the store closed at 4pm. This allowed more HP team members to come along and really added to the fun of the ride. Look for more 4pm ride times to come in the future!

Below you'll find a compilation of video clips from the ride as well as a few select pictures. A complete album of pictures (as well as pictures and videos from our other group rides) can be found on our Facebook Fan Page. If you haven't checked out our Facebook Page, head on over and dig around to get a taste for what the Hitching Post is all about.

For a schedule of upcoming ride dates and information, please visit the group ride page of our website.

Catch you next time!

- Jake F.

Coon Rapids Group Ride - Video and Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 21:07:00 +0000

Thanks to everyone who braved the gloomy skies and rain showers to join our motorcycle group ride at our Coon Rapids location on Saturday July 25th! Everyone seemed to have an enjoyable time and our Coon Rapids team members were honored to host such a great group of riders.

We had a great turnout of over 50 diverse riders and also had an exciting first at this ride with three riders joining us on their Honda VTX with a side car (picture below).

I'd like to thank Chuck, Jim, and the rest of the MN Wings for their assistance in organizing the ride and putting together a really enjoyable route with some great roads that I will definitely be exploring again in the future! Also a big thanks to Don for playing road guard with me and helping to keep us together as a group while we hit intersections and stop lights.

Below you will find a compilation of video clips I shot from the ride as well as a few select pictures from the ride.

If you'd like to check out the rest of the pictures from this ride (and our other group rides) visit our Facebook Page and click on the "photos" tab, and be sure to become a fan while you're there too! You can also view videos from our other Hitching Post events on our You Tube channel.

See you next time,

- Jake F.

South St. Paul Group Ride to Wabasha Recap: Video and Pictures

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Thu, 23 Jul 2009 18:55:00 +0000

A big thanks to everyone who came out for our group from South St. Paul to Wabasha on July 11th!

The ride was a lot of fun and by far the best turnout we've had yet this year with roughly 75 riders joining us. We had a great assortment of bikes and riders on Goldwings, Hyabusas, Harleys, dual sports, cruisers, sport bikes, and everything in between.

It's great to see how people from all walks of life can find common ground on their enjoyment for riding and get along so well!

A special thanks to Brian for preparing a great lunch to feed the hungry masses after the ride and to the bikini bike-wash girls for getting the bugs and grime off our machines afterwards :)

Below is a compilation of video clips taken from the ride as well as a few select pictures. A big thanks to Joe C. and his wife Tina for getting all the great shots of the ride for us to share with you.

If you'd like to see more pictures of the ride (and our other group rides) check out our Facebook Page.

Want to capture video and still shots of your riding adventures like we did? Check out the GoPro - it's a great product.

Lastly, for info on our group rides including a schedule of upcoming ride dates and times, visit our group rides page.

Welcome to our Blog!

noreply@blogger.com (Hitching Post Motorsports) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 17:24:00 +0000

Hello and welcome to the Hitching Post Motorsports blog!

This blog was created for you - the motorsports enthusiast - to keep you informed of the latest happenings at the Hitching Post, alert you to our upcoming events, and to share news, information, and tips that will add to your recreational enjoyment.

We will also be using this blog as a way to let you better connect with our employees as they share their stories of recent riding experiences, their favorites places to get out and ride, and other tidbits of information that you may find interesting.

We hope you enjoy our blog and come back regularly!