HARLEY OWNERS GROUP HONG KONG CHAPTER
TABLE OF CONTENTS INTRODUCTION.. Page 2 MEMBERSHIP... Page 3 CHAPTER GOVERNANCE.. Page 5 Chapter License.... Page 5 Chapter Committee.. Page 5 Communication. Page 6 H.O.G. HONG KONG - CHAPTER EXPERIENCE.... Page 7 Official Chapter Rides... Page 7 Charitable Contributions.. Page 7 Social Events.. Page 8 Ladies of Harley... Page 8 Member Only Benefits. Page 8 OFFICIAL CHAPTER RIDES. Page 10 Riding Protocol.. Page 10 DISCLAIMER.. Page 17 1
INTRODUCTION Welcome to the Harley Owners Group Hong Kong Chapter! This Handbook has been prepared to provide H.O.G. HK members with an overview of the Chapter, how it operates, and what is expected of Members. Additionally, this handbook provides information as to safe riding in Hong Kong, given that many Chapter Members are originally from other parts of the world. Harley Owners Group Hong Kong is the only official H.O.G. Chapter in Hong Kong and in accordance with global H.O.G. requirements, is sponsored and licensed by Harley- Davidson of Hong Kong dealership. All H.O.G. Chapters around the world are sponsored and licensed by a local authorized Harley-Davidson dealership and in Hong Kong this is no exception. Harley Owners Group is a business unit of Harley Davidson Motor Company. Therefore, it is logical that each Chapter is sponsored by an authorised dealership. While Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong is a relatively new dealership, H.O.G. HK has a strong linkage and partnership with the dealer and we continue to leverage this partnership to boost the H.O.G. HK and H-D ownership experience. The essence of being a H.O.G. is to have fun and share the enthusiasm for owning a H-D motorcycle with other riders who are passionate about their H-D ownership experience. The foundation of this experience relies on Members coming together for the official monthly ride. It is also knowing that you are a member of a motorcycle group that is more than 1 million members strong, worldwide. Making the H.O.G. HK experience something special requires participation from all Members and there is no better way to help drive this experience than by being a volunteer Committee Member. Without the time and effort provided by our Committee Members, H.O.G. HK will be unable to consistently deliver a fun and unique experience. Please visit the Chapter s website at http:/// to learn more about Chapter activities past, present and future. Also, to keep current on all things H.O.G. HK, download the H.O.G. HK App available for ios and Android from the App Store and Google Play. Live to Ride, Ride to Live, Ride Safe!! 2
MEMBERSHIP Becoming a H.O.G. Hong Kong Chapter member is simple you are the proud owner of a Harley-Davidson motorcycle, and a member of H.O.G. International. Membership runs for a calendar year from 01-Jan to 31-Dec. To maintain a current H.O.G. HK membership, all members are required to renew either their Full or Associate Membership each year and pay the approved Club Dues which are established each year by Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong. Members are required to complete a simple application form in full each year when either joining or renewing. This can be done by downloading the Annual Membership Form from our website at https:///members-corner.html and submitting in person at Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong, where payment can be made by credit card, cash, or cheque. Upon making your annual payment, Members will be issued with their Membership Card for the year and entitled to various great benefits which are exclusive to H.O.G. HK members. Alternatively, you can mail your completed Membership Form to H.O.G. HK, with a cheque or proof of payment to: Harley Owners Group of Hong Kong G/F, Eltee Building 3 Ning Foo Street Chai Wan Attn: Rosanna Lam As required globally, all local Chapter Members are required to be a H.O.G. International Member. International membership is structured differently from local Chapter memberships where one can become a lifetime member. With your International Membership, you will receive various international benefits that are provided exclusively by H.O.G. International. To join H.O.G. International and review what your membership provides, visit http://www.member.hog.com/. As a proud Member of H.O.G. HK there are several expectations. First and foremost is Safe Riding. At all times when riding in a group, or on your own, it is expected that H.O.G. Members set an example of practicing safe riding, always. Further on in this 3
Handbook we discuss some basic elements of Safe Riding. Second, all H.O.G. HK Members are expected to be respectful to all other Members and ensure that the H.O.G. HK membership experience is always enjoyable for all. As established in the global H.O.G. Chapter Charter: The intent of the Chapter is to Ride and Have Fun with like-minded individuals who have a passion for riding Harley-Davidson motorcycles and the Harley- Davidson brand. The Chapter shall be a family-oriented, nonpolitical and non-religious organization. H.O.G. HK is a fully inclusive experience and we do not permit or tolerate any type of discrimination based on race, religion, sexual orientation or politics. We are a motorcycle group that welcomes all Harley-Davidson owners and enthusiasts and we promote a culture of not only enjoying the experience of riding in Hong Kong but one that seeks to contribute to our city in a positive and effective manner. 4
CHAPTER GOVERNANCE H.O.G. Chapters are governed by a global H.O.G. Chapter Charter, established by Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company. The Harley Owners Group is a business unit of Harley-Davidson Motorcycle Company. Harley Owners Group of Hong Kong is governed in accordance with the global H.O.G. Chapter Charter and as such, aligns its operation and governance in accordance with the Charter. CHAPTER LICENSE The Harley Owners Group of Hong Kong is licensed and sponsored by Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong as the local authorized Harley-Davidson dealership. In turn, the dealership has full autonomy over the Chapter and is responsible for annually reviewing and renewing the Chapter license. CHAPTER COMMITTEE Chapter affairs are overseen by a Committee of Chapter Members which in turn are nominated / appointed by Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong which itself nominates the H.O.G. Manager. The H.O.G. Manager is always required to be an employee of the sponsoring dealership. Main Committee Positions H.O.G. Manager Assistant Director Secretary Discretionary Committee Positions Activities Officer Ladies of Harley Officer Editor Photographer Membership Officer Chapter Director Treasurer Safety Officer Road Captain Safety Officer Historian Webmaster 5
For 2018 Committee Members and Positions visit https:///hogcommittee.html. The Committee meets monthly at Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong and the meeting is chaired by the Chapter Director. Meetings are closed unless a Chapter Member expresses an interest in joining the Committee. Minutes are not made publically available to Chapter Members but are available upon request. COMMUNICATION The Committee is responsible for communicating events and activities with Chapter Members. All types and forms of communication are approved in advance by our sponsoring dealership, as required by the global H.O.G. Chapter Charter. The Dealership has final say in all matters related to the H.O.G. HK Chapter. Chapter Members and other interested parties can easily communicate with the Committee via email at info@hog-hongkong.com or via https://www.hoghongkong.com/contact.html on the Chapter website. 6
H.O.G. HONG KONG CHAPTER EXPERIENCE The experience of being a H.O.G. HK Chapter Member is dependent on various Members volunteering on the Chapter Committee. Without a full Committee, the Chapter is limited in terms of what it can provide to Members. Over the years many Members have volunteered their time, in one way or another, on the Chapter Committee and worked hard to make being a Member as fun an experience as possible. OFFICIAL CHAPTER RIDES Enjoying and sharing the Harley-Davidson lifestyle experience with fellow H-D enthusiasts is at the core of what H.O.G. HK is about. This shared experience starts with our Official Monthly Rides, which typically take place on the first Sunday of each month. Official Ride details are posted in advance of each ride on the HOG HK App and on the H.O.G. HK website at https:///official-rides.html. Any changes to an upcoming ride such as a cancellation due to adverse weather conditions - will be posted on the website and broadcast on the App by 8:30am on ride day. While some motorcycle clubs understandably restrict participation in their rides to club members and invited guests, most H.O.G. HK rides are open to anyone who wants to come and have a good time, regardless of what make of motorcycle you ride, or whether you are a H.O.G. Member, or not. The H.O.G. Chapter Charter requires a minimum of four closed rides per year. A closed ride is for Members only. The Chapter Committee always reserves the right to ask someone to leave the ride if it is deemed that the individual s participation is inappropriate, such as putting the safety of other riders in jeopardy, etc.. CHARITABLE CONTRIBUTIONS Besides sharing our passion as H-D motorcycle enthusiasts with fellow Members, we also look to make a positive contribution to Hong Kong as our home. Sponsoring and participating in charitable activities in our community is one way we look to make a difference to those less fortunate than ourselves. Not only do we sponsor charitable events but H.O.G. HK also participates in activities organized and sponsored by other 7
motorcycle clubs in Hong Kong. Information about these activities can be found on our website at https:///hog-activities.html. SOCIAL EVENTS As all Chapter Members are required to pay annual dues (as may be determined by Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong) we look to leverage the dues collected in a number of ways to benefit members. Social gatherings are a great time to come together and enjoy each other s company. Through the year, and depending on our annual budget, we partner with our sponsoring dealer to host some fun events. Visit the website and look at the Activities page https:///hog-activities.html and the H.O.G. HK Photo library to get a better feel https:///photo-library.html. Besides social events in Hong Kong, we have developed partnerships with other H.O.G. Chapters across the region where Members have participated in some really fun and exciting events. Members have travelled to Taiwan, Guangzhou and St. Petersburg, Russia to meet other Chapters and H-D enthusiasts. Check out the International Partners page on the website for more information https:///photo-library.html. LADIES OF HARLEY We are proud of our sisters and the Ladies of Harley and encourage more women to experience what makes H-D and H.O.G. HK special. In 2017 Ladies of Harley organised what is considered the first ladies only ride in Hong Kong and we are sure that this will become an annual tradition and grow in participants. As with Official Rides, participation was not limited to H-D owners but anyone with a motorcycle. Have a look at the photos and video from the first ladies ride - https:///ladies-of-harley.html. MEMBER ONLY BENEFITS In 2018, we are striving to build on the positive momentum of the past, and especially with what we achieved in 2017. Some of the more recent items of note that are benefitting Members are: Official Monthly Ride routes planned in advanced and posted on the H.O.G. HK App and website https:///official-rides.html. 8
First motorcycle club in Hong Kong to have an ios / Android App available to all Members and friends, for free Launched a full H.O.G. HK website https:/// Complimentary current year H.O.G. Hong Kong Membership for those who purchase a new motorcycle from Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong* HK$2.70 / Litre fuel discount at Sinopec Petrol Stations Hong Kong* Discounted road side towing with proof of current year Membership* Social events in partnership with our sponsoring dealership Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong Member only discounts at various partners in Hong Kong and elsewhere* International partnerships with H.O.G. Taiwan, H.O.G. Guangzhou, Harley Days St. Petersburg Back issues of H.O.G. Magazine provided by H.O.G. International Various unique patches and pins and other memorabilia Co-sponsor of the 2 nd Annual Charity Ride to benefit Po Leung Kuk *Subject to terms and conditions and change without prior notice All Members are encouraged to participate in H.O.G. and to consider joining the Chapter Committee. For additional information on the Chapter Committee please refer to our website at https:///hog-committee.html. 9
OFFICIAL CHAPTER RIDES On the first Sunday of each month (subject to change), H.O.G. HK Members come together for our official monthly ride. Hong Kong is small at only 1,000 sq. km. and so it can be challenging not to ride similar routes month to month. However, we always endeavor to have monthly rides that are different each month from previous rides and take us to areas in Hong Kong that not everyone is so familiar with. As is the practice with H.O.G. Chapters the world over, we meet and leave from our sponsoring dealer Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong, Chai Wan. A typical ride sees Members and friends gather from 10:00am onwards, for an 11:00am departure. Each Official Ride is planned in advance and broadcast via the HOG HK App and on our website https:///official-rides.html. Prior to departing for each ride, the Chapter Road Captain provides an overview of the ride route and a reminder of the importance of safe riding when in a group. Practicing and enforcing safe riding is critical and taken most seriously. The Chapter Road Safety Officer is responsible for monitoring the riding disciplines of riders and empowered to make a decision to ask any rider to immediately leave the ride, who does not follow H.O.G. HK riding protocols, or who is deemed to put other riders and motorists at risk. RIDING PROTOCOL Staggered Formation All riders are required to ride in staggered formation. It is illegal in Hong Kong to ride side by side. Staggered formation requires the front rider to be on the outside of the lane and the rider behind to ride on the inside of the lane, at a safe distance from the rider in front. When road conditions warrant, such as narrow lanes or exceptionally winding roads, riders should increase the 10
Buffer Zone distance between each rider to allow for full use of the lane width. Also known as the 2 Second Rule, the Buffer Zone is a gauge as to a safe distance maintained between riders and other vehicles. The rule of thumb is to maintain a minimum of 2 seconds between you and the vehicle in front. How much is the distance between you and the vehicle in front depends on a variety of factors such as, speed, road conditions, traffic, weather, visibility etc.. The below table is a guideline based on generally accepted riding protocol and something with which all riders should be familiar. TRAVEL SPEED DISTANCE MINIMUM SAFETY RECOMMENDED TRAVELLED BUFFER SAFETY BUFFER KMH METERS / SECOND METERS METERS 30 8 17 20 50 14 28 30 70 19 39 40 80 22 44 45 100 28 56 60 110 31 61 65 120 33 67 70 Remember, every bike is different and every rider s reaction time is different. Knowing your capabilities and experience plus those of other riders and motorists has an impact in the event of a sudden and unexpected event that causes a need for evasive action. Highway Riding When riding on the highway / freeway, riders must maintain a staggered formation while ensuring a distance between the bike in front, and behind, is appropriate given the group s general speed, to allow for safe breaking and emergency / evasive maneuvers. 11
All riders are responsible for obeying the speed limit and we are not racing. Riders on P Plates are restricted to; (i) a maximum speed limit of 70kmh, and (ii) not travelling on the inside lane of a highway / freeway. When P Plate riders join an Official Ride, the maximum speed that the group will ride at is 70kmh. Maintaining the Group Formation is most important on the highway / freeway. Riding at a safe distance between other riders is very important but it is also important to ensure that the distance between riders is not excessive. Any excessive distance provides an opportunity for cars and other vehicles to move into the Group lane and create a hazard. Overtaking Courtesy Overtaking is not permitted as it is dangerous and unnecessary. When riding, it is imperative that each rider is courteous to other riders and motorists. Indicating when making a maneuver is basic road discipline and all riders are expected to use their turn signals when changing lanes, navigating a roundabout, turning onto a different road or turning at a stop sign or traffic light. Ride Leader The Chapter Road Captain typically leads the ride and sets the pace of the ride. Additionally, the Road Captain will determine when to pause the ride if the Group becomes split due to a traffic light or other instance. Riders are not to pass the Ride Leader. 12
Road Marshalls Depending on the size of the Group, we will have between 2 3 Road Marshalls. Road Marshalls will be dispersed between the Group with one as the final rider. In the event of a difficulty or emergency, Road Marshalls will assist riders and communicate with the Ride Leader. Any instructions given by the Road Captain, Ride Leader and / or Road Marshalls must be followed by all riders. Bike Safety Each rider is responsible for ensuring that their motorcycle is in proper road worthy and legal working condition. Riders should always ensure that their motorcycle is in proper working condition. The T-CLOCK method for checking your motorcycle is a simple to use good practice: T check your tires for proper pressure, tread and wear and tear. Riding with a pillion requires higher pressure than a single rider. Under and overinflated tires impact handling and braking. C check all your controls such as turn signals, cables, hoses, levers, shifters and throttle. L lights help others see you. Make sure all lights are working properly. Check all electrical components. O make sure your oil is at the proper operating level and you do not have any leaks. All fluids should be checked regularly and replaced based on H-D recommended intervals C inspect your motorcycle s chassis, frame, suspension, belts, for corrosion and loose of missing parts. 13
K ensure that your kickstand is working properly and not hanging close to the road surface. Hand Signals When riding in a Group, at times the Ride Leader will use hand signals, to indicate upcoming maneuvers. Riders should become familiar with the Chapter Hand Signals and when seeing a clear hand signal from the Ride Leader, also communicate the signal so riders behind are aware of the intended action or warning. While there are a variety and number of hand signals when riding, our Chapter will use the following. Based off Ride the World (Australia) 14
Road Conditions At all times riders should be personally aware of road conditions. It is each rider s responsibility to familiarize oneself with the Official Ride Route. Weather, construction, and other factors can impact road conditions, and so all riders should be sure that they are comfortable riding the planned route. Hong Kong s roads are notorious for being in a poor state with constantly uneven road surfaces, metal road plates and manhole covers that can be excessive in numbers. Changing road conditions can happen without warning and riders must recognize the risks of various road conditions. Construction on roads is a very common occurrence and while signs are usually posted in advance of a traffic stop, due to road works, these can come up on one very quickly. Caution must be given at all times for the unexpected. Other Motorists At all times riders must pay special attention to other motorists. Not only is it important to obey all traffic laws but equally to avoid aggressive driving. Hong Kong drivers are in general not experienced at driving at high speeds due to the city s low speed limits. Nevertheless, slow driving does not mean drivers are cautious and considerate. The use of turn signals / indicators in Hong Kong is significantly lacking and so a cautious rider will be aware that fellow motorists are not reliable in indicating their intentions to change lanes, exit from one roadway to another, exit at a roundabout or turn left or right at a stop sign / traffic light. 15
Toll Roads Riders should always be prepared for unexpected actions from other motorists and be ready to adopt a defensive driving technique or an emergency maneuver. Hong Kong has numerous toll roads. Tolls vary from one bridge or tunnel and are based on vehicle classification. Typically, motorcycles are discounted compared to other vehicles. Due to the design of Autotoll, motorcycles are unable to take advantage of this method of electronic payment. Some government run tunnels and bridges are now starting to accept Octopus and credit card payments but most accept cash or tickets. Riders should always remember to either have cash or specific tickets. When riding as a group we adopt a single file when proceeding through a toll, with the Ride Leader proceeding first and a Road Marshall at the back of the group. Riders should proceed through the toll lane as selected by the Ride Leader and then line up in double formation with hazard lights on. Once the last rider is through the toll, the ride will proceed. Hong Kong Road User s Code All riders should be familiar with Hong Kong traffic laws and regulations. While many foreign licenses transfer in Hong Kong, enabling residents to not take local tests to secure a Hong Kong license, one should be fully familiar with the Road User s Code which can be viewed on the Transport Department s website http://www.td.gov.hk/en/road_safety/road_users_code/i ndex.html. 16
DISCLAIMER Information in this Handbook is for information only and Harley-Davidson of Hong Kong, Harley Owners Group Hong Kong Chapter, and the author are not responsible for the accuracy of information contained herein nor do they assume any responsibility for injuries or damages incurred by any person or to any public and / private property while applying the practices and / or principles found herein. Operating and riding on a motorcycle has inherent risks and each operator / passenger must accept such risks and responsibility for the operation of, and riding on a motorcycle 17