The great thing about Harley Davidson motorcycles is that they want you to have fun on your bike, so they organize all kinds of fun and excitement so that you are happy with your bike ownership. They organize fun runs, cookouts, rallies, bike nights, raffles, and charity events. At the Harley plant in York, PA, they claim that it is the original social networking. In the store, everyone is friendly, most of the stores offer a military discount, and you get to know other bikers.
As we have traveled across the United States, my dad has purchased a t-shirt (or two) from each of the H-D stores that we have visited. I got a few shirts, but I am collecting poker chips from each store. My favorite store so far was Southern Thunder, where they had some Elvis prototype motorcycles and made a very big fuss over people’s motorcycle purchases.
While in West Virginia, we rode through the Appalachian Mountains, and we saw some beautiful views. We rode “the Triple Nickel,” also known as highway 555, which is a windy mountain road with a steep grade. I got some go pro video of that segment. It was a fun challenge. We stopped at the H-D there, and we got a great photo of our bikes parked in the lot with the H-D sign and U.S. flag behind them.
Along the journey, our bikes have gotten very dirty, especially with bug splats. Our windshields get almost covered with them, and our headlights, front fenders, and engine guards take the brunt of it. My dad has always been irritated with me because I find someone else (paid if necessary) to wash my bike for me. On the road, I had to do it myself. So, for the first time ever, I washed my own bike in a manual car wash, and I must say, it came out well. The only reason I am still wearing my helmet while washing the bike is because there was no good place to put the helmet down.
Another great thing about Harley Davidson is their military support. At thanksgiving, our local H-D partners with our club to serve approximately 200 bootcamp soldiers on Thanksgiving Day. It is a heartwarming event, and it is such an honor to serve them on that day when I know they are missing their families.
Finally, the best reason to ride a Harley is that you will meet all kinds of people from all walks of life. Everyone asks us (bikers and non-bikers) about our trip. Locals share tidbits about their towns and history with us. People make recommendations for places to eat, things to see, and places to visit. At a time when our country seems to be so divided politically, it is nice to see that people still want to talk and share their stories with one another. Harley Davidson is a culture.
Motorcycle diaries de una chula 