Why Are Harleys Called Hogs? The True Story of a Pig Named Johnny
Why are Harleys called hogs? Because of an actual pig. In 1920, Harley-Davidson's factory race team, the legendary Wrecking Crew, adopted a piglet as their mascot at a race in Marion, Indiana. Race...
How Did the Sturgis Rally Start? From 9 Racers in 1938 to Half a Million Bikers
The Sturgis rally history starts small. On August 14, 1938, a local Indian motorcycle dealer named Clarence "Pappy" Hoel and his Jackpine Gypsies motorcycle club threw a race called the Black Hills...
Why Do Bikers Back Into Parking Spots? The Real Reasons Explained
Bikers back into parking spots for one simple reason: a motorcycle has no reverse gear. When it comes time to leave, you either ride out forward or you paddle a 700 pound machine backward with your...
10 Things Non-Riders Always Say to Bikers (And What We're Really Thinking)
Every biker has heard them. The same ten lines, delivered at gas stations, family dinners, and office break rooms, usually by someone who has never touched a clutch lever. The things non-riders say...
Knucklehead, Panhead, Shovelhead: How Harley Engines Got Their Names
Here is the short answer: Harley engine names like Knucklehead, Panhead, and Shovelhead were never official factory names. Riders coined every one of them based on what the rocker covers looked lik...
How Do Bikers Get Their Road Names? The Unwritten Rules of Biker Nicknames
Here is the short answer: bikers do not pick their own road names. A road name is given to you by the people you ride with, usually after you do something memorable, stupid, heroic, or all three at...