Should I join a local H.O.G. chapter? - Page 3 : V-Twin Forum: Harley Davidson Forums

Markcuda · 11-15-2002, 10:53 PM

Ray King, where in Illinois do you live? Welcome to the best Harley web
site

HIPPO · 11-15-2002, 11:46 PM

Hey Jimmy, hope Dundee doesn't find out we have cruise control.

Blahahahahahahaaaaaaaaa!!!!!

HIPPO · 11-15-2002, 11:51 PM

Seriously, it would be interesting to find out what things are like down under. If it really is like the perception I have that it is like it was here maybe 20 years ago that would be a very good thing and would change the whole scenario.

Major Attitude · 11-17-2002, 03:23 PM

Need to check your local chapter to see how it runs.

Here in Syracuse, they take our money and never contact anyone , nothing, except the HOG magazine, but I am more interested in local gatherings.

I went to one ride and thought it was short. When it turned out it was a long ride, me and 2 buddies went to gas, they said they would wait. They didnt even wait 5 minutes, we returned, they were gone. The gas station was 100 yards or so away. This was our first experience. Its a joke. Looks like all the people there knew each other, so I guess its the same 12 or so people always getting together. I do the website for the local store and put up the website recently for HOG, so maybe they will put some effort in now, but to me, at least locally, HOG is nothing more then any other type of club, like a car club. A bunch of people who ruin the experience with politics and power trips over a stupid club. I guess since I know the owner I could compliain, but its been my experience many of these clubs ruin your hobby, HOG locally continues that tradition.

Sorry to be so bitter, but my 2 friends who went, one a new owner, were saddened by what a joke HOG was. The local rally, which was held just a few miles from my house this year was also very lame and boring.

kellyb · 11-18-2002, 12:43 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Ross

Hi Logical,

JimmyK did bring up the $6 savings. LOL. Being the cheap SOB that I am, that might be worth it . There might be other benefits beyond the social aspect that I don't know about or realize that might make sense. I have no idea. Hence, the posted question. LOL

My dealer, Reimans in Kewanee IL, paid for my first year in the national and the local. Yeah I know I really paid for it somewhere in the $20K I handed over for my Road King, but still it is a nice gesture.

mustangNM · 11-19-2002, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Major Attitude
Need to check your local chapter to see how it runs.

Here in Syracuse, they take our money and never contact anyone , nothing, except the HOG magazine, but I am more interested in local gatherings.

I went to one ride and thought it was short. When it turned out it was a long ride, me and 2 buddies went to gas, they said they would wait. They didnt even wait 5 minutes, we returned, they were gone. The gas station was 100 yards or so away. This was our first experience. Its a joke. Looks like all the people there knew each other, so I guess its the same 12 or so people always getting together. I do the website for the local store and put up the website recently for HOG, so maybe they will put some effort in now, but to me, at least locally, HOG is nothing more then any other type of club, like a car club. A bunch of people who ruin the experience with politics and power trips over a stupid club. I guess since I know the owner I could compliain, but its been my experience many of these clubs ruin your hobby, HOG locally continues that tradition.

Sorry to be so bitter, but my 2 friends who went, one a new owner, were saddened by what a joke HOG was. The local rally, which was held just a few miles from my house this year was also very lame and boring.

Hey MA, I'm also in the Syracuse area. Was wondering a little about the local chapter. I called the number of the person listed for the meetings but didn't get a callback. Went to the State Rally. It took place a week after I moved here. Difficult to say if I liked it or not; didn't know anyone there and evryone seemed to have their own little groups. The NYS Bike Week thing looked like it has potential.

Major Attitude · 11-19-2002, 04:06 PM

Yeah, the HOG group are the guys with the Syracuse HOG garbage sewn on, there was about 5 or 6 of them together when I saw tem Sunday, the only day I went. I used a friends wrist thing to get in, I am sure glad I didnt pay. I did the drag racing simulator, walked around and left.

You felt exactly what it was, the same group of people over and over. Although they seemed like a friendly bunch, apparently they arent by the way me and my friends are treated. Like I said, at least in Syracuse, typical club. Ill talk to the owner and see if we cant get anywhere.

mustangNM · 11-19-2002, 05:18 PM

I've thought about going to one of the meetings just to see what type of people show up. I joined the chapter in Santa Fe when it was first formed but found it to be kind of cliquish. Was wondering about the one here. Oh well, I'm sort of a Lone Wolf when it comes to riding anyway; maybe with one or two others.

Ross · 11-19-2002, 06:01 PM

This post seemed to have gotten off track. I thank everyone who answered my questions.

Major Attitude · 11-19-2002, 08:21 PM

I thought we were discussing HOG, which was your question. Hope it got answered. I think it depends on your local dealers involvement.

Quote:

Originally posted by Ross
This post seemed to have gotten off track. I thank everyone who answered my questions.

bruuuuce · 11-20-2002, 12:23 AM

The sponsering dealer of my local chapter gives everyone 10% HOG BUKS and 15% HOG BUKS to members. You spend the hog buks on your next purchase or you can save them up until you have enough to buy something nice. Here is the catch, if your a chapter member they are DOUBLED on meeting night.

BigG · 11-24-2002, 11:52 PM

Ross, to each his own man. My wife and I each have a bike, and we belong to hog. Discounts were the reason we joined. I've ridden for a number of years, but our ride leaders and safety co-ordinators are very professional and cara alot about what they do - we have learned a lot rding with them and being around them. Do we ride with them only? No, abosolutely not. Do we ride with them a lot? Absolutely. We have hooky thursdays, camping weekends, thunder runs, poker runs, my wife rides with ladies of harley every wednesday night - has a blast - not as aggressive a ride as when the guys are around.
Why don't you check it out - then just decide for yourself? If you don't like the group - say adios!
BigG

flhs1981 · 12-11-2002, 02:04 PM

Ross, just another point to consider. I never had anyone to ride with because I moved around a lot and never joined in clubs. So I wasn't looking to join HOG when a contractor doing work on my house asked if I'd care to come to a HOG chapter meeting. Out of curiosity I went. I ride an old harley and I'm no mechanic. I didn't stray far out of town for fear I'd brake down in the middle of no where. I joined the ride that day and as murphy's law would have it my bike died 70 miles west of town. Before I could get my helmet off I had 3 HOG members stopping to help me. Not being able to get the bike running, one of the guys called a friend who showed up with a trailer and gave me a tow. No one in this group new me and they went out of there way to make sure I was taken care of. I'm sure not all groups are the same, but I now ride on trips I wouldn't have consider before because of the support group riding with me. I've been a member of this chapter for over a year now. I don't have time to join in the majority of activities they have because I'm married....enough said. But it's been an education for me and well worth it.

Benji · 12-13-2002, 09:09 PM

I don't know, but I'm about to find out. We decided to join first thing next year. I guess I don't have much patience with groups either, but I need to learn. Gonna try. It will be the very first time belonging to a "local" chapter of anything.

stratou812 · 12-31-2002, 12:02 PM

Just been thinking about joining the local chapter thing myself.

So reading the posts, tells me alot of folks are pondering the same issue. So doin it for the discount..to start out with..cant hurt. I guess all one will have to do is try a couple rides, Its like anything else, it what you put in it...is what youll get out of it.

Just my 2 cents worth