I am thinking about joining : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

junkyardjeff · 03-02-2009, 10:42 PM

Since I bought my superglide used it did not come with the one year membership and if I would of thought about it I would of tried to get the dealer to give me the one year but it slipped my mind,I am going to join sometimes this spring and see how it is. Jeff

Sarge7 · 03-02-2009, 10:47 PM

Joining What? You didn't say.

junkyardjeff · 03-02-2009, 10:59 PM

HOG and since I am in that section I thought you would know what I was talking about. Jeff

Sarge7 · 03-02-2009, 11:16 PM

Thanks - Must've been that TACO I had for supper!

Pine Tree · 03-03-2009, 07:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardjeff

Since I bought my superglide used it did not come with the one year membership and if I would of thought about it I would of tried to get the dealer to give me the one year but it slipped my mind,I am going to join sometimes this spring and see how it is. Jeff

To join most local Chapters, one must be a National Member of HOG.

Just a suggestion...if you plan on becoming a member of a local chapter, try attending a few local Chapter's meetings and get a sense of how they operate before becoming a National Member.

But if you have no intention of participating in local chapters, join National and have a blast!

'05Train · 03-03-2009, 08:18 AM

Take this as one person's experience with chapters in one area. I'm not making sweeping generalizations about national HOG or all local HOG chapters....

I'm a member of both the national and the local chapters. I do it for parts and labor discounts only. I have found that two of the local chapters do an awful lot of talking, and an awful lot of political organizing and bickering, and then they ride a bit. In my experience, the vast majority of the local HOG members fall into one of three groups...

- People who genuinely love to ride and are just looking for other people with similar interests. This is the smallest group.

- People who desperately need to belong to a group and are Nazi-like in their interpretation and implementation of "THE RULES". To the point of checking other riders' tire pressure and telling them that they don't want to ride with them because "they're not safe".

- People who know everything there is to know about their bike and yours, who throw a fit if a drop of gas gets on their tank and call it a day if "those clouds look like trouble". These are the guys who take up an entire lane when taking off from a stop sign.

To me, there were too few of the first group and way too many of the last two. I have a friend of mine who really enjoys doing HOG stuff, but after every ride he describes some close call due to someone getting squirrelly, and/or someone telling him how to ride/maintain his bike, or why he's got the wrong parts on it.

No thanks.

junkyardjeff · 03-03-2009, 08:32 AM

I was going to join right after I bought it but I kept putting it off but will do it next month as it seems most of my bills come in march so money is tight right now,as for a local chapter I will have to investigate the local dealers group. I bought the bike at a dealer 30 miles away and it might be too far away to really do anything with them but will try them out too. Jeff

elPrez · 03-03-2009, 08:48 AM

Bought my bike used and joined a local chapter about a year later. Pretty decent group and the whole thing is whatever you decide to make of it. Discount is ok but I've met a really great group of new friends. About 6 or 7 months into my membership the webmaster had to step down for personal reasons and my wife said since I spend so (too) much time on the computer, I should volunteer for the position...been doing it for 3 or 4 years now.(where'd the time go???)
Yep, there are good groups and bad groups, I think I'm lucky and joined the one of the best.
John

firefighterdan · 03-03-2009, 05:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by junkyardjeff

HOG and since I am in that section I thought you would know what I was talking about. Jeff

I actually join the HOG, and my local HOG chapter

Dan

The Gman · 03-06-2009, 12:31 PM

If riding 30 miles is too far to meet up with friends then you might not want to join a MC, or even own a bike.

Eleft36 · 03-07-2009, 08:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '05Train

- People who desperately need to belong to a group and are Nazi-like in their interpretation and implementation of "THE RULES".

'05Train.

This seems to be a trend in our country. (there should be a law syndrome)

Sorry about editing your quote, It's how I see it.

Al

Tsani · 03-07-2009, 08:13 PM

Age of the bike ain't got nothin to do with it.

I believe you need to to be a National member to to be a local member.

Messing with my bike includes checking my tire pressures with out my permission is gauranteed to get my pressure up and you a broken jaw.

strokerjlk · 03-07-2009, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by '05Train

Take this as one person's experience with chapters in one area. I'm not making sweeping generalizations about national HOG or all local HOG chapters....

I'm a member of both the national and the local chapters. I do it for parts and labor discounts only. I have found that two of the local chapters do an awful lot of talking, and an awful lot of political organizing and bickering, and then they ride a bit. In my experience, the vast majority of the local HOG members fall into one of three groups...

- People who genuinely love to ride and are just looking for other people with similar interests. This is the smallest group.

- People who desperately need to belong to a group and are Nazi-like in their interpretation and implementation of "THE RULES". To the point of checking other riders' tire pressure and telling them that they don't want to ride with them because "they're not safe".

- People who know everything there is to know about their bike and yours, who throw a fit if a drop of gas gets on their tank and call it a day if "those clouds look like trouble". These are the guys who take up an entire lane when taking off from a stop sign.

To me, there were too few of the first group and way too many of the last two. I have a friend of mine who really enjoys doing HOG stuff, but after every ride he describes some close call due to someone getting squirrelly, and/or someone telling him how to ride/maintain his bike, or why he's got the wrong parts on it.

No thanks.

So true

junkyardjeff · 03-07-2009, 10:22 PM

I am just looking for some people to ride with since in my group of friends not many have motorcycles.

Tsani · 03-08-2009, 05:59 PM

You should be able to attend a few meetings with no obligation. This should help you decide if it's for you. Give it try. Keep in mind as with most groups you will get out of it what you put into it. And as with most groups, you will have to deal with internal clicks and such. It's up to you to decide if it's going to ruin your day. I belong to a HOG group that works pretty muck like I just said. You have your posers, easy riders and hard riders. We got those that ride to eat, ones that simply just like to ride. Some take it seriously and some don't. There is something for everyone. You hook up with the right bunch and you will have a good time.