H.O.G.® LOVE STORIES

H.O.G.® Benelux

Eline Hospied

Eline is from Belgium and is 42 years old.

She rides an H-D Sportster 1200 chopper and a Pan America.

When did you buy this Harley?

"I bought the Pan American in March 2022, I had also made test ride on a BMW GS, because everyone said it would be the most suitable for my plans. But the Pan America, despite the new engine, still has the 'Harley feeling'.”

I discovered Harley-Davidson when I…

“I always dreamed of riding a motorcycle, but I was raised too sheltered, even a moped was 'not done'! Meanwhile, as my own kids were getting older, I could go for my motorcycle license. So that was in 2017. A Sportster 883 S was my first bike. Then I bought the chopper to go with it, and we're now also building up an H-D Shovelhead."

I love my Harley because...

"I have a busy, full-time job, a pretty structured life, and three kids. From the moment I get on the Harley, the chaos is gone. When I ride that Harley, there’s peace in my head.”

I chose this model because...

"The chopper because I am an extreme vintage lover. I love the chopper lifestyle. I have a lot of acquaintances in the chopper scene and love the uniqueness of those bikes. The chopper is very nice to ride, it's a hardtail, so not too comfortable, although I've ridden it often. For comfort, I bought the Pan America. I want to go to Norway, so I was looking for a Harley to do comfortable long rides. I had to sell the Sportster 883 S to be able to buy the PanAm.”

Are you a member of a H.O.G. Chapter?

"No, not at the moment. I got the H.O.G. membership when I bought the Pan America, but I'm not really involved in a Chapter yet, I don't belong to any club or group."

What do you do to encourage young people to ride motorcycles?

"When I ride, I often see girls looking; 'Look there's a woman riding there!'. I enjoy taking kids on short rides, like to school and stuff."

Why H-D?

"The brand matches my style. It’s the atmosphere that is built around the lifestyle, the history, and how that's still expressed nowadays. Even the modern models are very different, but still, they all share the same passion. It's something that has attracted me forever."

I like riding in my region because...

"I live in the Antwerp region. In the area there is so much beauty, for example Doel, Kalmthout, and the military area near Brasschaat. I also like to go to Luxemburg and the Ardennes, but that takes more planning.”

I have had my license since…

"I went straight for the A license in 2017, I never did those intermediate steps. I had been to the Harley-Davidson Experience Days at the Harley dealer, where I rode the Street. And on the rollers they had a 1200, to get a feel for the clutch and throttle. Then I knew for sure this was what I wanted!”

What is your best experience with your H-D?

"Going out riding with big groups, especially with those old choppers. They lose some parts along the way, that's always nice, haha! When I showed up with the Pan America, with those big panniers, I immediately got comments. I answered: "But hey, those panniers are handy for all those parts you lose!"

What is the best trip or route you've ridden: "I think a trip to Germany, through Belgium and Luxemburg. One of the guys had entered 'exciting route' into his navigation system. Riding the chopper, I was exhausted. Everything on that thing is heavy; the clutch and shifting are harder than on a new bike. But I really enjoyed the scenery, it was a very nice ride.”

Which trip or route do you want to experience?

"I plan to go to Norway with the Pan America after next year. On social media, I see pictures of motorcyclists in nature there, which appeals to me enormously. Riding the Pan America there, camping, back to basics. I'm really looking forward to that."

Do you ever do any wrenching yourself?

"Not on the Pan America, but I do work on the chopper and the Shovelhead, together with my partner. Other than that I do maintenance, oil, lights, etcetera. But definitely not the engine."

What model is on your wish list?

"For a very long time I wanted to buy a Low Rider S, but the Pan America is more suited to what I'm looking for."

Which model from the past do you like best and why?

"I like the Knuckleheads and Panheads and Early Shovelheads best. I get inspired by looking at these reflections from the past.”

H-D is a true cult icon, do you carry that out?

" You won't see me in dress shirts, I wear jeans. Basically, I'm always ready to jump on the bike! I just bought a Harley jacket; I also have a jacket from the Pan America line. But not my entire wardrobe is H-D clothing.”

What do you hope for yourself and Harley in the future?

"I hope to travel more and further. To discover the far corners of Europe, and maybe even further. Whether that's in groups or alone, that doesn't matter to me."

What plans and dreams do you still have?

"I would like to meet more ladies who ride motorcycles. I see a lot of them on social media, but in real life, you don't meet many! I also hope to meet more ladies through my travels. I recently bought a painting, made from a photo of me, by a female biker in Ukraine. That painting is an inspiration, to meet someone like her in real life!"

(Interview by Onno Wieringa – madnessphotography.nl)