As the name suggests a Biketoberfest motorcycle festival generally mid-October in Daytona Beach is held. Motorcycle enthusiasts from across the country and even some from Europe come to see and be seen. Biketoberfest began as The Daytona Fall Tour, and was first held in October 1992. It all started when Janet Kersey was hired as director of tourism events and promotions, she was responsible for the Daytona Beach Area Convention & Visitors Bureau, in order to create events that visitors during the periods between harvests. The first task he gave was a special event bikers, similar to the already popular Bike Week, create, centered around the annual race of the American Motorcycle Association, every year in October is held in the fall, the Daytona International Speedway. The event, which was called “The Fall Tour Daytona made a tour of 125 miles of scenic tourism in Volusia County, show bikes, racing at the Daytona Speedway and Bikefest – a series of activities especially by the merchants of Main Street. Festival offered motorcycle 5000 young visitors, mostly from Florida for the Daytona Beach area. The success of the Convention and Visitors Bureau de Falla Daytona Tour attracted increased interest from local merchants and the surrounding communities. In 1993, local companies, especially Daytona Harley-Davidson sponsored concerts, fairs and other activities. Under the direction of the CVB, during this period, activities Biketoberferst grew to 40 events over a period of three days, today there are many events to see and maybe even some that are participating as this point in popular Bikers’ hosted celebrities, international guests and media from around the world. The best part starts at Daytona Beach on Main Street. you just can not get to Biketoberfest experience completely stroll without an ultra by this famous street. Once it’s likely anything and everything, including spectacular, loading custom bikes of high quality and the latest, bicycles dumbest on the planet, and vendors are everywhere to see the most exclusive products and foodstuffs in order. you see, you visit some of the famous bars on the main street, many of which have been decades of generation to serve the bikers were. bike was a hobby all in the family, many women with their husbands on their own bicycles on foot, and how the older kids sometimes they even participate in the fun. Make sure, many, many different types of T-shirts have always Biketoberfest on the sale, during his time there, if it is your first visit or fifty years, every year, the shirts are specially made with various themes will make project and time of the event by collectors. You know not what you see on the main road, but one thing is certain, it is always worth a visit and will have many interesting stories to all your friends and family back home. Some of the most popular activities include the annual show of the motorcycle and demonstrations, the new bikes and Vintage Custom Show; tours to demonstrate the latest equipment from leading manufacturers, including Harley Davidson. On Main Street and to enjoy the many delicious food selection, live music and a lot of people-watching. With a variety planned events and activities at sites in Volusia County. When you check for some adult themed fun for the local Wet T-shirt and beauty contests are looking for may also be able to find, such as cabbage and rings. If you have a break from the craziness want to visit be sure, the Daytona International Speedway, after all, it is the racer to get all the fun Bike Rally was started. years were assembled bike race on the beach, large crowds of people to see instead. It was a very popular event each year and people came from all these Adrenaline Junkie race in the sand and the waves can be seen on a world speed record. The crowd roared its enthusiasm, that the driver put on a stunning show spectacular. So far, these adventurers very quickly , high powered bikes some incredible chances as man to take against the machine and goes to the banks famous ups and corkskrew around the Daytona International Speedway.’s career is not all you can on the road every year draws Kickstand City in high gear with Live entertainment, rides and much anticipated demonstration by you entertained during your visit. If you are looking to get full use from the crowd made for some very tightly your bike on the loop as everyone else is driving. It is the freedom , sunshine, open road and graceful curves, is a dream pilot. If you have never met this tour is strongly recommended that you do so. This tour will give you a sense of natural beauty of Florida, you can close Ormond Park and see the Fairchild Oak – one of the oldest living in Florida Oaks. Make sure you carry a camera, maybe even a picnic and enjoy yourself. The loop is about 22 miles long and a must for drivers who are in every way show and a look at the true beauty of the natural and Florida. To mark your calendar now for mid-October. Hotels fill quickly thus ensuring that you booked reservations to this ASAP. So gas up the bike, pack your sunscreen and head down to Florida for a few days of bikes, babes, beer and nonstop fun, fun, fun.

Are you considering Iron Butt, dubbed the “world’s toughest motorcycle rally”? If the idea of riding 11,000 miles in 11 days seems like a fun challenge, you first need to get your bike in shape.
What Is Iron Butt?
The Iron Butt Rally was first run in 1984, a brutal 11,000-mile ride around the perimeter of the United States in 11 days. It was held every year at first but organizers have had to change that to every two years.
Not only do competitors face a grueling ride, but routes run through extreme climates like blistering deserts and freezing mountain tops. Riders can gain bonus points by visiting certain landmarks along the trip. The more difficult the landmark, the more points a rider earns. Stops in Hawaii and Alaska add lots of points but also lots of miles.
If the rally seems overwhelming, the Iron Butt Association sanctions smaller events such as the 50CC (from one US coast to the other in 50 hours) and the Saddlesore 1000 (1000 miles in 24 hours).
Iron Butt isn’t just about long-distance riding; it’s about safe long-distance riding. Organizers recommend against stimulants, even coffee, to increase riding time. Routes are set up so riders can drive the speed limit and still have plenty of time to stop and rest along the route.
Getting Your Bike Ready
Perform routine maintenance before your trip. Stopping to replace tires or oil along the way wastes time and will probably cost more than at home. Worse, you might get stuck on bad tires with no replacements available nearby.
Don’t install cool new Harley parts right before your trip. This kind of grueling trek isn’t the time to test out new equipment.
That doesn’t mean you shouldn’t add custom Harley parts. New headlights or replacement motorcycle tanks or, of course, a comfortable seat can make the trip easier. Install them well before the trip to have time to test them. Do you really want to break in a new seat on an 11,000-mile ride?
Not only do new Harley parts need break-in time, but you want to be sure they are installed correctly. No matter how experienced the mechanic, people make mistakes and a forgotten screw could spell disaster on a highway in the Mojave forty miles from town.
One of the most important new Harley parts you can get is a tool kit. Buy high quality tools to last a lifetime rather than a junky kit for cheap. Again, you are often going to be far from help and you need to be able to fix problems yourself.
Finally, take care of anything about your bike that irritates you. An annoyance on a 300-mile trip is infuriating on a 3000-mile one. This distracts you from the road and brings on fatigue much faster. Fix that funny rattle in the engine or that vibration against your thigh and you will find the ride more pleasant.

I was cleaning out my garage and accidently knocked my helmet off the shelf. It hit the cement hard and made a huge smacking sound. After calling myself an idiot, I decided to see if I needed to buy another helmet.
I asked my lady if she wanted to take a ride over to Adventure Harley-Davidson with me.
“Sure Babe, I love checking out the new MotorClothes® at Adventure. When do you want to go?”
“I’m ready now,” I said as I revved the engine on my 2007 Road King®. ”
Arriving at Adventure H-D we both headed for the MotorClothes® Dept. “I need to ask some questions about helmets!” I growled as we approached as salesperson.
“Sure,” said Chelsea. “By the way what are your names?”
“I’m Gary and my wife’s name is Rita. I dropped my helmet in the garage and was wondering if I should replace it.
“Gary, Helmets look tough and sturdy but you have to handle them with care. If you have dropped your helmet or it has been impacted, you need to replace it right away. A very important fact is that a helmet is only designed to take one impact even a small one. An impact could fracture the outer shell or compress the impact absorbing liner. The damage may not be visible,” Chelsea continued, “Even if your helmet has never been damaged, it needs to be replaced every three to 5 years. You can judge this be how much you have used it. As time passes UV rays, adhesive and component aging will damage the helmet. Its protective features may deteriorate and wear with time making risky for your safety. ”
“Chelsea, I did not have a clue about when and why I should replace my helmet. I figured I broke it because I did see a crack but I’m glad I found this out before something bad happened. ”
“Gary and Rita, I want to give you this tidbit of info also. Never use, expose or store helmets around the following: Insect repellent, gasoline, cleaning fluids, exhaust fumes or excessive heat. The exposures can result in the degradation of helmet materials and protective components and the damage may not be visible. ”
“Chelsea, Now that we know about replacing our helmets can you tell us a little about the different Helmets Harley-Davidson® has available,” I inquired.
“You guys, I have a ton of info about the helmets. So stop me if I start to bore you, OK,” Chelsea grinned as she continued. “Harley-Davidson® takes helmet production seriously. Your safety is highly valued at Harley-Davidson®. Harley-Davidson® performs road tests on their helmets to meet DOT requirements. Harley® discourages selling novelty helmets which do not meet DOT requirements or are not SNELL approved. ”
“What is a novelty helmet, Chelsea?” asked Rita.
“A novelty helmet in not intended for motorcycle wear and does not provide head protection. It is for fun only and when it comes to motorcycle safety its time to stay serious. For your riding safety only purchase a motorcycle helmet that meets DOT requirements and is Snell approved,” Chelsea smiled as she pointed to three helmets. ”
“I want to know what kind of helmet I should replace this old one with? Can you tell me about the materials helmets are made of?,” I asked, at this point, I was anxious to buy a helmet but I wanted to make sure I got a good one.
“Gary and Rita, Harley-Davidson® offers a complete line of half, three quarter, and full face helmets for men and women. Helmets in general are made of four primary elements: the outer shell: a liner that acts as an impact absorber; padding for your comfort; and a retention system to keep the helmet in place on your head” Chelsea swallowed and took a breath. “Here we go. First you have the Thermoplastic construction, it is hot plastic (polycarbonate) that is injected into a mold and hardens. This process is not very complicated and usually results in a less expensive helmet. It usually flexes as a reaction to impact against a hard surface. To meet DOT requirements, thermoplastic helmets must have a thicker impact liner which requires a larger shell. You get a slightly larger heavier helmet that is less expensive. ”
“So, I bet my old helmet was a thermoplastic because it was less expensive than the rest when I bought it. Rita remember, that was the day you got your Harley-Davidson® leather riding jacket,” I chided at Rita just to get her riled up.
“Gary, You told me to pick out the jacket I loved the most, so if you have any regrets it’s totally you fault,” Rita wailed as she threw me a don’t start anything look.
“I’m only kidding honey. You look great in your black leather H-D® jacket and I love you,” I grinned as I turned to Chelsea for some more helmet info.
“OK, you guys lets talk about fiberglass shell construction. It consists of putting multiple layers of fiber cloth inside a mold and adding resin. After that you must heat the mold so it bonds to the resin while removing the pockets of air. It takes many steps to create the layered weave. This winds up causing more expense. Upon impact the fiberglass shell usually cracks, crushes and/or delaminates. This causes the impact to be reduced so the impact liner can be thinner. All of this makes for a reduced overall size and weight of the fiberglass helmet,” Chelsea went full speed ahead. “Ultra Light Hybrid helmets are approximately seventeen percent lighter than fiberglass shell helmets. The fiberglass helmets are made with a two-step process that that has layers of fiberglass and injected resins to form the shell. The resin amounts may vary slightly as they are added to each shell. This causes variances in weight. The Hybrid Ultra-Light Helmets use a one-step process that incorporates Aramid reinforced fiberglass. The exact amount of resin is built into the fibers (known as pre-impregnated). This precise mix of materials and state-of-the-art manufacturing process gives a smaller, lighter shell. ”
“Man, Chelsea you really know your stuff,” I said as I stood there amazed that one person could spit out so much detail about the helmet manufacturing process. I was interested and wanted to hear more.
“Well Rita and Gary there is one more process I need to tell you about. Carbon/Kevlar® construction is the same as fiberglass. There is one separating factor. The cloth in made from incredibly tough, carbonized Kevlar. Carbon/Kevlar’s strength results in fewer materials needed make the helmet impact resistance achievable. For the most part, carbon/Kevlar is 20% lighter than fiberglass. The technology required to produce this type of helmet make it more expensive,” Chelsea sighed and laughed. “Now I’ve informed you and you have to make your choice. I’d be glad to tell you which helmet is which. ”
“Ok, Chelsea, that’s fair. You have given me a lot to think about. So let me look at these helmets and think awhile,” I chuckled as I seriously started picking out my NEW helmet.
“Hey, Chelsea. I want to know about us women and our needs. I don’t want to buy a small man’s helmet like I did the first time I ever purchased a helmet. Do you have any helmets that are designed for women only? That fits women and our needs?” Rita whined as she took over Chelsea’s attention.
Chelsea’s lips curved into a sly grin as she replied, “Rita we have just what you are looking for, The Skyline Helmets by Harley-Davidson. Thy have a 10mm deeper cavity that provides a lower profile for women. Skylines’ also have interlocking side & crown liners for a wonderful customized fit front-to-back and side-to-side. Skyline Helmets have an anti-static comfort liner to reduce helmet hair. These helmets have a ponytail notch that provides extra room through a special cutout section in liner. Skyline Helmets from Harley-Davidson® offers half, ¾ and full-face helmets to meet women’s preferences. What do you think, Rita?”
“Well, I think that I’m gonna get me a new helmet also,” Rita replied flabbergasted.
“Hey Gary and Rita, Harley-Davidson® offers a complete line of helmet accessories to go with the helmet line. You can choose from replacement face shields, replacement visors, helmet bags and helmet communication pouch. They are all on display right here or if you want to shop online just go to www. adventurehd. com,” Chelsea concluded.
“Goodbye Chelsea, and thanks so much,” we yelled as we slipped on our brand new Harley-Davidson® helmets that we got from Adventure H-D and rumbled on down the highway of life.

Because Harley Davidson Motorcycles tend to be the upper end of bikes, they are obviously more expensive. And for this reason, they are more expensive to insure. Luckily for riders, the Harley Davidson name is big enough to carry some leverage. Groups, clubs and organizations are formed and subsequently insurance companies vie for the opportunity to service their members. Often times, this allows the Harley rider to benefit from discounts.
Further, buying a Harley Davidson motorcycle puts the owner in an enviable position as Harley Davidson USA provides bike insurance. This is a unique concept totally benefiting the insured since the representatives of Harley-Davidson Insurance Services are usually H-D owners themselves. Everything is specific to the Harley Davidson motorcycle. Generic insurance companies do not necessarily offer the same coverage as H-D since they are not totally familiar with the custom aspects of the motorcycle. Even the H-D MotorClothes apparel might be eligible for insurance.
While H-D riders are large in numbers and tend to be more mature individuals, which would lead one to think that insurance should be cheaper, there are several points that impact the cost of Harley Davidson motorcycle insurance.
- H-D motorcycles are hugely appealing to thieves so many bikes are stolen and stripped of their parts. Very few are recovered when the thieves remove the identification from the bikes.
- Because of the bike’s higher purchase price, the owner may be more inclined to lodge a claim than if the bike was less expensive.
- The high initial price tag means the motorbikes are more expensive to repair.
- Some Harleys are considered classics since the company has been producing motorbikes for over one hundred years and many models are no longer in production.
- Many owners finance their Harley Davidson purchases and as a result the lender will require comprehensive on the insurance policy causing the premium to be higher.
- Accessories and customization will affect the Harley Davidson insurance premium. The more “add-ons”, the higher the insurance premium.
- Since there is no official blue book (like with cars), H-D values are sometimes arbitrary with insurance companies. This means that “Agreed Upon Values” can be significantly higher or lower depending on the insurer.
- Some companies offer roadside assistance free while others charge.
- Extra insurance will be required to cover bodily injury and replacement of the Harley if the motorcycle driver is hit by an uninsured or underinsured motorist.
- Unlike cars where everyone in the car is covered by the insurance policy, Harley Davidson motorcycle insurance will include added costs associated with passenger coverage.
In summary, before purchasing a Harley Davidson motorcycle, it is probably worthwhile to inquire about insurance in order to determine what you can afford.

There’s no doubt that the name Harley-Davidson carries a tradition that makes owning any kind of Harley a status symbol in itself. That anyone can customize their Harley-Davidson to ascend the ranks of mere legend and step into the realm of total unrivaled singularity makes the appeal even more enticing.
Going back 105 years, the name and reputation of Harley-Davidson has withstood the ravages of time, financial crisis, and competition. Outlasting their original peers, Indian and Excelsior, HD has outfitted racers, the military in the two great wars, state patrols, and the average citizen. No other motorcycle outfit has the tradition and history that surrounds the legend of the almighty HOG.
Though anyone can own their own Harley, the rebel image remains, and the meek still shy away from ownership. Who, really, doesn’t have a streak of rebelliousness hidden underneath the structured layers of civility? With one swift decision, secret rebels can evolve in all shapes and sizes and create their own custom Harley-Davidson and feed the animal that lurks within us all.
People who have never felt the freedom and power of a Harley nevertheless wear jackets, shirts and boots, tote pendants and key chains, don hats and gloves with the HD logo proudly etched into their wares. Why there are even golf balls with the world-famous bar and shield logo painted along with the Nike brand. Everyone wants to be a HOG member (Harley Owners Group) one way or another.
The novelty and legend just keeps getting better, too. With the truly amazing Harley-Davidson Museum now open in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, everyone can experience the thrill that riders have known for years.
One of the defining and creative elements for Harley owners is the honor of owning their own custom Harley-Davidson. Combine a matchless blend of frame and chassis, fork and pipes, fenders, tank, handlebars, linkage, wheels, engine, transmission and electrical components, and anything else you want on your custom Harley-Davidson. All parts: grips, pegs, kickstands, mirrors, pulleys, seats, shocks, tires, lights, blinkers; and accessories – the list is nearly endless – can be chosen to your delight, to your whim, to your inner rebel, making your custom Harley truly peerless.
Throw in your choice of clothing and the plain uniqueness of you, and your custom HOG will be a treasure for decades to come. Because the rep, build and reliability of the Harley are unparalleled, you can count on having something awesome. Owning your own unique blend of this incomparable motorcycle is to have something that will forever be yours alone. Get going and start building your very own custom Harley-Davidson!

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

What is the perfect mix? For Harley Davidson, they have mixed their Harleys with Baby Boomers and found they are a perfect mix. Baby Boomers are approaching their social security age so why in the world do they want a Harley? Boomers are not like any of the prior groups of people who have already approached retirement. Boomers still want to continue to live their youth.
Harleys offer fun, excitement, thrills and also a position of class envy. Harleys ain’t cheap so these Yuppies want to buy one and show off their financial status. They aren’t the fastest bikes or the easiest to ride but that don’t matter to a Boomer. It is all about perception. Harley motorcycles, Harley babes, Harley road trips are all part of the dream that unites the Boomer with his Harley.
Even the name of the Harleys seems to point toward us older folks. Harley Softails reminds me I need a soft place to park this old rear end. Harley Fatboy motorcycles and a peak in the mirror reminds me of my physical condition. Let’s not forget the Harley jackets, sunglasses, riding pants and the hundreds of other must have Harley accessories. Face it, Boomers may be getting old but they still need it all.
We even enjoy motorcycle auctions especially if there are some good buys on Harleys. Heck, we even buy a Harley Davidson and rarely ride it. We just park it in the garage and wait for it to appreciate. Funny think; it usually does.
We grew up watching biker movies, the call to Sturgis, and Hell Angels. When we sit down on that hog, we can’t help have vision of being one of those “bad” but misunderstood biker. We just know owning a Harley comes with Harley babes. It is probably a myth but a boomer worth his salt is certainly not going to deny it. It is all about image.
Bottom-line, the good folks over at Harley-Davidson have nurtured this image of Harley motorcycle riders being a tough guy. This image has been translated in quite a successful profitable business that just keeps going on and on. Harleys and the Japanese bikes have no comparison. The Yamaha’s, Suzuki’s, and Kawasaki’s have a reputation of fun, power and sports. Yet they can’t compete against the rumbling sound of a Harley with a Baby Boomer straddling this beast with a huge smile of his or her face.