H.O.G.® LOVE STORIES

H.O.G.® Benelux

Anouk Kleijn

Anouk Kleijn, 27 and member of the Delta Chapter, Zeeland.

What is your current H-D model?

"A 1998 Sportster XL 883."

When did you buy your Harley?

"I got this one from my mom, in 2020. My sister had gotten a car a few years ago, and I got her Sportster! My parents both ride Harleys, my mom a Street Bob, and my dad a Road King. "

I discovered Harley-Davidson when I…

"My parents both ride Harleys. They used to ride motorcycles, then they didn't for a while, but a few years ago they both came home with a Harley! Then I thought: I want that too! I waited until I was 24 to get my motorcycle license.”

I love my Harley because...

"It's just a great machine, it offers so much freedom!"

I'm a fan of my Harley because...

"I just think it's a really nice, cool bike. I love the sound anyway; you can hear it when a Harley comes riding up."

I like riding my Harley because...

"I like making beautiful rides and going to places you wouldn't normally go to. It gives you a lot of freedom. It's nice to ride a Harley, in no hurry, discovering beautiful roads."

How long have you been a H.O.G. member?

"Since August last year, so I just joined. My parents are both members too."

My best H.O.G. experience was?

"I took part in The Great Relay, joining the Pan American from Zeeland to Rotterdam. I was very proud, that was really cool, with so many people along the way!"

H.O.G. is for me…?

"I'm still discovering, it's all still very new to me. I hope to visit many Harley events and meet new people. Ladies of Harley also seems very nice, I signed up for that. Meeting people there too!"

How do you like H.O.G. as a younger person?

"That's an issue at our club too, how do you go about reaching more young people? I'm by far the youngest. There is quite a big gap between the younger category and the rest of the club. I hope more younger people will join."

What do you do to stimulate young people to ride?

"I try to do that for example at MotorPort in Goes, the sponsor of our chapter, by talking to younger people who visit the dealership. I tell them about our H.O.G. Chapter. Besides that, I would like to get more influence within the Chapter to approach young people. I would like to do more with social media, that seems like a good way to reach more young people."

What is your role in the H.O.G. Chapter?

"I am the Secretary. My mother is also on the board, she is responsible for the activities. I sometimes helped her out with the activities, and I liked that so much that I wanted to be more actively involved. The previous secretary quit, and I wanted younger people to become members, so that's when I became secretary."

How long have you been riding a Harley?

"Since 2019, that's when I got my motorcycle license."

Why H-D?

"I think they are the most beautiful motorcycles out there. And they have such a beautiful sound!"

I love riding in my region because...

"Riding along the coast, all the beauty that comes with it, like the Delta Works and the Zeeland Bridge and stuff like that. That's where I grew up and I still love riding there."

What's the best trip or route you've ridden?

"Two years ago, a weekend in the Eiffel. Drove a thousand kilometers in a couple of days, which was pretty tough. But it was definitely worth it!"

What is the trip or route you would like to experience someday?

"We have planned to cross to Norway, by boat. Then drive through Sweden and Denmark. Oh yeah, we also want to go to England sometime."

Do you ever wrench yourself?

"We took my boyfriend's engine apart and customized it right away. We do the maintenance ourselves, like changing oil and such. And if it doesn't work out, luckily my dad is kind enough to help with some things now and then."

What's been customized on your bike?

"I took the front fork out and painted it black, it's got different handlebars and we put a windshield on it."

What would you still like to do to your bike?

"I would like to have it repainted, but I'm not sure about the color. And another headlight. Also I'd like some more black on my bike."

What model is on your wish list?

"That will be the Street Bob, I really like that model."

Do you ever delve into H-D history?

"At the beginning of September we went on a trip to Germany with the Chapter. We had a pub quiz with all Harley questions, which was great fun, also to hear how it all started with H-D."

H-D is a real cult icon, do you propagate that to the outside world?

"My wardrobe is becoming more and more Harley, more and more T-shirts, a Harley ring and things like that.”

What do you hope for in the future for yourself regarding Harley and H.O.G.?

"I mostly hope to do a lot of fun rides and experience nice H.O.G. events. My parents went to the 115th H-D Anniversary in Prague, something like that seems like a lot of fun to do as well, maybe the 120th Anniversary in Budapest."

What plans and dreams do you still have?

"My boyfriend and I live in a terraced house. We would like more space. Now we only have a motorcycle shed where we keep our bikes. We would like a detached house, with a garage where we can work on our bikes. Also we’d like to discover many countries by motorcycle."

(Interview by Onno Wieringa – madnessphotography.nl)