Daily Slideshow: Harley-Davidson Creates Friendships and Brings People Together
There's a lot of joy to the Harley-Davidson name. At the end of the day, it's not so much derived from the bikes as the memories and connections they form between people.
A friendship hub on two wheels.
There's a lot of joy to the Harley-Davidson name. At the end of the day, it's not so much derived from the bikes as the memories and connections they form between people. If you ride one yourself, you know what's meant when they say it's as much a lifestyle choice as a way to get around. Let's face it: even if the idea of the rebellious Harley rider is a fiction, a motorcyclist gets around on half as many wheels as the regular driver makes them something of an outsider class, to begin with. If Harley riders are reminded how increasingly rare their numbers on the road are, that alone would be more than enough of an icebreaker.
It doesn't hurt either that motorcycles (but Harley-Davidsons in particular) attract a certain kind of self-assured, adventurous personality to their fold. Everyone's experience is going to be unique, but it's probably no coincidence if you find you've got more in common with your fellow rider than a pair of wheels.
Fall in love... on a Harley.
They don't call Harley-Davidsons "dating chariots" for nothing. Well, maybe not; it might be a made-up term that sounds spawned from some ill-fated crossover between Friends and Ben-Hur. In any case, we think the sentiment itself holds true. Anyone who has picked their date up on the back of a Harley bike knows how conducive they are to romance and excitement. If it's your first date, there's a good chance it'll be her first time on the back of a motorcycle. Granted, she may have some initial anxiety about her safety ("What if I fall off?") but those hiccups are usually quick to fade once that all-too-familiar joy of riding sets in.
Harley-Davidsons are also fun to work on.
Maybe you're getting ready or a big ride together, or maybe you're licking wounds of the road after a successful haul on the open road. Either way, Harley-Davidsons are great bikes to work on together. These motorcycles earn their reputation as being relatively straightforward and manageable to maintain from a home garage. This makes the prospect of hanging out while you tinker a breeze, especially if you compare it to a finicky performance bike.
It's a family thing.
Harley-Davidsons were once symbolically represented as the rebellious, gelled-hair antithesis of family values. If the Harley didn't grow up, their core ridership certainly did, and many of them went on to make good families of their own. Harley-Davidson bikes aren't fashionable anymore with the younger crowd, but let's make no mistake here: they're still every bit as cool. It's no surprise that some children of long-term Harley enthusiasts became owners themselves. With a mutual interest like this that offers endless potential for shared experience, many families have surely grown closer as a result of it.
People want to hear your stories.
You own a Harley; of course, people are going to assume you've got a lot of interesting tales to tell from your time on the road. I mean, are they really wrong though? The Harley-Davidson "friendship effect" isn't limited to the camaraderie between riders. People on the outside often find it just as fascinating, if not more so, given the fact that the rider experience is all fresh territory from their point of view. Better still; a number of impassioned riders today were once "four-wheeled friends." If there's a chance you can show someone the joys of a bike, why not spread the word? They'll be sure to thank you once the dust has settled on their first major ride.
For help with service and maintenance of your bike, check out the how to section of HDForums.com
