H.O.G.®: The World's Largest Family

Harley Owners Group®, which was started nationally in 1983, focuses on sharing the camaraderie of riding and owning a Harley-Davidson® and is successful with more than 1,400 chapters around the world.

Find out more about membership and your local J&L Harley-Davidson® and Glacial Lakes Harley-Davidson® H.O.G.® Chapters.

Motorcycling is popular because of its ability to be different things to different people: Riders can enjoy a short day trip or a monthlong cross-country trek; machines can vary from a 500 Street to 114 cubic inch CVO Street Glide; riding can be a solitary or group activity; and uses can range from recreational to utilitarian.

Harley Owners Group®, which was started nationally in 1983, focuses on sharing the camaraderie of riding and owning a Harley-Davidson® and is successful-with more than 1,400 chapters around the world-for many of the same reasons that riding is.

The H.O.G.® Chapter at J&L Harley-Davidson® plans a variety of events every year, from evening dinner rides and day trips, to out-of-state tours and VIP social events at the dealership.

"We take fun trips and have fun adventures. No matter how well-planned, they are all adventures," says J&L Harley-Davidson® H.O.G.® Director Wendy Brinkman. "You meet people from all over the world and you get to ride and enjoy the freedom of the road."

Wendy, who rides a 2015 Softail Slim, says motorcycling and getting involved in H.O.G.® boosted her confidence. "I'm most confident when I'm on my motorcycle...I would not be the person I am today without the H.O.G.® group. It has become more than just a group; it is a way of life in the summer."

For Mary Haberer, who has logged 116,000 miles on her 2006 Fat Boy, H.O.G.® is about the relationships. "H.O.G.® is a great way to meet people who share the passion of riding."

Mary shares that the best thing she did when she started riding in 2006 was attend H.O.G.® events and volunteer. Today, she serves as a Board Member At Large for the J&L Harley-Davidson® Chapter, as well as being a member of the Harley-Davidson® of Fargo H.O.G.® Chapter.

"There are so many fun H.O.G.®-sponsored events every year," she says. "You can attend as many as you wish, but you shouldn't feel obligated to attend all of them."

Another benefit of the group is the tie that develops between members and the dealership.

Anna Entenman is the dealer liaison for J&L Harley-Davidson® and the H.O.G.® Chapter. "The H.O.G.® group is so much fun. We just want people out and riding."

Chapter members are in charge of planning and leading their events each year. For 2017, the J&L Harley-Davidson® Chapter plans a Dam Ride, held together with the Glacial Lakes Harley-Davidson® H.O.G.® Chapter and the Harley-Davidson® of Fargo H.O.G.® Chapter; a ride to the national H.O.G.® rally in Milwaukee; and a Cascade Mountain Tour. In addition, the club will have dinner rides, weekend rides and VIP nights in the summer.

Wendy says the club also plans some new events this year to get more riders involved, such as "meet in the middle" rides with other H.O.G.® chapters.

She adds: "I always tell people what I enjoy most are the people I've met and the places I've been. And the best sunsets I've seen are through the windshield of my motorcycle."

Great H.O.G.® Member Benefits

• ROADSIDE ASSISTANCE - Standard package comes with a one-time coverage up to $100.
• HARLEY-DAVIDSON® MUSEUM - Complimentary admission to the Harley-Davidson® Museum.
• H.O.G.® MAGAZINE - H.O.G.® magazine is published five times a year and packed with riding stories, product info, H.O.G.® news and member stories.
• TOURING HANDBOOK - The Touring Handbook features H-D® road maps for the U.S. and Canada with a quick reference to dealer information.
• BEST WESTERN RIDE REWARDS - Points, upgrades and discounts.
• H.O.G.® MILEAGE RECOGNITION - Pins and patches for clocking miles.
• AT&T WIRELESS DISCOUNT - Available on qualified monthly service charges.