| So, you are thinking of getting your first | | | | the bike itself is no longer a work of American art. |
| Harley-Davidson motorcycle? Well, there are a few | | | | And when it comes to the helmet that you wear, |
| things that you'll want to become knowledgeable | | | | forget the face mask. Those are for wimps! |
| about if you want to have any hope of fitting in with | | | | Sure you can buy a Harley motorcycle and not follow |
| the custom Harley Davidson crowd. | | | | any of the brotherhood's rules, but you can expect |
| Owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle brings you into | | | | to be shunned by every other Harley biker on the |
| a tight knit brotherhood with a culture all its own. But | | | | road. Think I'm joking? Maybe the following story will |
| getting a Harley doesn't automatically mean you'll be | | | | change your mind. |
| included into this self-proclaimed elite group of | | | | One part of the Harley culture, as mentioned earlier, |
| America loving, free spirited souls. The Harley culture | | | | is to buy American. Harley-Davidson is an American |
| is a proud one and, like any organization, they have | | | | company and owners of these American-made bikes |
| traditions, expectations, and unwritten rules that each | | | | are very proud to be riding on a machine put |
| biker is expected to follow. | | | | together by American hands. That means your bike |
| Right off the bat, you should know that your Harley | | | | should be running parts from American manufacturers |
| isn't really a Harley unless it's a custom Harley | | | | right down to the spark plugs. |
| Davidson. In other words, you don't want to pull up | | | | A biker entered a parts store one day and |
| to the local biker bar in an "off the shelf" Harley bike. | | | | complained about the rough running of his V-twin |
| A man's (or woman's) bike should be a reflection of | | | | engine. The parts manager recommended replacing |
| themselves, and therefore no two Harleys should be | | | | his spark plugs with the NGK (a Japanese company) |
| alike. | | | | brand. The biker did so reluctantly. Turns out he liked |
| Your bike tells others who you are, what you are | | | | the NGK spark plugs much better and chose to run |
| like, and may very well be the thing that other bikers | | | | them instead of the OEM plugs that his bike came |
| judge you by. | | | | with originally. |
| Secondly, make sure all your custom parts are made | | | | Only problem was that he knew he would be |
| by American companies. You bought a Harley | | | | shunned by his fellow bikers for running a Japanese |
| because of the pride, sophistication, and attention to | | | | part on his bike, so he manually painted the HD logo |
| detail that went into its creation. By customizing your | | | | onto his NGK spark plugs to prevent any suspicion. |
| bike with non-American parts, you go counter to the | | | | When working with your custom Harley Davidson, |
| made-in-America attitudes of the Harley culture. If | | | | remember where your "hog" came from and be sure |
| your bike has parts that aren't made in America, then | | | | to honor the culture that you have joined. |