Big Barn Bike Night!!!

Big Barn Harley Davidson in Des Moines is having a bike night on Saturday, May 10Th from 3-10 pm. There will be 2 bands - Faded Pearl from 3 - 5pm and from 6 - 10 pm Loose Neutral. There will be Beer and Food Vendors also.

Also happening that day is their Spring Open House.

Sounds like fun! Hopefully the weather will stay warmer with no rain and it will be a perfect night for a putt & a beer.

What makes a great visit to the Harley Dealer?

As everyone is aware, that is into Harley Davidson Motorcycles, they are not cheap machines. Even a Sportster can run you around 10k and if you think about it that's a chunk of change to lie down for a bike when you could probably buy a Honda for 1/2 the price. Since you are paying a premium to live the dream, one wants an enjoyable and memorable experience when you finally decide to join the Harley family. The experience shouldn't just end once you've bought the bike. That experience should carry on for as long as you can ride your beautiful dream machine. As I've traveled this great country, I love to stop in Harley Dealerships and check them out. It's fun to see what's out there and if other dealerships are more rockin' then the one in your home town. I'm a huge fan of Rocky Mountain Harley Davidson in Littleton, Co. Here is why...you enter the dealership and there is someone there saying hello and welcoming you. It's always a great feeling to feel welcome and they always have made me feel that way. As you make your way throughout the dealership the staff is there to help you and to just carry on fun conversations. They make you feel at home, like they truly are happy to see you and they make you feel like you want to return each and every time you make it to Littleton. And I always do. Customer Service and just a great amount of Respect toward the Harley customer is important.

Recently I stopped into Metro Harley Davidson in Cedar Rapids, IA and Hawkeye Harley Davidson in Coralville, IA. The staff at Hawkeye definitely out shined the staff at Metro. I'm not going to rip on Metro but I think a customer service course of some sort is needed at that store or maybe hiring people that have a true passion for motorcycles. Our dealership here in Des Moines is Big Barn Harley Davidson. Last year the dealership had an ownership change and what a difference that made. You can just tell it when you walk in the place. And I think Keith and the rest of the ownership/management staff are turning their dealership into a great experience. I'm excited to see what they have in store this year. Last year there were bike-in movie nights and a bike night with a band and a beer garden. There is just so much opportunity to build a strong motorcycle community even if you don't belong to the HOG and I think that Keith and his crew know this. Another really great dealership in Iowa is Silver Eagle HD in Waterloo. Even though they are not my home dealership they send me a Christmas card each and every year! And I stop there every time I'm home(I grew up in Cedar Falls/Waterloo) just because it's a friendly place to visit.

I'd love to know what your favorite dealerships throughout the US are...even if they aren't Harley Dealerships and what makes a good dealership to you. You can either leave a comment on the blog or e-mail me at motorcyclesandskulls@yahoo.com. If I receive enough replies I'll list them in a future post.

I guess I just feel that since I'm supporting the Harley name by buying Harley merchandise and riding a Harley Davidson motorcycle I deserve an amazing top notch experience each and every time I walk into a dealership. I don't expect confetti or a balloon drop but I expect a greeting and a smile.

Have a great week!!!

XO!
IHG

Garage Party and a Few Other Thoughts...

I'm always up for anything having to do with motorcycles. Well a couple weeks ago I got this invite to the Garage Party for Women Only at Big Barn Harley Davidson. I thought I'd check it out and I'm glad that I went. There were about 45 women there from various backgrounds and with various motorcycle experience. It was good to find out that there are a few women out there just like me...motorcycle license but no motorcycle...and they are still riding 2 up. The evening began with introductions. We met the staff and met one another. After filling out a couple questionares we were put in groups and sent down on the floor of the Big Barn to our various stations. There were 4 Stations in all. The group I was with began with motorcycles. A few members of the sales staff told the group about the different families of Harley Davidson motorcycles. There are 5 in all: Sportster, Dyna, Softail, VRSC, and Touring. They of course spent all their time talking to us by the Sportsters which they told us was considered the starter Harley Davidson. One of the sales staff did say though that you should buy the bike that makes you feel the most comfortable instead of thinking that you should begin with a Sportster. After they told us everything that they knew about motorcycles they let us walk around and check out the bikes. I think the 2008 motorcycles are some of the best looking rides that HD has come out with. I love the new custom paint options and new bikes that they have created. The Rocker and the Softail Cross Bones are wicked looking scoots. After about 5 minutes of letting us wander around the bikes we were sent on to Station 2. This station was back in the service department where you drop off your bike for service. We all got the opportunity to learn how to lift a fallen bike. That was something I really needed to learn. We didn't learn that in the motorcycle safety course for some reason. I thought that they should have taken us into the shop were they actually work on the bikes. They may not have because of safety but it would have been interesting to me. Sometimes I wonder though if I'm not normal and I'm the only chick that might care about seeing that. After a quick break with refreshments and Harley Davidson trivia for prizes we were sent back down for the final two stations. Station 3 was Parts and Accessories. We learned how to remove a bike seat and got to see the new LED tail lamp. Station 4 was Motorclothes and our final station of the evening. We got to see the latest in leather, boots, and helmets. We all got together one final time and filled out another questionare and they drew a name for a door prize. We also received schwag bags which were minus really any schwag. Well we got a pen. All in all it was something that I would recommend to any woman out there that is interested in the sport of motorcycle riding. For a first timer it would be a real learning experience. For a more seasoned gal that has riden 2 up for a lot of years, there are interesting things to learn and it's fun meeting new people.

I did leave the Big Barn a little sad. My Crimson Denim Street Bob dream bike had been sold. It better not be to the guy I put a hex on. It better have been to an amazing chick rider that will love her just as much as I would have. When I noticed that she was gone I said to the P & A guy that my bike was gone and he was so understanding of my broken heart that he told me they could get another Crimson Denim Street Bob and he could help me make her even prettier just for me. How sweet was that! :) Ok...so here is hoping that in 2009 or 2010 they are still making that bike. Well by then they will probably have come up with something even more rock'n!

My father will love this! Hey Dad...remember that Literature Text book you bought way back when I attended Wartburg for a term? Well I've decided to finally read it. LMAO!

My final thought for the day...I'm so excited because my new little Niece Sydney is going to be born any day now! I can't wait to hold her!

Please continue to keep our Troops in your prayers!! God Bless America!

Have a great night!

IHG! :)