Does H.O.G.® need to change?

[JamieWG]

For me, there is really nothing HOG can do or change to make me want to join them. I'm not into their meetings at the dealer. I'm not into their rules. I'm not into going on rides with a bunch of people who may or may not be very good riders and who would never talk to me in real life (unless I was a client). I'm never, ever, under any circumstance, gonna wear a HOG patch.

I'm not knocking HOG or HOG members. I don't want a debate or to anyone to think I am against HOG. Just stating a fact - There is really nothing HOG could change to make me want to join.

[03flstfi]

Originally Posted by Molly

Local HOG members here have recently been involved in the promotion of a porn expo. I don't see how that fits in with the 'squeaky-clean' image they usually enjoy.

Personally, I just find they're not particularly intereted in their bikes for what they are as much as for what they mean (or they think they mean). Nobody seems to do thier own work or much less care about that side of things. I can't relate.

Molly.

Porn? Where?

[fxdwg2cvo]

why not start your own club
after all there are car clubs mustang hotrod,corvette and many more.You can set your on standards allow who or whom you dont want ,and you can do the exact same thing that most other cycle groups do and thats ride.But no matter what you do or decide you have to please yourself 1st.


just my 2cents
peter
2001fxdwg2cvo

[newultraclassic]

Originally Posted by Far 3ast

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.

HOG does change. Go to a meeting in January of any year and then January of the next year. There will only be about 50% of same faces. HOG is lots of fun when you first get in and then you find out how closely it is tied to the dealer. I was formerly an officer in a HOG chapter. When they gave us training, part of the training had to do with protecting Harley's trademark. Huh?

So HOG is a constantly changing scenario. People come in when they get their free one year membership and then simply disapppear. I've seen it work.

This is not all bad since it can be a lot of fun for a while. It sort of reminds me of AOL, however: a starting place for NeWbies who eventually move on out.

So, to answer your question - HOG is changing, day by day.

[killerbob]

I think that US HOG Chapters could learn something from the European way to run this kind of organisations. "The way" have even been approved by HOG International - and a special Europeanized version of the HOG handbook is available

The big difference is that chapters here at democratic ! Once a year we have an election where members can run for the board. They are not dealer appointed or anything else. If they are chapter members they can run for half of the seats in the chapter board - the ohther half is elected the following year.

This IS ofcause still HOG - and it IS the idea that every chapter should have a local sponsoring dealer. We do as well - but it is more a give/take relationship - than a dictatorship. Our Sponsoring dealer have ONE seat in the Board - and DO have the power to overrule descisions made in the board. but on day to day basis it is never seen. Offcause a mutural undestanding that we do not do activities that could hurt the dealer or promote the dealers competitors exists - but that's fair enough. The dealer IS sponsoring after all - and do a lot for us..

This way - we DON't see that half of the members dissapear every year. Ofcause some come and some go - but it is an impressive number of all the members who have been active from the start of the Chapter

Me and my wife have made a lot of new friends in HOG Copenhagen Chapter - it has actually been quite overwhelming for us. Recently I was elected as member of the board at our annual gathering - not by any influence from the dealer - but because the other menbers voted for me. I am now appointed Assistant Director. I am happy to give some of my spare time to this community and look forward to a lot of experiences and new friends in the future ...

As I have said before - it's all about WHO is in the local chapter.

As for the "only HD"¨discussion - it is allso "local" how strict the book is kept. For us it is really not that big a problem. HD here is propably more a "lifestyle" than in the US - where a lot simply use the bike for transportation and a lot allso just buy it as it is American made. Here (I think) it is more like a one-way trip. We see a lot that comes from other brands - but we rarely see that people quit HD in favour of something else... Sometimes the buy something else as a second bike but quitting HD once there ... NO..

[PosseMan]

Originally Posted by Road Glider

HOG = HarleyOwners Group.

Sorry, one small modification.

The club is sponsored by Harley - Davidson and the head honcho for the club is a Harley - Davidson corporate officer. If you want to ride with the MBOG (Metric Bike Owners Group), you are free to buy a metric bike and do so. If you want to ride with a club that doesn't care what you ride, you are free to do so. If you don't want to ride with any club, you can do that, too. But, if you want to ride with HOG, you must have a Harley (or Buell).

I don't know how it is with other Chapters but we hold group riding seminars on pack riding. We encourage everyone to take the Motorcycle Safety Course (even if you are an experienced rider) and the Experienced Rider Course. We also watch out for our inexperienced riders and encourage the hotdogs to ride safely or ride elsewhere.

If you want to ride your Wing, your Star, your Kow or your Hoss on the club rides, you are welcome to do so as long as you are a guest of a member or you own a Harley and are a member yourself. HOG is not going to change just because you think its current mode of operation doesn't meet your needs.

[bobva]

True that HOG is a Harley Owners Group organization that must be sponsored by the local dealership. You have the direct involvement of the manufacturer/dealer in the Chapter for good or bad that is another topic.

The main factor is H.O.G. promotes the Ride Safe and Have Fun attitude and experience.

When I first got into Harleys from enduro the HOG chapter was a great place to learn from other experienced riders and owners. This is the intention of H.O.G. to promote riding and ownership.

I average about 30,000 miles a year on my Harleys and doubt I would have gotten into these bikes as deep if it were not for the HOG Chapter and friends I built ... both local Chapter and from H.O.G. events nationwide. I am now on my 6th Harley ... went from a V-Rod to FatBoy to Road King and now 3 Ultras ... actually only have 2 Ultras left in stable.

Now I try to use my experience to teach the new owners about the bikes and riding ... hopefully many will become more than Harley OWNERS and become Harley RIDERS. If not that is their choice but HOG is there for both.

I learned something a long time ago ... if you don't like what someone else is doing then either mentor then to improve or get out of their way. If some rider in your group is not experienced ... HELP them ... someone had to help you in the past or you would be here bit##ing about them now.

Ride Safe and Have Fun

[route66paul]

Where are you to draw the line. Many Harley riders have built customs with HD platforms, but which aren't HDs. Do you let them in? would they want in? How about trikes? You can go around and around about it.
It seems to me that you are welcome at HOG if you buy a new bike every 4 years, and use the service dept. That IS what HOG is for, to promote HDs as a RV and to sell as many as possable. They really don't care about supporting competition or indie shops.
You don't have HD boots? leathers? helmets? Give me a break. I am sure that there a lot of great people out there, but some are all about prmotion, all of the time.

[RABNTN]

Originally Posted by bobva

The main factor is H.O.G. promotes the Ride Safe and Have Fun attitude and experience.

I learned something a long time ago ... if you don't like what someone else is doing then either mentor then to improve or get out of their way. If some rider in your group is not experienced ... HELP them ... someone had to help you in the past or you would be here bit##ing about them now.
Ride Safe and Have Fun

Well-stated !!

Originally Posted by route66paul

It seems to me that you are welcome at HOG if you buy a new bike every 4 years, and use the service dept.

If this is actually the case, then find a different Chapter. I'm a very active HOG (national & local) member, and I don't use an HD service dept., unless it's for warranty. One of the mandates in HOG policy is that the Chapter is not an advocate for the owner or dealer.

Originally Posted by route66paul

That IS what HOG is for, to promote HDs as a RV and to sell as many as possable.

The above statement would dead-on accurate if you substituted "Harley-Davidson" in place of "HOG". HOG's mission is to promote owner's of Harley's to Ride & Have Fun...if there's any deviation from that as a guiding mission, then again, find another Chapter.

Originally Posted by route66paul

They really don't care about supporting competition or indie shops.

Why would they?!? Do you think the Corvette Clubs support Ford, Chrysler, Toyota, or any indie shops? There's no question that HD founded HOG in order to promote riding Harleys in a social environment...a great byproduct for HD is that it develops a core group of loyal customers. Why does this pizz people off?

Originally Posted by route66paul

You don't have HD boots? leathers? helmets? Give me a break. I am sure that there a lot of great people out there, but some are all about prmotion, all of the time.

The only thing I have to buy to be in HOG is a Harley or Buell motorcycle...
As a HOG member, I am free to buy all of my riding accessories anywhere...why do the majority buy HD leathers, helmets, boots, ect.? Because of the great marketing plan & promotion that HD has consistently executed over the last 20+ years...key word here- HD has a marketing plan; HOG does not.

[davidtn]

What Bobva and RABNTN said...both very well stated and right on the money.

[EGUC3]

Originally Posted by route66paul

How about trikes?

Don't know about other chapters - we have two - mine and another. I am treasurer of the chapter and as far as I can see Trikes are welcome (mine is a MotorTrike conversion on an 03' Ultra.

Ride Safe.
Walt

[swmnkdinthervr]

Don't change HOG...keep them folks in a group so I can avoid em all at the same time...

[RABNTN]

Originally Posted by swmnkdinthervr

Don't change HOG...keep them folks in a group so I can avoid em all at the same time...

Ain't it GREAT how life works things like this out!

[ge6280]

Several years ago, say 1987-1992 I was a card carrying HOG member and proud of it. I sold my scooter in 1992 and have not had street scooter until just recently. I am glad to be back in the fold so to speak and look forward to whatever HOG has to offer. We attended many state and regional ralies and I plan to do it all over again. I'm just waiting for HOG to send me my new members packet. By the way, HD does still enroll new owners and pay their first years dues, correct?

[PosseMan]

Originally Posted by route66paul

Where are you to draw the line. Many Harley riders have built customs with HD platforms, but which aren't HDs. Do you let them in?

If the frame of the bike has a HD VIN, they are eligible to join HOG.

Originally Posted by route66paul

How about trikes?

If the frame of the trike has a HD VIN, they are eligible to join HOG. The original FLHTC I had has been converted to a trike (DFT out of Alston, IL) for my wife and HOG National recognizes it as qualification for her Full Membership.

Originally Posted by route66paul

It seems to me that you are welcome at HOG if you buy a new bike every 4 years, and use the service dept.

When I first joined HOG in 1994, the bike I had was purchased from an independent. There was no question about where I got the bike. The fact that I had one was all anyone needed to know. I used the HD service dept some, I used an independent some and I did some work myself. There has been no change in the degree of "welcomeness" I feel from the dealership.

Originally Posted by route66paul

That IS what HOG is for, to promote HDs as a RV and to sell as many as possable. They really don't care about supporting competition or indie shops.

Pretty clever marketing tool, isn't it?

Originally Posted by route66paul