H.O.G.® Chapter

THE HARLEY OWNERS GROUP®

More than a million members strong!

H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group®) is the largest factory-sponsored motorcycle enthusiast organisation in the world. It was created to enhance the experience of owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle by offering access to a host of benefits and services associated with ownership of the world's most famous motorcycle. These include the club magazine Hog Tales; the invaluable Touring Handbook; access to emergency road side recovery services, rental programmes, discounts on goods and services, and much, much more.


HARLEY DAVIDSON JOHANNESBURG H.O.G tales.

A Harley offers a life beyond cancer  - "RICK HOGBEN"

For 62 of my 64 years I had never thought of riding or owning any motor bike, let alone a Harley Davidson. Now I own, love and ride a Heritage Softail. Customised, of course!

Why?

Three year ago a friend of mine, Anthony, was diagnosed with liver cancer. I never really knew Anthony well beyond the business we did together. I called him often in the next few months – he was in Cape Town, I in Johannesburg – but one morning  I received this poignant sms:
“Anthony is on his Harley and on his way to heaven”.

That was in April 2008; in June 2008 I was diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer, followed – 5 days later – by a second diagnosis of a malignant tumour in my face. In the next 5 months I was in an operating theatre 4 times, and now had to face the question of my own mortality.
How much time did I have left? Having got all my affairs in order, I thought of all the things I hadn’t done in my life; and then I thought of Anthony. I frequently drive past our local Johannesburg Harley Davidson dealership, so one day I walked in. “Can I help you?” ”Yes, I want to know something about Harleys”. I had been fortunate to run into the amiable Fanie Haarhof, the owner of the dealership. For the next two hours he took me through the Harley product range. “What’s my next step?” I asked. “Learn to ride a bike,” he said, and packed me off to meet Corne, of Learntoride. For the next two months Corne took me through everything, from how to learn to ride a bike to how to pass a test – they are two quite different things. By June 2009 I was able to return to Fanie, license in hand (thanks, Bongani) and four weeks later took delivery of my first bike.”It’s too small for you”, Peter Scott, the friendly sales guy, said. “You’ll be back” he said; “don’t customise it too soon” he said. But I took delivery of my custom 1200 Sportster, and really learnt to ride. But one day, riding back from a breakfast run with a couple of friends, I realised Fanie and Peter were right, and by November I had my present bike, a Heritage Softail, courtesy of a great deal from Fanie, who seems more interested in getting bikers on the road than in making money.
What a different attitude!

Owning and riding a Harley has opened another world to me. Last month I rode the 1 600 km to Africa Bike Week and back, and saw another part of this new world. Riding there and back I saw parts of our beautiful country I’d never seen. South Africa must have some of the most picturesque bike rides in the world. Being a member of the Johannesburg HOG chapter, means Sundays there is a breakfast run to somewhere (we never go to the same place twice in two years). Once a week or so there’s the opportunity to greet old friends and make new ones at the Hog & Harley. One day I will persuade Jenny to ride with me (she thinks I’m mad, by the way). I love my bike and love being a HOG member – even if I don’t drink Jack Daniels , can’t abide loud rock ’n roll and fall asleep after three beers! I’m determined to ride route 66, and sweep around some of those wonderful mountains in Europe. Anyone want to join me?

But the best news of all is that yesterday I had a call from my Doctor, confirming that after lots of further tests I had recovered fully from both forms of cancer, although I will have to have 6 monthly check ups and take a couple of pills every day for the rest of my life. The cancer has gone; the Harley is still here.

So, to all of you who suffer or have suffered from the terrible disease, there is hope and another world out there . Ride a Harley! And for all you who, like me, discovered a Harley through cancer, lets share experiences. Live to ride, ride to live takes on a whole new meaning.

Oh! One more thing. I currently own my 14th model of that car with the three pointed star. They still don’t know who I am. I have owned two Harley’s and been a customer for 12 months. I walk into the Dealership and everyone knows my name!

Cheers.

Rick Hogben