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Quite literally, this discussion is like a list of all the worst caricatures of Harley riders rolled into one big thread, combined with an open letter indictment of Harley-Davidson's whole corporate culture.
Frankly, nothing like any of this exists within other motorcycle brands. Reading all of this, it's little wonder HD is so worried regarding the company's image and long-term future as millennials age and become the core target demographic.
I can't even imagine a Ducati, Triumph, or BMW dealership cancelling riding groups and then banning members from the facility, drama with groups having "patchovers" with other dealership groups, refusing to ever deal at below MSRP, demanding members spend more time volunteering or buying more stuff in order to "support" the dealer, refusing to socialize or allow other brands to be on the premises, sponsoring groups of hugely out of shape riders who ride from bar to bar, drinking their way into a stupor as part of some sort of misguided advertisement of the "biker" lifestyle. Seriously, this stuff is bizarre and just kind of, well, sad.
You have to admit, from an outsider's point of view all this crap has got to be a total turn off to potential buyers.
I mentioned this post to a friend who just quit the local HOG chapter. He said he quit because the dealer is pushing a rule stating that members may only wear that dealer's HD shirts to their meetings, rides & events. No clothing with other dealers' names allowed. "America's Freedom Machine" is long gone. Even today's "All for freedom. Freedom for all." ad campaign is a joke.
The dealer I used to use, at one time, had a paid employee whos job was to encourage HOG participation. He was an older retired guy. When I bought a new bike he came around to give me the HOG spill. I cut him off, nicely, and told him I was not interested in their HOG chapter. He seemed genuinely shocked. Before I left the owner came running up and asked why I didn't want to be involved in HOG. Hell, he didn't say a word about me just buying a new bike. Seemed way more concerned about the HOG chapter which I thought was weird. I told him that once, many years ago, I attended a couple of their HOG chapter events. And I found the members to be unfriendly, tough guy wannbe's, who consumed way too much alcohol to safely ride with. Heck, the one ride I went on them 2 of them dropped their bikes in parking lots at various stops because they were drunk. So why would I want to associate with that bunch of idiots. Too good to talk to me and possibly get me hurt riding with them. No thanks.
Most non riders wouldn't know the difference between a HOG and a Hells Angel.
You need to talk to more non-riders. The costume- wearing HOG weekend warriors aren't fooling nearly as many people as they, and apparently you, think.
I think it's all my fault, I get these event notices emailed from BR Harley all the time, I go there, mouch whatever they're giving away and never buy anything, I even scoff down ya'll donuts too, sorry
About 3 years ago Fort Thunder HD in Moore, Oklahoma shut down the breakfasts and lunch hot dog, burger, sausage freebees. They said the health dept. shut them down from that, but what`s odd is this has been going on for years. That same year their sales dropped off and lots of turnover ensued.
Originally Posted by dickey
It wouldn't ruin MY day!
Last edited by ChickinOnaChain; Sep 18, 2017 at 11:30 AM.
I quit my local HOG (10 yr member) after the dealer built a special room for the HOG group to use, even gave them a key to "the hog room" accessable from outside the dealer proper.
The dealer bought $200 worth of Papa John's pizza for the monthly meetings.
The elected HOG Pres (female) bitched that the free room was too small, and wanted them to order their favorite pizza instead of "the cheap stuff".
All in one conversation.....
I walked out, never went back.
