Inactive Hog Chapters
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Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 6,932
Likes: 4
From: 46th State, USA
Inactive Hog Chapters
How many HOG members are in a completely inactive HOG chapter?
I'm on my second year of HOG membership and was looking forward to riding with other HOG members. Unfortunately, the closest HOG chapter is inactive. I hear rumors that it's one of those situation where nobody has any ideas or want to be responsible for organizing rides or other activies.
Is this fairly common?
I'm on my second year of HOG membership and was looking forward to riding with other HOG members. Unfortunately, the closest HOG chapter is inactive. I hear rumors that it's one of those situation where nobody has any ideas or want to be responsible for organizing rides or other activies.
Is this fairly common?
Road Captain
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 556
Likes: 1
From: Long Island, NY
How many HOG members are in a completely inactive HOG chapter?
I'm on my second year of HOG membership and was looking forward to riding with other HOG members. Unfortunately, the closest HOG chapter is inactive. I hear rumors that it's one of those situation where nobody has any ideas or want to be responsible for organizing rides or other activies.
Is this fairly common?
I'm on my second year of HOG membership and was looking forward to riding with other HOG members. Unfortunately, the closest HOG chapter is inactive. I hear rumors that it's one of those situation where nobody has any ideas or want to be responsible for organizing rides or other activies.
Is this fairly common?
Road Master
Joined: Sep 2009
Posts: 892
Likes: 11
From: Northern NY
Our chapter wasn't inactive but was sluggish. It didn't do a whole lot. A change of directors solved this problem along with an entirely different core group of members. It's your chapter, step up and do whats neccessary to enliven it or walk away and look for one that meets your expectation. No organization is going to be worth a damn without committment and participation from it's membership. I've had exposure and invitations to join three seperate MC's in the area. All of these three were not of the 1% denotation. The Blue Knights invited me through my job. They were also lead by a majority of bar hoppers and weren't at all bashful with it. Riding and drinking isn't my bag. Both the Red Knights and Christian Motorcycle Association appealed to me but had a meeting schedule that was impossible with my work schedule. The only other MC in the area that I had freinds in is a 1% group that a badge holder with arrest abilities is not welcome in. As Stash stated all 4 of these groups required a committment beyond what a riding association such as HOG has in place. That does make a difference when it comes to participation levels. But to look down upon HOG because it isn't an MC isn't totally fair either. Thats like thumbing your nose at someone because they drive a toyota instead of a ford. It's america we all make and live with our choices,,,,,freely!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Last edited by teedubya; Mar 25, 2011 at 09:05 AM.
Road Master
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 1,066
Likes: 9
From: Duluth, GA
It really is a case by case deal. I belonged to one chapter for awhile...and while they liked to have meetings, they hardly ever rode anywhere. In talking to a friend I ride with he recommended another and it was an entirely different deal. The one I am in now has 300 members on the books and probably 200 active. There are rides every weekend and some weekend days they may have 3 rides going to different locations on the same day. Most of the people I have met really love riding and are great folks.
Opinions on HOG chapters varies and probably with good reason. I wouldn't want to be involved if the chapter's attitude was one of trying to be a distant cousin to a regular MC. And while there are some groups who look at HOG chapters with distain...I quit worrying about making the entire planet happy a long time ago.
Opinions on HOG chapters varies and probably with good reason. I wouldn't want to be involved if the chapter's attitude was one of trying to be a distant cousin to a regular MC. And while there are some groups who look at HOG chapters with distain...I quit worrying about making the entire planet happy a long time ago.
Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
All the people I ride with joined HOG because they like to ride with other people, not to be cool. The people who join to be cool are the ones that come to meetings every month but never ride ...
I've never heard of an inactive chapter, but I'm in the Phoenix area. That may be more common in lower population areas.
I've never heard of an inactive chapter, but I'm in the Phoenix area. That may be more common in lower population areas.
Tourer
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 266
Likes: 0
From: Down by the River
Stash pretty much hit the nail on the head....
Real MC's are a full commitment, HOG is more like a loosely organized fraternity of a brand specific product. It's totally dependent on the personalities involved, and I think you'll find that most HOG chapters that are successful have many older retired members who have the spare time to commit to the chapter. HOG chapters that are formed with working age members have a much harder time staying together because it's a low priority on most working people's agenda. The job, working overtime, family...(especially those with school age kids)....all take preference over activity in riding with HOG....
Being in a real MC is similar to being a fireman, whether you're professional or volunteer.....(I've experienced both)....the fire dept becomes your second family, and being able to handle 2 families is something not everyone has the Patience to handle, it often pulls you in 2 different directions, HOG doesn't put that kind of commitment on anyone, and it's easy to walk away from if and when it becomes more than the average person cares to deal with, so some chapters falter, while others survive.....
Real MC's are a full commitment, HOG is more like a loosely organized fraternity of a brand specific product. It's totally dependent on the personalities involved, and I think you'll find that most HOG chapters that are successful have many older retired members who have the spare time to commit to the chapter. HOG chapters that are formed with working age members have a much harder time staying together because it's a low priority on most working people's agenda. The job, working overtime, family...(especially those with school age kids)....all take preference over activity in riding with HOG....
Being in a real MC is similar to being a fireman, whether you're professional or volunteer.....(I've experienced both)....the fire dept becomes your second family, and being able to handle 2 families is something not everyone has the Patience to handle, it often pulls you in 2 different directions, HOG doesn't put that kind of commitment on anyone, and it's easy to walk away from if and when it becomes more than the average person cares to deal with, so some chapters falter, while others survive.....
Ultimate HDF Member
Joined: Jul 2006
Posts: 9,335
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From: MA
All the chapters around here are pretty active.
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Road Master
Joined: Mar 2010
Posts: 1,139
Likes: 87
From: Dallas,Tx
i have been a a chapter member about 1 year. we ride just about every weekend. they also have a dinner ride at least once a month. two to three times a year they have overnight rides planned. this year they are heading to the big bend area of TX.
we cant make that but will be heading to the biker, blues and bbq. in AR. this year.
next year me and the wife are striking out on our own to the badlands of ND.
the chapter is perfect for us since we dont have enough time to commit to something where you have to attend to keep your patch. heck i dont even wear the chapter patch.
we cant make that but will be heading to the biker, blues and bbq. in AR. this year.
next year me and the wife are striking out on our own to the badlands of ND.
the chapter is perfect for us since we dont have enough time to commit to something where you have to attend to keep your patch. heck i dont even wear the chapter patch.
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Cruiser
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 247
Likes: 0
From: Chandler, AZ
Riding with friends because we like to ride is 'playing at biker'? Do you feel the same way about friends who aren't in HOG who ride together? Because there really is no difference. HOG just serves as a good place to start meeting people to ride with who you might not have had an opportunity to meet any other way.