As a teenager my generation grew up with the love of rock and roll and a passion for motorcycles. This was a pivotal year for me because I got my UAE Motorcycle license and got to cruise on my motorbike throughout the country. It’s not just about taking pleasure in exploring the UAE in an exciting new way, but also experiencing the wind and feeling a heightened sense of being alive.
So when Harley Davidson Abu Dhabi sent an invitation to Tempo, I volunteered to be their contributing reporter for the assignment. The event was an Open House and Charity Ride in support of the World Food Program, and it was a great opportunity also to meet the Harley Davidson Owners Group, or the HOGs (for short).
Initially I had some doubt about the kind of company I would be with, and that’s mostly due to the stereotypical media portrayal of bikers. But all my preconceptions vanished as soon as I got to the gathering point of the parade. The HOGs were a group of extremely friendly, very well to do professionals – I guess you have to be well off to own a Harley. But the one thing I noticed immediately was a strong sense of brother and sisterhood…it seemed that our love for Harleys created an inexplicable bond between us.
This was my very first HOG ride and I was very impressed to see how organized the event was. We were briefed about the route, safety rules and the ethics of riding in the parade… and then we were off! We rode to the Al Samha ADNOC gas station where we met the Dubai HOGs and then rode back to Abu Dhabi to check out the new Harley Davidson store in Mussaffah. There, we were greeted by a live band, delicious barbeque and activities for the kids…a fun event that ended the day on a fantastic note.
Harley Davidson and the HOGs definitely made my day; I got to support a noble cause and to meet some really cool people. Thank you for that.
By Feras Shuaibi
