H.O.G.® LOVE STORIES

H.O.G.® Benelux

Jake Jonkman

Colin is 20 years young and a member of the H-D Rotterdam 'World Port' H.O.G. Chapter.

What is your current H-D and when did you buy it?

"A Softail Standard, purchased in January 2022."

I discovered Harley-Davidson when I was…

"About eleven years old, through my parents. I often went along with my dad, who had just bought his first motorcycle at the time, a Road Glide."

I love my Harley because…

"The sound and the experience. When you ride a Japanese bike, for example, it's a big difference, every other bike is just a bike, Harley-Davidson is a special kind."

I chose this model because…

"This Softail came my way by accident. It's a nice model to rebuild, it's basically a Softail Custom now!"

I'm a fan of my Harley because…

"When you choose a motorcycle, you kind of fall in love. I saw this Softail, heard it, and fell in love! Dealer Principal Ron de Graaff at H-D Rotterdam did me a favor with this bike.”

I love riding my Harley because…

"The feeling, the wind through your hair, you're not riding just anything. It's really great."

Becoming a member of the H.O.G. enabled me to…

"Meet a lot of people. I also enjoy helping out at all the activities, like Open Days at the H-D dealer, and at H.O.G. meets and such."

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

"Since I was eighteen."

My best H.O.G. experience was…

"The H.O.G. Rally in 2016. The World Port Chapter had just been formed. Everyone then worked hard that weekend. I also helped, along with my brother and the whole family. About 1,500 bikes came over, that was a great experience."

H.O.G. is for me...

"Kind of like family. H.O.G. is known all over the world. It feels like status to me, being one of the youngest members in the Benelux."

As a younger person, how do you like H.O.G.?

"I'm lucky because there are still a number of young people here, but it would be much nicer if more young people joined. I hope they will."

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

"The problem is that a Harley is incredibly expensive. That's the biggest problem for a younger person. I do have young friends who ride motorcycles, but no H-D, it's too expensive for them."

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

"I am a member, next year I would like to become a Road Captain. I call myself the 'Young Director', I'm always there!"

Why H-D?

"That's what I was brought up with. The sound, the people. It's a very different group than those groups that ride other brands. It feels like a family."

Have you ever taken any additional (driving skills) courses?

"No, but I would like to become a Road Captain, and so I would have to go through training for that."

What is the most enjoyable experience with your H-D?

"I haven't been able to ride it much due to my 'small' license, but I especially enjoy riding with a large group."

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

"With a group through the mountains in Germany, like Frankenberg and Winterberg, with a group of twenty riders. That was so indescribably beautiful. On some mountains, you only meet two farmers with their cows, on other mountains you discover the most beautiful villages."

Trip or route you ever want to experience?

"What's left of Route 66."

Do you ever wrench yourself?

"To be honest I'm not very handy with cars and motorbikes, so if there's anything to wrench, I ask my dad first, he helps me out."

What's customized on your bike?

"A lot! They put forward controls on it, I have a special seat, a rear seat, Jekyll & Hyde exhaust system. And you know, Jaxs from the Sons of Anarchy series had those turn signals in the mirrors, I have those now too. And also a Club style fairing and a leather bag on the side."

What would you still like to do to your bike?

"I'm totally satisfied now, but I would like to buy a Road Glide in about three or four years. Preferably one painted in special custom colors."

Do you ever delve into H-D history?

"I used to do a lot of school presentations about H-D. More recently, I've mostly been looking into the V-twin engine, about how it originated and evolved."

Which past model do you like best and why?

"A Knucklehead, preferably all original."

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

"Yes! Our whole house is Harley-Davidson, and in my room, I have two paintings, I have a pouf with Route 66 on it, and I also have a closet full of Harley stuff."

There are many movies and series starring an H-D, do you have a favorite?

"Not really, seen the series Sons of Anarchy four times though."

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

"I hope to one day be H.O.G. Director of a Chapter, I think that’s really cool."

What plans and dreams do you still have?

"A lot of riding the Harley!"

(Interview by Onno Wieringa – madnessphotography.nl)

Welk Harley-Davidson model van vroeger vind je het mooiste en waarom?

“De eerste Fat Boy, de grijze met de gele streepjes. Ik kan me nog goed herinneren dat daar thuis altijd een poster van hing, prachtig.”

H-D is een echt cult icoon, draag jij dat ook uit?

“Ja, inderdaad met een T-shirt, zo draag ik ook vaak mijn vest met de Chapter logo’s etc..”

Er zijn veel films met een H-D in de hoofdrol, welke is jouw favoriet?

“Terminator vond ik heel erg gaaf. Easyrider heb ik alleen kleine stukjes van gezien, die moet ik nog wel een keertje helemaal zien, die staat dus nog op het lijstje.”

Waar hoop je in de toekomst op voor jezelf op wat betreft Harley en H.O.G?

“Gewoon dat we lekker door kunnen blijven rijden, stokje overdragen aan jongeren van mijn generatie en dat Harley ook wel echt Harley kan blijven, uniek! Ik hoop dat dat kan blijven, aangaande alle regelgeving, zoals geluid, emissie etc. Hopelijk wordt H-D niet als de andere merken een eenheidsworst. H-D is toch altijd z’n eigen ding geweest, ik hoop dat dat kan blijven.”

Wat voor plannen en dromen heb je nog?

Italië een rit door de Dolomieten rit en USA Route 66. Verder heerlijk door blijven rijden, het geeft weer een heel ander gevoel als je daar op de motor rijdt. Ik gebruik mijn motor ook voor woonwerk verkeer, misschien daarvoor ooit upgraden naar een grotere motor, maar voor nu is deze nog helemaal perfect. Ons Chapter organiseert begin van het seizoen, in maart, een een- of tweedaagse bijeenkomst waarbij we dan oefeningen doen. Zoals slalommen en zo, dat doen we dan op een groot parkeerterrein. Iedereen komt dan en kijkt zo van, ‘kijk mij eens met m’n grote bakbeest!’, maar ik fiets daar dan lachend tussendoor!”

Tenslotte merkt Jake nog op:

“Ik ben zelf beetje oldschool liefhebber, dus ik heb geen telefoonhouder of gps op mijn motor, maar ik wil het moment beleven en lekker om me heen kijken. Als ik de route echt niet weet, staat die op een stuk tape op mijn tank geplakt!

(Interview door Onno Wieringa – madnessphotography.nl)