Saudi Gazette Harley Davidson, is the dream motorcycle for every young man. For in every big shot movie, the hero dons a black leather jacket, wears the dark safety helmet, black leather gloves, and thunders down the road with a group of friends at night. Now,who doesn't like that? The Harley Davidson motorcycle craze did not reach the Arab world until the 1990s and even then, motorcycling was not very popular. It was in the year 2006, when the first Harley Davidson KSA club was officially started in the Kingdom, after a motorcycle rally in Abha drew passionate cyclists and motorcycle owners from different regions of the nation. Back then, there were only 300 Harley Davidson owners in the country. Recently, the motorcycle craze has gripped the Kingdom and as of date there are 2,000 proud of owners of the Harley Davidson, mainly in Jeddah, Riyadh and Al-Khobar. Although, residents are not quite accustomed to this new trend, nevertheless, these beauties do make heads turn when they whizz past one's car or building, and leave them in awe. And, the drivers are no less than men you see on screen! The price of a Harley ranges from around SR37,000 to SR140,000. The club was created to offer bikers information, education on road safety laws, and create a social network for people with similar interests. One of the leaders of the Harley Davidson KSA club in Jeddah, Ramzi Al-Husami, said that club members get in touch with each other via facebook, Blackberry, and e-mails to organize activities and events. He also keeps them up to date with all the latest happening in the world of motorcycles. “Harley Davidson club members enjoy privileges that most people are unaware of, such as exemplary tourism services when traveling to other Arab and Western countries. Being a part of the club and staying in touch with other members across the world guarantees that there will be someone to assist you and guide you in the country that you are visiting. You can renew Harley Davidson membership each year or pay the fixed full amount to grant you a life-time membership,” said Husami. There is more to signing up for Harley Davidson membership than simply riding bikes and having an enthralling drive around the city. The Harley Davidson team takes part in many valuable tourism and social activities in the Kingdom. Active members of the team are keen on providing some fun and entertainment to the less fortunate segments of the society. “The Harley Davidson club has participated in a number of events that promote the spirit of volunteering and instill a sense of individual responsibility toward his/her community. Examples of such events that we took part in includes a trip to an orphanage to entertain the children and distribute gifts, a visit to the local hospital where there were children suffering from cancer, and a trip to a day care center for children with special needs. During Ramadan we hosted several Iftars, where members gathered with their families to enjoy a communal breaking of the meal. The Harley Davidson club also puts on shows at a number of special holiday festivals in the Kingdom. “We also take part in awareness campaigns and public education workshops on several issues, such as during World Earth Day or the World Child Day,” added Al-Husami. The team of Harley Davidson in Jeddah recently organized a trip for club members and their families to travel to Taif and enjoy its greenery and cool weather. According to Al-Husami, these trips help promote local tourism and lure tourists to Kingdom's various cities that are rich in cultural heritage, centuries old historic sites, natural beauty, and attractions for adventure lovers of all ages. During their most recent trip, club members met with Taif's youth and spoke to them about the importance of adhering to road safety rules and careful driving, whether they are cruising on a Harley or in a car. A few problems motorcycle owners face are that most people have a negative image surrounding motorcyclists and they feel that the loud motorcycles are nothing but a nuisance on the road. Also, drivers in cars usually approach the motorcycles at a distance that is too close, which poses a risk to the safety of the motorcyclist and the car driver. Al-Husami urges motorists to keep wider spaces between their cars and motorcycles on the road. __
