HOG membership or not??
Stellar HDF Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 3,105
Likes: 1,761
From: Atlanta, GA
I was a HOG member and enjoyed it. My wife is no longer interested, so I don't bother with the meeting, etc anymore. Now I just need the tow package and thought of a HOG National membership. $45/yr for HOG or $35/year to upgrade my AAA service, which going by a lot of other posts, is way better than Road America. So I'll stick w/ AAA.
It really depends on how involved in HOG you want to be. Our local chapter is great and I'm not putting down the organization. I'm just a 99%'er.
It really depends on how involved in HOG you want to be. Our local chapter is great and I'm not putting down the organization. I'm just a 99%'er.
Supporter
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 587
Likes: 1
From: Ga.
I have been a member for many years, and I do have a life membership. I never joined HOG for per se a benefit to me, I joined because I wanted to help support a club that was dedicated to HD riding.
I am also a member of the local chapter, and I am actually a member of two of the local chapters ( which reminds me, time to pay my dues for the locals). I do usually attend the yearly state HOG event, and have attended several rides and other things over the years. One local gives 15% and the other 10% discount, neither of these match what used to be the online norm and can still be found of 20%, but I still buy from the dealer because I am one of those bad people, I like to help support the local dealers.
Both local chapters here send out e-mails or on-line news letter to the members that give the "happenings" of the month or week, so if you looked here for HOG events you would find nothing either, other than probably the national state rally, but there is something happening (between the two) almost daily.
I think everyone should be a member, but nobody cares what I think (and that's probably best), and as I think I have mentioned before, I am crazy, I also help support the American Legion, Patriot Riders, and a few other orgs. I bet that for most people even if you would only join if it benefits "you", most could probably find that benefit if they wanted to or looked for it, but I think HD riders should help support a club geared towards HD riding, but hey, that's me, and I am, well you know.
I am also a member of the local chapter, and I am actually a member of two of the local chapters ( which reminds me, time to pay my dues for the locals). I do usually attend the yearly state HOG event, and have attended several rides and other things over the years. One local gives 15% and the other 10% discount, neither of these match what used to be the online norm and can still be found of 20%, but I still buy from the dealer because I am one of those bad people, I like to help support the local dealers.
Both local chapters here send out e-mails or on-line news letter to the members that give the "happenings" of the month or week, so if you looked here for HOG events you would find nothing either, other than probably the national state rally, but there is something happening (between the two) almost daily.
I think everyone should be a member, but nobody cares what I think (and that's probably best), and as I think I have mentioned before, I am crazy, I also help support the American Legion, Patriot Riders, and a few other orgs. I bet that for most people even if you would only join if it benefits "you", most could probably find that benefit if they wanted to or looked for it, but I think HD riders should help support a club geared towards HD riding, but hey, that's me, and I am, well you know.
Seasoned HDF Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 5,286
Likes: 3,430
From: Idaho Panhandle
I have been given several HOG memberships when buying a bike. I even thought, well okay, I go see what the local HOG chapter is up to.
1. Pretty closed group. Not much interest in long rides
2. Eat a lot of hot dogs
3. Stand around talking bikes for hours, rides are much shorter.
4. Most arrive ready for the ride.....but need to stop for gas as they were in such a hurry to get there and stand around for two hours, that they did not have time to stop and get gas.
5. We rode 5 mph UNDER the speed limit.
6. On the first and only ride I did with them, after we pulled out, riders ran up the inside or the outside to be near their buddies. Seems they are not ready to pull out together at they start, but getting together with their buddy in 20 minutes at the first stop was too much for them to wait.
7. I had not waxed and detailed my bike the night before.
We have a group that likes to ride. No HOG membership required. Just show up with a full tank and make sure your bladder is empty when we pull out. 250-400 miles rides are normal.
Concealed weapons are optional, we think.
I have AAA RV + so I did not need it for towing. It a HOG membership provided a discount at the dealer, I would join for that reason and that reason only. Otherwise, you don't need to show me your HOG card to ride. Just show up ready, spend 30 minutes catching up with everybody and then let's go for a ride. There may be times when twisting the throttle may be require to catch up. Live with it.
1. Pretty closed group. Not much interest in long rides
2. Eat a lot of hot dogs
3. Stand around talking bikes for hours, rides are much shorter.
4. Most arrive ready for the ride.....but need to stop for gas as they were in such a hurry to get there and stand around for two hours, that they did not have time to stop and get gas.
5. We rode 5 mph UNDER the speed limit.
6. On the first and only ride I did with them, after we pulled out, riders ran up the inside or the outside to be near their buddies. Seems they are not ready to pull out together at they start, but getting together with their buddy in 20 minutes at the first stop was too much for them to wait.
7. I had not waxed and detailed my bike the night before.
We have a group that likes to ride. No HOG membership required. Just show up with a full tank and make sure your bladder is empty when we pull out. 250-400 miles rides are normal.
Concealed weapons are optional, we think.
I have AAA RV + so I did not need it for towing. It a HOG membership provided a discount at the dealer, I would join for that reason and that reason only. Otherwise, you don't need to show me your HOG card to ride. Just show up ready, spend 30 minutes catching up with everybody and then let's go for a ride. There may be times when twisting the throttle may be require to catch up. Live with it.
Elite HDF Member
Joined: Nov 2013
Posts: 4,377
Likes: 647
From: Santa Clarita
My experience was similar to sonofthehounds. I was a charter member of a chapter which was founded in 1988. I relocated a couple of years later, and about thirteen years later, rejoined HOG and the local chapter.
Well, by that time local dealerships had changed into 'regional boutiques', and I think they hired their parts guys from AutoZones! The same thing happened to the local chapter. They were VERY cliqueish, not welcoming or friendly, and I think their longest ride in the few months I was a member was ten miles to eat seafood...with a LOT of standing around!
Nope. Not what my riding was all about. In the days when we had just started the chapter, a short ride was 100 miles, and you'd BETTER show up early WITH a full tank of gas...no problem with the last minute voiding of the bladder, that we could handle!
Every now and then, I go to the photo section of the three or four local HOG chapters...these days, there are many dealerships and chapters...and what I see are a lotta grandpas and grandmas standing around livin' the dream! You got guys that have been riding a year or so that are road captains! Nah. I don't think so.
There are a couple of ad hoc groups of folks I ride with or I ride alone...what a concept! Works for me...If I ride with a guy or guys whose riding styles I don't mesh with, it's just a simple matter of not riding with them again! I don't need to be an official member of a club...hey, it's all about the ride!
Well, by that time local dealerships had changed into 'regional boutiques', and I think they hired their parts guys from AutoZones! The same thing happened to the local chapter. They were VERY cliqueish, not welcoming or friendly, and I think their longest ride in the few months I was a member was ten miles to eat seafood...with a LOT of standing around!
Nope. Not what my riding was all about. In the days when we had just started the chapter, a short ride was 100 miles, and you'd BETTER show up early WITH a full tank of gas...no problem with the last minute voiding of the bladder, that we could handle!
Every now and then, I go to the photo section of the three or four local HOG chapters...these days, there are many dealerships and chapters...and what I see are a lotta grandpas and grandmas standing around livin' the dream! You got guys that have been riding a year or so that are road captains! Nah. I don't think so.
There are a couple of ad hoc groups of folks I ride with or I ride alone...what a concept! Works for me...If I ride with a guy or guys whose riding styles I don't mesh with, it's just a simple matter of not riding with them again! I don't need to be an official member of a club...hey, it's all about the ride!
Outstanding HDF Member
Joined: Mar 2008
Posts: 2,306
Likes: 39
From: Everywhere
My experience was similar to sonofthehounds. I was a charter member of a chapter which was founded in 1988. I relocated a couple of years later, and about thirteen years later, rejoined HOG and the local chapter. Well, by that time local dealerships had changed into 'regional boutiques', and I think they hired their parts guys from AutoZones! The same thing happened to the local chapter. They were VERY cliqueish, not welcoming or friendly, and I think their longest ride in the few months I was a member was ten miles to eat seafood...with a LOT of standing around! Nope. Not what my riding was all about. In the days when we had just started the chapter, a short ride was 100 miles, and you'd BETTER show up early WITH a full tank of gas...no problem with the last minute voiding of the bladder, that we could handle! Every now and then, I go to the photo section of the three or four local HOG chapters...these days, there are many dealerships and chapters...and what I see are a lotta grandpas and grandmas standing around livin' the dream! You got guys that have been riding a year or so that are road captains! Nah. I don't think so. There are a couple of ad hoc groups of folks I ride with or I ride alone...what a concept! Works for me...If I ride with a guy or guys whose riding styles I don't mesh with, it's just a simple matter of not riding with them again! I don't need to be an official member of a club...hey, it's all about the ride!
It was said to me by an old timer once, if you don't like how we do things, then get involved and initiate change, if you're gonna sit back and complain, we can manage without you.
That being said, I was paying $1200, started around $800 but had a little accident and they raised it. Progressive through HOG priced me at $685 and would have been cheaper to pay a year in advance. That is with the exact same coverage. Even the Geico rep said I should go for it.
Now I have $50/month extra to spend on the Harley.
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Club Member
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 11,469
Likes: 3,572
From: Idaho
That's exactly what happened to me. I moved here about a year and a half ago, and joined the local chapter that fall. Over 200 members, but only about 25-30 or so ever showed up for meetings or rides. Apparently they are the small group that's been together for years, going way back to the previous dealership that got shut down. Not very friendly.
Every few meetings or so the owner and the GM would beg for more people to get involved. So, finally, I raised my hand.
You know what? I've only been to two officer's meetings so far, and already two of the existing officers are all exited about new ideas and new approaches.
Life is what you make it.
There are a couple of ad hoc groups of folks I ride with or I ride alone...what a concept! Works for me...If I ride with a guy or guys whose riding styles I don't mesh with, it's just a simple matter of not riding with them again! I don't need to be an official member of a club...hey, it's all about the ride!