Does H.O.G.® need to change?

[03flstfi]

We have a few people that ride with us as guests that do ride "other" bikes.

We had a charter member that rode a BigDog, but when hog looked thru the records, he had membership existing from his old Fatboy... so he rode with us until he saw the light and bought an 08 Ultra...

[superglide05]

is it that hog should change . or is it the members should change put that to thought.

[Headshake]

Last time I looked, membership in HOG was purely a personal decision. HOG is brand specific as are other brand specific clubs. This is not a good thing or a bad thing it is just what it is. I was a member of the local chapter for the first year after buying my bike and simply decided not to renewed my local HOG membership when it expired. I ocassionally go on chapter rides I even occasionally attend club meeting with friends, but I decided it was just not my style. I have a lot of friends and neighbors that belong to the local HOG chapter and they ocassionally ask why I don't join. My response is that the HOG chapter does not offer me anything I don't already have, friends, riding buddies, etc.

[03flstfi]

Originally Posted by Headshake

Last time I looked, membership in HOG was purely a personal decision. HOG is brand specific as are other brand specific clubs. This is not a good thing or a bad thing it is just what it is. I was a member of the local chapter for the first year after buying my bike and simply decided not to renewed my local HOG membership when it expired. I ocassionally go on chapter rides I even occasionally attend club meeting with friends, but I decided it was just not my style. I have a lot of friends and neighbors that belong to the local HOG chapter and they ocassionally ask why I don't join. My response is that the HOG chapter does not offer me anything I don't already have, friends, riding buddies, etc.

Like any other social group, this is what we do... we socialize with people of our choosing.

When I first became a member, I went out regularly with the Chapter... then I saw changes I did not care for, so I eased out of the group, and did my own thing for a while.

In the last 2 years I have become more active in our Chapter and am now considering a position as an officer in the chapter (see below)

Originally Posted by superglide05

is it that hog should change . or is it the members should change put that to thought.

This is an interesting post.

HOG has a guidebook (Chapter handbook) that guides the Officers on the journey tasked them by the membership upon being selected an officer.

The Chapter leadership and the corresponding leadership style can and will change based upon the input of the membership (in most cases)

The point is that the chapter membership must speak out to enact such change to move forward and grow.

[doubleup]

Since owning a Harley and being involved in a local HOG chapter only since 3/07, the group riding thing is fairly new to me. Riding single and twin metrics all my life by myself or with a couple of friends was the only way I rode in NW Washington State until coming to Hawaii in '02. I'd went from years of country riding with lots of skinny paved nearly deserted roads, and dirt roads out in the middle of no where for 35yrs, to moving to the island of Oahu and living in Honolulu. Now, being almost 55 y/o, personally I find safety in numbers. I can tell if a guy is a little squirrely and doesn't appear to have good skills on a bike yet, so I move away from him. I've ridden 83,000 miles between Oahu, Big Island, Kaua'i and Maui since 8/02 after moving to Hawaii. I guess with any group there can be the good, bad and ugly with different folks wanting different strokes; some inflated ego's, some micro-managers, some who just don't give a s**t and just ride; but I do like the HOG's mission statement, to have fun and ride. I've stirred a few things up because I too believe if something isn't working right, then fix 'er; git 'er done. I moved to Hawaii to ride year around. The HOG group I joined where I bought my two harleys has given me the opportunity to meet some guys who like to ride as much as I do, and they don't tavern hop. I think a HOG group can be as good as the active members who invest into the group. I have been catching up on my reading tonight. I just finished putting in about 40 hrs over the past 2.5 weeks updating a website which really screwed up my reading time on V-Twin forum. As you can see from low, or is it no posts, I'm new to this forum. Thanks for the read. I'll read on. Ride safe.

[Broken Spoke]

Originally Posted by ROADKING-05

Of course you can ride with a HOG Chapter if you ride a metric but only as a guest of a HOG member. You will also be required to sign a waiver for liability insurance purposes.

Remember, H.O.G. = Harley Owners Group, not Honda Owners Group or Suzuki Owners Group or Kawasaki Owners Group, or whatever owners group. Join a Honda Owners group and go to a Wind Ding. HOGs are not elitest nor look down their nose at metric riders. My fellow chapter members waive at all other riders on two wheels and I don't mean a TREK.

Keep your local HOG membership. It is only $20/year. I have never met a more down to earth group of like minded people. We ride safely and have fun safely. I have never felt unsafe in large number of H-Ds. My last ride on Jan 01 had 140 bikes riding staggered formation for 2 hours.

Our local H-D dealer just took on a line of liquor cycles, aka China made mopeds!!
Question will the owners be able to participate in the events held by HOG and other functions at the dealership.
Since they are sold by an authorized H-D dealer will other H-D owners give them the thumbs up or use the other finger???

[doubleup]

HOG updated their site . . . "Do What You Want To Do". "Being a H.O.G. member is an active pursuit. Exactly how active is up to you. You're completely free to go where you want to go. To do what you want to do. But whatever level of involvement you seek, it's nice to know there are many ways to get there". Statements like that I think can help members change the direction of a chapter given a willingness to volunteer, show up and when nominations for officers' elections come around in October, nominate, accept nominations, and vote in November. (off topic from the above post - sorry)

[03flstfi]

Originally Posted by doubleup

Since owning a Harley and being involved in a local HOG chapter only since 3/07, the group riding thing is fairly new to me. Riding single and twin metrics all my life by myself or with a couple of friends was the only way I rode in NW Washington State until coming to Hawaii in '02. I'd went from years of country riding with lots of skinny paved nearly deserted roads, and dirt roads out in the middle of no where for 35yrs, to moving to the island of Oahu and living in Honolulu. Now, being almost 55 y/o, personally I find safety in numbers. I can tell if a guy is a little squirrely and doesn't appear to have good skills on a bike yet, so I move away from him. I've ridden 83,000 miles between Oahu, Big Island, Kaua'i and Maui since 8/02 after moving to Hawaii. I guess with any group there can be the good, bad and ugly with different folks wanting different strokes; some inflated ego's, some micro-managers, some who just don't give a s**t and just ride; but I do like the HOG's mission statement, to have fun and ride. I've stirred a few things up because I too believe if something isn't working right, then fix 'er; git 'er done. I moved to Hawaii to ride year around. The HOG group I joined where I bought my two harleys has given me the opportunity to meet some guys who like to ride as much as I do, and they don't tavern hop. I think a HOG group can be as good as the active members who invest into the group. I have been catching up on my reading tonight. I just finished putting in about 40 hrs over the past 2.5 weeks updating a website which really screwed up my reading time on V-Twin forum. As you can see from low, or is it no posts, I'm new to this forum. Thanks for the read. I'll read on. Ride safe.

Originally Posted by doubleup

HOG updated their site . . . "Do What You Want To Do". "Being a H.O.G. member is an active pursuit. Exactly how active is up to you. You're completely free to go where you want to go. To do what you want to do. But whatever level of involvement you seek, it's nice to know there are many ways to get there". Statements like that I think can help members change the direction of a chapter given a willingness to volunteer, show up and when nominations for officers' elections come around in October, nominate, accept nominations, and vote in November. (off topic from the above post - sorry)

Great read doubleup.

The highlighted bold portion really strikes home for both of us.

I have been approached by several chapter members who want to see change in the chapter and somehow they believe I am the person who can accomplish that.

I have put together a tentative list of names for a "team" as we all know a leader is nothing without a group of team players working with him. Lets hope all works out for the benefit of the chapter.

[old-geezer]

its a (riders club) club for harley owners....you check the calendar if it suites you ride with the group. there is no commitment other than a small very reasonable fee for dues for local chapters and the common thread is being a harley owner....its no more or less.
i dont wonder why corvette clubs dont let kia driver in. some times its good to close the door to folks that dont meet the conditions set for a club or group.....there's no men in the miss america pageant either.....

[huskerbob]

unbelievable!!!

eleven pages of "HOG sucks!!!"......."No it doesn't!!!"

very productive

[robbieaz62]

We never have any safety concerns during our twice weekly H.O.G. chapter rides. It's usually the same 15 or so riders so we are all used to riding in formation. Any newbies are placed in the back of the pack. The only exception to this was when the owner of the dealership invited a whole bunch of new owners and low mileage riders to a special appreciation ride. Now THAT was scary.

[MountainMan]

HOG stands for Harley OWNERS Group. If you don't own a Harley then you should find another club to join. It's not like there's a shortage of MC clubs out there.

MM

[akadantheman]

HOG is a great place for new riders to get exposure to the motorcycling world, that has a lot to offer in the way of safety and fellowship with other bikers. But don't be fooled, HOG promotes Harley Davidson, not you as an individual, and the idea of having a captive market of potential parts buyers, future motorcycle sales and a mechanism for generating revenue through membership dues is a very appealing idea for Harley and the local dealership. If they have over 1,000,000 members and you multiply that by a 50.00 annual membership fee, that pretty much says it all, and that revenue would be more if you do the upgrade on the towing package. Again, I am not knocking HOG, but it is what it is. They are corporate drvien with a clear agenda in mind.

If you are a serious motorcycle rider, and you do Route 66 and one of your buddies had a Honda VTX that wanted to attend, would you tell him no? Have you wondered why you have to ride a Harley to be in the HOG Group? If you don't ride a Harley, then you can not contribute financially to the coorporate agenda. I would think that they would open it up to more types of bikes, and then different riders would see the advantage of owning a Harley and possibly make a trade.

If you just do local lunch rides, HOG is a great place for you, but if you thinking about doing adventures across the entire United States, you may want to focus on a different organization that focuses on individual needs. We have an organization in Tallahassee, Florida that is not part of HOG, but is very well organized and rides all over the United States and Canada. They focus on obtaining great pricing for it's members, and will even do a request for proposals if a member wants to buy a new motorcycle with a least three different dealers. You would be amazed at what pricing we get when you introduce competition. So that is the difference between a Coorporate sponsered organization and an Independent Organization. We promote best pricing for our members and HOG promotes best pricing for Harley Davidson.
Having said all that you can check out our organization at www.tallahasseewildhogs.com We do have ride planned in May for Route 66, and this one want cost you 7,000.00 to participate in.

One last thing, the American Motorcyclist Association has done more to promote your individual rights as a motorcyclist that you would ever believe! You should support them regardless of what organization you belong to....Take Care....Dan The Man

[hdbikerperson]

New riders should be at the front . I like to keep them where i can see them rather than have them stop late and take out my rear fender. As far as harley only rallys i have been to many and have met some great people going to and coming away from them. The rallys are secondary, its the ride not the destination.
From the first Canadian rally in ottawa to Aberta, New Brunswick, Pen, West V, and the 90th in Wis. My memories are of the rides, ok zztop rocked lol.

[hardluk1]

Broken spoke. I remember when many hd dealer/owners also owed other brands and some with less clout were made to sell them . And then they have to move to high traffic area's and then build large pricey dealerships or they would lose there dealership. Also the dirt bag's that did own Lummus told me when i moved up there i could only have discount if i became a member of there group That did me in on HOG. My old chapter in florida also owned a couple big multi-brand bike dealerships and had to sell them and build a new bigger/fancier hd dealership to get more blikes or loss it. We had a mutibrand chapter, someriders had several brand bikes and would ride what they felt like. Good group ,had some great long weekend rides. But we also had our meetings at a local lions halls not the dealer. Just don't use the dealer for much of anything except what i need on short order just like the *** bike dealer. You can get just as good a group ride with your local abate or cba or southern cruisers chapter as with HOG. And better protecton with AAA while on the road. The were better when they had to work for your money in smaller friendlier shops with some great almost every weekend have'n a grill burning dogs and cold drinks for custmers and discounts for any hog card carrier. And i know some big dealers or great but most aren't . Rat Price seems to have many good get to gethers with bands and seems to work at makeing you want to come around. Also the dealer in gastonia nc, but not most.