If you own a Harley, then you know that Harley-Davidson is celebrating its 110th Anniversary this year and the celebration is no joke. With approximately 100,000 bikers expected to attend, Harley-Davidson has pulled out all the stops for this epic Labor Day Weekend celebration.
The Milwaukee home town party will feature scantily dressed women, mud wrestling and legendary concert performances from Kid Rock, ZZ Top, Aerosmith, Toby Keith and more. The Harley community that will be in attendance is definitely a unique crowd. One percent may be outlaws but the other 99% includes a cornucopia of law enforcement, executives, laborers, politicians, doctors and so much more. As a matter of fact, it’s this diversity that takes every Harley-Davidson motorcycle on a unique journey from the factory floor through the imagination and creativity of its rider.
It’s interesting to see each owner’s personality through the customizations done on their ride. It could be an artistic tear drop chrome mirror or some bad-ass mini floor boards from Thunder Cycle Designs. Another interesting tell is the handle bars. It wasn’t until I started riding with a larger H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) Chapter that I realized how many options and customization could go into a pair of bars. Besides the vast selection of grips, the bar itself can be Adjustable, Ape Hanger Bars , Clubman, Cruiser, Drag, Motocross, Z-bar or, my favorite, Beach bars. I like that cruising feel and look so I added a pair of Burly Brand Retro Bikini Beach Bars to my Fayboy that I picked up from CruiserCustomizing.com.
A motorcycle’s exhaust is one of the most commonly customized items. It is the life, breath and voice of the the bike.
Now, it’s not a requirement that you do anything to your bike. Harley-Davidson has been around for over a hundred years and their stock designs have stood the test of time. They are an American masterpiece of design and engineering. So don’t feel pressured to tamper with the mean and meaty look of the Softail or the Racer image the Dyna suggests. But if you do, start with the exhaust. That’s your bike’s voice. Let her speak to you and tell you what she wants and take your time. Add each piece slowly, so that she evolves and grows into your dream ride telling a story every step of the way.
