Posts Tagged ‘hog motorcycle rally’

Impact of Harley-Davidson’s Woke Image: Rider Sentiments and Loyalty Reevaluation

Posted: September 9, 2024 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle advocacy, Motorcycle news, Uncategorized
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As I noted in a previous post, in August we attended the Wild and Wonderful Harley Owners Group (HOG) regional rally, centered in Charleston, West Virginia.

I had to ask “the” question!

Across Harleydom many riders are not happy with the direction of the MoCo and their devotion to woke ideology. Many have debadged or are covering the logos on their motorcycles, others are discarding branded clothing.  I have seen that on bikes rolling through my town of Front Royal heading to or from Skyline Drive.  I did not see any debaging/masking at the HOG rally in West Virginia.

My question…. What do you think about all this?

At the rally, I asked many of the attendees their thoughts on this controversy engulfing Harley Davidson.  That HD has gone full woke while also disregarding their customers’ feelings. Not too suprising, many had not heard of of the controversy.

Disappointment was the main feeling of almost all riders I spoke with. No one said that they were going to trade in their motorcycle today. A few stated that they would not buy anymore Harley clothing until this was resolved in a favorable manner.

Rethinking their loyalty. A majority of those I talked with did say that if Harley did not make a turn around that they would consider a new brand when it did come time to get a new bike

My thoughts after all this.

Harley really needs to get a new CEO and Board of Directors.  How did this CEO even get appointed?  He ran a tennis shoe company and proclaimed that he is the Taliban for promoting woke.  Neither of which fit with the brand.

I fit in with many of the people I talked to at the rally.  When I need a new bike, I will look at another brand unless this controversy is resolved in the manner the customers want.

HOG Motorcycle Rally, Curves to Cores the Rides

Posted: June 28, 2019 in Motorcycle, Motorcycle Rides, motorcycle touring, Rally
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Overcast, light rain and thunderstorms, that was day one of the HOG Curves to Cores motorcycle rally. There were no guided rides and with those weather conditions I decided not to do any of the self-guided rides. Instead I did the poker run and apple hunt. I still had a lot of fun!

Day Two of the rally was sunny but not hot, perfect motorcycle ride weather! I had signed up for the “Acting Like a Good Ole Boy” guided ride.

z16This was a 127-mile, well crafted, ride across the Blue Ridge Mountains and down the Shenandoah Valley. Some SPECTATUCLAR scenic views and some cool riding. I was unable to get pictures from the motorcycle as my co-pilot and backseat photographer had to work

The mid-point of the motorcycle ride was a stop at “Cooter’s Garage and Dukes of Hazard Museum”. Those of us of a certain age will remember the Dukes fondly as it was a lot of fun to watch. Today it is “politically incorrect” but then it was fun.z17

When we pulled into Cooter’s Garage, we were only folks there but, before we left there was at least one other group of about 10 motorcycles and then the Can-Am Spyder section of the Women’s Mid-Atlantic Riding Tour pulled in the parking lot.

The last time I saw that many Spyders in one spot, my wife sent me to the store for a can of bug spray! (now that is comedy)

From Cooter’s Garage we rode to lunch and then back to home base in Winchester. The return trip was just as scenic.

Day Three was supposed to be a ride to Summit Point Raceway to ride our big Harley Davidsons on the track. I did not make this ride as I had an offer to test ride the new Zero electric motorcycle. Stand by for a post on that event.z13

Day Four of the rally and the weather, once again, was perfect for riding motorcycles. This day my wife was able to attend and we had chosen the “For Whom the Road Tolls” guided ride.

At 80 miles this ride followed the first toll road in what would become the United States, Snickersville Turnpike. This was another well run ride. I want to praise our road captian Peter for an outstanding job on a ride with lots of intersections and stop signs!z6

This ride was through some of the most rural parts of northern Virginia. Beautiful farms and landscapes abound though out the ride. We passed though multiple small towns founded in the mid-1700s, a lot of pre-United States and Civil War history was ridden through this day.

Day four was also the closing of the rally. Held at Groves Harley Davidson of Winchester they had several event prizes to give away, of course I did not win anything! Bummer.

All in all this was a great event, setup and executed very well. We are going to another HOG rally later this year, it will be hard pressed to outperform the Curves to Cores rally.

Ride On, Ride Safe