The Ol' Orange and Black

I am constantly amazed at the growth of the motorcycle industry. I grew up in a family that had motorcycles. I’ve actually had two bikes: a 1994 Yamaha XT225/Serow and a 1985 Honda Nighthawk S/CB700SC. Both were terrific bikes for completely different reasons. Perhaps I’ll write about them in more detail at some point.

Motorcycling as a hobby, as a sport, and as an industry has boomed over the last couple decades. Bikes have grown more accessible. Bikers have grown more accessible (i.e. friendly). And I think people have simply grown fonder of the sport. What was once deemed a dangerous, fringe activity has grown into a fun way to experience the road (or the off-road, if that’s your thing).

While motorcycle popularity has skyrocketed, so have the industries that support motorcycles and motorcyclists. A quick look at the motorcycle magazines at your local bookstore can be overwhelming. Motorcycle charity rides are a regular weekend occurrence. I’m guessing there are more companies offering motorcycle insurance than ever before. My local library even has a section for motorcycle parking.

Then there’s the market for the actual accessories. I visit motorcycle shops whenever I can and I’m astounded at the selection of motorcycle stuff. The selection of Harley Accessories, alone, is mind boggling. You could, seriously, decorate your entire house in Harley orange and black. Billiard tables. Dart boards. Kitchen accessories. Pet goods. And if you want to decorate yourself, there are Harley goods to help you out. And it’s not all made out of leather either. Ok, most of it is…but not all.

And tricking out your bike is another thing altogether and Harley shines like no other manufacturer. There enough Harley Parts available that your Springer could very well have more chrome than all of 1957 Detroit…combined. With a little effort, you can probably make your Harley sound just as loud as all of 1957 Detroit, too.

Sure, you could go somewhere else for your accessories but if you want genuine Harley expertise and genuine Harley Davidson Parts, you’re only going to get it at a genuine Harley dealer. Something to keep in mind.