August 2003

The Harley Mystique

Hampton Roads HOGs keep it alive

by Antionette Calabrase

When 21-year-old William S. Harley and 20-year-old Arthur Davidson rolled the first production Harley-Davidson motorcycle out of the 10x15-foot wooden shed they built it in, it’s safe to assume they had little idea of the phenomenon they were creating. This month, as the company celebrates its 100th anniversary, that renowned Harley-Davidson mystique is alive and well and flourishing around the globe, particularly in Hampton Roads.

While the mystique thrives, unlocking the mystery behind it is not easy. It’s part American ideal of freedom, part Hollywood-made bad boy reputation. Ask a biker to define what makes a Harley so special, and more often than not the confounding response will be, “If I have to explain it, you probably wouldn’t understand.” Yet what ties the tongue is not the desire to keep the mystique that forces lack of explanation, but the inability to describe it adequately. For a true enthusiast, there’s no need to explain a thing so deeply felt that the discernible rumbling of a distant Harley’s engine is all it takes to inspire yearning for the road.

For a non-biker looking to experience the mystique, however, the very sights and sounds that send a biker’s heart yearning often have a more chilling effect. Pulling into the crowded parking lot of a local biker hangout on a weekend night can itself be intimidating. Just the sight of so much chrome and the thought of accidentally bumping into any of it can rattle a person trying to maneuver in close quarters. Braving the road-worn throngs at the door and making one’s way into the interior of the cycle circle yields surprisingly welcoming results.

Inside, rather than the brawling scene television would lead one to suspect, the attitude is subdued, not unlike that in other nighttime establishments, with one exception—inclusiveness. This one feature stands out and makes it seem natural to go up to a perfect stranger to inquire about their bike. Find a Harley person, and time will roll by quickly as he or she explains why they ride what they ride. Pride of ownership, no doubt, will be evident.

For the rest of this story, you can order the August 2003 issue of Hampton Roads Monthly magazine.