HOG ® Magazine Canada | January 2019
HOG ® Magazine Canada | January 2019
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HOG.COM
Canadian Edition
MILWAUKEE 115TH: THE HEART OF HARLEY® • THE LADIES OF MONTÉRÉGIE •THIS LAND IS OUR LAND: WEST AND EAST COAST RIDES • TORONTO DISTINGUISHED GENTLEMAN’S RIDE • NEW MEXICO: THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE • HOG® HIDDEN GEMS: QUEBEC CITY • RIDING WITH GPS
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Welcome
HOG® MAGAZINE CANADA IS PRODUCED FOR HOG® CANADA BY Archant Dialogue, Prospect House, Rouen Road, Norwich NR1 1RE, United Kingdom Tel: +44 (0) 1603 664242 www.archantdialogue.co.uk AND Fresh Air Productions 375 Water St., Suite 200 Vancouver, BC, Canada V6B 5C6 www.freshairpublishing.ca info@freshairpublishing.ca
COAST TO COAST AND AROUND THE GLOBE Copyeditors Amy Reid, Christina Newberry and Matt Colley Production Editor Rosie Pearce Production Designers Sian Osborne and Lucy Perkins Production Manager Kay Brown Account Manager Katherine Berryman Studio Manager Nicky Wright Art Director Richard Berry Content & Brand Director Ryan Battles Agency Director Zoë Francis-Cox Editorial & Sales (Canada) Dustin Woods Editorial Director Gordie Bowles
We care about you. Ride safely, respectfully, and within the limits of the law and your abilities. Always wear an approved helmet, proper eyewear, and protective clothing and insist your passenger does too. Never ride while under the influence of alcohol or drugs. Know your Harley® motorcycle, and read and understand your owner’s manual from cover to cover. HOG ® Magazine Canada is published by Harley-Davidson Canada LP and the Harley Owners Group™, the official riding club of Harley-Davidson. We reserve the right to edit all submissions for publication in HOG ® Magazine Canada. All submissions become property of Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and Harley-Davidson Canada LP. If you’d like your photo returned, please send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your submission. All H-D® product illustrations, photographs, and specifications mentioned in the publication are based on the latest product information at the time of publication. The right is reserved to make changes at any time in prices, colors, materials, equipment, specifications, and models and also to discontinue models. Some vehicles in this publication are shown with available equipment. HOG® Magazine Canada will not intentionally publish fraudulent or misleading advertising. HOG® Magazine Canada does not endorse any advertiser or its products, and cannot be responsible for advertisers’ claims. To advertise in HOG ® Magazine Canada, email info@freshairpublishing.ca. No part of HOG ® Magazine Canada may be reproduced for any purpose in entirety or part without the express written consent of Harley-Davidson. Harley-Davidson, Harley, H-D, HOG, and the Bar & Shield logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC. Copyright 2019 Publication Mail Agreement No. 400337386 CANADA POST Publication Mail: 4161505 Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: HARLEY OWNERS GROUP™ 100 New Park Place,
WHILE OUR BIKES ARE safely secured and tucked away, at least for a while longer, it’s a good time to reflect back on an incredible riding season while keeping an eye on what’s upcoming. The goal of this publication, and our mission at Harley-Davidson Canada, is to educate, motivate and inspire our loyal HOG® members. Whether it’s through insightful commentary and useful tips, like how to get the most out of GPS technology without ruining your riding experience (see Lost in Navigation, page 62) or the discussion around how much maintenance you should do on your own versus with a motorcycle expert at the dealership (see Do it Yourself or Ask the Expert?, page 7). Of course there are riding stories … and no shortage of them. The pages of this magazine also provide inspiration and travel ideas, like exploring the mountain passes of the European Alps through Tour1 – an official Harley-Davidson® Authorized Tour operator (see Pass Masters, page 54). Or for the extreme adventure-seekers, you can always try visiting your HOG family in faraway lands, like eight riders did when they journeyed through the arduous Russian leg of the Silk Way Rally (see Steppes, Swamps and Deserts, page 27). As many HOG members find when they travel, the food, music, language and cultures are different but there is that powerful bond that unites us: our love of riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles. As always, we have profiled close-to-home riding, like around beautiful Quebec City, where HOG Quebec Regional Director Michel-André Roy shares his favourite route in the second instalment of the HOG Hidden Gems series (see page 42). But my personal favourite part of this magazine is seeing the fantastic photos and stories that come in from you, Canadian HOG members. Pouring through that editorial as it arrives in our inbox reminds me of how passionate and committed you are to the riding experience and the Harley-Davidson story. Writer and Harley® enthusiast Becky Goebel was with a very fun crew of Canadian riders in Milwaukee for the 115TH celebrations (see The Heart of Harley, page 20). For a few days they lived the Harley dream, exploring every corner of Milwaukee, including the Harley-Davidson Museum™ and all of the incredible events that took over the city. Lastly, the trips that Keith Richard (Atlantic Regional HOG Director) took last summer explored our country’s west and east (see This Land is our Land, page 46). Keith’s closing statement in this story captures it all: “Get out and explore. You’ll find friendly Canadians everywhere, and if it’s a HOG rally you’re attending, you’ll find your friendly HOG family!” And speaking of rallies, we’re gearing up to have the best year ever, with five Regional Rallies scheduled across the country (see Save the Date, page 8). So we suggest that you spend these next few snowy weeks looking ahead to riding season, dreaming up big plans for getting back out on the open road. Also new in 2019: RIDE365 – a great new mileage program replacing the previous HOG mileage program – including a refreshed ABCs of Touring contest, complete with exclusive prizing and recognition for Canadian members. Important RIDE365 information for all members can be found on HOG.com. Don’t forget to update the email address on your HOG.com profile while you’re there – we have lots of exciting information in the months ahead that we’re going to want to email you about!
Suite 330, Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 0H9 Tel: 1.800.CLUBHOG
Contributors: Glen Abbott, Becky Goebel, Darren Hauck, Sergey Kamenev, Lovell Photography, Jeremy Pick, Keith Richard, Alex Ruck, Vanessa Ruck, John Sandberg, Dustin Woods
Karen Mayberry Consumer Experience and Public Relations Harley-Davidson Canada
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CONTENTS
Strap
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Contents
THISISSUE 03 WELCOME
Coast to coast and around the globe
06 THE WORD ®
Notes from the world of Harley
10 INTAKE 12 INTAKE GALLERY Readers and riders share pictures and stories
18 BIG PICTURE Harley-Davidson® CEO Matt Levatich wowed the crowds in Milwaukee riding the new LiveWire™ electric motorcycle
FEATURES 20 THE HEART OF HARLEY® Becky Goebel makes a pilgrimage to the Harley motherland on a CVO Street Glide® Special
27 STEPPES, SWAMPS AND DESERTS
44 A PERSONAL TWIST ON THE ABCs OF TOURING Life member Cheryl Haw took a novel approach to the ABCs contest
46 THIS LAND IS OUR LAND Trips west and east reveal the true beauty of Canada, and the comradeship of the HOG® community
50 TOUR DE FORCE Discover the power of the new 2019 Touring models
54 PASS MASTERS A fantastic Alpine escape with Authorized Tours operator Tour1
58 “THE SKINNY” STEALS THE SHOW A closer look at the custom bike that’s been a big winner in 2018
EXHAUST 60 ARCHIVES
What happened when eight Harley-mad daredevils took on Russia’s notorious Silk Way Rally
Five fascinating artifacts from the Harley-Davidson Museum™
62 BETWEEN THE LINES Coming to grips with GPS navigation
32 MILWAUKEE BOUND ®
Three members of the HOG Central Chapter in Halifax head to Harley’s hometown for the 115TH Anniversary
36 THE TRUTH IS OUT THERE Travelling through New Mexico to the Southwest HOG® Rally proved to be more than an alien invasion in Roswell
64 150 DOLLAR RIDES An elevated adventure through the Colorado Rockies
66 LAST STOP Licenced H-D artist Scott Jacobs on painting, riding and recovery
42 HOG® HIDDEN GEMS Quebec HOG Director Michel-André Roy shares his favourite ride
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NEWS ROUNDUP FROM THE WORLD OF HOG® AND HARLEY-DAVIDSON®
GOOD TIMES FOR A GREAT CAUSE
Toronto HOG® Members Join Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride 2018. By Dustin Woods
THE WORD
WHEN MARK HAWWA created the initial Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride in 2012, there’s no way the Sydney, Australia, native could have known that it would become the world’s largest motorcycle charity event and a global phenomenon. Hawwa simply saw an opportunity to change the perception of motorcycle riders by assembling smartly dressed riders for a good cause. Now in its sixth year, the annual event has raised millions of dollars for its beneficiary partners, Toronto HOG Member Ken Bessant
including 1,200 programs in over 20 countries. The charity partner of choice is the Movember Foundation, an organization that funds prostate cancer research, but more recently attention has turned to supporting mental health programs, too. On Sunday, September 30, riders around the globe assembled in fancy attire to ride vintage or retro-inspired motorcycles and raise money and awareness for men’s health. In Toronto, 389 riders – including a number of Toronto HOG® members – congregated at Polson Pier despite cool temperatures and threats of precipitation. This year teams from across Canada raised a total of $78,176. Well done, gentlemen! 6
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The Word
DIVIDED HIGHWAYS
DO IT YOURSELF or ASK THE EXPERT?
5 THINGS ABOUT
Do you like to be hands-on, and change the oil and service your Harley-Davidson® motorcycle yourself? Or do you prefer to leave it to the experts at the dealership? WE ASKED:
THE HARLEYDAVIDSON 115TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION The birth of the Motor Company is marked every five years with a huge party in Milwaukee and events across the world. Here’s some history about the celebrations …
64%
DO IT YOURSELF
18%
ASK THE EXPERT
18% BOTH
I always do my own maintenance because it’s cheaper and more convenient. And if I have an issue on the road I’ll be better equipped to fix it. –Wes Y. … I’ve long since forgotten more than I ever knew; therefore, I leave my ride in the care of those who have the tools in their hands every day. –Jeff M. … I like to service my Heritage Softail™ motorcycle. It’s a great way to learn about it and save money for gas to ride more! –Joe S. … The reason my Street Glide® motorcycle runs is because I don’t work on it! –Mark M. … My latest bike is a 1980 FXWG model, which I service because it’s a simple yet elegant machine. –Jim C. … I would only go to a dealership if it were 100 per cent necessary. –German G. … DIY allows me to know my iron
steed with my head and hands. It’s our TLC time when we’re not on the move. –Richard E. … My first Harley® motorcycle was a new Softail® Custom model in 1987. I did a lot of wrenching on that “basic” machine, which now has more than 160,000 kilometres. My 2014 Road King® bike is more advanced, so it gets TLC from an authorized H-D® mechanic. –Keith H. … My husband and I do our own maintenance. I love the time we spend together working on the bikes. –Jenny S. … Working on my bike makes me feel good and at one with it, but I also get a good feeling about warrantied work from the dealer. –Nick F. … I prefer to change the fluids on my bike. I ride more than 32,000 kilometres a year, so I save a lot of money. –Adam H.
NEXT QUESTION:
CANYON CARVER or STRAIGHT-LINE HERO? Are you comfortable throwing your Harley-Davidson motorcycle into the curves, or do you like to head straight for the horizon?
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The first Harley-Davidson anniversary event was held in 1953 to note its 50TH birthday with a small celebration in front of the Capitol Drive plant during the annual sales conference. The next official anniversary took place in 1978 with a small number of company executives and guests riding to Louisville, Kentucky, and on to Milwaukee.
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The current cycle of five-year celebrations started with the 85TH Anniversary, branded “The Reunion.” Ten separate rides departing from cities across the United States and Canada converged on Milwaukee – a tradition that continues to this day.
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The H-D 115TH Anniversary Celebration in Prague was held in conjunction with the world’s oldest Harley-Davidson club, H-D Club Praha, which was marking its 90TH birthday.
4
The H-D 115TH Anniversary drew more than 150,000 people to the Milwaukee area for a bike-centric celebration focused on motorcycle performance, along with multiple street parties.
5
More than 6,500 motorcycles joined the H-D 115TH Anniversary Parade down Wisconsin Avenue in Milwaukee, including chapters from China, Vietnam, Cambodia, Colombia and Indonesia. The first anniversary event to feature a parade was in 1988.
Send your thoughts to hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com with “Divided Highways” in the subject line. We’ll publish the best responses in the next issue.
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The Word
THE WORD
HARLEY-DAVIDSON CREATES SILICON VALLEY R&D FACILITY TO ADVANCE EV TECHNOLOGY
Harley-Davidson announced in September plans to establish a new research and development facility in Northern California’s Silicon Valley to support its future product portfolio, including the company’s first complete line of electric vehicles. “Recently we shared with the world our accelerated plans to build the next generation of Harley-Davidson® riders globally,” said Matt Levatich, President and CEO of Harley-Davidson, Inc. “This new R&D facility in the heart of Silicon Valley will help us deliver on those plans and demonstrate our commitment to
SAVE THE DATE The 2019 HOG® rally schedule is announced. 8
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lead the electrification of the sport.” Harley-Davidson will launch its first electric motorcycle, LiveWire™, in 2019. That motorcycle will be the first in a broad, no-clutch “twist and go” portfolio of electric two-wheelers designed by the company. It will be followed by additional models through 2022 to broaden the portfolio with lighter, smaller and even more accessible product options to inspire new riders with new ways to ride. The new facility in California will serve as a satellite of the Willie G. Davidson Product Development Facility in
Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. It will initially focus on electric vehicle research and development, including battery, power electronics and e-machine design, development and advanced manufacturing. Long term, the company may consider expanding the centre’s focus to an increased range of advanced technologies that uniquely leverage the rich talent in Silicon Valley and support its most comprehensive and competitive lineup of motorcycles across a broad spectrum of price points, power sources and riding styles.
Quebec Rally July 4-6, 2019 Dealership: Abitibi H-D Chapter: Chapitre Abitibi
Prairie Rally August 15-17, 2019 Dealership: Heritage H-D Chapter: Old Strathcona Chapter
Ontario Rally July 18-20, 2019 Dealership: Barrie H-D Chapter: Huronia Chapter
Western Rally July 4-6, 2019 Dealership: Barnes H-D Victoria Chapter: Vancouver Island Chapter
Atlantic Rally July 25-27, 2019 Dealership: Privateers H-D Chapter: Central Chapter Nova Scotia
The Word
THE LADIES OF MONTÉRÉGIE
With 55 female members currently in the MontĂŠrĂŠgie Chapter, and more joining every year, new Chapter Director Julie Guillemette has accepted the challenge to continue that growth and build awareness. Women are present and actively engaged in both the local community and the chapter. Guillemette is the fourth female director since the chapter was founded in 1991. She was preceded by Guylaine Cyr, 1995-1996; Camille Brassard, 1998-2001; and Sylvie Brassard, 2002. “As a chapter historian, it is important for me to outline women’s involvement in the chapter’s past, present and future,â€? said Gilles Touchette. “Our female members continue to offer a different perspective while staying true to the guiding principles of HOGÂŽ and our sponsor, LĂŠo Harley-Davidson.â€? Congratulations to the MontĂŠrĂŠgie Chapter.
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Intake
SEND US YOUR STORIES
We welcome your letters, photos and riding stories. Please email yours to hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com or mail them to HOG® Magazine Canada, 100 New Park Place, Suite 330, Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 0H9. Please include your name, address and telephone number and/or email address. All submissions become property of Harley-Davidson®. We reserve the right to edit submissions for length and content.
Between the Lines
Between the Lines Those are the observations of two motorcycle safety coaches who for decades have watched thousands of motorcyclists repeat the same mistakes. The truth is, when it comes to riding motorcycles we’re all students in need of some additional homework. Ray Petry and Don Rains are certified riding coaches who spend their weekends helping new and experienced motorcyclists become better riders. They have seen it all, and they’re here to impart a few simple lessons to help us ace the challenges that come with riding safely.
INTAKE
EXHAUST
MAXIMUM BRAKING
OBSERVATIONS OF
A RIDING COACH Are you ready for your report card? You should look much farther down the road. When cornering, you need to start turning your head to where you want to go instead of looking straight in front of you. You must learn to swerve through counter-steering; apply the throttle, clutch and brakes more smoothly; and give immediate attention to your emergency stopping skills. In short, many of us are hovering between a C+ and B-. Story by John Sandberg 62
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A PRESSING SUBJECT In the Intake section of the September issue, a reader commented on the “Observations of a Riding Coach” article [Between the Lines, June] and possible confusion regarding swerving. The original article states “If you want to initially swerve right, press the right side of the handlebar forward.” The reader, a graduate of the Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy, said that to initiate a swerve to the right you need to press the right side of the handlebar downward. I have to agree with the original article. I’m a Harley-Davidson Riding Academy Coach, and I think it’s easier to press forward on the handgrip in the direction you want to go. The result is also downward pressure. Only pressing downward takes too much pressure and doesn’t have the desired effect. Jim Jackson Fruita, Colorado
OUTSIDE THE FRAME If you take a motorcycle holiday, things take on a completely different look. In a car, you’re always in the passenger seat; you’re used to it, and you don’t realize that everything you see from the window 10
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As the project manager of the HarleyDavidson® Riding Academy and a certified coach since 2004, Petry has witnessed more riding schools and road miles than most. When asked what riding skill is the biggest challenge for most riders, Petry doesn’t hesitate: “Maximum braking,” he says. “It’s not something that most of us utilize on a daily basis, and it’s a skill that erodes without practice. But occasionally a circumstance arises that requires maximum braking force, such as a car pulling out in front of us.” When it does, riders should follow the correct protocol regardless of whether they have ABS or not: square the handlebar so that it’s straight and smoothly apply both front and rear brakes; once the load transfers to the front tire, gradually increase braking force to the front brake until you come to a stop (or your speed is adequate for the situation). Petry still comes across experienced riders who don’t use the front brake, which provides 70 per cent of the total available stopping power. “Among certain riders there’s a false belief that using the front brake will result in a crash,” he says. “Using either brake wrongly can result in a crash, but not using the front brake more than doubles the distance needed to stop.” How can you become proficient at proper maximum braking? “Practice quick stops every time you roll your bike out,” says Rains, a Riding Academy and MSF-certified coach since 2001. “Quick, well-executed braking is part of the foundation of safe riding. It’s a skill that requires repeated practice.”
MASTER THE SWERVE A well-executed swerve is another skill that deserves more of our attention. Like the quick stop, it’s an evasive manoeuvre
“The best approach to safe riding is a strategy that avoids emergency manoeuvres” that might go months without being called upon, only to present itself when a shovel falls out of the landscape truck just ahead of you, a pedestrian talking on a phone walks onto the road, or a cooler skips the family vacation to the lake. When the time comes to execute it, you know the procedure from having practiced a few times each month: If you want to initially swerve right, press the right side of the handlebar forward. This is called counter-steering, and it’s the most effective way to quickly initiate a turn. Immediately follow up this initial swerve by pressing on the other side of the handlebar to return to the original direction of travel. Swerving isn’t always the best evasive manoeuvre, as traction, road hazards and other traffic will affect the decision to swerve versus slowing down or stopping, but it must be an available reaction.
SEE YOUR FUTURE Quick stops and effective swerves are two skills every motorcyclist needs in their quiver, but Petry’s riding philosophy is to rely on riding strategy more than skills. “The best approach [to safe riding] is a strategy that avoids emergency manoeuvres,” he says. And the best way to avoid most dangers? Look ahead! “In my experience, many riders commonly look just past their front wheel rather than scanning as far ahead as the horizon,” he says, “If you’re only looking two seconds in front, you’re only going to have two seconds to react.” By constantly scanning everywhere from one to 12 seconds (or farther) ahead, you’ll give yourself ample time to react to potential hazards rather than relying upon a swerve or quick stop. The strategy of scanning far ahead also applies to corners. “Looking through the exit of a corner and turning your head to get a full view is one of the most common areas of improvement I see for all motorcyclists,” says Rains. “It’s right up there with emergency braking.” While looking ahead is the first order of business, riders should also constantly evaluate the things they’re seeing. What’s the road surface like? Are there potholes, debris or wet pavement? Is another
motorist displaying the telltale signs of inattentiveness? The visual clues are there – from the overloaded vehicle to the garbage truck that’s dropping some of its contents – it’s just a matter of seeing them and then reacting accordingly to maximize the space and time to react. That might mean flashing your brake lights, creating more distance between yourself and motorists ahead, changing lanes and/or having an escape route.
SMOOTH OPERATOR Lastly, Petry emphasizes that being smooth with the motorcycle is an important part of managing traction and maintaining control. “Being smooth is about managing traction,” he says. “By smoothly applying the brakes, throttle, clutch and handlebar inputs, you’ll maximize your traction without overwhelming the tires’ contact patches.” The internet is loaded with videos of motorcyclists who over-apply their brakes and/or throttle and hit the deck as a result. Similarly, an abrupt shift while leaned over in the middle of a corner can upset the motorcycle’s chassis and put you off course. Avoid these circumstances and unintended internet infamy by riding smoothly and deliberately.
Enzo Borrelli Italy
HOW FAST IS TOO FAST?
PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT There’s one word that Petry and Rains repeat over and over when discussing safe motorcycling: practice. It’s the foundation of all successful learning and skill accumulation, and it’s the basis of how all Riding Academy coaches teach New Rider and Skilled Rider courses. On that same note, both men are firm believers in continuing rider education. Rains sums it up best: “One riding course won’t make you an expert. Take additional training courses on a semi-regular basis and always practice, practice, practice!”
Have a comment or question about this story? Share it with us via email at hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com or mail it to HOG® Magazine Canada, 100 New Park Place, Suite 330, Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 0H9. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
when shared with your friends. On our unforgettable Harley® holiday, myself and my friends Massimo, Marco and Sabrina rode through California, Nevada, Utah, Arizona and Colorado. We wish a good ride to everyone!
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is not as it truly is. You’re a passive observer, trapped inside a frame. On a bike, in motion, the frame is gone. You have complete contact with everything. You’re not a spectator; you’re in the scene. The feeling of presence is overwhelming. This experience is made even better
Since the invention of the motorcycle, there has existed, for some, the need for speed. Many of today’s motorcycles can exceed 250 km/h, but I’m unaware of any highway where you can legally drive a bike that fast. Don’t get me wrong; I want a machine that has the capability of taking me faster than I could ever desire to go. However, that doesn’t mean I intend to go that fast. Let’s face it: Any mistake or slight misjudgment on a bike at very high speeds could end your life. I’ve ridden for many years accidentfree. When I get on my bike I get into a different mindset. I drive defensively
Intake
CHILDHOOD DREAM
when it’s being controlled based on your safe operating range. Some believe motorcycles are inherently dangerous. I think bikes are about as safe as the people riding them. Modern motorcycles have outstanding brakes and most have tons of power; they’re well balanced and about as safe as they can be, but going very fast on a motorcycle is rarely, if ever, a great idea. John Braswell Via email
Giuseppe Piroddi Belgium
MARCO PERAZZINI
and try to be prepared for the unexpected. During my life, I’ve known some pretty crazy riders, and few are still alive today. I’ve lost friends to motorcycle accidents, which is a very sad experience. If you’ve ridden any length of time, you’ve already experienced close calls. Ask yourself: If you were going faster at the time, would you have survived? I’m writing this with the hope that my fellow riders think twice before twisting the throttle. Speed is great
When I was a little boy, I received a toy Harley-Davidson® from my father. I was crazy about my little bike, and carried it everywhere with me – at school, on holiday, wherever I went. The bike and I were inseparable. When I was 12 years old, I was on a boat close to the island of Capri when the toy fell into the water – I dived in to try to catch my Harley®, but it was too late. From that day on, Harley-Davidson became a state of mind for me – you’re either H-D® or you’re not. But I’d never dared to go into a Harley-Davidson store because I thought that that was only for the “real bikers.” Finally, in September 2017, at the age of 51, I decided to visit a dealership. I was like a child in Disneyland – it was a dream come true. In just one hour I chose my bike, and on September 15, 2017, I received my Street Rod® 750. The bike stayed in the garage until I got my driver’s licence on the 22nd of March this year, and since then I’ve been on the road every day. Each time I ride, I think about crying as a little boy on that boat because I thought life was unfair. Forty years on, life is beautiful and spent on the road. So thank you, H-D!
TRIPLE THE FUN I’ve been riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles for 20 years. My first bike was a used 1996 Sportster® that my wife bought for me for my 40th birthday. My second was a brand-new 2000 Dyna® Wide Glide model, which I still have. I’ve been itching to buy a new Harley® bike, and I’m leaning toward the Tri Glide® Ultra trike. My wife would ride more with me if I owned one. I know very little about them, and I was wondering if the magazine could do an article on the trike, including how it handles, going through turns and curves, features, and the like. I’m sure there are a lot of riders out there who would like to see an article like that, as well. Mike Holloway Cincinnati, Ohio HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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GET IN TOUCH
We welcome your photos and riding stories. Email your submission with “Enthusiasts” as the subject line to hogmagazine.ca@ harley-davidson.com, and include your name, city, province and contact details.
Intake Gallery
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1. FINALLY, A HARLEY ®! After life threw me yet another curveball, I decided it was time to live life to the fullest and follow my dreams and passions. In May, I purchased my first Harley-Davidson®: a 2015 Heritage Classic. I stared at her in my garage for about a month before I actually rode. I remember thinking, “Am I crazy?” On the last day of the motorcycle safety training course, I called my friend and said, “Let’s go riding – I’m ready!” I can’t even tell you how nervous and excited I was to finally get my bike on the road! In August I went on a seven-day, 4,500 kilometre trip through the States with family and friends. I had the time of my life. Why didn’t I do this years ago? KRISTIN STRONSKI Taber, Alberta
2. HAPPY FAMILY 1
We got married on June 23, 2018. This is my wife, Nathalie, and our grandsons
Lukas, Nolan and Dylan with my 2017 Harley® CVO Street Glide®. I have been a motorcycle fan for 50 years. GILLES CORRIVEAU Mascouche, Quebec
3. ALASKAN ROADS I said to my buddy Mike, “I would love to go to Alaska.” “Let’s go” was his response. In July, we packed up my 2014 Road King® and Mike’s 2009 Screamin’ Eagle® Road Glide® and left Camrose for a 12-day trip. Our adventure took us along the Alaska Highway, through Fairbanks and south through Denali National Park into Anchorage, Homer and Whittier. It was a fantastic trip, as we camped all but one night and put on 8,766 kilometers. IAN WOODS Camrose, Alberta
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Strap Gallery Intake 4. CHIPPING IN
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Each year more than a dozen members of the Central Chapter Nova Scotia provide traffic control and parking facilitation for the Hope for Wildlife Annual Open House. Visitors tour the wildlife rehab facility and learn more about the operations of this unique centre. Hope for Wildlife rescues, treats and releases thousands of animals each year. Media outlets show up each year, and this event is the talk of the town for days afterwards. We always wear our HarleyDavidson® safety vests and HOG® vests to proudly show people who we are and what we are all about. It’s a small way that we give back to the community.
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DAVE GALBRAITH Nine Mile River, Nova Scotia
5. KING FOR A DAY On a beautiful day in the fall of 2016, I was at my HarleyDavidson dealership in Saguenay for periodic maintenance on my 2010 Ultra Classic®. As repairs were taking place, my dealer offered me the chance to try a Road King® to go for a ride. I took advantage of it to go see the boats cruise at the Port of Saguenay. I appreciated the comfort and power of this model. ERROL LAPIERRE Saint-Félicien, Quebec
6. AUTUMN CHROME Enjoying a beautiful fall ride on the way to get a fresh coat of paint on my badass Breakout®! BILLY CHAMBERLAIN Sicamous, B.C.
7. 48 GOOD REASONS I’m the proud new owner of a 2018 Sportster® Forty-Eight® Special. STEVEN HAMEL Dorval, Quebec
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Intake Gallery Strap 8. RIDING THE TAIL Riding the famous Tail of the Dragon in April 2018 on our third annual boys road trip. Love my new 115TH Anniversary Street Glide®! MARC LANTEIGNE Dieppe, New Brunswick
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Last year my wife, Kenda, and I purchased our 2017 Street Glide® Special. This year we rode down to Arizona from Victoria, B.C., and enjoyed every minute of it. Here is a picture of us at Horseshoe Bend. Notice my HOG® patch proudly stitched into my leather vest. Ride on! MIKE TATTON Victoria, B.C.
10. NEWLYWEDS This is a great shot of my son Dave and his new bride, Kendra. They both love Harley®s and thought it would be awesome to have a wedding picture with Dad’s 2014 Harley-Davidson® Street Bob®. GORD GRUDGFIELD Calgary, Alberta
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Strap Gallery Intake 11. BLACK HILLS Here is a shot of my wife, Cindy, next to her new Softail® and my old Road King® Classic. We are at the old Homestake Hydro Plant on the Spearfish Canyon Scenic Byway ride in the Black Hills in South Dakota, having ridden down from Edmonton just to test-ride her bike on the hills and curves. DARYL MAHONEY Edmonton, Alberta
INTAKE GALLERY
12. STURGIS & BACK Here is a photo from Sturgis 2018. It was an amazing trip: 8,500 kilometres there and back, with lots of riding down there. SCOTT MORRISON Lincoln, New Brunswick
13. WELCOME OAKVILLE! Our chapter is two months old. We have 46 charter members and are loving the HOG® culture. We just launched our website: oakvillehog.ca. This is a group photo in front of our sponsoring dealer, Policaro H-D Oakville. TERRY WALSH, CHAPTER DIRECTOR Oakville, Ontario
14. 101 STRONG This is my mom, Mary Magdalene Sussko, on my current ride, celebrating her 101st birthday. I’m going to get a poster made up with the caption “secret to life, enjoy the ride.” MARY JANE SUSSKO Dryden, Ontario
spectacular scenery. We met some of the greatest people ever. We always say to each other that if it had not been for motorcycles, we would never have had these memories.
15. TRIPPIN’ ALL OVER THE PLACE
GEORGINA COOPER Edson, Alberta
Each year during the dull days of the fall and winter, I plan next summer’s bike trip. For 2018, I decided I wanted to go to Sturgis before turning 50. My partner, Arden, and I took our time heading down from Alberta through the heartland and eventually to Sturgis, a place that was on Arden’s bucket list. We had a lot of laughs and memories from the trip and saw such 16
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16. GETTIN’ IT ON Have you ever ridden through hell and back on your Harley®? Well, we have – Hell, Michigan, that is. Twenty-four members of the York Region Chapter saddled up on 19 Harleys with one very sexy chase vehicle in tow and toured Michigan from Motor City to Mackinaw and
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beyond, including through Ontario along the beautiful east coast of Lake Superior. We decided to borrow from the great Marvin Gaye and entitled the tour “Let’s Get It On.” We were so enthusiastic to be hitting the road and stepping back in time with a trip to Mackinac Island after visiting Motown Harley-Davidson in Taylor, Michigan, and the Motown Museum, home of Hitsville USA, in downtown Detroit. Even though we encountered some rain on our 10-day journey, we were on such a high that our spirits could not be dampened.
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MIKE AND MARLENE GORMAN Sharon, Ontario HOG HOG®®MAGAZINE MAGAZINECANADA CANADA
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THE FUTURE IS NOW Harley-Davidson CEO Matt Levatich electrified the crowd during the 115TH Anniversary Parade in Milwaukee by riding the new LiveWire™ electric motorcycle. The first in a portfolio of easy-to-ride twist-and-go electric vehicles, the LiveWire model will be available to the public in 2019. Photograph by Darren Hauck
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THE HEART OF
HARLEY
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Band of misfits from across Canada rolls into the Harley® motherland with a mission to see all of Milwaukee. Text and photos by Becky Goebel @actuallyitsaxel
ilwaukee: The city of HarleyDavidson®, birthplace of the brand. The city itself is a motorcycle museum. What better place to host the 115TH Anniversary celebration? With every street serving as a concert venue, every corner a pop-up bar and every park a place for a show and shine, this was the place every Harley person wanted to be. I’m a Harley-Davidson kid. I love anything to do with the brand because it’s in my blood. Both my sets of grandparents ride, both my parents ride and I grew up on a farm in Saskatchewan with bikes everywhere. Harley-Davidson is a lifestyle for me. I clocked more than 15,000 kilometres this summer on my Sportster® chopper – riding it from Vancouver to Mexico and back, to L.A. again, and all around British Columbia. When the opportunity came up to head to the anniversary party in the heart of Harley territory, I really couldn’t say no. Only four days later, I was on a plane to Toronto to meet my crew on our way to Harley history heaven. The next thing I knew, I was being handed the keys to my rental bike: a 2019 CVO Street Glide® Special. I had told them that I wanted the “biggest freakin’ bike” they had – but that morning at 6 a.m., in a city I’d never been to, on roads I’d never ridden, I stared at this big ol’ bagger and just thought about how it probably weighed 10 times more than me and how we were about to ride into a forecasted tornado and rain warning zone.
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Little lady on a big mama bike This is one of those moments where you tell yourself, “Don’t be a baby – you got this. Just get on and go.” So that’s exactly what I did. I wasn’t the only one on a Big Daddy bike here. We were a crew. Getting out of the parking lot was a little wobbly, but as soon as we hit that highway, my throttle was opened and my tunes were
Harley-Davidson 115TH Anniversary – Milwaukee
cranked – it was love at first ride. Six speakers, a GPS screen, cruise control – it was a little bit of an upgrade from my rigid Sportster chopper back home and, as they say, I was cruisin’. When we crossed the border into Michigan, there were a few raindrops but no sign of a tornado. We got to the ferry, which was supposed to take us 2.5 hours across Lake Michigan and pop us right into the city of Milwaukee. We would just park and chill on the boat for a few hours. Sure, except we had finally found the storm. Our bikes’ alarm systems were going crazy as we strapped them down to stop them from falling over. Before long, we were all seasick as hell, on a lake! This was another one of those moments, where you’re just like, “What the hell am I doing?” When we finally got to Milwaukee – with 720 kilometres and that hellish boat ride behind us, the streets were full of bikes. Rows and rows of Harley® motorcycles lined the streets. Every hotel sidewalk was packed with motorcycles, bikers filled the 22
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lobby of our hotel, and all the restaurants and businesses had signs saying “Welcome Bikers.” I felt right at home and was full of excitement about what was to come. Day one was a tour of the Harley headquarters. As I stood across the street from the building, I thought about how this was where the brand was invented. This
HOG’ERS AT THE HD 115TH My favourite people in Milwaukee that week were HOG® members, no question about it. I’d weasel my way into conversations by asking them if I could take photos of them and their patches. I never got a no. Most members told me a story about their vests, something about a trip or where they rode from. HOG members used to feel so different from me, but that’s just not the case anymore. It’s a community of people who just want to ride Harleys with their buds. Sounds pretty familiar.
was the same block where a group of friends brought Serial Number One to life in a tiny shed 115 years ago. Those guys had no idea where their brand was going to go, who it was going to influence and how it was going to change lives. I crossed the street and shook the hand of Bill Davidson, the great-grandson of the founder of Harley-Davidson. He was welcoming everyone into the building. Although I was one of only a handful of women and by far the youngest person at the headquarters that day, no one seemed to treat me any differently. It’s pretty cool to see how much the industry has changed and how accepted I am even as a young wide-eyed twerp in cowboy boots. Our Canadian crew stuck together all week. Everyone wanted to see everything. Everyone had their own history with the Harley brand, and everyone had their own parts of town they wanted to explore. We were the young guns bouncing around Milwaukee on Harleys together – a little Canadian crew of misfits. We ended each
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MENU OF CHAMPIONS The itinerary for our week was unfathomable. It was a list of everything you could ever want to do in Milwaukee:
• A tour of the Harley-Davidson Museum™
• A tour of the Harley® factory • A visit to Harley global headquarters • Flat Out Friday: A flat-track race in Milwaukee’s largest indoor arena
• Hillclimb racing • The Race of Gentlemen on the beach • Drag racing • The Moto-Carnival • Concerts on top of concerts
THE CREW
Becky Goebel
Charles-Édouard Carrier
Lyndsey Westfall
Theron Lane
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day with weird-looking margaritas in hole-in-the-wall pubs around the city, attended concerts in small old venues, went to suspect Mexican restaurants and explored the city together day by day, night by night. A group favourite event was the Wall Of Death in Veterans Park on the city’s waterfront. I have never seen anything like this in my life. A wooden wall was put up within a carnival-style tent and old motorcycles got enough momentum in this seven-metre space to ride right up onto the walls. An old knucklehead shook the entire structure as we stood on a platform overlooking this maniac man going round and round. At one point, he was sitting sidesaddle with no hands on the handlebars grabbing money from people hanging over the edge. Of course, the tour of the Harley factory was cool as hell. It’s the same factory that Harley engines have been pumped out of for almost 100 years. All the Evolution® and Milwaukee-Eight® engines come out of this building, and to be able to see these things carved out of chunks of metal, in Milwaukee, was pretty awesome. This factory is open for public tours all
year long, so if you’re ever in Milwaukee, go check it out. Another group favourite was The Race of Gentlemen event down on Bradley Beach. It was the first time bikes had raced on this beach in 100 years. I love anything old, so to me, this was a perfect ending to a perfectly historic Harley-based trip. The race was on an oval sand track right by the water. The bikes were period-correct, the outfits were periodcorrect, and the whole infrastructure, mood and event felt like it was right out of the Harley-Davidson Museum™. Old flatheads and knuckleheads came to life and soared right in front of our eyes. Around and around these old bikes flew in soft sand. Every nut and bolt on these things is original. It’s really something to see. You forget what century you’re in for a minute. After a week of being immersed in Harley history, this event really wrapped it up and paid tribute to the brand and the culture that came before us. Our group sat next to Willie Davidson that night watching the sun over the race. It was unlike any evening I’ve ever experienced. The next morning we were up and at ‘em before the sun for the big ride back to
Canada. After riding through the tired city, we spent the next 12 hours on the road. Even though we were burnt and tired, I wouldn’t have wanted to be anywhere other than on a big Harley with a crew of friends after a week of memories I will never forget. I’m now home and missing my CVO Street Glide Special. In five years, you will see me back on the streets of the Midwest heading towards the heart of Harley on the biggest dang bike they’ll let me ride (or maybe it will be mine by then). Until then, I’ll be on the West Coast awaiting another opportunity to tell you another cool story. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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Your H.O.G. membership is your ticket to the biggest ride you can take through the world of Harley-Davidson. It connects you to other riders wherever you roam. It’s your invitation to a year-round calendar of rallies, rides and events. And it gives you benefits as real as your Harley-Davidson steel. Like HOG magazine, Roadside Assistance, special deals, and more. So renew your membership. The bigger you ride, the better it gets. Visit HOG.com ®
©2019 H.O.G., AND THE H.O.G. LOGO ARE AMONG THE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF H-D U.S.A., LLC.
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Russia
Improbable, bordering on impossible – how eight Harley® heroes conquered the arduous Russian leg of the Silk Way Rally. *Only seven bikes are pictured. The eighth belongs to Sergey Kamenev, who wrote this article and took the photos
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Russia
THE TAPESTRY OF LIFE IS DIFFERENT FOR EACH OF US. We enjoy different kinds of food; we appreciate different styles of music; we are engaged in different spheres of activity; we speak different languages and wake up in different time zones. But there’s one thing that unites us: our love of riding Harley-Davidson® motorcycles. If you are one of us, not only will you always feel at home, but also you’ll never be alone. We are a family
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bound by those moments that can only be experienced through a motorcycle trip. Reinforced by the momentum of the pack, our family smirks at the obstacles we encounter. Every year we are ready to conquer the peaks that others are afraid to attempt. We are a million strong. We are a part of the legend. We are HOG®! CHALLENGE ACCEPTED! At first, the idea of taking part in the Silk Way Rally seemed insane. Maybe that was what made it so attractive – irresistible, even. The route is ambitious, at times arduous, and absolutely loaded with adventures. The team of eight participants consisted of reliable individuals from different cities. All were in good health; all had significant experience riding long distances; all expressed resolute determination and, of course, excellent character and wit.
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Russia
“THE ROUTE IS AMBITIOUS, AT TIMES ARDUOUS, AND ABSOLUTELY LOADED WITH ADVENTURES”
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We discussed special preparation of the equipment, as the bikes would be subjected to pretty extreme conditions due to the terrain. As the starting date approached, I was adamant that it was impossible to find a better motorcycle for this task than the 2018 HarleyDavidson Heritage Softail™. I could feel the road summoning it to the journey. Essentially, the idea was to participate in the Silk Way Rally just for fun – not actually participating in the time trials, but still competing equally with trucks and off-roaders. We wanted to test our Harleys for durability in the Astrakhan desert, Volgograd steppes and Lipetsk swamps, finishing in Red Square in Moscow. We were intent to prove that for real HOG members there are no barriers. STARTING IN THE STEPPES The rally started in Astrakhan in Russia, close to the Caspian Sea and the border with Kazakhstan. Astrakhan rises out of endless deserts and steppes, but on the first stage we were met with heavy rainfall – however, this was soon overridden by scorching sunshine as we reached the start of the “special stage.” The appearance of the gang on their Harleys in the middle of the Astrakhan steppes sparked admiration and delight among both spectators and participants. We were warmly greeted by the winners of the world-famous Dakar Rally, Anastasia Nifontova and Sergey Karjakin, who are huge fans of the Harley-Davidson brand. Traversing the steppes on the Harley bikes was not as difficult as anticipated. We sought out roads with rolled sand, bypassing the dunes and quicksand. We reached the first resting place with the sunset. BUSTLING BIVOUACS One of the most interesting elements of the rally was the bivouac – where the technical teams and mechanics fix their bikes before the last stage of the race. Journalists and media representatives gather here to interview athletes for the news coverage. Our bivouac was situated in a military airfield transformed into a camp with incredible food and an evening program. Most participants spend the night in the nearby hotel, but we decided to test ourselves and stretched out our sleeping bags among the bikes. A circus of metallic noise generated by the mechanics as they prepared the vehicles for the next stage of the race sounded through the night.
Exhausted from the journey, we slept sweetly in our tents among the sounds of sledgehammers pounding, the niggling scratches of screwdrivers and the growling of engines. We moved from Astrakhan to Volgograd and then to Lipetsk province, where a new test awaited us: the steppes morphed into swamp forest, and the dirt road turned to glutinous mud. This part of the journey was far less pleasant than memories of our rush across the prairies. However, mutual supportiveness pulled us through – we were always ready to pull each other out if the motorcycles suddenly got stuck. FLYING COLOURS Overcoming all hindrances, Team HOG arrived at the finish line. Here, in an electric atmosphere on Red Square in the heart of Moscow, the finishing ceremony for the Silk Way Rally 2018 took place. The elated participants climbed the podium at the Kremlin’s Spasskaya Tower to receive their well-deserved plaudits. It was a real endurance test, but the Harley-Davidson riders and motorcycles passed with flying colours. During the entire race – with a total length of almost 2,000 kilometres along some nearimpossible roads – we did not experience a single breakdown, and all motorcycles and their owners reached the finish line in good condition and good health. When you put it like that, maybe it was a smooth ride after all. As smooth as silk, you might say… HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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Milwaukee
MIL WAU KEE By Brian Meade
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ife takes you down some interesting paths when you own a Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. It’s more than just owning a vehicle: you adopt a lifestyle or a way of thinking. When Harley-Davidson announced the 115TH Anniversary and HOG® 35TH party in Milwaukee, I thought it would be a great event to attend with my wife – but when I added up the miles, I really did not feel like riding two-up for such a long trip. Through the power of social media, I saw that Cal and Wayne, two fellow members of the HOG Central Chapter in Halifax, had already booked a room in Milwaukee. I don’t remember the exact details, but I got invited to join their trip – or possibly invited myself, take your pick. MAINE MAGIC After a few pre-trip meetings with our Regional Director and a lot of brainstorming, we had something like a plan to ride to
Milwaukee. In late August, we were escorted out of Nova Scotia by quite a few members of our local chapter, who decided it was a good excuse to go for a ride to scope out a location for another event in New Brunswick. We were off to Bangor, Maine. The weather was good, and after a few adjustments to Cal’s navigation system, we found ourselves at our pre-booked hotel looking forward to a few adult beverages. However, the not-so-nice front desk clerk could not find our reservations and said the hotel was full. So much for the pre-planning. Luckily, the good old Howard Johnson’s across the street had some rooms. Just to rub a bit of salt in our wounds, Wayne got an email during supper that his credit card was being charged for the three rooms at the original hotel even though they were not available, so we paid the clerk another visit and got that straightened out. She was a bit nicer the second time. LAKE PLACID PIZZA On day two, we were off to Lake Placid with
lunch planned at the Sunday River Brewing Company. We headed down the No. 2 highway in Maine and actually timed lunch pretty well with a stop at Rumford Falls and Wayne’s first of many entertaining Facebook Live events. The food is great at the Brewing Company; the individual pizza is big enough for three people, so Wayne and I had lots left over to take on the road, and Cal had the fish, which was also very good and became a recurring theme: Cal likes fish. I’m not sure how long it was supposed to take to get to Lake Placid, but we arrived just when it was getting dark after travelling on the not-so-direct roads to get there. We spent that evening talking outside of the hotel and had a lot of fun. THE POWER OF THE T-SHIRT On day three, we headed to Niagara Falls, Canada, with a quick photo stop at the hockey rink in Lake Placid. We followed some secondary roads as far as Rochester, New York, and proceeded out onto the interstate HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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Milwaukee
[THE PARADE] WAS THE HIGHLIGHT OF THE TRIP, WITH HARLEYS AS FAR AS YOU COULD SEE IN EVERY DIRECTION
with Cal leading the way on what I thought was a pretty busy stretch of highway by Nova Scotia standards. We made it through the traffic and spent a great evening checking out the tourist attractions and the Harley® T-shirt shop in Niagara Falls, entertained by another of Wayne’s Facebook Live events. The next day, we had planned to ride to our booked hotel in Muskegon, Michigan, but like all good plans it did not work out as we had hoped. During a stop in Port Dover, Ontario, Wayne noticed a big nail stuck in this back tire, so after some choice words we decided to head to the nearest HarleyDavidson dealer in London, Ontario, with a quick stop at a local motorcycle shop to plug the tire. I must say that the tire and rim warranty Wayne purchased was worth the 34
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money, as he got the new tire from Rocky’s in London with a pretty quick couple-hour stop with no appointment. The dealership’s mascot dog entertained us while we waited and posted some of our upcoming Atlantic HOG Rally information on the dealer’s bulletin board. With some quick calculations, we decided we could make Muskegon by dark. However, as fate would have it, a huge thunder and lightning storm was headed in our direction, so we decided to go back one exit from where we were to stay in Lansing, Michigan. I was really glad we made that decision. The sky lit up and the rain really came down in buckets. Luckily, the hotel let us park under the front awning so the bikes stayed dry, and Wayne had an ideal location for another Facebook Live
event – one of his best, I think. It was nasty out for sure. MILWAUKEE BOUND On day five we were off to Muskegon to catch the ferry to Milwaukee. It was a bit of a wet ride, but we had lots of time, so we stopped for Chinese food at a restaurant close to the ferry terminal. It was a choppy ferry crossing with huge swells on Lake Michigan. We were all a bit worried about our bikes, but there was no damage except to our egos. Remember to put your bike in transport mode when required – my lights flashed and siren wailed for just about the whole crossing. With a few quick direction changes on the local Milwaukee interstate, we arrived at our hotel.
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The time we spent in Milwaukee for the Harley-Davidson 115TH Anniversary was about as good as it gets if you are a motorcycle enthusiast and like the rally atmosphere. There were things to do day and night, from watching flat-track racing inside of a hockey rink to exploring the Harley-Davidson Museum™ and watching the police demonstrate their riding skills. I have never seen a police officer do a burnout before. During our stay, I noticed HOG members from all over the world, and everyone was as happy to be there as we were. Wayne and Cal decided to take pictures of the different areas of the world people were sporting on their vests. We all got to participate in the parade on the final day. It was hot, but it was the highlight of the trip,
with Harleys as far as you could see in every direction with crowds of people lining the streets cheering like we were famous. Our return trip to Nova Scotia was similar to our trip to Milwaukee with one big change. Cal noticed someone had a patch from Hell, Michigan, on their vest, so like any good bikers, we had to go. The rest of the ride home was tiring (38 C temperature did not help), but the trip will be a big highlight in our lives, and I think we really could not ask for better travelling partners. Every person we met on the trip had an interesting story, and no matter what part of the world they were from, we all shared a common bond. Anyone who has a chance to travel to an event like this should try their best to go. It was such a great experience.
We had so many memorable moments. For me these two tie for the best: First, during our ride in Ontario, with Wayne nursing a punctured tire, we rode through the town of Tillsonburg and all you could see were tobacco fields in every direction. As we were passing through, I remembered that Stompin’ Tom Connors had written a song about this place. I played the song later on my phone and it’s been stuck in my head for a week. The second event worth mentioning was when Cal decided to pull out and pass a local town sheriff somewhere in upstate Vermont. I was sure he would get a ticket, but he and the police officer just had a good laugh over what had taken place and the sheriff sent Cal on his way, wishing him a safe trip back to Nova Scotia. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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The diverse ‘Land of Enchantment’ state has no shortage of attractions – Billy the Kid, Pie Town, seriously spicy chile (red or green?) and, of course, Roswell. By Glen Abbott
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New Mexico
cool desert breeze washed over me, and the rising sun warmed my back as I rolled westward out of Roswell, New Mexico, early on a mid-June morning. I’d already covered more than 2,500 kilometres aboard my 2018 H-D® Ultra Limited motorcycle since leaving home in Florida three days ago, but my New Mexico journey was just beginning. I rested my feet on the highway pegs, locked in the bike’s cruise control at 110 km/h, and settled back to enjoy the scenery. U.S. Highway 380 unfolded before me like a long, flat ribbon through the high desert, the Capitan Mountains looming in the distance. The sandy soil stretching in every direction was carpeted with dry, brown grass and dotted with clumps of blue-green sage. New Mexico is the fifth-largest U.S. state in land area, but it’s the sixth least densely populated, making it ideal for motorcycle riding.
the magnificent MilwaukeeEight® engine of my Ultra Limited model rendered helpless against its force. Space aliens are a big draw for the small city. Roswell’s International UFO Museum and Research Center, dedicated to investigating the 1947 “Roswell Incident” and all things UFO, attracted some 328,000 visitors last year. And each summer the city’s UFO Festival attracts some 40,000 visitors. After a brief tour of the UFO Museum, I met with sisters Lauren and Madison Bogle, whose great-grandfather Hal bought the ranch east of Corona in 1952. Along with a third sister, and with their family’s blessing, they recently formed a company to offer public tours of the crash site during the UFO Festival. “It’s a working ranch,”
County Courthouse, historian Drew Gomber told me about the incident. “There never was a jail cell here,” he explained. “They shackled the Kid hand and foot, and just for good measure they chained him to the floor.” But during a trip to the outhouse, the Kid slipped out of his handcuffs, grabbed a jailer’s gun and killed two guards. “Instead of making a desperate escape from town, the Kid came out on an upstairs porch and made a speech to the townspeople who had gathered around, telling them that if no one else interfered, no one would be hurt. Everyone was pretty good with that.” The Kid then rode slowly out of town on a stolen horse, reportedly singing to himself. From Lincoln, I continued on U.S. 380 – a portion known as Billy the Kid Trail – through
explained Lauren. “It’s one thing to herd cattle, and another thing to try and herd people on horseback, and make sure nothing gets messed up or anyone is at risk.” Blasting through the desert west of Roswell, I headed for the tiny town of Lincoln, 90 kilometres away. Lincoln is an extremely well-preserved Western town, perhaps best known as the site of 19th century outlaw Billy the Kid’s final escape before he was chased down and killed by Sheriff Pat Garrett. At the Lincoln
Ruidoso onto U.S. 70, which took me over Apache Summit and through the northwestern corner of the Mescalero Apache Reservation. At more than 2,300 metres, the summit remained green and cool, a refreshing break before the long descent into Tularosa Basin, a 16,000-squarekilometre chunk of Chihuahuan Desert that lies between the Sacramento and San Andres Mountains, and contains White Sands National Monument and White Sands Missile Range. By the time I reached White
In 1947, something strange happened on a ranch 50 kilometres outside of the town of Corona. Ranch foreman Mac Brazel stumbled across a “debris field” consisting of bits of wood, paper, tinfoil, and rubber and weeks later reported it to the local sheriff, who, in turn, contacted the Roswell Army Air Field. Incredibly the Army’s initial press release described the debris as the crashed remains of a “flying disc.” However, the military soon changed its story, identifying the bits and pieces as a weather balloon. Thus were sown the seeds of a million conspiracy theories, all but guaranteeing a future tourism bonanza for Roswell. Naturally Roswell drew me in like a tractor beam, 38
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Sands National Monument, the temperature was 37 C. White Sands is the world’s largest gypsum dunefield, covering 700 square kilometres. Riding into the surreal landscape felt almost like being on the moon. Later I wrapped up the day in Las Cruces, meeting Chapter Director Chuck “Fuzzy” Butcher and other members of the Southern New Mexico HOG® Chapter for some delicious New Mexican cuisine at the familyowned Chala’s Wood Fire Grill in the Old Mesilla section of town.
The next morning, I rolled north toward Hatch on NM 185 through miles of pecan groves. Crossing a small bridge over the Rio Grande, a U.S. Border Patrol vehicle lurked in a shady spot beside the road. Further down, I came to a stop at a lonely Border Patrol checkpoint, greeted the agent “Good morning!” and he waved me through wordlessly. The village of Hatch is the self-proclaimed “Chile Capital of the World.” Doña Ana County, which includes Hatch, produces around 21,000 tons of the piquant pepper annually. The chile is such a New Mexico staple that there’s an official state question: “Red or Green?” If you can’t decide, say “Christmas,” and you’ll get a combination of both. West of Hatch I rode through Western high desert landscape on NM 26 and NM 27, the peaks of the Black Mountains in the distance. Turning left on NM 152 at Hillsboro I joined Geronimo Trail National Scenic Byway, climbing into the Black Range and Gila National Forest, a spectacular ride highlighted by the 2,489-metre elevation of Emory Pass. After spending the night in Silver City, I planned on stopping in Pie Town en route to Albuquerque for the start of the Southwest HOG Rally. The remote unincorporated community with fewer than 200 residents sits along U.S. 60 near the Continental Divide. Pie Town’s
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claim to fame, not surprisingly, is pies. Kathy Knapp introduces herself as the “Pro-pie-etor” of the Pie-O-Neer, one of Pie Town’s most famous pie shops. She’s a bubbly woman who started the restaurant with her mother in 1995. The Pie-O-Neer’s Very Berry pie may be the best I’ve ever had. I asked her how she manages to achieve pie perfection: “Love is the secret ingredient,” she replied without hesitation.
One of my favourite things about HOG rallies is getting to experience the area’s best riding. And there’s no better way to do that than on the guided rides, planned by local HOG members. On the first day of the Southwest HOG Rally, I went on a Wild Hogs ride to the town of Madrid, which was featured in that popular 2007 biker comedy. Road Captain Bill “Hardrock” Maier led us along the Turquoise Trail National Scenic Byway and over a section of Historic Route 66 known as the Musical Road. Near Tijeras, a series of rumble strips on the right-hand side of the lane plays “America the Beautiful” if you ride over them at exactly 45 mph (72.4 km/h), which happens to be the speed limit. In Madrid, we gathered for a group photo on the porch of Maggie’s Diner – actually a souvenir shop – from the movie. The next morning hot air 40
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balloons floated above the Rio Grande Valley as I approached Balloon Fiesta Park for a guided ride of the Jemez loop. Led by Road Captain Lennie “Taz” Dixon, we rode 320 kilometres through several Native American Pueblos and along the Jemez Mountain Trail National Scenic Byway. The terrain was among the most varied and beautiful of the trip, ranging from red rock canyons to miles of green pine forest. At Valles Caldera National Preserve, we took a break at a remote spot looking out over a vast sweep of volcanic caldera – a 21-kilometrewide crater created by an ancient volcanic eruption – with elk grazing in the distance. Later at White Rock Overlook near Los Alamos we took in a spectacular 270-degree view of White Rock Canyon and the Jemez Mountains, with the Rio Grande winding far below. “New Mexico is one of the most beautiful states there is,” said Turquoise Trail Chapter member Michael Heilman. “The diversity of scenery is amazing, everything from desert to mountains. It’s just wonderful to ride through God’s creation and to be able to see all that we have here.”
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
newmexico.org pieoneer.com roswellufomuseum.com ufofestivalroswell.com
©2019 H-D or its affiliates. HARLEY-DAVIDSON, HARLEY, H-D, and the Bar and Shield Logo are among the trademarks of H-D U.S.A., LLC. Third-party trademarks are the property of their respective owners. Closed Roadway. We closed the highest paved roadway in the U.S. to show the true power of the Milwaukee-Eight® engines.
TO RUN
FEEL THE POWER OF THE MILWAUKEE-EIGHT 114. ®
The size of the news for touring riders this year can be measured in ft. lbs. Depending on model and configuration, you get up to 121 ft. lbs. of peak torque from the Milwaukee-Eight® 114 that’s available in the Road Glide® Special, Street Glide® Special, Road King® Special, Road Glide® Ultra, Ultra Limited and Ultra Limited Low. Feel it for yourself. Unleash one for a test run at your dealer.
Take a test ride. h-d.com/testride
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HOg hiddeN gemS ®
Quebec HOG® Regional Director shares his personal favourite route to ride.
REGION – QUEBEC
By Dustin Woods
This second installment of an ongoing series in which we convince HOG® Regional Directors from across the country to spill the beans on their favourite riding routes showcases the Quebec region. Anyone who has visited Quebec City knows firsthand how enchanting the historic architecture, cultural heritage and cuisine can be – but there is much to explore outside the city centre as well. Name/Title: Michel-André Roy, HOG® Regional Director, Quebec Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec Model of Motorcycle(s): 2009 Harley-Davidson® Heritage Softail™ Route Distance: 480 kilometres Highlights: Portneuf Cheese Factory, Highway 155, La Tuque Déli 42
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HOG Hidden Gems
Merging onto Highway 369 and then Highway 367 will take you to Saint-Raymond, where Roy recommends stopping at the Alexis de Portneuf cheese factory. Continuing on Highway 367 until Lac-aux-Sables will reward riders with the unmissable 15-kilometre stretch between Rivière-à-Pierre and NotreDame-de-Montauban. “This area is an absolute rider’s dream,” says Roy. “Fresh, new asphalt, twisties-a-plenty and not much traffic. A must!” From there, Roy recommends hanging a right onto Highway 153, where nice country scenery carries you along almost until you reach Grand-Mère and meet up with Highway 155, which Roy proclaims to be one of the nicest roads in the province. The smooth, scenic and isolated asphalt hugs the mighty Saint-Maurice River on one side and mountains on the other. Roy says the only downside of these breathtaking landscapes is that it’s a constant struggle to keep your eyes on the road. Likely best known as the birthplace of
Félix Leclerc, a singer-songwriter, poet, writer, actor and Québécois political activist, La Tuque is a quaint small town of roughly 11,000 people at the last recorded census and a decent place to stop for food and fuel, or for the night if you wish to break up the ride. La Tuque Déli is owned and operated by dedicated HOG member Paul Triantopoulos, who will welcome you with open arms if he isn’t out on his Harley®. Following the same roads back to Quebec City will offer a reverse view of what you’ve already seen, or if you’re feeling adventurous, get creative and find an alternate route back.
If this series inspires you and your friends to explore any of these routes, we’d love to hear from you. Share the wealth of riding knowledge and experiences of the local hotspots with your HOG family! Send your story and images by emailing them to us at hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com.
HOG Quebec Regional Director Michel-André Roy admits that there are no bad choices of routes to ride from his beautiful hometown. While you could easily just pick a direction and start riding, Roy shares his personal favourite route here to save you some time if you venture to the area. The largest H-D dealership in the country, Prémont Harley-Davidson, makes for a great starting point to assemble for this route, as it is located on the west side of the city and allows for a swift exit. Exiting Prémont H-D, go south on Pierre-Bertrand Boulevard, carefully making a U-turn north and merging onto Autoroute Félix-Leclerc westbound towards Highway 573 Autoroute Henri-IV, which will take you past Canadian Forces Base Valcartier. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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By Cheryl Haw, Life Member
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ABCs of Touring
W
hen you’re looking to get out on the road, the HOG® ABCs of Touring contest is the perfect excuse to ride and to find those out of the way places and new roads that are waiting to be discovered. This year, Jean-Yves, Jack (our HOG dog) and I decided to put a new twist on the ABCs. Well, Jack didn’t really decide with us, but he loves riding with us as much as we love riding with him. Living in the province of Quebec, there are a lot of cities that begin with Saint, so that makes the letter “S” pretty repetitive. Instead of searching for ABCs, we searched for Saint-ABCs. It was a great season of riding back roads and small villages we likely never would have known about if it weren’t for HOG. Being a HOG member is great and even greater when you know how to “benefit” from the benefits.
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This Land is
OUR
LAND From West to East.
By Keith Richard, Atlantic Regional HOG® Director
Big White Resort, near Kelowna, B.C.
C
anada is beautiful from the West Coast to the East Coast and all parts in between, so get out and explore it. This summer, my wife, Karen, and I had the opportunity to attend not one of Canada’s Regional HOG® Rallies but two. We attended the Western Regional Rally in beautiful Kelowna, B.C., and the Atlantic Regional Rally in historic St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador – both regions with their own special qualities.
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Not being able to actually ride to our destinations on our motorcycle due to available time and other commitments, our journey included planes to get us across the country. With the large Harley-Davidson® dealer network that offers rentals, this is always a great option. We decided to make a mini-vacation out of our two rally experiences. The journey started with us flying to visit friends in Calgary and a few days taking in the Calgary Stampede, from the
barrel races to bronc and bull riding to the fan-favourite chuckwagon races. It’s something I recommend if you ever get a chance. After a few days in Calgary, we spent a day travelling to Kelowna. The ride took us through some of the most beautiful scenery in Alberta and British Columbia. After stops in Banff and Lake Louise, we followed the twisty roads through the mountains and along the breath-taking lakes and scenery. After checking into our
Kelowna hotel, we went to Gasoline Alley Harley-Davidson to pick up our rental. The staff were very busy preparing to host the Western Regional Rally, but they were ready when we arrived and our 2018 Ultra Limited was waiting for us. Thursday morning came quickly, and it was time to ride to the dealership and complete our rally check-in and look through the events and rides offered to customize our schedule. Mother Nature blessed us
Riding Stories with beautiful weather and hot temperatures. For our first ride, we decided on a short trip up the mountain to Big White Ski Resort. Leaving Kelowna at 36 C, we could feel the change in temperature as we followed the twists and turns up the mountain. At Big White, we were greeted with 21 C, a welcome break from the heat. As you might expect, the schedule at rallies is busy. Thursday night we found ourselves at the meet and greet, making new friends from all over the United States and Canada, sharing our stories about our region in Atlantic Canada. Friday was a day full of rides. Whether you chose the southern ride through wine country or north along the lake, one thing was for certain: Mother Nature had the heat turned up high and the sun shining bright. Rally Coordinator Greg Amyotte and his rally committee had us covered with plenty of ride options. Our Road Captain guided us along some wonderful scenery with stops at some of the most beautiful lookouts along the lakes. During these stops, we had a chance to meet more riders and exchange contact information and stories of our own regions. Just as the west was on our list to explore, the East Coast was on the list for many of the HOG members we met. After the ride, it was back to our hotel to rest and recharge
Overlooking the Atlantic Ocean from Signal Hill in St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador
for the supper and musical entertainment of the evening. The staff at Gasoline Alley and the rally volunteers did an amazing job of transforming the parking lot into a concert ground. It was a great way to end the day in the cool night air dancing and enjoying the entertainment. Saturday morning came quickly, and I found myself enjoying a coffee on my balcony as the sun came up. The temperature was a comfortable 17 C at 6:30 a.m. When I looked up, I saw a colourful air balloon floating along the morning sky and I thought to myself, “It’s going to be a great day.” Soon, the temperature was on the rise and we were headed to the dealership for breakfast and events, which included the show and shine and bike games – and let’s not forget the always fun “off-bike games.” After a fun day, it was back to the hotel to recharge and freshen up for the evening dinner and dance. One thing about attending a HOG rally is there isn’t much time for rest – the committees keep the schedule jam-packed. With more than 500 attendees, the shuttles to the evening event were busy. The buffet meal was wonderful, and once again, we found ourselves at a table getting to know new friends from away. On this night, we found ourselves sitting with people from Newfoundland who had moved
west many years ago but still had family back home. Some of their family live just down the road from us in Dartmouth, Nova Scotia. Sunday morning it was time to pack up, say our goodbyes and start our journey back to Calgary, where we had a couple more days to explore with our friends. We picked up our motorcycle rental in Calgary at Kane’s Harley-Davidson and off we went with our friend and fellow Harley® rider Dave Gorsline (aka Bubba). Our time was short, so we had to make the most of our explorations. We had to visit the Alberta Badlands, the Royal Tyrrell Museum in Drumheller and the Last Chance Saloon in Wayne, Alberta, population 51. We had another stop in Longview at the Twin Cities Hotel. The day was busy, and we found ourselves dodging thunderstorms. Just as we arrived back at Dave’s home, the skies opened up and the heavy rain started. That’s when we decided to sit in the garage, listen to some music, enjoy an adult beverage or two and reflect on this amazing western vacation and rally experience because in the morning we were flying back to Halifax to prepare for our adventure to the Atlantic Regional HOG Rally in St. John’s. August 1 soon arrived, and it was off to St. John’s to the 25TH Atlantic Regional HOG Rally,
On the boardwalk in Quidi Vidi Village, Newfoundland and Labrador
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Riding Stories “The Rally in Iceberg Alley.” We were greeted at the airport by Sean LeFresne, the general manager at the recently renamed Rugged Rock Harley-Davidson, formally known as Mile 1 Harley-Davidson, then shuttled off to check into the hotel and then to the dealership to pick up our Harley-Davidson motorcycle. We were not there 10 minutes before the phone was ringing. A fellow Nova Scotian had arrived earlier and was looking for us to meet him and two of his local friends for a ride on this beautiful sunny day. Off we went along the shores and into a small historic site known as Brigus and then back to the hotel. The rally opened on Thursday at noon at the dealership. The area was alive with excitement, music playing, and plenty of volunteers in bright orange shirts to assist and direct rally attendees. There was some added excitement from some unique vehicles on display as well as plenty of sale items in the dealership store, street performers in the parking lot and the content roar of Harley motorcycles arriving. As the Atlantic Regional HOG Director, I spent the full day there in support of the committee and to greet members as they arrived. Thursday evening was the meet and greet social event at the back of the dealership, using one of the unique vehicles as a stage for live performers. The members were once again busy making new friends, sharing stories of their adventures and planning for the rides to come on Friday. Friday morning started early. The skies were suspect with heavy fog that soon burned off to another scorcher with bright sun and 30+ temps. The guided rides starting from the dealership at 9 a.m. were designed to bring riders downtown to the famous George Street for the rally show and shine. George Street is a unique part of the city with many restaurants and entertainment venues. The street was open to rally attendees 48
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and had motorcycle parking only. Soon the street was packed with some beautiful Harley-Davidsons. At 2 p.m., dealer principal Bert Hickman led the group to the Foggy Mountain Motorcycle Museum in his prized Custom ‘55 Chevy Nomad. This was not on the agenda but something Bert arranged at the last minute. It was one of the highlights of the rally, with some prized motorcycles. After the visit Bert led us back to the dealership, where members broke off and returned to their hotels to prepare for the evening social event at the community hall with live entertainment. On Saturday morning Mother Nature was kind to the rally once again with fog that soon burned off to another scorcher with sunny skies. The dealership was the centre of the excitement with the sounds of roaring motorcycles, music and members ready to roll out on their rides starting at 9 a.m. and returning midafternoon to allow time to freshen up and prepare for the evening dinner and dance and awards ceremonies. The rides set out to many of the historic site areas on the Avalon Peninsula, including Signal Hill and Cabot Tower, the site of the first transatlantic wireless communications; Quidi Vidi; and
Looking out from the Brigus Tunnel in Brigus, Newfoundland and Labrador
Cape Spear, the easternmost point in North America. Riders also saw the famous row houses nestled in downtown St. John’s – painted in vibrant colours, they’re known as Jellybean Row. By early evening, the shuttles were rolling and a large bus added to the fleet got everyone to the community centre on time for the awards dinner and dance. The evening opened with the usual ceremonial thank yous and acknowledgments and grace led by one of the rally committee members. Then it was time to eat. The meal catered by Bonnie’s Catering was absolutely wonderful! Bonnie also works at the dealership and was on the rally committee. She and her staff did an amazing job. After dinner, it was time for more thank yous and the presentation of the show and shine awards. Then, the host Newfoundland Chapter introduced their executive and explained the raffle tickets they had been selling to support The Autism Society, with a grand prize of a $30,000 Hickman Auto Group voucher. One of their members, who suffers with Asperger syndrome, spoke to the members about his life and what he goes through. You could hear a pin drop while
Riding Stories
Lake Louise, Alberta
he spoke. To witness the respect that a hall of more than 250 members gave to this young man brought a tear to many; it was overwhelming. When he finished, he was given a standing ovation. Then it was time for the grand prize draw and the dance. (No, I didn’t win.) Once again, the dance floor was full all night long, which is something you don’t often see on the last night of a rally. Sean LeFresne, Rugged Rock’s general manager, offered a bonus ride to all the members on Sunday because
many were not leaving until the ferry back to Nova Scotia sailed on Monday. Sean offered to guide anyone who may have missed the first visit to the Foggy Mountain Motorcycle Museum. I was fortunate to have made the visit the first time, but on Sunday morning I went to the dealership to see how many were going. I was overwhelmed, and I think Sean was, too, as about 50 bikes, many two-up, were in the dealership parking lot for the ride. Later Sunday, around the
hotel, this was all the talk – not just the museum, but the fact that Sean offered up his Sunday and added the bonus ride. Now, to me, being from the East Coast, it wasn’t a big surprise. It’s what we do. It’s who we are: friendly, hospitable people who will go out of our way to ensure you are having a great time and share what we have here in the Atlantic Region. If there is one thing that I heard over and over from Bert and Sean, and rally coordinator Patrick Lafreniere and all his volunteers, it was whatever
you need just ask and we’ll help you. That they did. Now it’s time to reflect, not to compare west to east. It’s time to feel blessed and thankful. You see, here in Canada, we have some very distinct regions throughout our beautiful country, each having its own highlights and special features. It’s one of the things I love about Canada. So get out and explore. You’ll find friendly Canadians everywhere, and if it’s a HOG rally you’re attending, you’ll find your friendly HOG family! HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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any 2019 HarleyDavidson® Touring motorcycles will offer more power and new infotainment technology, changes designed to enhance 50
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the riding experience for the long haul and the short run.
A rider can never have too much power on the open road, and for 2019, select Harley-Davidson Touring models will come from
the factory with the 114-cubicinch (1870 cc) Milwaukee-Eight® 114 engine, the most displacement offered by Harley-Davidson in standardmodel motorcycles. The Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine delivers 5 per cent more torque than the Milwaukee-Eight 107
engine it replaces in these models and 5 per cent quicker 0-60 mph (0-95.5 km/h) acceleration. That’s more power for confident passing with fewer downshifts, for accelerating down a freeway on-ramp, and for pulling away from traffic, especially when
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New power and technology for 2019 Touring motorcycles.
laden with passenger and gear. The following Harley-Davidson models will be powered only by the Milwaukee-Eight 114 engine for 2019: Ultra Limited, Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide® Ultra, Road Glide Special, Street Glide® Special, and Road King® Special.
NEW HARLEYDAVIDSON® BOOM! BOX GTS INFOTAINMENT SYSTEM The new Boom! Box GTS infotainment system offers the contemporary look, feel and function of the latest mobile devices and tablets, with features
designed specifically for motorcycling, plus wireless Apple CarPlay® compatibility and hands-free voice recognition. The GTS system replaces the Boom! Box 6.5GT on select 2019 Harley-Davidson models. The 16.5-cm Boom! Box GTS system is glass from edge to edge,
with a durable Corning® Gorilla® Glass touchscreen surface coated to minimize reflections. The glass is optically bonded to a TFT display (thin-film-transistor, a type of liquid-crystal display noted for high image quality and contrast), with 100 per cent more resolution, and a four-times higher contrast HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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New Touring Models
APPLE CARPLAY AND APPLE IPHONE ARE REGISTERED TRADEMARKS OF APPLE INC.
ratio than the display it replaces for a crisp and clean appearance even in bright sunlight. The new Boom! Box GTS processes faster and has more memory than previous Boom! systems. Start-up time is reduced from 21 seconds to 10 seconds, and route calculation time is reduced from 10 seconds to 2.5 seconds. The home screen display is simplified to three key system buttons: Navigation, Phone and Music, and each
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screen features condensed information that’s easy to read and navigate. The Apple CarPlay feature is enabled using the owner’s Apple iPhone® 5 or newer model and the microphone of an optional Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories headset. When CarPlay is enabled, audio apps, messaging apps and voice calling apps from the iPhone can be accessed through the Boom! Box GTS. The Boom! Box GTS
navigation system has the ability to upload routes created on the Harley-Davidson® Ride Planner app from a smartphone or tablet through a wireless connection or through the USB port. The base system Boom! Box GTS audio features 25 watts per channel through two or four speakers, depending upon motorcycle model. System upgrades available from Harley-Davidson Genuine Motor Accessories support up to three
sets of Boom! Stage II speakers and 900 watts total power. The Boom! Box GTS is standard equipment on the 2019 Ultra Limited, Ultra Limited Low, Road Glide Ultra, Road Glide Special, Street Glide Special, CVO Limited, CVO Street Glide, CVO Road Glide, and Tri Glide® Ultra models. Boom! Box GTS is a factory-installed option for Harley-Davidson Street Glide, Road Glide and Electra Glide® Ultra Classic® models.
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HOG® member takes a 4,300-kilometre trip through Europe’s best Alpine passes with Authorized Tour operator Tour1. Photos: Alex Ruck
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Thinking about making an epic road trip?
Book and go Tour1 is an official Harley-Davidson Authorized Tour operator offering trips in the United States, the UK and Europe. The Altitudes with Attitude tour, for experienced riders wanting a real Harley-Davidson adventure, focuses on 35 mountain passes in Switzerland, Italy and Austria and includes your route down to the Alps and back, a great ride in itself. For more details, visit tour1.com
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Then get up and go! I guarantee you’ll wonder why you didn’t do it sooner. The world is filled with seriously spectacular roads. Plunge into the Alps and you’ll lose count of how many times you say “wow” as mountain passes, aggressive climbs and plunging descents unfurl round every turn. I’ve seen the Alpine peaks countless times as a snowboarder, but I’ve been naïve to their wonders in summer. Picture rugged, untouched terrain as far as the eye can see, cyan lakes, raging waterfalls and powerful rivers, vast skyscapes and endless switchbacks. It’s an addictive riding heaven. Starting over So how did I get here? A honeymoon road trip on Softail® bikes, a Street Bob® wedding anniversary ride-out and a serious road traffic accident in 2014 have all led to me being unable to imagine life without my HarleyDavidson®. Now that I’m physically unable to participate in the sports that once filled
my life, it’s my route to exploring the countryside around home. Without it, I don’t know how I would have kept smiling through the dark days. And now I was heading across France, Belgium and Germany along the stunning B500, on endless ribbons of road giftwrapping stunning scenery – the ultimate aperitif to a tarmac glutton’s main course: the mountain passes of Austria, Italy and Switzerland. When you’re undertaking a 4,300-kilometre-plus road trip, it’s easy to stress. Have I picked the best route? Will the roads be as good as I hope? Can I handle the distances between stops? But I hadn’t a worry or question in my mind. I had offloaded all that by booking a guided tour with Tour1, allowing us to concentrate on the ride of our lives instead. Stress-free touring The Tour1 guys recon everything, researching the best routes, testing hotels and picking the ultimate roads, restaurants and coffee stops to make your ride as perfect as possible. They take the stress out of contingency management too. If your Eurotunnel is delayed by four hours (yes, it happened), they know how to get you back on time with the group. Landslide closes a mountain pass? (Yes, this happened too.) Relax with a coffee while they plot an equally impressive alternative route. The only variable no one can plan for is the weather, which in the Alps can alter between passes, let alone days. This meticulous organization combined with staying in three- and four-star hotels, meant the tour was great value for money. In the Alps, you can have sweeping turns and breathtaking scenery all day, every day. Pick the right tour route and you’ll also be
Alps immersed in some technical and challenging riding. Take the Stelvio Pass, the third-highest in the Alps. At 2,757 metres, it offers 75 hair-raising hairpins and stomachlurching views. The Passo di Gavia, listed as one of the world’s most dangerous roads, is a single-track ascent featuring oncoming cars, bikes and bicycles, potholes, gravel and rock slides. For some it’s the ultimate challenge, for others a risk too far – but no one forces you to tackle it. Then there’s Switzerland’s St. Gotthard Pass, made both challenging and breathtaking by cobblestoned hairpin bends. Initially, I wobbled like a newborn Bambi, but after stringing a few switchbacks together, I realized how much grip was available and it became a tour highlight. Safety in numbers There are many more fabulous passes that haven’t achieved such reputations, and the roads connecting them are often gorgeous valley sweepers, ebbing and flowing through towns and lowlands, providing a welcome breather before the next ascent. I had sore abs on some days from leaning my 320 kg Sport Glide® over around corner after corner on so many passes. There’s confidence and safety in numbers. Our 15-strong gang of Harley-
Davidson motorcycles was hard for drivers to ignore, and our range of experience and skills meant we had a solution for every eventuality. You’ll also learn from such a group. At a minimum, the tour leader will be an advanced rider capable of teaching you a few tricks. At best, you’ll rub shoulders with some awesome riders. A Kiwi guy became my favourite back wheel to follow. I learned from his lines and took guidance from his speed: it was an incredible way to improve my riding. Without such an experienced lead, I wouldn’t have developed to such a level, and the Stelvio in particular was a real education. Surmounting the Stelvio We click down into first, hands gripping the bars. We’re off. The potato-potato of our V-twins kicks in as we accelerate through the first hairpin. Dab on the back brake entering corner two, heads looking up. Bend three, weight leaning over, bends four, six, nine… pegs kissing the ground on 10, rubber gripping the tarmac… 13… 17… 21… the throttle whips open, revs flying as we climb… 25… 27… gears changing, up and down in quick succession… 31… the wind whistling past… 34, 35… riding hard, gaining speed on the straights. Left turn, right turn, whipping back and forth across the rugged terrain. Coming out of 48, the summit is in sight. We pull over. Time slows as I take in the views, the jagged mountains. My body is flooded with something I’ve never experienced before. I’m throbbing with adrenaline. I’ve never felt so alive! Back on track How do you keep 15 bikes together in unknown terrain with the lead man on navigation duties? The buddy system kept us linked together while allowing us to ride to our own abilities, fast riders at the front.
Each rider was responsible for making sure their “buddy” – the rider behind – knew where to go at any turn-off: ride the straights, wait at junctions. Doing this mileage in a group was something special, as were the looks on locals’ faces as we thundered through. We even had a nursing home out on the sidewalk when we stopped nearby. Judging by their smiles, they’ll have talked about us for weeks. The tour passes through nine countries, and the transformation of cultures as you cross each border adds a subtly different flavour to each leg. From Swiss mountain lodges to Austria’s cowbells and lederhosen, and seemingly infinite local beers after a day’s riding, travelling by motorcycle brings you closer to every country you visit. The engineering of the roads is incredible: high-altitude passes with sheer drop-offs and no guardrails, and totally exposed hairpins. The occasional rock slide, herd of cattle or throng of cyclists all add to the road surface challenges. Riding in a place free of the health and safety police is liberating, and a sensory overload too. You try to drink in the scenery as the potential for disaster spikes your adrenaline, while also ensuring you don’t fixate on the drops. It’s a riding nirvana that leaves you feeling you’re living on the edge. Literally. Something I hadn’t anticipated was riders in Lycra, not leathers. The Alps attracts a huge volume of cyclists, and with their lightweight set-up and crazy grip they can hammer it down mountains, cornering at mind-blowing speed. I followed a clearly very experienced cyclist for a good kilometre, with the short straights between corners, plus oncoming traffic, making it little too tight to squeeze past. It’s nuts to think I had a 1,745cc engine and he had only his legs. I smashed him on the up, though, and some of the ups were huge! For guaranteed pothole-free riding, where you can power around any corner with confidence in the rubber to road traction, head to Austria and Switzerland. As a relatively new biker, only really taking up two wheels after my accident, the Alps were a huge learning curve. Yet it didn’t take long to get the feel of the riding, pegs down, grinning from ear to ear. Now, having completed my 4,300-kilometre trip, I feel more confident and more secure in my everyday riding than ever before.
Follow Vanessa on Instagram: @thegirlonabike
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“THE SKINNY” STEALS THE SHOW Fabrizio Caoduro has created a remarkable chopper that managed a clean sweep at this year’s Harley-Davidson® custom bike shows. 58
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Custom For most custom bike builds, the work follows a similar process – construction of the bike comes first, followed by the paint job. Not so in the case of “The Skinny,” the beautiful Ironhead Chopper creation that has won Best In Show at all three major European Harley-Davidson events this year – the Euro Festival in Golfe de StTropez, the 115TH Anniversary in Prague and European Bike Week® in Faaker See. It’s less surprising when you consider that the owner, Fabrizio Caoduro, is also the owner of 70’s Helmets, a custom paint company based in Vicenza, Italy, that specializes in motorcycle helmets and bike paintwork. “The Skinny” was always intended as a rolling showcase of the company’s paintwork skills, designed to be used as a promotional item at shows and exhibitions across Europe. “The paint job was in my dreams before starting to build the bike,” says Fabrizio, “so the shape, dimension and style of the build follows the style of the painting, not the other way round.” The painting style is, as you would expect, quite extraordinary. Loosely based on the Mexican Day of the Dead, the design also incorporates inspiration from the Far East, 1970s California and many other less definable influences. Fabrizio’s business involves a lot of travel to bike shows across the world, so it’s hardly surprising to see so many disparate influences involved in the intricate style of the bike. “We attend many international shows and we keep in contact with styles from many different countries, so I think we got some influence from Japan, too,” says Fabrizio. “I have always had a love for detail, so my plan was to create a piece of art with
two wheels and one engine.” That plan began with sourcing a suitable bike. An original 1975 Ironhead Sportster® model was located in the UK and imported to the 70’s Helmets HQ near Venice so the work of brainstorming a design could begin. Top Italian old-school customizer Andrea Radaelli of Milan’s Radikal Chopper was the choice for much of the fabrication work, while the impeccable paintwork was entrusted to Fabrizio’s 70’s Helmets crew and master custom artist Manuel Castello. The design concept of the bike was decided as a team, with the original style of the Ironhead and the paintwork concept leading to a highly distinctive minimalist style reminiscent of a historic speedway bike – and always with the goal of the making the paintwork the hero. The speedway-style frame was built by ChopWorks and the handmade bodywork – the tiny gas tank, oil tank and swooping rear fender – were the work of Anvil’s Disciples. Leatherwork for the seat was entrusted to L.R. Leather. Hand-crafted details abound everywhere you look on the bike, from the exquisite springer front end to the split exhaust system running around the frame tubes. Finally, the bike was ready for its crowning glory – the complex deep paintwork designed by Manuel Castello of Castellodesign and laid down by the 70’s Helmets crew. The results speak for themselves, and the exquisite build and its jaw-dropping paintjob have been rewarded with major recognition at the 2018 Verona Expo, where the bike took the Jammer Old School class win – as well as success at the three biggest Harley-Davidson events in 2018. Bellissimo! HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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H-D Museum
EXHAUST
1
In a new book, The Harley-Davidson Story: Tales from the Archives, author Aaron Frank recounts the founding, growth and key milestones in the Motor Company’s history through the stories behind 45 artifacts in the HarleyDavidson Museum™ and Archives Collection – items as diverse as business documents, scrapbooks, racing trophies, apparel, clay models, prototype motorcycles and even a rocket engine. Here are five items featured in the book. 60
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H-D Museum
1. TOPPER STEREOSCOPE
3. VIVIAN BALES’ SCRAPBOOK
In the late 1950s, it seemed like almost every teen in North America had access to a cheap and easy-to-use scooter. Harley-Davidson officially entered the scooter market in 1960 when it released the Topper, a simple step-through machine with a boxy fibreglass body. “Scootaway” drive and fuel economy in the range of 2.3 l per 100 km made the Topper particularly appealing to young consumers. To better connect with the emerging youth market, Harley-Davidson experimented with new and innovative advertising techniques – like the stereoscope, which was hugely popular with kids in the ’50s and ’60s.
Women riders such as Vivian Bales have been inspiring women to ride for more than 100 years. Bales’ scrapbook reveals just how well known she was in the 1930s. Nicknamed “The Enthusiast Girl” due to the frequency in which she appeared in H-D’s The Enthusiast magazine, Bales first attracted the attention of company officials with her riding escapades in 1929, when she rode from her home in Albany, Georgia, to H-D headquarters in Milwaukee and beyond, returning home after three months and about 8,000 kilometres. Bales taught herself to ride at age 17 in 1926 when she purchased her first Harley-Davidson® motorcycle. “I always wanted to do something that most girls wouldn’t do,” Bales said shortly after her 1929 adventure, “and my motorcycle gave me the chance to satisfy my adventurous spirit.”
2. CHICAGO MOTOR CYCLE CLUB TROPHY Walter Davidson’s real passion was riding motorcycles. He was presented this modest silver cup on July 4, 1905, for winning the Chicago Motor Cycle Club’s Ten Mile Open – his first racing victory at the national level. As the reliability and performance of Harley-Davidson® motorcycles continued to improve, Walter participated in more prestigious events. His most important victory came in 1908, when he won the 7th Annual Federation of American Motorcyclists (FAM) Endurance and Reliability Run, with a perfect score of 1,000 points over the two-day, 573 kilometre route in New York’s Catskill Mountains. Walter beat 65 other riders on 17 different makes of motorcycle to clearly establish the superior quality and performance of H-D® bikes. 2
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4. 1947 DEALER SHOW MATERIALS Big changes were coming to the Motor Company for the 1948 model year, and dealers were given a peek during what was billed as a “top secret” National Dealers’ Conference in Milwaukee. On the evening of November 24, 1947, dealers and their guests boarded train coaches for a 13 kilometre ride to the nearby city of Wauwatosa, where they toured the new Capitol Drive manufacturing plant, recently constructed for US$1.5 million. Company officials also revealed the all-new motorcycle: the diminutive 125 cc S model that would at last provide Harley-Davidson a low-cost, entry-level motorcycle to satisfy the booming postwar global transportation market. The simple and relatively inexpensive (just US$325) S model rapidly gained a huge following among young riders – a remarkable 10,000 S models were sold in the first year alone.
4
5. FLAIR FELT TIP PEN This humble Paper Mate Flair felt tip is the actual pen used to sign the ceremonial transfer-of-ownership documents on June 23, 1981, finalizing the employee buyback of the Motor Company from AMF – a pivotal moment in Harley-Davidson history and one that likely saved the firm from oblivion. Faced with a rapidly changing market and increasing competition from Japan, Harley-Davidson made the decision to go public in 1965, using the cash generated by that initial stock offering to improve its operations. But difficulties continued, and in January 1969 Harley-Davidson merged with AMF. Major investments allowed the brand to remain competitive, but serious quality-control issues emerged. H-D leadership felt increasingly alienated from the decision-makers at AMF, so 13 H-D executives pooled their resources, and on June 16, 1981, in an incredibly risky move, they bought the company back, returning the brand to enthusiast hands. 5
The Harley-Davidson Story: Tales from the Archives, published by MotorBooks International, is available for purchase at the Harley-Davidson Museum, and through bookstores and online. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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EXHAUST
LOST IN NAVIGATION To its critics, GPS navigation is a distraction, eliminates the elemental joy of riding a motorcycle, and has spawned a generation who might know where they’re going but have no clue where they are. It’s emblematic of all that’s wrong in our modern technology-riddled world. Story by John Sandberg
To its defenders, GPS navigation provides directional certainty, greater safety and an overall more enjoyable motorcycling experience. It has solved far more problems than it has created.
DISRUPTIVE TECHNOLOGY In the roughly 20 years since portable GPS units began providing global positioning for civilian use, human navigation has transformed. Most say this transformation is for the better, but others aren’t so sure. 62
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Mostly gone are foldout maps and tired old jokes about men refusing to stop at gas stations to ask for directions. With the ubiquity of smartphones and infotainment systems, we now know the fastest route to Grandma’s house, the closest chain restaurant and exactly how many minutes until we arrive home. But with the good also comes the bad. Those 1-2 seconds when we glance at the screen to check our position might be the exact moment that a deer crosses the road, another motorist brakes or a huge chunk
of semi-truck tire tread reveals itself. “The problem with GPS is the same as the problem with changing the radio station, reaching for a bottle of water, or any of the other potential distractions from fully focusing on riding,” says Ray Petry, project manager of the Harley-Davidson® Riding Academy and someone who uses GPS navigation on his 2017 Road Glide® Special motorcycle. “We’re not really multitasking; we’re switching tasks. “If we’re going to switch tasks (and let’s face it, most of us will switch tasks for a
Between the Lines moment, like checking to see the distance until our next turn), then we need to do it as proficiently and safely as possible.” For Petry, motorcycling with GPS can be safe and enjoyable if done correctly.
MASTER THE FUNCTIONALITY BEFORE YOU RIDE If there’s one point to be made about using any feature of a motorcycle, including navigation, it’s that we need to master it before using it while actually riding. That means practicing while parked. “None of us should learn to use a navigation system while we’re riding,” says Petry. “Instead, sit on the bike while it’s parked, and work with it until you’ve become an expert with its functionality and control. Only start using it on the road after it’s become second nature.” For Petry, this is no different than the elemental aspects of motorcycle operation. “When we’re learning to ride, shifting gears takes a lot of concentration, to the point that riders aren’t paying adequate attention to the road ahead,” he says. “Changing lanes is another. These tasks are clunky until we’ve mastered them. “So when I instruct new riders, we’ll practice lane changes until it goes from clunky – where they have to really focus on the task – to being more automated. It’s the same with shifting. After enough practice, it becomes automatic. The same should be true for your motorcycle’s navigation and sound systems.” In short, be master of these tasks rather than letting them be master of you.
PAY ATTENTION AND PRIORITIZE RIDING TASKS Safely riding a motorcycle requires us to pay attention to our riding environment, including the road, motorists, pedestrians, animals and any potential hazard. Yet safe riding isn’t just paying attention; it’s prioritizing what we pay attention to. According to Petry, this is how we should prioritize our attention when riding: 1. Other road users, road signs and signals. 2. What the road tells you, including
surface conditions (holes, sand, cracks, debris) and watching out for traps (such as lane endings). 3. Knowing your escape route. Notice that “Looking at my GPS to see how many kilometres until my destination” isn’t among the top three – and for good reason, according to Petry: “In my opinion, we shouldn’t remove our attention from riding for longer than a half-second; otherwise, we’re violating our attention priorities.” But what to do if you need to spend a couple of seconds looking at your GPS? “Get off the road completely,” he says. “Not just pulling over onto the shoulder. Go to a parking lot or a residential street where you can be completely stationary and away from busy traffic. Spend the time you need to recalibrate yourself or the interaction with your GPS before getting back on the road.”
PREPROGRAM ROUTES, USE AUDIO As a user of GPS navigation on his Road Glide Special model, Petry has firsthand experience with the technology. His experience has taught him key lessons for safely using his navigation system. “First, avoid diverting too much attention to the GPS while in motion,” he says. “If it requires more than a simple glance or toggle-switch command, save it for when you’re at a stop or stop to adjust. And always program your destination into the unit before you’re in motion. “Second, whenever possible, use the system’s audio technology to transmit the audible directions either through your bike’s sound system or headset speakers. “And third, GPS is simply a navigation aid. Don’t hesitate to ignore an instruction if a situation ahead takes priority. In other words, don’t turn right if there is no right.” For Petry, receiving audible directions is less distracting than following a route on a screen, allowing him to maintain his attention priorities noted previously. Harley-Davidson offers multiple navigation products, from the BOOM! Box Infotainment System on select motorcycles to standalone GPS units that can pair with Bluetooth-enabled headsets and speakers. Your local Harley-Davidson dealer can help explain all of the options.
THE END OF THE WORLD AS WE KNOW IT? For those who believe that GPS navigation is proof of the end of the world as we know it – and that such technology is unsafe – it’s important to accept that the “good old days” might not be as safe as we remember. Petry certainly recalls: “Before GPS, I’d create a route direction list that I’d write on tape or paper and affix to my bike’s windshield or tank. Reading that list took more concentration away from riding than looking at a GPS screen or hearing audible directions.” He also remembers missing turns and making last-second manoeuvres to correct them. Conversely, with GPS, when you miss a turn or modify your route it automatically reroutes you. “With GPS, you’re never lost,” Petry says. “Yes, you can miss or make a wrong turn, but there’s no need to panic because the system will reroute you. So there’s no need to make an unsafe last-second manoeuvre just to stay on route.” Has the near-universal reliance on GPS navigation ruined our sense of place in the world, as well as diminished our own internal navigational skills? Maybe. No doubt it’s still useful to use maps (printed or online) when preparing a trip to see a route in the context of something larger than the road you’re on. You’ll create a mental snapshot of the map, which will be useful and enjoyable while you’re riding.
GET LOST AND TAKE THE LONG WAY HOME Ask yourself what you love about motorcycling. If the answers include freedom and adventure and discovery, then do yourself a favour and unplug from technology while you’re riding whenever it suits you. “GPS route suggestions usually default to providing the fastest route rather than the most interesting one,” says Petry. There are new discoveries to be made simply by taking the long way. And some of our most memorable riding experiences occur when we get lost. So occasionally get lost and take the road less travelled. Final thought: Navigation should add to our enjoyment and the safety of riding, not detract from them.
Have a comment or question about this story? Share it with us via email at hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com or mail it to HOG® Magazine Canada, 100 New Park Place, Suite 330, Vaughan, Ontario, L4K 0H9. HOG ® MAGAZINE CANADA
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150 Dollar Rides
RIDE TO THE ROCKIES
EXHAUST
We live in Colorado, so donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have to travel very far to have a great motorcycling experience. My friend Chuck Kopelson and I did just that one Sunday â&#x20AC;&#x201C; he on his 2014 Harley-DavidsonÂŽ V-RodÂŽ model and I on my 1999 HarleyÂŽ CVO FXR2 bike. Story by Tony DiMarco We began our ride where I live in Evergreen, one of the ďŹ rst mountain towns just outside of Denver. As you come off the plains and leave Denver on I-70 headed west, you rise from a 1,600-metre elevation into the Rocky Mountains. Neither Chuck nor I think highways are that much fun on a motorcycle, so we were looking forward to getting that short sprint behind us as we approached the exit for Highway 40 through the little town of Empire. We started our twisty climb into the Rockies for our ďŹ rst stop at Berthoud Pass, elevation 3,446 metres. After our photo opportunity, we continued down the mountain into the town of Winter Park, a popular area for locals, with world-class skiing in the winter and outdoor music concerts during the summer. We continued north through Fraser Valley up to the lakes â&#x20AC;&#x201C; a favourite trout ďŹ shing spot of former President Dwight D. Eisenhower. We travelled past Lake Granby and Shadow Mountain Lake, then stopped in Grand Lake. This beautiful rustic town has lots of restaurants and gift shops along the main street. We refuelled and rode on to the Grand Lake Lodge, located within Rocky Mountain National Park, for another photo
opportunity. The lodge overlooks the lake, and views donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t get better than this. The ride through Rocky Mountain National Park, about 100 kilometres from gate to gate, is memorable in itself. We stopped with all of the other tourists to see the moose grazing in the ďŹ elds and continued on up to Trail Ridge Road. At 3,713 metres elevation, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s the highest continuous paved road in the United States. Even in June we were happy to have full riding gear because it was cold and very windy as we hit the highest stretch of road. We left 24 C temperatures in Denver to ride in 4 C temperatures in the park. It was so windy that we were ďŹ ghting to keep the bikes straight in the crosswinds. Leaning into the wind is a bit precarious when there are no guardrails and youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re just looking down the side of a mountain. We had a quick stop to photograph the snow and rode through the park on our way to the town of Estes Park at the eastern entrance. During the summer, the main street of Estes Park is usually crowded with lots of tourists on a Sunday. One of the attractions is The Stanley Hotel, which was opened in 1909 by F.O. Stanley of Stanley Steamer fame and became the
inspiration for Stephen Kingâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s The Shining. Leaving Estes Park we stopped on Highway 7 for probably the best burgers in town â&#x20AC;&#x201C; or at least we thought so after riding so far. After that short rest, we continued to head south on Highway 7 and then on to the famous Highway 72, the Peak to Peak Scenic Byway. This road is in excellent condition and has everything a motorcyclist could want or expect in Colorado: sweeping curves and spectacular mountain views. It couldnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have been better. Then it was back to home. We were out for more than eight hours and travelled nearly 365 kilometres. It was a workout, but we had a fun day in the mountains for less than US$100.
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If you have a $150 Ride story to share, we want to see it. If it appears in HOG ÂŽ Magazine Canada, weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll even foot the bill â&#x20AC;&#x201C; in the form of a $150 Harley-Davidson Gift Card. Keep your story to 750 words or fewer, including a list of your expenses. We also need photography from your adventure, including a photo of you.
THE $150 CHALLENGE 64
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Email your submission with â&#x20AC;&#x153;$150 Ridesâ&#x20AC;? as the subject line to hogmagazine.ca@harley-davidson.com
Strap
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65
Last Stop
HYPER-REALISTIC HARLEY® MOTORCYCLES Scott Jacobs expresses his passion for riding and the Motor Company through his paintings. Story by Jeremy Pick Photos by Lovell Photography
EXHAUST
Scott Jacobs is known for Harley-Davidson paintings that look more real than photographs and resonate with Harley® riders around the globe. Entirely self-taught, Jacobs became the artist for his school newspaper at age 15. He opened his first gallery at 19 and has made a living in art ever since. Since a chance meeting with a Harley-Davidson executive at the New York Art Expo in 1993 made him the first official Harley-Davidson fine art licensee, he has produced almost 600 works for the Motor Company. Jacobs also creates a painting for the cover of the official Sturgis Motorcycle Rally publication every year. “Riding for me is like a meditative process, and many of my best works have sprung from that. One of my best-known paintings is called Panacea, which means ‘the cure for what ails you.’ That’s what riding a Harley is like for me – often I jump on my bike just to ride and come back to the easel refreshed.” A love of antique Harley motorcycles quickly developed after Jacobs travelled with the 2010 Motorcycle Cannonball run to photograph the bikes for future paintings. He has collected 18 H-D® models dating back to 1915. But on the 2016 Motorcycle Cannonball, rounding a corner on day two, participants came across a stretch of unmarked freshly gravelled road. Seven bikes slid out, including Jacobs on his 1915 H-D F-Head. “I had to lay the bike down to avoid hitting an intersection,” he recalls. “My floorboard stuck in the road
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and high-sided, launching me high in the air, and landing upside down on my head and shoulder. It blew my shoulder out, broke my arm in four places, and ripped my bicep. I spent eight days in a Maryland hospital.” Doctors told Jacobs he would probably never paint again. Or ride a motorcycle. “Before the accident, I was one of the most successful commercial artists in the world. I’d ridden motorcycles all over the globe. Afterwards, I couldn’t even write my name,” recalls Jacobs. “I started learning to paint with my left hand.” After more than a year of rehab, Jacobs was able to start painting with his right hand again. “I’d say the use of my arm is about 60 per cent,” says Jacobs. “I can paint, but I can’t raise my arm above my head, and I had to back out of this year’s Cannonball. That really bummed out my family because riding is a huge part of their lives as well. My wife has done the Cannonball with me twice, my daughter Olivia rides a Cross Bones®, and my other daughter Alexa has a Fat Boy® – we’ve ridden coast to coast as a family, which is precious to me.” Two years after the accident, Jacobs is working on four pieces to celebrate Harley-Davidson’s 115TH Anniversary and selling limited-edition prints. He has even started a fine watch and jewellery line with acclaimed designer Steve Soffa to transform his paintings into wearable works of art. “I’ve always said that as an artist I will die with a brush in my hand. But that won’t be for a long while – I’ve still got so much to do. It’s amazing to be doing something that gives people so much pleasure creating works that make people smile or laugh – or even cry. That is humbling and emotional.” jacobsgalleryshop.com Instagram: @scottjacobs_art
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