HOG is simply a Harley marketing ploy. It's for people who don't ride and then get a bike. They do roadside assistance, if you can't fix your bike on the road. Not a bad thing. My experience with the local HOG chapter is, it consists of people whose friends don't ride and provides them with people who do. This sells motorcycles and people who would otherwise quit riding out of boredom, keep riding and buying everything from clothes to another bike for the ol' lady. They go on trips and have pot lucks and such. My problem with these guys and women is that they are very poor riders and don't even know it, because their peers ride equally as bad! I was in a joint one time talking to a woman who rides a lot with these people, and some guy sits down and starts telling me about his experiences on the road. His buddy sits down and and this guy tells me "if you think I've done a lot my friend here had a bike last year!" They just don't live in the same world I do, but whatever.

 

I'm a Life member but don't do the local chapter thing since the SLC dealer stopped offering 10% discount and charges for local membership. He has to support his top fuel bike and airplane, etc.

 

If you like to take a few days, fly somewhere (too far to ride in a few days) and rent a bike. Using the Fly N Ride program will more than make your membership cost back the first time you use it. Most Dealers I've priced charge $180.00 plus tax per day for a rental. Fly N Ride is $100.0 per day flat.

If you need roadside assistance do the $20 upgrade. In the long run you'll save way more than that on the towing.