Group Riding: 17 Tips To Ensure Everybody Has A Great Day
The engine purrs beneath you as a string of motorcycles snakes through the hills in front of you. With a quick look in the mirror, you see your buddy following close behind with a smile on his face that matches yours. The camaraderie forms because, at just this moment, you're all on the same page.
That's what a group ride is all about. It's an opportunity to share the open road and wonderful scenery with other like-minded people.
But like most motorcycle experiences, this one is best enjoyed by following a few simple guidelines that keep everyone safe. And that's the idea behind a new videotape put out by the Motorcycle Safety Foundation that focuses on group riding. You can get your own copy by visiting the MSF website at:www.msf-usa.org, but here are a few tips from the country's foremost motorcycle safety experts. Continue reading
2013 HD Heritage Softail Classic 110th Test
With Harley-Davidson proudly commemorating its 110th anniversary this year, it is only fitting to revisit one of The Motor Company’s most enduring models, a bike that is quietly celebrating its 25th year of production. One of the first of the FLs in the Softail family, the Heritage Softail Classic connects the dots between the 1940s, the 1980s, and the 2010s.
Outfitted with a mid-height windshield, floorboards, and leather bags festooned with conchos, it is easy to peg the Heritage Softail Classic as strictly a touring mount. However, the bike lives outside of Harley’s Touring classification, as it utilizes a Softail chassis and a Twin Cam 103B motor; Harley’s Touring motorcycles have their own chassis and a rubber-mounted Twin Cam 103 motor, sans counterbalancing. Continue reading
Best Western & Harley-Davidson 2013
Best Western International and Harley-Davidson Motor Company® announced today that the two organizations have extended their partnership with one another for an additional three years. Best Western is also expanding its programs for motorcycle enthusiasts from North America to a global level. The agreement provides benefits for both brands and their respective customers.
As part of the agreement, Best Western is serving as the Official Lodging Partner of Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary in 2013. In addition, Best Western is now the Preferred Lodging Partner of Harley-Davidson’s Rentals and Tours Division, which will include the hotel chain’s properties on its multi-night itineraries and provide more revenue opportunities for Best Western hotels. Continue reading
Linda Joseph – Why I Ride
I was first introduced to motorcycles during the late 1970’s when some friend of ours had a motorcycle and my first husband bought a Honda 550 bike. At that time I was a passenger and during our rides, I looked around at other riders and wondered what it would be like to drive my own motorcycle. After a couple of years, we decided to sell this bike to buy a larger Honda 750. Shortly after that purchase, I got pregnant and that was the end of my riding days. Continue reading
First Sunday Ride
The Cloister Post 429 of the American Legion hosts a motorcycle show on the first Sunday of each month, April through November, from 7 a.m. till noon. See thousands of motorcycles on display from concept, classic and cool. We also sell delicious food during the event with a ballroom breakfast buffet open to everyone, burgers at the Sons of Legion tent and cold drinks, coffee and pastries at the Ladies Auxiliary Booth. Stop by and bring the family! Continue reading
Act 84 Changes Affecting Teens Applying for Motorcycle Licenses
As of Friday, Aug. 31 2012, a new law takes effect that impacts 16- and 17-year-olds who wish to take the skills test for their motorcycle licenses. Under Act 84, which Governor Corbett signed on July 2, any person 16- or 17-years old who wants a motorcycle license must first complete the Basic Rider Course (BRC) offered by the Pennsylvania Motorcycle Safety Program (PAMSP). You will be covered by this change if you are scheduled for the motorcycle skills test on Friday Aug. 31 or thereafter. Continue reading
PA – Motorcycle Information Center
To obtain a Class M (Motorcycle) license, an individual must pass a basic motorcycle knowledge test and apply for a Class M learner’s permit. The learner’s permit allows the applicant to ride only between sunrise and sunset and, except for a rider licensed to operate another class of vehicle, only while under the instruction and supervision of an individual who holds a Class M license. Class M permit holders cannot carry any passengers other than an instructor properly licensed to operate a motorcycle. The permit is valid for 1 year. The cost of the permit is $10.00. Continue reading
Safe Riders Skill Program
At the Harley Owners Group®, safe riding is a top priority. So, to encourage all our members to ride as skillfully and safely as possible, we offer tuition reimbursement up to US $50* (in the form of a coupon – see guidelines below) for the successful completion of an accredited Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSA) rider training course, including Harley-Davidson Rider's Edge® courses in the U.S. or the outlined courses below for Canada. Successful students will also receive a pin and patch featuring the "Safe Rider Skills" logo.
As a further incentive, H.O.G. chapters with at least 12 members completing a course in a single calendar year will receive special recognition: a Safe Rider Skills plaque. Continue reading
Trudie Yeager – Why I Ride
My riding experience began when we purchased a 1950 Harley-Davidson Scooter while living in upper New York State. Such beautiful country – we rode all over! I fell in love with the riding feeling and the beauty as seen from the scooter with no windows to impede the view. After moving back to PA, we had a 1960 Vespa Scooter and rode that all over on local roads, Pocono's, shore, etc. The next step was a 1973 Honda 350 cc. Again, lots of riding including trips to Syracuse, NY. There were thoughts in the back of my head that I might like to learn to ride on my own. Continue reading
Get your Gravitar Logo
Your Gravatar is an image that follows you from site to site appearing beside your name when you do things like comment or post on a blog. Avatars help identify your posts on blogs and web forums, so why not on any site? Millions of avatar images are being served over 8.6 billion times per day. Its Free to use, you can link one image to all your email addresses, or have a different image for each email address you have. Then when you use that email address to log into sites that use gravitar, (Like our IVHOG Site) and many others, your image will automatically appear. Go back as often as yo like, and change them out as you find new images you want to use. Continue reading
Knowing your ABC’s
Knowing your HOG® benefits should be like knowing your ABCs. Take, for instance, the ABCs of Touring … it’s not as if any of us really need an extra incentive to ride. But there’s something thrilling about exploring the back roads and happening upon a town that begins with the letter “Z”. It’s the little discoveries that make riding so fulfilling. Not to mention, all the great prizes you could win.
It doesn’t take much to take part in the ABCs of Touring. All you do is collect photos of yourself and your Harley® holding a current edition of HOG® Magazine® in front of “official” signs for various entities – cities, counties, states, countries, etc. – and you could be eligible for great prizes. Check your HOG Benefits Guide for more details on how to take part, or visit members.hog.com. Continue reading
Milwaukee 110th Anniversary Celebration event
Harley-Davidson announces on-sale date for Milwaukee 110th Anniversary Celebration event tickets. For the past three months, Harley-Davidson has been on the road sharing epic experiences with fans from all corners of the globe — from the Tibetan Plateau in China to Sturgis to Faaker See, Austria – to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s 110th Anniversary: 110 Years of Freedom. These events are just the beginning of a year-long, global celebration that will take place across 11 countries on six continents and culminate over Labor Day weekend in 2013, in Milwaukee, Wis. – home of Harley-Davidson. Continue reading