It's nearing 11 PM in my hotel room in York, Pennsylvania. I've been up here for what is my last meeting of Harley-Davidson's North American Dealer Advisory Council. The DAC is an elected body of 12 Harley-Davidson dealers that represent the dealer network as a whole and serve as a liaison between said network and the leadership of the Harley-Davidson Motor Company in Milwaukee. We serve a three year term and this is my second term on the council. We meet quarterly, usually for 3 days in Milwaukee. This is my first meeting outside the home city. As you might know, York PA is the location of one of H-D's two major assembly plants. The York facility dates back nearly 75 years and began its days as a tool and die plant and a bomb factory for the US Military. Harley began building motorcycles here in the early 1970's and today is the assembly plant for all of Harley-Davidson's Touring, Softail, and Screamin' Eagle CVO models. It was a pleasure getting to spend some time today with Mr Ed MacGee, the general manager of the York plant. Those of you that pay attention to HD and news of the company know that this plant has gone through quite a shake up in recent months. The economic climate has been tough on all businesses and Harley-Davidson has not been immune. Tough decisions have been necessary for the company to stay competitive and to continue to be able to make great motorcycles for all of us to enjoy. The workforce at York went through a massive transformation, taking it from a lumbering dinosaur of the past, into a lean, effective and efficient manufacturing machine. I didn't know what to expect when I arrived this morning for the tour. What I found simply amazed me. I found a group of a thousand some odd teammates that were aligned and dead set on one goal, to build fantastic motorcycles. As I wandered the floor, escorted by Ed, I looked into faces of the employees of HD York. I saw something special. What I saw is something I'm fortunate enough to see everyday that I spend on the floor of the dealership, something I've grown accustomed to seeing through my time associated with HD. What I saw, simply stated, was love.
Those of you that ride Harley's know exactly what I'm talking about. Harley-Davidson is a world renowned brand, one of the top 5 most recognizable. However, it's so much more than that. As cliche as it's become, the phrase "If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand" still holds true. There's something magical in these motorcycles. There's something special about the life that they facilitate. But there's even more to it than that. There's a love amongst those that are a part of "this life". We don't know all of each other. I'm friends with literally hundreds of the customers that grace my door every year, but I don't know all of you. Nor do you know all of each other. But...there is a love that exists between us. An unwritten, and unofficial understanding of each other. A kinship that those outside "our family" might never understand.
There exists among us a relationship that would make us pull over on a dark night to check on a fellow rider sitting on the side of the road just to make sure they are ok. We pass each other at the grocery store and happen to notice a logo on a t-shirt, and immediately, nod and say, "hello". We wave as we pass on a two lane road. We know what it means to get on and let go. That mutual feeling, is love.
That loves traces itself back to these motorcycles we love. These larger than life pieces of art, made of steel. What a humbling experience to stand on one side of a room, next to huge spools of cold rolled steel and then walk several hundred yards to the other side and see what became of that steel, once stamped, painted, assembled, and yes, loved.
I think back to those faces at York today. Each of them were working. They were making a living, feeding their families and providing themselves a place to live. But there was something more. They loved what they were doing. Their love and dedication to their jobs and these motorcycles we love is what makes what we do possible. It provides a living for me and my family and staff at Bumpus HD, and also provides millions an millions of people worldwide with the pinnacle of passion of our lives.
My friend and Nashville songwriter Walt Aldridge penned a song several years ago called "I Loved Her First", from the point of view of a father giving away his daughter to marriage. This song occurred to me today. Rider's, when you walk into your garage and pull your bike out for a spin, I want you to think about something. You love that bike. There's a reason you bought it. You spent untold hours pouring over every detail, every line, every ounce of chrome on it. It's yours. What you need to remember is that before you laid your eyes on her, someone at York PA, or perhaps Kansas City, and Menominee Falls Wisconsin poured their heart and soul into her. Bloody knuckles, tired backs, pure dedication. They truly loved her first.
Think about those people as you ride. I bore witness today, that they truly think about you, every screw they turn, every weld, every detail.
That's what love is about.
Ride Safe,
SMB
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