H.O.G.® LOVE STORIES

H.O.G.® Benelux

Linda dijken

Linda Dijken is 34 years old and rides a Sportster XL 72 1200

When and how did you discover Harley-Davidson?

"At 24, I really wanted to ride a motorcycle. At the driving school where I took car theory lessons, I saw that they were teaching riding lessons on Harley-Davidsons. I made a mental note: if I ever start motorcycling, I'm going to take lessons there. That's how it started. That driving school was Theo Peters. I got theory lessons from Theo Peters and riding lessons from Marcel Peters."

I love my Harley because…

"I'm absolutely crazy about this bike. It has a great sound! I've ridden other bikes, other Harleys, and sometimes I thought about buying a bigger one. But then I thought: 'No, I'm not going to get rid of this one. It rides great!’ With a bit of wind on the highway, it's a lot of work, but hey, that intensifies the Harley feeling.’

What is your best H.O.G. experience?

"Meeting and getting to know a lot of new people."

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

"Well, obviously I don't have years of experience, but H.O.G. is fine for me. There are quite a lot of young people, not necessarily in our chapter, but in clubs around ours. Obviously, you don't know everyone personally, but you know you're not the only young person."

Do you have any task, role, or function with the H.O.G Chapter, or would you like to have one in the future?

"No, I don't. Along with a fellow chapter member we had said we would do a Road Captain training together, but I'm pregnant now and I'm due when those courses begin. So let's see how it goes. And the good news: we will have a new, young Chapter member joining us!"

How long have you been riding Harleys?

"I've been riding Harleys for ten years now, and I've only been with the Chapter for about a year-and-a-half."

What do you like most about riding in your area?

"Bends! As many bends as possible, the sharper the better. Dykes are a lot of fun too. I'm more into the bends than the long straights."

Why Harley-Davidson?

"The brand is fantastic. It's why you start motorcycling, right?! I have no idea how other bikes feel, maybe I should try them sometime, but I always wanted to ride a Harley, that was my dream."

Are you influenced by family or friends?

"No, not at all. My mom wasn't eager for me to get my motorcycle license, and my dad happens to have every license except this one. I tried to encourage him to, but he won’t get it. Two uncles ride motorcycles, but it's not like I've been riding with them or anything."

How long have you had your motorcycle license?

"Ten years in September."

What was your most fun experience with your Harley-Davidson?

"That's a tough one, I've had so many fun experiences! I especially like the lifestyle around it. You very easily make contact with people, also with complete strangers. That leaves you with some nice new friends. Everybody is very hospitable, it’s like a warm bath.’

What is the best trip or route you have ridden?

"In May we went to Luxemburg with the ladies, and it was absolutely beautiful there. Mountains and bends! England and Winterberg are also beautiful, but in Luxemburg we had perfect weather, and beautiful nature, and everything fell into place."

Is there a route or trip that you would like to ride?

"I would like to go a bit further afield. You sometimes hear people talking about travels all around Europe and even America. That seems great to do once. It doesn't really matter where, as long as it’s really far away. "

Do you ever wrench yourself?

"I leave that to the mechanic."

Has anything else changed on your bike? Is it customized?

"No, it was pretty customized when I bought it. It was only about six months old, but it was already pretty much to my liking. The exhaust, bigger tank, air filter, all that kind of stuff."

Would you like to change anything else about your bike?

"I might want another windshield, one of those headlight windshields. Just little things, nothing big. I also like the rubber gators around the fork legs. "

Which model is on your wish list?

"The Softail Slim, which I really liked to ride, and a Harley-Davidson Street Bob, which I also rode. I would indeed like something heavier. "

Have you ever looked into the history of Harley-Davidson?

"No, but with the insurance from Combi Motors I received a really big H-D book with all the stories, I did read in that book."

Do you have another model from the past that is your favorite?

"I think Knuckleheads are really great bikes."

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

"No, I don't express it very much, only with some little hints. Phone case and clothes, but it’s not like my whole living room is filled with H-D. On the bike I wear Harley clothing, but not to work, for example."

Do you also try to encourage other young people to ride motorcycles?

"Yes, I do often try to persuade people to ride motorcycles."

Where do you see yourself in the future with Harley and/or H.O.G.?

"I hope it stays the way it is, really 'the warm bath'. And I hope more people will join, including younger people, so they can make friends quickly."

What plans and dreams do you still have?

"Taking a faraway trip. And that my father and friend will also start riding. And that the little one will soon like motorcycles too!"

(Interview by Onno Wieringa – madnessphotography.nl)

Why did you choose this model?

"I didn't want it to be too big. Of course, I'd only just gotten my driving license, and initially, I said I wasn't going to buy a bike. But then you start looking anyway. I actually saw a very nice Sportster, a Sportster Iron, and I bought it right away. I ended up at the Harley-Davidson dealer in Heeteren, and the man said: 'You should ride this one, it's really something for you'. They immediately put a green license plate on it, and I didn't have a helmet with me, so I tried on a helmet and took off immediately. I only had my license for a few days, so I was excited. It was an Open Day, so there were a lot of people. But he was right, I got on and rode off, it was bizarre. He had seen that right, so I didn't try anything else after that."

I love riding my Harley because?

"It's very cliché, but it's the typical feeling of freedom. You really get to clear your head. For me, total relaxation is on a Harley."

Has becoming a member of the H.O.G. chapter allowed you to experience new things?

"Since joining the Chapter I do ride a lot more. We often have a ride on the weekend, on Friday evening, a nice weekend trip with the whole bunch. Also, I go on Ladies’ days. Just a weekend away with other female riders. Because of these events, I really ride more. It is more fun than riding alone!”