Before joining H.O.G.®, I spent some time thinking about it. Did I really want to be tied to the Motor Company like that? If later on I buy another brand of bike (and sell the Harley) I will no longer be able to ride with the local H.O.G.® chapter. Admittedly, the Motor Company has a good thing going with H.O.G.®; it has a ****load of members, they give a membership to every new H-D® buyer, and if that buyer enjoys riding with friends in the local H.O.G.® chapter, they'll be inclined to keep a good thing going by buying another Harley® when it's time to upgrade.
Sometimes, though, I wish they would open H.O.G.® membership to owners of other brands. Especially Buell, if nothing else. There are some good reasons not to include Buell owners in HOG (enough of the ®s already). Like the difference in riding styles and culture between Buell and H-D riders. But on the plus side, if I wanted to buy sport bike or big adventure bike like the Ulysses, I would be more inclined to buy a Buell if I knew I would be welcomed into the Harley Owner's Group family, since all my riding friends are in HOG.
It makes sense that you have to be a Harley Owner to be in the Harley Owner's Group, but I think a Buell is Harley enough to qualify. Or even if they just made BRAG (the Buell version of HOG) parallel to HOG, that would be an improvement. As it is now you have to be a national HOG member before you can join a local chapter. They could make it so national BRAG members could join a local HOG chapter. Hell, they don't even have a BRAG chapter near where I live, because the local dealer doesn't sell Buells. (By the way, BRAG doesn't officially exist anymore. It was canned at the end of 2006, and the "new" Buell owner's group doesn't have a name yet. Buell.com says "Existing BRAG® clubs are encouraged to continue, but will need to adopt new names (you will not be allowed to use the BRAG name.)")
But I think if they open membership to riders of other (metric) brands (even if it is a different kind of membership, like an associate membership), they could influence those riders to get a Harley when they are ready to trade in their metric scoot. I think there is a perception among guys who ride metric cruisers that Harleys are underpowered, unreliable low-tech oil leakers, so they bought an import because they are so reliable. I think those people would be won over to the merits of Harley ownership if they had some exposure to riding with a HOG chapter.
In the end, I joined HOG for several reasons. One is I am in the military and subject to be moved around a lot. No matter where I go, there is likely to be a HOG chapter there. Secondly, my local chapter has a very active calender, there is plenty to do, and they have a lot of good friendly folks. I joined to ride, but I have made some good friends too. The other riding clubs in my area just don't ride enough to suit me (unless you count the patch holder clubs--was not interested in that kind of commitment, but they do ride a lot).
Bottom line is that although I enjoy being in HOG, I don't like the idea that I have to remain loyal to the brand to stay a member. Am I wrong here? I have given some consideration to joining Yamaha's STAR (Star Touring and Riding Association)
http://www.startouring.org since they are not brand specific.
