Adventure Harley-Davidson

LOVE Me Some LED (Lighting, that is!)

2012-01-17T09:37:00.003-05:00

So I’ll be totally candid with you. I was never a huge believer in LED lighting. I’ve sort of always thought it was just a fancy way of saying “here’s a brighter color of lights.” Weren’t all lights white before? And since we’re being so honest, I’ll be the first to admit that I was completely and totally wrong. The kind of wrong that makes me blush in embarrassment.

When one of our parts guys was telling me about these LED lights for Harley® motorcycles, where do you think my mind went?

“Yeah ok, great, awesome, neat, are we done talking now?”

Well he went on to tell me what a difference the lighting makes for night riding.

“Ok….” {my mind}

Then he showed me. We have a system set up in our parts department to show how true lights
are. He pulled out these LED lights and shined them on a bike and I couldn’t believe how bright they were; especially in comparison to the normal headlights. LED lamps are much brighter and whiter in color (which, as it turns out, is a big deal). They also provide a superior light pattern over standard incandescent lights. Harley-Davidson® claims that when compared to the yellow light of a traditional halogen bulb, the LED lamp produces a "Daylight Color Impression" that appears more natural to the user.

Ok. I was wrong, he was right. If you have not had the chance to see the LED light for yourself, start asking around. Come into our parts department and let them show you. But don’t just assume you know about the LED lighting because of your preconceived notions like me. I am guilty. And now I am a believer!

Nicki :)

Heated Clothing Anyone?

2012-01-11T11:58:00.003-05:00

Ok, so I understand that this has been an unseasonably warm January and heated clothing might be the last thing on your mind. But let’s be honest, this is Ohio, it’s going to get cold. Probably when we least expect it. And knowing our weather – it’ll be about 10 degrees and snowing in April.
My suggestion? Prepare now.

From time to time I’ll walk across our showroom floor and pass someone who has just been riding with heated clothing. Why don’t these people take off those big bulky jackets and pants? BECAUSE THEY’RE NOT BIG AND BULKY! I’m not kidding you - it’s light and comfortable. I was new to the Harley world about 4 years ago and this stuff never ceases to amaze me. It can be absolutely freezing outside and someone is wearing what looks like a Spring jacket and pants and be completely comfortable while riding. Because that’s how heated clothing is made. It allows riders to extend the riding season in colder climates but maintains comfort.

Every member of our MotorClothes Department is trained to tell you ever detail about every heated clothing product. So when you’re ready for a warm & cozy ride regardless of weather, call us at 330-364-6519 or visit http://www.adventureharley.com/.

:) Nicki

Bring it on 2012! Happy New Year!

2012-01-03T09:27:00.002-05:00

Wow – can you believe it’s 2012!? Another year in the books! Hopefully you were able to maximize your riding time this past year. Our staff did some pretty cool things in 2011! First of all, we have a few new members of the Adventure Harley-Davidson family. Our HR Manager Nicki and her husband Cory welcomed twin boys, Braxton & Braylon in July and our CFO Larry and his wife Kindra welcomed their new daughter Kelsianna in late December. Our Adventure family really is growing!

We also had some of our staff members venture around the country. Our Sales Manager Jeff made a trip to Florida, our Motorclothes Manager Margie ventured down to North Carolina, and maybe the coolest of all the trips was when our Operations Manager Sarah and her husband Dan took their son Marcus (10) to Hershey, PA on his first long motorcycle trip!

Marcus is a huge chocolate fan so Hershey, PA was the obvious choice . The family rented an Ultra Classic® and a Road King® from our rentals department at Adventure. They don’t own those two bikes but because they had the ability to rent them for a few days, they got to experience the trip of a lifetime and let their son experience it with them. Sarah really enjoyed riding the Ultra Classic® (yes, she was the driver) Marcus rode with her most of the time because she had the radio and what 10 year old wouldn’t like to cruise down the road with the radio blaring?! They took their time getting to their destination stopping along the way and enjoying the scenery.

With the New Year, we encourage you to spend time with your family and enjoy the open road. Create memories that you’ll never forget. Laugh harder than you ever have. And smile so much your cheeks hurt. Schedules can be chaotic and life can be stressful, but don’t let the year slip by without making those unforgettable memories. 2011 was pretty great around here…but we know 2012 is going to be even better!

-Nicki :)

Giving Thanks

2011-11-17T16:36:00.003-05:00

It is easy for us to get caught up in the things that are not working right or the things that could be better. However, I know that I am blessed. This year has been a great one and as it gets closer to Thanksgiving I am reminded of how good I have it. I am healthy, my family is too. I work at a cool Harley-Davidson Dealership where the employees are good to one another. The managers treat each other and customers with respect. I hope as you read this that you also have reasons to give thanks.

Fall Rides

2011-10-10T10:33:00.003-04:00

It has been a beautiful couple of days here in Tuscarawas County. The leaves are just starting to change and soon they will all be changing into the crisp colors of fall. Fall is a great time to ride in our area. The trees will be brightly colored and there are many places to stop and shop or grab a bite to eat. Many people come to our dealership as a stop on their tour of the area. We have hot coffee and popcorn in the customer lounge.

48 ways to win a 48 sportster!

2011-08-02T09:13:00.001-04:00

I don't know if you have heard but Adventure Harley-Davidson is giving away a 48 Sportster this September. There are 48 keys that people can win. Then on September 24th everyone who has a key has a chance to start the bike! And the person who starts it wins! If you have not been into the dealership on Sat. you need to come and enter for your chance at a key!

REVVVVVV UP!

2011-06-28T12:09:00.011-04:00

So I've been talking to our F&I Business Managers Tom & Janet about some of the products we offer, trying to educate myself a little better about the Finance office. They started telling me about this new REV UP program that I definitely think is worthy of sharing. Basically, at any time, not just when you purchase a motorcycle, you can opt in to this program and get over $2,700 in offers and services for the next three years! There are so many valuable offers included in this package, but the ones that stand out to me are the FREE 1,000 mile service, FREE 5,000 mile service, and FREE 10,000 mile service. You're going to have to get these services done anyway, so wouldn't it be nice NOT to have to pay for them when you do?

And that's not even close to all. Check out all these offers that are included in the REV UP program:

Pretty awesome, right!? For more information on this awesome offer, please call 330-364-6519 and ask for Tom, Janet, or the Finance Office. You won't be disappointed!

:) Nicki

Rider's Edge...What Other People are Saying...

2011-06-14T09:40:00.005-04:00

I know I've written about our Rider's Edge New Rider Course on multiple occasions, but this time I wanted to let you know what our PARTICIPANTS are saying! We received some great reviews after this weekend's class that I thought were worth sharing. Here is our great group of riders and instructors from this past weekend:

Thanks to Jon and Candy for teaching this class! It seems the students really enjoyed your insruction. Check out their feedback...

"Well insructed class. Good emphasis on key riding skills and developme. Helped develop good riding habits and get rid of bad ones!" -anonymous

"Instructors were very considerate and caring in our progress and safety. Watching the instructors demo ride was helpful in showing proper form." -anonymous

"It was a great time and learning experience. I believe they saved my life." -James

"The instructors were always helpful in tips and teaching. Along with always having a positive attitude toward the riders." -Chad

"Great way for a beginner to get a proper instruction to build upon. Great way for an experienced rider to get rid of bad habits. Learning your weak points is invaluable." -anonymous

"I enjoyed this class very much. I had no knowledge how to ride a motorcycle and was taught many things. From getting on a bike, starting a bike, to all the basic maneuvering of the bike. Once I get a bike, I'm looking forward to getting on the road!" -Mary

"This was an awesome learning experience skill wise and educationally. Our class, in my opinion, had the best instructors. They were very patient with their students and sincere in helping us have the necessary and fundamentally sound skills for safety." -Brent

"The Rider's Edge course gave me a feeling of confidence and security to ride. The class offered valuable knowledge and safe riding procedures. The instructors were experienced and knowledgeable, but most importantly they were patient and helpful in correcting mistakes and poor riding habits." -anonymous

"It was awesome to take! Having never ridden before I feel more secure by building positive good skills correctly from the start! I realy recommend this class to ALL riders!" -Renee

"I liked the course. It was informative and VERY well explained. I learned many good things that I plan on practicing and using in my future as a bike rider. -anonymous

"Class work and range work were great. Instructors we great as well." -Steve

WOW! Every single person left positive feedback. And this was just one class! Stay tuned for more classes to come. And if you need some words of encouragement...here ya go!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eaIvk1cSyG8

If he can do it, so can you!

:) Nicki

We Went HOG WILD...again!!

2011-05-24T13:18:00.014-04:00

We just wrapped up our 8th annual HOG WILD party last Saturday and man was it a success! After all this rain and gloomy weather, out popped an 80 degree sunny day! It was absolutely perfect. We had our 4th annual Charity BBQ contest that raised over $3,300 for 5 local charities. A HUGE thank you goes out to HOG Heaven in New Philadelphia for donating the pulled pork and making sure they were here all day to replenish it. And congratulations to Big Brothers Big Sisters who were our big winners this year!

Our parking lot was PACKED with vendors and people. Over 1,300 people graced us with their presence in the 7 hours we were open and everyone had an amazing time. Here you can see the New Philadelphia High School Softball Team that was providing pop/water and chips to all our customers:

And here you'll see Jess from MyMuseum working her magic. She did TEN tattoos on Saturday. That's impressive for 8 hours. Talk about booking wall to wall! If you want more information on how to contact Jess or MyMuseum, visit http://www.mymuseumtattoos.com/.

As always, we had an enormous sidewalk sale with up to 75% off end of season merchandise. Let me tell you...that brings people in. We opened at 9am and I swear we had a line at 9:02. Ok, maybe not THAT quickly, but pretty darn close.

We also had a pre-owned bike auction that went great! We sold everything from bikes to trailers to horse saddles (yes you read that right). If you'll recall, if we don't have to feed it, we'll take anything on trade. So we do aquire some odd items here and there.

For more photos, visit our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/adventurehd. Overall we couldn't have asked for a better day. And what a great way to "officially" kick off the 2011 riding season with NO RAIN! Now...if we could just get the rain to stay away.

Ride Safe!
Nicki :)

Live on the EDGE!

2011-04-15T12:46:00.006-04:00

Rider's Edge that is :) Have you heard about our Rider's Edge New Rider Course? It's a Harley-Davidson sponsored course that allows you to get your motorcycle endorsement in just 4 days! The class is awesome, trust me. I took it in 2008, but we'll get to that. Let me first tell you a little bit about how the class works.

It's a four day class but it feels much faster than that. The first two days are spent in the classroom (at our dealership) just learning about the bikes, the dealership, and the safety guidelines to riding in general. You will have 2 certified instructors to walk you through every step of the way. The classes run from 6-9pm to ensure that even if you work, you still have time to get to the class. Then the real fun begins.

On Saturday you spend the day RIDING! You start by walking the bike (a 492cc Buell Blast) and move all the way into 3rd gear by the end of the day. Your instructors teach you tips and tricks having to do with safety to ensure you're well prepared for your riding test the next day. On Sunday you'll spend the majority of the morning learning more manuevers and practicing everything you have learned in the past three days. Then, after you are well prepared, you will take your riding test. With all the one on one training you've received, it's not too tough - I passed! And at the end of all this fun, you'll all come back together on Monday night for a pizza party at the dealership and to receive your endorsement...yeah!!

So here's the deal. I took the course back in 2008 without ever having driven a stick shift car. If you asked me what a clutch was, I would have looked at you like you had 4 eyes. But, I felt 100% comfortable from the very beginning. Any pre-class jitters I may have had completely disappeared and I became a riding machine. Every bit of the course made me feel better and better about my abilities. I made some awesome friends along the way and had the experience of a lifetime. And now I have my endorsement! Here's me in all my glory right after passing the class...

Now that you know all about what the class has to offer, you need to be a part of it. Contact Deb Fishley, she's our Rider's Edge Program Coordinator and will be happy to tell you about our registration specials and class availability. Her contact information is: 330-364-6519 or deb.fishley@adventurehd.com. Or you can just swing by the dealership for more information. Here's our Rider's Edge website to give you a better idea of what to expect:
http://www.adventureharley.com/riding-classes.

Ladies, get off the back of the bike! Guys, get yourself endorsed! Contact Deb today. I'm so glad I did.

Nicki :)

What We're Up To...

2011-04-06T11:59:00.030-04:00

Just because I know you were all wondering :) I did a quick zoom around the dealership and grabbed some photos to keep you up-to-date on the happenings of Adventure. First and foremost, it APRIL! Which means it's almost MAY! Which means it's almost SUMMER! Trust me, I share your excitement. And because that special season is just around the corner, every department in our dealership is gearing up for riding season. We've got some awesome events coming up and some even better specials! Here's a quick update from each department:

Bike Sales
Still rockin' it out! There's not very much time left on our 1.99% financing offer. So if you were thinking about making the move before...stop thinking about it! Come talk to one of our friendly (but not pushy) sales associates and get on that bike you've been drooling over. And don't forget, you can demo any bike, any day, any time. No questions asked.
Motorclothes
Margie informs me that the Summer apparel is coming in by the truckloads! We're working on getting it all displayed, but if you're ready to skip out on the rest of this Winter weather junk and get yourself a nice tank and capris - you know where to find us. We also just got this great shipment of kids apparel, our biggest selection ever! Now you can get your kids started off on the right foot...

Parts
In my last blog I told you all about our new H-D1 Factory Customization Station that we had just launched. Since then we are swamped with inquiries about how to build your own motcycle and we are LOVING IT! Trust me, this is one thing you don't want to miss. Take a minute and talk to one of our Parts Associates about everything the station has to offer! It doesn't just look cool, the content is pretty awesome:

Service
Now that you're all thinking about Spring/Summer, isn't it time to get your bike ready? Our Service Writers are working hard to get everyone in and out quickly so now is the time to schedule your oil change or Spring Maintenance. Don't wait because the minute that sun comes out, you're gonna want to be ready to hit the road. Ask about our monthly specials!
Elsewhere
IT'S RENTALS SEASON!! Check out our great Spring specials on our website at http://www.adventureharley.com/. Test ride a bike for a whole weekend with no strings attached, or just have some fun. And don't forget, we've always got hot coffee with all the fixin's.

Ok, so if I haven't given you enough reason to visit us yet, make sure you stay current with our upcoming events. Follow us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/adventurehd (over 16,000 followers!) or check out our website for updates. Now I'm excited just from writing all this. We hope to see you VERY soon and remember, ride safe!

:) Nicki

Adventure HD Is One of the First to Debut Exclusive H-D1® Factory Customization Station!

2011-03-09T14:53:00.000-05:00

In February, 2011 Adventure Harley-Davidson in Dover, OH became one of the pioneers for the newest innovation in Harley-Davidson® Motorcycles with a brand new H-D1® factory customization station. As the newest element of Harley-Davidson® customization, H-D1® factory customization lets you create your very own custom motorcycle straight from the factory, selecting different wheels, seats, handlebars, paint and engine finishes altering the motorcycle for their personal fit, function and style.

Harley-Davidson launched a brand new 1200 Custom Sportster® for this customization process. The 1200 Custom is Sportster® to the core has a new look, offering a compelling combination of bold styling, nimble handling and the irresistible beat of American V-Twin performance. It features new wheels, a pull-back handlebar, a reshaped LED tail lamp, wide front end and chunk 16-inch tire for a proud stance that’s strong and contemporary.

The exciting new look of the 1200 Custom is just a starting point for this Sportster® model, because with the the H-D1® factory customization (available at Adventure), you can now also custom order the 1200 Custom in more than 2,600 combinations from the comfort of your home with the bike builder on www.harley-davidson.com or directly at Adventure Harley-Davidson.

You have the ability to view the bike you are creating as different options are selected on www.harley-davidson.com. A printed description of your bike can be reviewed at Adventure Harley-Davidson with one of our H-D1® trained experts where accessories can be installed to further customize the motorcycle before it is ordered. You can expect to be riding your new bike in as little as four weeks from the time an order is placed with Adventure Harley-Davidson.

These are just the newest elements of H-D1, Harley-Davidson’s comprehensive offering of customization tools, which also includes Genuine Motor Parts and Genuine Motor Accessory catalogs, the Genuine Motor Accessories Custom Seat and Custom Paint programs, the Chrome Consultant and Fit Shop advisors at Adventure Harley-Davidson , and more.

This new Factory Customization Station is taking Harley-Davidson® to a whole new level. This is truly the future of the brand and Adventure Harley-Davidson is honored to be one of the first to feature it. For more information on everything H-D1® has to offer, please call 330-364-6519 and asked to speak to one of our experts. You could be riding the custom bike of your dreams in no time at all!

FRESH FROM THE DEALER SHOW...

2011-02-10T10:13:00.007-05:00

Ok, some of our management team just got back from the dealer show and they have our dealerships PUMPED UP! Let me first explain to you what the dealer show is. Every 6 months, Harley hosts a national show for dealers and select staff to all come together for the "what's going on at Harley" update. The show has everything from lectures from Harley's CEO and head executives, to merchandise for the upcoming seasons, the latest and greatest marketing campaigns, and of course this is where the newest Harley-Davidson models are officially launched.

This year along with our owners, the General Managers from both dealerships (Adventure and Mad River), the Motorclothes/Operations Managers from both dealerships, our CFO, and Marketing Manager attended the show. They stayed VERY busy with the product purchasing for 2011-2012, individual classes, and checking out all the new products and campaigns. But don't worry, they managed to find time for a little fun too. Here's the whole group (minus the wonderful photographer, Franscene, one of our owners)

Here are Margie & Jess after a LONG day of selecting what products to purchase to keep you (our customers) happy throughout the year!

And our Mad River ladies Jess and Jolene having fun with the wall art...

The coolest part of this year's show? The official launch of the H-D1™ customization station. For those of you who don't already know what this is... read carefully because this may be the coolest thing that Harley-Davidson has EVER OFFERED and Adventure is one of the first to have it up and running in our dealership:

http://www.harley-davidson.com/en_US/Content/Pages/H-D1_Customization/h-d1_customization.html?locale=en_US&bmLocale=en_US

Overall, this was an amazing trip (of course the Orlando weather didn't hurt) and everyone learned new and exciting ideas for every department to bring back to our dealerships and give us a head start on a kickstart to season.

:) Nicki (you didn't think you could get rid of me that easily did you!?)

We're BAAAAACK!

2011-02-02T09:39:00.004-05:00

Did you think we forgot about you!? No worries, we've just been going through a few changes around here and we're excited to tell you about them! So first, my sincere apologies for leaving you hanging for the past 3 months. We're going to get back on a regular blogging schedule. Season is just around the corner and it's important to keep you updated on what's going on! So add our URL back to your favorites and let's get rolling.

Well here's what I can tell you. I probably won't be the one doing much of the blogging anymore. Don't worry...for good reason! I have accepted a new position within the company and am now the Human Resources Manager. Of course, that means we also have a new Marketing Manager. Let me introduce you to Erika!

(I stole this photo from her Facebook page, taken at the International Motorcycle Show this past weekend. She fits right in!)

Erika has an extensive background in art and graphic design and has an amazing marketing mind. She is a wonderful addition to our team and has done an amazing job in her first month in charge of our marketing plan. So...that being said, I will still be the one talking to you on our Facebook page the majority of the time, but Erika's voice will be heard much more often through our blogs/videos/marketing efforts. If you get a chance to visit our dealership, take a minute to welcome Erika to the team. We are excited to have her, and you all will be too!

So thank you for forgiving me for the lengthy break, but as I said, we're back and ready to roll into season! FORGET THE ICE, BRING ON THE WARM WEATHER!

:) Nicki

How to FIT your helmet...

2010-11-08T15:45:00.003-05:00

When riding, among your most essential riding gear is your helmet, and without a proper fit, your helmet can be more of a hindrance than a help. If it’s too tight, it will create pressure on your on your temples and all around your head, causing a headache and an extremely uncomfortable ride. If it’s too big, it’s not only going to create a hazard for you, but you will likely have air between the helmet and your head causing the helmet to feel like a parachute which will give you sever neck pain and a choking sensation.

First, you must decide which style of helmet you prefer. Harley manufactures helmets in three basic styles: full-face, modular, ¾, and half. Each style has particular advantages and benefits.

- For instance, the full-face helmet is the warmest of the four types of helmets, and is naturally going to offer the most comprehensive protection to your entire head, face, and chin. In addition to a flip-up face shield, full-face helmets will typically offer more features such as venting and the necessary compartments for CB and intercom devices.

- ¾ helmets are the next type of helmet produced by Harley. They will often offer many of the same features such as CB and intercom device compartments, but the coverage does not extend to the chin area for riders who prefer not to feel restricted at the bottom of their faces. The anti-fog face shield on Harley’s ¾ helmet lifts, and riders can choose whether they wear protective eyewear in addition to the face shield.

- Modular helmets combine the benefits of full-face and ¾ helmets. Modular helmets offer full-face coverage but has a chin/face modular, which flips up for ease in taking the helmet on and off.

- The final type of helmet is the least restrictive—the half helmet. Although it is the least restrictive, all Harley helmets are DOT approved. Lightweight and cool, Harley helmets come in a variety of styles and colors and can be matched with a variety of accessories such as face shields, CB and intercom components, and even quick-release chin straps.

After you have determined which style of helmet is ideal for you, you should measure your head. Using a standard tape measure, start about an inch above your eyebrows and measure the circumference of your head. This measurement should be compared to the helmet size chart found on each helmet page on our website: http://www.adventureharley.com/Content/uploads/634148698593423E17.pdf

Step three is try on the helmet, being sure to adjust the chin strap so that it fits snugly under the chin and there is no space between the brow line and the lining of the helmet. At this point roll and shake the helmet. The helmet should not be able to move forward or to sideways on your head. Your skin should be moving with the helmet. However, be sure that it is not causing discomfort, because this will lead to headaches and discomfort during riding.

You should also try on your helmet with your eyewear to be sure that your eyewear and helmet in conjunction will not cause any uncomfortable pressure points.

Finally, since all helmets are non-refundable, it is important to know that the helmet that you choose will be comfortable for a long time. Wear the helmet that you are choosing for several minutes in the store to ensure that you will be comfortable while you are riding. You can take advantage of this time to check your range of vision by looking left, right, up and down to ensure that no part of the helmet is obstructing your vision.

If you follow these steps:
1. Choose your style
2. Measure
3. Try it on
4. Wear it
you will be much more likely to choose a helmet that fits you well and keeps you safe and comfortable.

For more information or a personal fitting by one of our trained MotorClothes associates, stop into Adventure Harley-Davidson, just a short ride away off of I-77, Exit 81. Adventure Harley-Davidson. Your Adventure starts here.

We Helped Paint Tusc Pink!

2010-10-20T16:07:00.008-04:00

Yes we did! As part of Union Hospital's "Paint Tusc Pink" Initiative, we hosted a Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours to kick off the event! The whole idea of Paint Tusc Pink is creating a community involvement to the breast cancer awareness month (in celebration of October, of course).

During the event, we played casino games, had wonderful food catered by Dantes Pizza & Pasta House, drew for door prizes, let people ride the motorcycle simulator and most importantly... sold nearly 200 custom event t-shirts with 1/2 the $$ going to Susan G Komen for the Cure! Needless to say it was a great event, an awesome turnout, and a wonderful cause. Here are a few snapshots from the evening...

And the design of the custom shirt (thanks to the lovely and talented Ms. Cathy Straub)...

This was an exceptionally fun event. And definitely one that left us feeling great about helping. Let's all celebrate Breast Cancer Awareness Month and Paint America Pink!

:) Nicki

It's Fall!

2010-09-22T09:19:00.008-04:00

Or it will be in a few hours anyway. Summer has come and gone once again and we're headed straight into the season of leaves, acorns, pumpkins, and football (O-H!). But more importantly, if you live in our neck of the woods, we're headed into the most beautiful riding scenery of the year. While I personally am partial to the scorching rays of sun and 95 degree days, I would venture to say I'm part of the minority.

Here is what most riders look forward to:

Tell me this road is not asking for a motorcycle to venture onto it.

Or how about this:

This is what the fall riding season is all about.

So, as you can see my friends, I am heavily outvoted when it comes to the adoration of Fall/Autumn/whatever else you want to call the 3rd half of the year. Most people love it. And I'm sure you can see why. Doesn't this just get you excited about riding in this weather?

I'll leave you with one more just because they're so nice to look at:

Enjoy the weather but most importantly, ride safe!

:) Nicki

Tattoos, Tricks, and Teddy Bears...This weekend is our biggest yet!

2010-09-13T14:26:00.003-04:00

I've been hyping up this weekend for the past 5 months. I can't believe it's finally here! As promised, this will in fact be our biggest weekend of the year. I have no doubt in my mind.

Saturday, September 18th 9am-5pm
FALL OPEN HOUSE
...And one like you've never seen before. The Flat Out Freestyle stunt team is back for the 3rd year in a row to show off their tricks, flips, and fashionable twists off the huge ramps that have made them famous.

We are hosting a highly requested live used bike auction beginning at 12pm with one of our local auctioneers doing the calling.

We'll have Jessica Haney from MyMuseum back and ready to create some art on your body as she does on the spot tattoos on a first come, first serve basis. If you're not from this area, you may not know what a big deal this is. Jessica is not only one of the most talented artists in a tri-state area (we may be biased), but she also has about a year waiting list that you will be jumping if you come to this event.

Electric Mud, one of the most followed bands in our area, will be bringing their musical talents to our parking lot for your listening entertainment throughout the day.

Mahlon Troyer, our coveted pinstriper will be making an appearance and taking appointments to decorate your much loved motorcycles.

Keeping you in Stitches will stake out in our Motorclothes department ready to sew your new patches on for FREE.

And to top it all off...we will have a Kids Tent in case you want to bring the family!

Oh, and of course there will be food and ice cream. When have you ever known us to have an event without food and ice cream?!

Sunday, September 19th 8am-12pm
15th ANNUAL TEDDY BEAR RUN TO AKRON CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL
I know what you're thinking. 15 years!? That must be an awesome ride. You're right...it is. This is our largest group ride with over 1,000 bikes almost every single year. You'll come to the dealership between 8-11am to register. Registration is $5 and a new teddy bear or $15. We will line up the bikes according to entry time. Everyone will hang out, shop, and enjoy the dealership for a few hours while we wait for everyone to arrive.

At 11am, there will be a small presentation for the chosen "caravan kid" that is or was a patient of Akron Children's Hospital. We'll give out door prizes and announce the winner of the CUSTOMIZED MOTORCYCLE that has been raffled for the past few months. We'll then give the explanation of the route and everyone will leave at 12pm sharp for a police escorted ride to Akron Children's Hospital!

I hope you don't have plans for this weekend because we've made the plans for you! See you all on Saturday and Sunday as you help this weekend in September will go down in history as Adventure Harley-Davidson's biggest weekend ever!

Ride Safe. :) Nicki

Live to Ride, Ride to Eat!

2010-08-28T10:13:00.003-04:00

Enjoy that crafty title? This is a fun motto adopted by our H.O.G. chapter before I came here. They always tell new members "we love to ride, but man do we love to eat!" What a fun way to welcome new members :) So...the point of this post is, I don't think this is limited to our H.O.G. chapter. Our dealership is notorious for our food.

If you haven't noticed, we do a lot of events at our dealership. We do rides, music, door prizes, kids stuff...you name it, we've done it. But every event seems to have one common denominator: food. We always have popcorn on Saturdays. We always have lunch on Saturdays. We always feed our H.O.G. chapter for their meetings. We always have food vendors for events. We always have appetizers for ladies nights. I'm telling you - when I'm event planning, I am ALWAYS ordering food! This, of course, benefits our customers. We're not trying to make you plump or anything, but you have to admit that after a long ride, nothing is better than a fresh cookout or ice cream.

I don't think I need to ramble any more. Let's leave it at this: If you're a person who loves to ride and loves to eat, Adventure is somewhere you need to be. Live to ride, and ride to Eat!

:) Enjoy.
Nicki

Thunder Through the Valley 2010!

2010-08-12T14:09:00.007-04:00

You heard it here first, folks. I am personally inviting all of you to join us for our 3rd annual Thunder through the Valley Poker Run. The poker run is set up to benefit Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio and is guaranteed to be a great time. It will take place on August 28th (mark your calendars now) and registration will run from 10am - 11:30am.

I'm giving you PLENTY of advance notice on this, so you should have no excuse for not coming. Here's the deal...one of our very kind H.O.G. (Harley Owners Group) members has mapped out the ride and rode it himself to make sure it is "biker friendly." You'll come to the dealership on that Saturday morning and sign yourself. up. After we havce your release form, we will give you the directions for the route. Registration is $10/single rider or $15/couple. ALL of this money will go directly to Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio. The registration includes your entry to win the $250 gift card and a cookout after the run. We will also have event t-shirts for sale for $15 each. Here is a sneak peak at what the front of the t-shirts will look like:

After you have registered and purchased your t-shirt, you will take off no later than 11:30am and will have just under 3 hours to complete the ride. You'll need to be back by 3pm to be eligible to win.

I'm telling you, this is going to be a great event. It is every year. And this year we have more support than ever from local businesses. The stops will include: Breakfast House at Zoar - Zoar; Coblentz Chocolates - Walnut Creek; Lem's Pizza - Fredericksburg; Berlin Hickory Smokehouse - Millersburg; Tavern at Ragersville - Ragersville.

You'll come back after the ride for music and a cookout. Mobile Jams Entertainment will provide the tunes and BBBS will be doing the cooking. I anticipate this year being our best turnout yet!

Will you be there?

:) Nicki

Let's HOG!

2010-08-02T18:38:00.004-04:00

It's that time of month again. Time to H.O.G® it up! Harley Owners Group style. I'm about to head downstairs to our much anticipated H.O.G® Chapter meeting. Every month, riders from all over come together to celebrate their sport. They join for food, fun, friends, and a beautiful ride. Every meeting comes complete with a recap of last month's ride, a look at what's to come, and most importantly...FOOD! The dealership feeds the members every month. Before the meeting starts, a member will lead an hour long scenic ride throughout the county. If that's not a great way to get in the spirit, I don't know what is. I don't have much time to tell you all the details, so I'll let these photos do the talking...

Thanks to Cathy Archer, our chapter photographer, for the great photos!

Now come join the chapter!

:) Nicki

Bring It On!

2010-07-24T12:43:00.004-04:00

Ok so I have to tell you...this July has been one of my absolute favorite months since I started at the dealership. Next to August of 2008 of course, only because that was our 105th Anniversary Party and 4,000 people in one day is hard to top! I feel like July of 2010 is screaming positivity. We always have lots of great events, but I think people are just itching for that Harley feeling this month because we have been PACKED.

Saturdays are always our busist days. (side note - if you haven't visited us on a Saturday, you are missing out) We guarantee to have food and some sort of entertainment or event. But lately, Saturdays have been "boomin" for lack of a better term :) It's so great to see the excitement. People are riding, they are enjoying each others' company, and they are LIVING THE ADVENTURE!

Hope to see you all soon!
:) Nicki

It's JULY!

2010-07-01T09:33:00.005-04:00

Is that even possible? Here we are, more than halfway through 2010, and I feel like the snow just melted! I suppose our flowers should tell me otherwise. ANYWAY... as we head into this wonderful month of July, we ofcourse have many many events to tell you about. So let's get started. I'll give you the scoop and you can mark your calendars. Sound like a plan?

THIS WEEKEND
Huge Independence Day Party. Food, Door Prizes, Vendors, Specials. You name it, we'll have it. Just take note of the GIANT balloon that will be in our parking lot all weekend. I can't give you any more details. This party is a SURPRISE.

Saturday, July 10th & Saturday, July 17th
Sign up to win a BRAND NEW 2010 FORTY-EIGHT SPORTSTER PLUS A $3,000 ADVENTURE GIFT CARD. No you are not misreading this. You could actually win all of this. We're doing a game called the Lucky Lock. The first 750 people each day can sign up to win. You will guess a 6 digit combination. If your combination is right, YOU WIN and the contest is over. Sounds easy, right? It is. So come do it!

Wednesday, July 14th
WORK STINKS RIDE! 12:30pm. Yeah we have these once a month. Skip work after lunch and join us for a 2 hour ride leaving from Adventure. We'll always ride somewhere to eat, and each ride will be led by an Adventure employee playing hooky with you! All rides are secret until you show up.

Thursday, July 8th and Thursday, July 22nd
BIKE NIGHTS! 6-8pm. DJ, Contests, Door Prizes, A chance to win a $1,000 GIFT CARD, a $100 cornhole toss, and of course food and ice cream for sale!

Saturday, July 24th
DEMO DAY! 10am-3:30pm. We are dedicating this day to demo rides. We'll have 10 bikes available for you to demo and you can switch them up all day. Find the perfect fit! Every rider gets a free gift. Why WOULDN'T you come?

Saturday, July 31st
PINK WARRIORS SCAVENGER HUNT! I'm super excited about this event. All registration fees will benefit Susan G Komen for the Cure and it's only $5 per person! You could win a $250 gift card or some great door prizes. Here's how it works:
- Registration is from 10-11am
- Each person will be given a list of locations, targets, and/or items to find
- You will have until 3pm to complete the scavenger hunt and be eligible to win
- Anyone who successfully finds all items will be entered to win the $250 gift card! If no one finds all of them, the people who find the most will be entered.
- Everyone else will be entered to win door prizes just for going on the ride
- You'll come back here and will have music and a cookout. The New Philadelphia Girls Volleyball team will be cooking for donations to benefit their team.

Tell me this doesn't sound like a great month! I better see you here... :)
- Nicki

Million Mile Monday!

2010-06-23T16:01:00.004-04:00

The national H.O.G. club does this really cool promotion called Million Mile Monday. It started out as a fun event to get people all riding on one day. The event started in 2008. Because of the overwhelming response, they kicked up the goal for the 2nd year and got over FIVE million miles in 2009. Let's see how much more we can kick it up for 2010! Million Mile Monday is this coming Monday, June 28th. All you have to do is ride on Monday and register your mileage at the end of the day at www.members.hog.com.

If you need somewhere to ride on Monday, we have a Tuscarawas County H.O.G. Chapter ride to West Virginia leaving our dealership at 10am. Make sure to bring a helmet because West Virginia has a helmet law. If you need more information about the event, feel free to contact me at 330-364-6519 or email at nicki.snyder@hmhd.com. Or you can visit the national H.O.G. website.

Hopefully you'll find time to participate! Have fun... :)
Nicki

WORK STINKS - LET'S RIDE

2010-06-14T14:54:00.004-04:00

Alright people...we all know work stinks, right? Ok, well my job doesn't really stink, but you get the picture. But everyone needs a break, RIGHT!? So take one! Come visit Adventure this Wednesday at 12:30pm (yes that means you won't be going back to work after lunch) for a ride! Matt Perry will be leading...he's our floor supervisor. All the more reason to come.

These guys did it last month - you don't wanna miss this!

That's all that needs to be said :) -Nicki

LONG OVERDUE!

2010-06-05T14:12:00.005-04:00

Hey all! Sorry for my brief hiatus from blogging...won't happen again :) I have so much to catch you up on! Well where to begin. May was better than could be expected. We had our HOG Wild Party and Red Cross Red White & Chrome Poker Run, which area always a good time. Big Brothers/Big Sisters took the win for the charity bbq contest and earned over $1,300 for their charity! The other charities did a wonderful job and we had so much fun with this contest. The Swap Meet was a big hit. It was our very first time ever doing this and despite the rainy day - people were everywhere!

Our Red White & Chrome Poker run raised over $3,000 for the American Red Cross and took our riders on a nice long ride through Amish Country. We got great feedback on this ride, more than ever before.

Our first "Work Stinks" ride was also a success. We had just shy of 20 people skip work and ride with our parts manager, Jim. I'll post photos soon.

And probably the biggest blowout success of May was our first ever bike night at the dealership. We've never had our bike nights on site before. We always set up at a local restaurant. But, we wanted to switch it up this year and man was it worth it! We had over 400 bikes, over 600 people, and more HOG HEAVEN food than we could ask for. Mobile Jams DJ'd the night and we gave away door prizes every 15 minutes.

If you missed out on May, don't worry. We're doing it all over again in June! We'll have free Bob Evans Breakfast every Saturday, Bike Night, Double Rewards Points days, Demo Days, and of course another "work stinks" ride. Just follow our facebook page (www.facebook.com/adventurehd) or our website for more information.

Until my next post (which will be within the week, I promise!) - enjoy the riding weather. I'm at our other dealership, Mad River Harley-Davidson for Ohio Bike Week. If you haven't been here yet...trust me, you need to.

Talk soon,
Nicki :)

May Mayhem at Adventure!

2010-04-23T12:06:00.002-04:00

Is the anticipation of riding season getting to anyone else? It just seems like this "almost there" has been here FOREVER. April is a loooong month, theoretically of course. Regardless, now that we're creeping up to the mid 60's, we really are just about there. And given this progress, what better time than now to update you on our May events? Here is a quick rundown of what we have going on in May. Please keep in mind that I will be posting updates as the dates come and go...

Saturday, May 1st
HOG-O DAY MAYO PARTY!
9am-4pm
You signed up through the month of April, and you have to be here at 3pm to win the $500 shopping spree! We'll have free Mexican food, Music, and Virgin Margaritas!

Saturday, May 8th
9am-4pm
Celebrateing Moms Who Love Motorcyles!
Free massages 11am-3pm - Chocolate Fountain - Buy 1 Pink Label Collection Item, get the 2nd 25% off!

Wednesday, May 12th
12:30pm
WORK STINKS RIDE!
We all need a break every now and then - so play hooky with us! Skip work after lunch and join us for a surprise 2 hour ride leaving from Adventure!

Saturday, May 15th
10am-3:30pm
DEMO DAY!
Come demo your favorite bike. We will have up to 10 bikes available all day. You must bring a valid motorcycle endorsement, helmet, and long pants to participate.

Thursday, May 20th
6pm-8pm
FIRST EVER BIKE NIGHT AT ADVENTURE HARLEY-DAVIDSON
Hog Heaven Food and Milk & Honey Ice Cream available for purchase. DJ - Contests - Door Prizes and a $100 CORNHOLE TOSS!

Saturday, May 22nd
HOG WILD PARTY (our first BIG party of the year!)
9am-4pm
This day is FULL of exciting things to do for the whole family! Charity Salsa Showdown between American Red Cross, Hospice, MDA, Habitat for Humanity, and Big Brothers/Big Sisters. The winning charity will get a $1,000 donation!

Vendors on site all day including: Milk & Honey Ice Cream, Boy Scout Troop 94 selling food, Pinstriping, Wizards, Motolight, Al's Kettle Korn, Keeping You in Stitches patch sewing, Drag Specialties, and Wiley X sunglasses!

SWAP MEET Sell or swap your old parts! Reserve your space today by contacting me at nicki.snyder@hmhd.com. Tables are $10 each.

SELL YOUR BIKE DAY Financing available to help your buyer. Bring your bike on site to sell it at Adventure. Reserve your space by contacting Jeff at turff@hmhd.com.

Saturday, May 29th
10am-6pm
3RD ANNUAL RED, WHITE, & CHROME POKER RUN TO BENEFIT THE AMERICAN RED CROSSRide to your favorite Tuscarawas County Cheese Houses!
Registration 10-11:30am
$15/rider, $20/couple
PRE REGISTER FOR $5 OFF BY GOING HERE
Return to Adventure for a COOKOUT and MUSIC 4-6pm!

Ok - if that isn't enough for one month, I don't know what is. Let's finish this "almost there" nonsense and get the party started already!

:) Nicki

Mad River Harley-Davidson Thundering Into Sandusky

2010-04-09T09:56:00.003-04:00

Well folks, you've all heard the buzz. I'm here to confirm it. Mike Davis, owner of Adventure Harley-Davidson, has announced he will be opening a second location in Sandusky, OH. Here is what I can tell you right now. The new dealership will be called Mad River Harley-Davidson. It will be located at the previous Harley building on Milan Road in Sandusky. And, our goal is to be open by Ohio Bike Week.

If you aren't familiar with Ohio Bike Week, it is basically a huge celebration of bikers, bikes, music, vendors, and food. Hundreds of thousands of people gather in Sandusky for a blow out bash that lasts about 8 days. Runs, rids, parties, and celebrations can be found everywhere during this time. Why WOULDN'T we want to be open by then?

What that means for us is we are working very hard to get everything done that needs to get done. We are in the process of interviewing for all posiitons at the new store and have had some very promising candidates. I will keep you all updated as we learn more about our opening date, our HOG chapter, and any other updates/exciting news about the new dealership.

I know a quick blog doesn't do this news justice, but I wanted to keep our fans updated on where we are with the process. Thanks for your continued support in this exciting new venture for us!

:) Nicki

Ladies Light it Up Once Again

2010-04-01T10:43:00.009-04:00

Ok, I'll be the first to admit it. I talk about our lady riders a lot. But, wouldn't you if you had the greatest, most loyal group of lady customers in the country? Don't bother arguing with me about this; you won't win :)

We had our first Ladies Garage Party of the year last week. Once again, I was blown away by the response. We ended up with 65 ladies! Put 65 women who love Harley into a room, throw in food, bikes, and some fantabulous (yes I made up that word) door prizes, and you are bound to have a great time. And that we did. The ladies started the night with some amazing appetizers thanks to Sherry, our very generous and even more talented Tastefully Simple representative. I'm not gonna lie, I ate a lot that night.

CHECK OUT THOSE GOOD LOOKING SERVERS (compliments of our parts department). Sorry ladies, they're both taken.

Then the women moved on to stations. This time, we added an Advance Bike Path for any ladies who have been to our garage parties before or have been riding for a while. We taught them more about the technical side of the motorcycles. They all seemed to really enjoy themselves. And of course, we had our original garage party path for all the newbies, always tons of fun. What garage party would be complete if we didn't give some stuff away at the end!? We gave away over $350 in door prizes and some lucky ladies walked away with a few very coveted prizes! Don't worry gals, if you couldn't make it to this party...we're having another one on Wednesday, May 5th 6pm-8pm. If you're interested in coming, just email me at nicki.snyder@hmhd.com or call 330-364-6519 and I'll get you scheduled.

Thanks to the ladies who did make it and I hope to see you other ladies very soon. Fellas, tell your girls to make the hike down (or up) to Adventure. It's worth the ride.

- Nicki :)

It's Saturday and Spring is Coming...

2010-03-13T13:55:00.004-05:00

So let's all enjoy it! I have decided I need to blog more on Saturdays. We are not open on Sundays, so Saturdays are our "peak weekend day" so to speak. It's exciting. People are everywhere and they're all here because they love the same thing. The best part? We always have food! If you haven't ever been to our dealership on a Saturday...you need to. Granted, if you've never been here, you can come on any day of the week. We'll welcome you even if it isn't the weekend :)

Today is the perfect example of the Saturday spirit. The weather has picked up in the last week. The snow has finally melted, after about 3 snowstorms that would rival anything Alaska has ever seen (ok, I'm exaggerating, but appreciate the dramatic effect). So we finally saw 60 degrees for the first time in 2010, had over 1,000 people in the dealership this week...and today will not disappoint. We've already had over 300 people through our doors and we've still got another 2 hours left. Mind you, it's spitting down rain and has been all day. And yet, everyone is still in a great mood. These people want to ride so bad they can taste it.

Heard enough? Well let's just throw in that we're giving away a $150 gift card every Saturday in March and a $500 gift card in April! Have I intrigued you yet? Good. Come visit.

- Nicki :)

National Ladies Garage Party Month!

2010-03-08T14:45:00.006-05:00

For those of you who don't already know, March has been declared the official Ladies Garage Party Month by Harley-Davidson. Basically, this means you women are in for a great party! I'm in the process of putting together the agenda for our garage party that will be on Wednesday, March 24th. If you haven't already RSVP'd, you'll want to do it soon because we've already got over 40 women attending!

This garage party is going tobe a little bit different in that we're offering an "advanced path" for those ladies who have been to one of our garage parties before. I think this will allow for more interesting stations, especially if you have seen the others already! Here is what you need to know about a garage party: great food, great gals, great info, and great prizes. It's totally free to attend and we encourage you to bring your friends. Especially the ones who have never been exposed to the sport of motorcycling! We love newbies :) And I will leave you with a few photos of ladies enjoying our past garage parties...just to give you an idea of what you're in for.

See ya soon! Nicki :)

SUN!

2010-03-04T17:44:00.002-05:00

THE SUN WAS SHINING...all...day...long! Nothing more needs to be said.

P.S. Convertible, PT Cruiser, and Jeep drivers - 36 degrees does not constitute driving with the top down. We are all excited that the sun, but not THAT excited. If you want the wind in your face that bad - get on a bike!!

:) - Nicki

2010-03-01T12:48:00.002-05:00

Maybe I'm biased. Maybe I have been swayed. But whatever the reason, I feel compelled to gush about our HOG chapter for a few moments. I would argue that Tuscarawas County, OH has one of the best, most loyal, and active HOG chapters in the country. I couldn't ask for a more reliable and passionate group of people.

Here are a few examples of what makes them so unbelievable. We host a monthly HOG Chapter meeting at the dealership. We provide the food, and they provide the excitement. Let me just tell you, I cannot remember the last time I went to one of those meetings and left without a smile on my face. It's just awesome to see such a large group of people so enthusiastic about the sport we represent. It's what Harley is all about. And I also can't remember the last time we had less than 100-120 people at a meeting. Keep in mind these people are traveling up to 70 miles to get here...ONE WAY! They're taking time out of their busy schedules just to spend a few hours with a group of people who share a common interest. It's awesome to see!

Another reason why I love our HOG chapter so much is a bit of a selfish one. You see, I am in charge of the planning and implementation of all dealership events. Thus, the Marketing Manager title. Well, while these events are always fun and exciting for the people participating in them, I could never pull them off without the help of volunteers. And I could never find those volunteers if we didn't have such an amazing HOG chapter. Allow me to illustrate. Last weekend, we hosted an in-store poker run. On Wednesday, I found myself a few people short on volunteers. I needed about 10 to pull off the poker run without a hitch. I sent an email out to our HOG members expecting that maybe a few of them would respond and I would have the amount of volunteers I needed. I sent the email out around 10am. By 3pm, I had received over 30 people offering to help! That's three zero people! It was overwhelming both because I was so appreciative and so taken aback by their willingess to give up a Saturday afternoon to help me.

I could go on for hours about how lucky we are but I will end with this. If you have a Harley, and you live in Tuscarawas County, this is a group you definitely want to be involved in. They have rides at least once or twice a week every week in the Summer, and they're just a great group of people from all walks of life. I feel blessed to be a part of it and I hope everyone else feels the same. Ok, I'm done gushing now. :)

SNOWPOCALYPSE 2010!

2010-02-10T12:48:00.010-05:00

So, apparently mother nature is not a biker. She decided to spew about a foot and a half of snow onto our beautiful roads. She thought it would be funny to cover any sign of a parking lot within a hundred mile radius. She spit in the faces of millions of bikers who want to ride like rightnow! Well, if nothing else, her creation is very pretty and we know it won't be around forever. So for now, let us marvel in the beauty that is mother nature shall we? Welcome to Ohio...

Ready to Roll in 2010!

2010-02-10T12:29:00.002-05:00

Well folks, 2009 came and went and we have officially entered the world of 2010. I hope you all enjoyed your holidays as much as we did here at Adventure. And of course, with the new year comes new excitement! We have plunged into the middle of February already and man are we excited about the year that is to come.

We already had a great January with an EXTREME GIVEAWAY promotion. Every Saturday in January, we gave away a different item. First a leather jacket, then boots, a helmet, and sunglasses. Each Saturday you came in, you got an extra entry that went into our extreme giveaway drawing, where one person would win all four prizes! That drawing was held on January 30th at 3pm. Since you had to be here to win, the dealership was packed with hundreds of people awaiting the lucky name. Michael Wanosik was the lucky winner. He said he hadn't been to our dealership before but came with a friend. This just goes to show how one trip to Adventure can have you walking away with over $1,000 in merchandise! :)

Needless to say, we have an even more exciting February planned with a Super Bowl guessing game (to win a 2010 Super Glide Custom!) and 3 different poker runs. And March will be full of giveaways. I hope you find the time to swing by the dealership because there's always something going on at Adventure!

- Nicki

Hello Again!

2009-12-10T19:25:00.002-05:00

Wow - it's been a while since I wrote last! We've been doing a lot on the social media scene. We've grown to over 6,000 fans on Facebook and are also active on Twitter and Linked In. Hopefully you can follow us on some of these. We're headed into the core holiday shopping season and we are stocked and ready to go! If you can't find what you're looking for here - tell one of our associates and we'll do our best to get you what you're looking for. We also are offering free gift wrapping every Saturday until Christmas. I promise to do a better job of keeping you informed on here! Next Thursday is Men's Night (don't miss it guys). Next Saturday Santa will be here and Jess from My Museum Tattoo Studio will be doing on-the-spot tattoos. Happy Holidays everyone. See you soon...
- Nicki

1,053 Pound Pumpkin

2009-10-15T12:44:00.004-04:00

It's a true story. We have a 1,053 pound pumpkin outside our front doors. And it proudly wears our dealership colors. Thanks to the artistic efforts of Brenda and Cathy (2 of our very talented staff members), this pumpkin is not only awed because of it's size, but because of it's BEAUTY! The Adventure logo splashed on the front of the pumpkin is displayed for all onlookers to view as they pass by, conveniently facing the highway. Come check it out. I think you'll get a kick out of it. I know I've never seen anything like it. It puts me in the mood for fall weather. ~Nicki

Big "A" Fan!

2009-10-02T10:27:00.005-04:00

Catchy title, right? Allow me to explain. Everyone likes to have a trademark, something they can be remembered by. Well, it just so happens we have the LARGEST FAN KNOWN TO MANKIND smack dab in the middle of our showroom. I kid you not, the LARGEST ceiling fan you will ever see in your life. We're talking a 40 foot, 9-wing steel fan that emits cool air better than a crisp autumn day. I tried to get photos, but pictures don't do this thing justice. The best part? It was made by a company called the Big A** Fan company. I wasn't using the word for dramatic effect. Have I peaked your interest yet? Mark my words...you want to see this massive steel contraption. If nothing else, you can leave our dealership knowing you just saw a big a** fan!

http://www.bigassfans.com/powerfoil_x

- Nicki :)

HARLEY DEMO FLEET

2009-09-16T16:03:00.002-04:00

This past Friday/Saturday, we had the pleasure of hosting the Harley-Davidson Demo Fleet. And let me tell you, there's a reason it's called a "fleet." They thundered into our dealership with 17 - that's right - SEVENTEEN 2010 Harley-Davidson models. The most exclusive, the most saught after, and the most hardcore features ever seen on Harley-Davidson motorcycles. I shouldn't have been surprised that we were completely booked for 2 days straight. You read that correctly. We did not have one opening on Saturday - completely booked. We sent over 100 rides out on those beautiful new bikes.

I must say, since I was the one running the demo booth the whole time, that the heavy favorites were definitely the Ultra Limited, Screamin' Eagle Softail Convertible, and of course the ever-popular VROD Muscle. Personally, I'm a fan of the convertible, but to each his/her own. My mom came in to help me register people on Saturday and as someone who was just recently introduced into the "world of Harley" - she was blown away by the participation. I'm sure it helped that it was 70 and sunny with a slight breeze, but I like to think it's because everyone loves coming to our dealership.

Well I'll leave you with this thought...last year we were rained out both days, this year we were completely booked both days. I think the wheel of good fortune is turning in our direction, don't you?

:) Nicki

2010's ARE IN!!

2009-08-27T11:31:00.002-04:00

Alright everyone - the much anticipated 2010 Harley-Davidson motorcycles are not only rolling through our doors on a daily basis, but we want to make sure you have a chance to test ride them! We have 3 demo days planned in the next 3 weeks. If you can't come up with some excuse to get yourself down here and get on one of these bikes, then I can't help you!

Here's what the schedule looks like right now. We have a demo day this Saturday, August 29th from 10am - 3pm with the following bikes available to ride: Ultra, Road Glide Custom, Wide Glide, XR1200, Road King, Heritage, Fat Bob, Street Glide, Softail Custom. Every rider gets a free gift and all you need is a valid endorsement and a helmet. Please wear long pants.

In 2 weeks we have the privilege of hosting the Harley-Davidson® demo truck on Friday & Saturday, September 11-12. This will be during our HUGE Fall Open House. They will have a complete lineup of 2010 models availabe to test ride: Friday 10am-5pm and Saturday 10am-3pm. We'll also have a sidewalk sale, cookout, and a special for all veterans and public officials that day.

And of course, if you can't make it to one of our demo days, you are always welcome to take a bike out any day of the week...just say the word. We offer demo rides on any bike may be interested in purchasing. So I hope to see you all within the next couple weeks to check out the amazing innovations in the 2010 models. Screw it, Let's Ride!!

:) - Nicki

Thunder Thru The Valley

2009-08-17T13:27:00.004-04:00

On Saturday, August 15Th Adventure Harley-Davidson held it's 2ND annual Benefit Poker run called Thunder Thru The Valley. This Poker run benefited the Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio. We had an amazing turn out for this free poker run! There were 131 bikes and 213 people!!

The highest hand won a $250 Adventure Harley-Davidson Gift Card and the lowest hand won a $100 Adventure Harley-Davidson Gift Card. Everyone that participated had a wonderful time and a beautiful ride.

The first stop on the ride was the Pine Tree Barn in Wooster. "Pine Tree Barn is a restored Dutch bank barn featuring over 25,000 sq. ft. of home furnishings and interior design, gift shops, and a gourmet luncheon restaurant."

After leaving this location, the ride headed to Quailcrest Farm. "Located just on the edge of Ohio's Amish country, this family business was begun as a perennial nursery in 1975. Quailcrest is well known throughout the state for its herbs, perennials, old roses, flowering shrubs and scented gerenaiums for the serious and hobby gardener. They offer a wealth of gardening information and ideas as well as eclectic shopping, relaxing gardens, woods to wander in,an assortment of dogs and cats, sunshine and fresh air!"

The third stop was the Dalton Dariette in Dalton, OH. The ride's forth and final stop was Lehman's Hardware in Kidron, OH. This company was founded in 1955 by Jay Lehman. "They serve the local Amish and others without electricity. Lehman's ships old fashioned, high quality merchandise all over the world."

The Thunder Thru the Valley Poker run raised $1,500 for the Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Central Ohio. Adventure Harley-Davidson would like to give a huge THANK YOU to everyone that participated! Big Brothers Big Sisters had a large number of volunteers to help make things go as smooth as possible. A big thank you to all of the volunteers!

Keep your eyes open for our new events that are coming up! And as always, come in and visit us! We would love to see you!

Escorting the Wall

2009-08-17T12:18:00.006-04:00

On Thursday, August 6Th Adventure Harley-Davidson was part of something AMAZING! We were involved in the escorting of the Traveling Vietnam Memorial Wall.

The day started out with a ride from Adventure to Cambridge to meet up with the rest of the escorting bikes. We only anticipated 50 bikes for the ride to Cambridge, and we ended up having around 80 bikes! What a great turn out! In order to keep all of the bikes in one continuous line, Nicki had to use her tiny blue Ford Focus to block traffic on 39. That was quite a site to see! People were a little irritated at the momentary stop in traffic, but we didn't care. We were too excited to see all of the beautiful bikes in one large group and listening to the loud bikes zoom past us. After the line of bikes as out, we quickly hopped into Nicki's car and followed them. Bud was directly behind the bikes and sweeping the ride with the trailer. If a bike broke down, he would be there to put the bike in the trailer, and we would give the folks a ride in Nicki's car.

We made it to Cambridge safe and sound. I have never seen so many bikes in one place! there had to have been about 2,000 of them!! Nicki and I walked about the giant parking-lot and handed out free dealer t-shirt coupons to all of the bikers. It was a BEAUTIFUL day! Perfect for escorting the wall. A few hours passed and we were ready to hit the road. We also swept the big ride from Cambridge to Dennison.

Escorting the wall made me feel like a part of history. As we drove down the highway, people were standing on the overpasses with American flags and waving at the bikers. Nicki was honking the horn as we both had our hands out the windows waving at the people watching the ride. When we got to Uhrichsville and Dennison, we were part of a parade! We laughed because we looked so out of place. People were probably wondering how a little Ford Focus got mixed up in a parade of 2,000 motorcycles! I rolled my window down and waved like a beauty queen to the people on the sidewalks. Some people smiled and waved back, others gave me a confused look as if to say "Who are you?". I had a fun time pretending to be the Motorcycle Princess.
The entire experience was very heart-warming. Knowing that all of those men and women lost their lives for a greater cause made me even more proud to be an American. We live in a great country with dedicated patriots.

THANK YOU so much for everyone that came out for the ride! You were a part of history! And also, Thanks to everyone that watched our ride or worked the stands in Dennison.
Stop in a see us soon!

- Anna

I've Come So Far

2009-07-27T16:15:00.003-04:00

I am a proud employee of Adventure Harley-Davidson. I am a Marketing Student at the University of Akron and I am HAPPY to make the 45 minute drive to come to work everyday. Most people my age dread working during the summer. They would rather sleep in 'til noon, lay out by the pool, and get into trouble with friends when the sun goes down. But NOT me. My friends are HERE! I start every Saturday at 6:00am to make it to work at 8:00am and I wouldn't have it any other way. Just knowing that I will get to spend the day with my awesome co-workers is enough to make me hop out of bed and get going. Each day gives me something to be excited about and I have grown SO MUCH as a person by working here.

When I first started at Adventure in March of 2008, I was a shy, soft-spoken 20 year old girl with a lot of social anxiety. Just ask Margie, our Motor Clothes Manager! She will tell you about when I had my first interview with her. Oh BOY, was I nervous! I got so nervous during the interview that I actually broke out in hives. Yes, hives. It happens when I get nervous. Don't judge me! Even though I was a bit skittish, Margie took me under her wing and my journey began! I don't know what was wrong with me way back then, but the wonderful people at Adventure brought me out of my shell.

I started out on the phones. Okay, I was the type of person that hated to talk to strangers on the phone. I was a afraid to call and order pizza for crying out loud! Now I would be handling 10 phones lines at once! HOLY COW! This is when I met Rita, my first mentor at Adventure. Rita is one of the coolest chicks you'll EVER meet. At first I just sat at her desk with her at watched her work the phones. She picked up line after line with no hesitation. I thought "Okay, Anna, you can do this. Just pace yourself", and by the end of the day, I was answering the phone, transferring calls, and taking messages like I was born for it! Rita's patience and confidence in me to do a good job is was pushed me to succeed.I really started to blossom when I got the hang of the phones. I gained self confidence and my interactions with others became better and better each day.

But I really started to become the girl I am today when I started in Motor Clothes. Margie decided that I would be good as a cashier in her department. SO, on a busy Saturday she threw me into the action! Jenn started to train me and I picked up on it right away. I was SO proud of myself. I was finding out so many new things about myself! I felt like I could do just about anything! Interacting with the customers was really awesome. I really enjoyed helping them find the things they were looking for and making the most of their shopping experience. Margie would always tell us that our customers are guests in our store, and we should treat them as so. Seeing the customers' smiling faces, and knowing that I helped make them happy, is very rewarding.

And now I am being mentored by Nicki, the Marketing Manager. I have already learned SO much! I have the coolest Internship in the world. It's never a dull moment around here and there is always something new to get excited about. I feel so lucky to work at such a well-known establishment. Harley-Davidson is a top runner in the Marketing world and I am getting some great experience for my degree and career. I couldn't ask for anything better!

Now when you see me, I have bright eyes and a big smile. I'm not afraid to walk up to anyone and ask them how they're doing. I have confidence in myself to take on anything that life throws at me!

I have gained so many things by working at this dealership and interacting with my co-workers. We are like one big family. It is awesome to know that I have so many people that genuinally care about me. So thanks to ALL of you that have made such a huge impact on me and helped me grow into the person I am today! I love you all!

-Anna
Marketing Intern and Adventure Family Member

Meeting New People Everyday!

2009-07-27T13:29:00.010-04:00

We're all about getting to know new people at Adventure, so don't be surprised if every single person within 5 feet of you asks you how you're doing. And unlike other places you've been, we really care what you have to say. I love listening to stories that customers have to share. Many of the people that we interact with are from out of state - or even out of the country! I remember one day this past winter, we had some gentlemen visit us from Italy! I enjoyed helping them pick out some souvenirs and learning some Italian. Each customer that walks through the door is his or her own individual, at we like to treat them that way!

Sometimes we get visited by pets as well! A young lady brought in her tiny tiny dog, Gidget! She is a Tea-Cup Chihuahua and Tea-Cup Yorkie mix, and, man, is she a cutie! I could hold her in the palm of my hand! Here she is pictured sitting on the receptionist's desk!

Gidget was very excited to be at Adventure Harley-Davidson. She was hopping around on the desk and taking a look at all the beautiful motorcycles.

I would have sold her a Harley collar, but she's so tiny none of them would fit her! The owner said that this is as big as she would get. Meeting Gidget make me want to get a new puppy. But unfortunately, I should wait until I graduate college.

Today while helping out in the Motor Clothes Department, I met a very polite young boy. I did not catch his name, but he has a great eye for cool clothes! I escorted him from clothes rack to clothes rack trying to find the perfect t-shirt for him. He was the cutest little boy I have ever met! "Oh yes, i like this shirt a lot. Is it a 7/8? Oh yes, this will fit me just perfectly", he said as he slipped his little arms into a super sweet gray Harley-Davidson Kids' zip-up hoodie. He really liked a gray Harley shirt with stripes down the sleeves. What a stylish young man! I hope he, and the rest of his family, stop back in to see us again!

Meeting new people is the best part about working at Adventure Harley-Davidson. Each day, our family grows! If you are ever lonely, bored, or just needing some friendly conversation, stop by our shop, we'll be happy to make you feel at home!

See You Soon!

Red, White, & Chrome

2009-07-22T14:39:00.012-04:00

Last Saturday was our 2nd annual American Red Cross Benefit Poker Run. All the proceeds from the day were donated to The American Red Cross Muskingum Lakes Chapter. Though the weather was a little chilly in the morning, the clouds eventually parted and the sun managed to peek its way through. As you'll see here, we did have some folks take off before the sun made its appearance!

And the Harley-loving children found ways to occupy themselves while their parents were waiting to take off on the ride!

The Red Cross had volunteers helping with everything from registration, grilling, and 50/50 tickets! Check out those Red Cross volunteers hard at work!

Some of you may recognize this culinary expert. That's Chad Conrad, the Executive Director of the American Red Cross Muskingum Lakes Chapter! He contributed a lot of hands-on help for the run!

When the riders returned to Adventure after the run, which visited Heini's Cheese Chalet, Java Jo's Coffee Bar, Heini's Gourmet Market, and Broadrun Cheese House, they got to enjoy a complimentary dinner, dj, and door prizes.

What a great day. We ended up with TONS of bikes, even more people, and everyone had an awesome time. I know what you're thinking...I have to say that :) But really - we had fun and I got plenty of positive feedback. Join us for our 2nd annual FREE poker run on Saturday, August 15! And check out our other upcoming events at www.adventurehd.com/dealership.

- Nicki

I'll Never Eat Apple Pie AGAIN!!

2009-07-09T12:53:00.010-04:00

On the 4Th of July, Adventure Harley-Davidson put on a Apple Pie Eating contest. At first, men were excited to sign up and boast about how they would win the competition. However, when chow time came around, they were meek as mice. The names started to drop off the list as the pies were being set out for the feast. I thought to myself "What would get these guys to do this contest?" and I had an idea. "I'LL DO IT!" I screamed to Nicki, our Marketing Manager.

I figured that my "put me in coach" attitude would get the guys to man up and compete. I mean, I'm a girl and weigh about half as much as any man that walks in this dealership. Surely they could win a pie eating contest against me. And, of course, they couldn't let a GIRL win! So I put on my apron, tied back my hair, and got ready for WAR! I told the guys that I would show no mercy, so they'd best bring their A-games.

People couldn't believe that the girly marketing intern was about to shove her face into a apple pie, but it was about to happen! The four of us took our seats and began to mentally prepare for battle. I chanted a few mantras in my head and tried to Zen myself out.

"Hands behind your backs!..... GET READY!!!....... GO!!" and we were off! I slammed my face into the pie and took the biggest bite I could. The crust was thick and dry, and I needed a drink of water right off the bat, but I just chewed through it.

I could hear the crowd cheering for us.

Family members calling out names, co-workers giving me words of encouragement. One would have thought we were running a marathon, rather than just eating apple pies! "Chew Chew Chew! Bite! Chew Chew Chew!" I tried to pace myself the best I could. After eating about 1/4 of the pie, I felt my tummy say "NO MORE! WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO ME?!" and I made the decision to bow out of the competition. I had done my duty to the dealership by getting people excited about the contest, so I did not feel too bad about stopping early. The contest went on without me and the guys did AWESOME!

Bill (looking ever so full in this picture) ate his ENTIRE apple pie. I couldn't believe it! All of the sugar from only the 1/4 pie I ate was making my heart pound, I can only imagine what a WHOLE pie would do to me! The three guys that participated all got Adventure T-Shirts, and the winner, Bill (pictured to the left) got a $100 gift card! Too bad we don't sell pies here at the dealership, he could have bought a whole box full!

All in all, I am glad I stepped up to the plate and got my face a little dirty. We are all about FUN here at Adventure, and I had a BLAST on the 4Th of July!

- Anna (Marketing Intern & Apple Pie Expert)

Happy Anniversary To Us!

2009-06-30T11:31:00.016-04:00

Saturday was an awesome day here at Adventure. We had the priviledge of celebrating our 6th anniversary with 2,300 of our closest friends! Really though, it was pretty incredible. We had a day packed full of fun for riders and families alike.

Jessica from MyMuseum Tattoo Studio was doing on-the-spot tattoos. For those of you who aren't from around here, you may not understand the magnitude of what this means. Let me give you a little insight. Jessica has an 11 month waiting list before people can get work done. She is just that good. So when she was here, people had the opportunity to jump the list and get tattoo'd on the spot. Needless to say she was booked through the whole day by about 9:30am.

While the adults thoroughly enjoyed Jess being here, we had to make sure to provide some entertainment for the kids, too. So what did we do? We brought in a clown of course! This do-it-all clown was complete with facepainting, prizes, and all sorts of fun kids games.

So the little boy above had already gotten his face painted and played some games, but we thought he needed a little more entertainment. So we had some guys flip through the air upside down.

Don't worry. That's not our sales team up there! We brought in the Flat Out Freestyle stunt team from Chicago Illinois. We've had them here one other time and botht times have been a huge hit. With our dealership located right next to the highway, I would love to have been in the heads of the people driving past and seeing motorcycles flip through the air!

And obviously you can't have an event without food and music. So The Point Restaurant of Cambridge came and set up their log cabin. By the looks of the line, I'd say they were pretty busy, wouldn't you? And Sneeky Peek gave us a live performance for 4 hours via the parking lot.

Overall, I would say Saturday was maybe the most fun I've had since I have worked here. It was just a great day for everyone. Everything ran smoothly, we had perfect weather, and there was enough going on to keep the whole family having a great time all day. If you missed Saturday, don't worry - we have new things happening at our dealership al lthe time. Visit our website at www.adventurehd.com to find out what's to come this week and hopefully we'll see you very soon!

- Nicki

Ohio State HOG Rally!

2009-06-17T16:35:00.020-04:00

The Ohio State HOG Rally took place on Saturday, June 13th, 2009. HOG members from all over the state of Ohio hit the road and had a blast! Over one hundred bikes revved their engines in Zanesville and made the trip to Adventure Harley-Davidson for some lunch. We served burgers and hot dogs to the hungry HOG members as a reward for their dedication to riding.

I'm Anna! I'm the marketing Intern at Adventure Harley-Davidson and I LOVE it! What other college student gets to go to work and have a BLAST with so many awesome customers and co-workers?! Events like the Ohio State HOG Rally make my job ten times better.

As I stood at the grill, working on my culinary skills and burger flipping technique, I heard a rumble like Zeus himself was coming my way on a Fat Boy. There they were! One hundred beautiful Harley-Davidson Motorcycles riding through the sunshine. "Flip Faster! Flip Faster" I said to myself, "These bikers are going to need some grub!" I did my best to get enough food on and off the grill in time to feed the big crowd. It was a success! Everyone walked away with a full tummy and a smile on his or her face! :) We had a few casualties along the way, however. As the fallen burger and hot dog soldiers hit the concrete Sarah and I yelled "MAN DOWN! MAN DOWN!" We had a good laugh about that, but right back to work.

Even though I smelled like a burger, and lost all of my knuckle hair to the flaming grill, I couldn't stop smiling! I have the best Internship EVER!

But enough about me, I'll let you take a look at some pictures of the State HOG Rally. If you attended the event, look for yourself in some of the pictures! If you couldn't make it, be on the look out for next year's! Just like EVERY event at Adventure, everyone had an awesome time! So, don't miss out on anymore events.

Keep up on our events by checking our website: http://www.hmhd.com/

There weren't just bikers from Ohio at the dealership on Saturday! Riders came from all over the United States, and some of them had some pretty vanity plates!

We had a heck of a crowd at the dealership! I was so happy to see SO MANY bikers!

Don't be shy to stop by Adventure! We love meeting new people, and keeping up with the friends that we already have!

Get out there and RIDE!

-Anna

Step Out of Your Comfort Zone: Customer Testimony

2009-06-10T15:24:00.001-04:00

My name is Jackie Mason. I used to love to jump on the back seat of anyone’s bikes to get a ride. Unfortunately, the rides were few and far between. I though, I can do this myself. I had some money saved and I went to the H&M Harley-Davidson dealership in Dover, OH. With my husband’s support – even though he didn’t ride at the time (now he has an Electra Glide Standard), I bought a 2004 pearl white Sportster. I enrolled in the MSF course, learned to ride, and got my endorsement.

We live in the country on a dirt road – up a hill. Comfort zone? I found I can ride on my township road – gravel, ruts, washboard hills and all! You just do what you have to if you want to ride!

I have since graduated from my Sportster to a 2006 Softail Heritage Classic. Pearl white, of course, and lots of chrome! I am also the proud owner of a 2008 Crossbone – Pearl Olive Green.

I looked forward to attending Adventure Harley-Davidson (formally H&M) events. One night the dealership held a “Ladies Garage Party”. Out of my comfort zone, I went without knowing anyone else there! It was great! The food, the seminars and… another escape from my comfort zone! I overheard two women talking about going to the ladies ride to Napoleon, Ohio. So… I introduced myself and asked if I could go with them.

Barb and Janet were very nice. Both experienced riders, but it had been years since they had ridden until recently. We hit it off immediately! That was the start of a great friendship! Both ride Harley-Davidson Deluxe bikes. Bard a Maroon 2005, and Janet a Blue 2008.

We made that trip to Napoleon and had a tremendous adventure! Now we make the “Women Ride” to Napoleon our first “official” ride of the season. Along the way, we have picked up other women riders, but it always seems to go back to the original three: Barb, Janet and myself.

I urge any and all ladies – Step out of your comfort zone – learn to ride, get on two wheels, introduce yourself, go on rides with other lady riders. Be safe, be smart and have a fun time out of you comfort zone!

We Went HOG WILD!

2009-06-10T13:30:00.011-04:00

On Saturday, May 30, we had our 5th Annual HOG WILD party and man was it a party! With over 1,100 people in our door that day - it was quite the day. We had a charity BBQ to benefit 5 local charities (P.A.L. Mission, MDA, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, American Red Cross, and Hospice) and gave a $500 donation to the charity with the best BBQ sauce (judged by donations from our customers). MDA won the best sauce, and with everything combined, we raised over $3400 split between the charities.

We had a HUGE sidewalk sale - with people EVERYWHERE!! With the Music by Mobile Jams, and vendors doing charicatures, insurance quotes, pinstriping, drag racing...the day was eventful and full of energy. The New Philadelphia Stars girls softball team raised over $700 for their team selling pop, water, and chips and seemed to have a great time doing it.

WHAT A GREAT DAY! Don't worry - if you missed it, we've got plenty more going on this summer. Our Anniversary Celebration is on June 27th so bring your family to enjoy stunt teams, a live band, vendors, bikes, and great food.

Nicki Snyder

Marketing Manager

RIDE ON, LADIES...RIDE ON!

2009-05-21T14:27:00.006-04:00

May is Women Riders Month. Basically just a time that ladies can get together and affirm that they are not alone in this big, bad Harley world. While years ago, women riders would have been found few and far between, the Harley population is slowly raising it's estrogen level year after year. Up until recent years, Harley's were considered too big, too rough, too "manly" for women, and we are so proud of the women that step up to the line and say, "Bring it. If a man can ride one, I can ride one, and probably be better at it." Whose to say what originally brought about the idea of a Harley being purely a man's sport. They also used to believe that women didn't deserve fair wages and that pants were innappropriate, yet, take me as an example, as I stand here in one of approximately 20 pairs of jeans I own, working at one of the best Harley dealers in the land! The thought that women can't/shouldn't ride Harleys just comes from a long line of small thinkers, and we are an open minded world now, it just doesn't mesh anymore. In the Harley world, chromosomes and hormones hold no power, the only matter is what your sitting on, flying down the road. I've never heard of one Harley rider snubbing another because of gender, or race for that matter, or any other lame physical attribute people love segregating by. Our world is, and will always be one of free thinking, passion and rebellious spirit and centralized around one love: for Harley Davidson motorcycles.

In honor these incredibly strong, independent women- we hosted our first ever WOMEN RIDERS MIXER yesterday exclusively for women riders and were blown away by the success of it! It's amazing to see how many women are out there riding just searching for someone else to ride with. They found each other at Adventure last night. A great time was had by all, and we will follow up our women riders month celebration with an ice cream ride next Wednesday, May 27th at 6pm.

RIDE ON LADIES, RIDE ON!

FIRST BIKE NIGHT

2009-05-18T13:06:00.009-04:00

We were blessed with nearly perfect weather for our first bike night of 2009 at Texas Roadhouse! Granted, the sun could have shot down just a LITTLE more warmth, but no one was complaining. Every new owner from the winter months was invited to come on a ride with us then head over to Texas Roadhouse with a free dinner for 2. We were more than pleased when over FIFTY bikes showed up to take the ride! It was the most new owners we have ever had on one ride...

Once we got to the Roadhouse, the night didn't cease to amaze me. We had over 250 bikes throughout the evening. People came from all over to hang out, eat some food, win some door prizes, and listen to music. It would have been hard to deny the enthusiasm and excitement of riders enjoying the beautiful weather and atmosphere.

If you missed this bike night, don't worry. We'll continue to have them all summer long! Join us the 2nd Tuesday of every month at Texas Roadhouse from 7-9pm. Hope to see you there!

Nicki Snyder

Marketing Manager

Look at all the.....CARS?!

2009-05-07T15:55:00.017-04:00

So last Saturday we hosted the annual Classic Cruisers Car Show from 9am until 3pm. Although I have not been witness to every car show here at the dealership, I would venture to say this was the best ever! We had 100 cars entered into the show, which far surpassed last year's number.

The weather could not have been better! There was a slight risk of rain in the morning, but those car lovers must have chased it off because by noon the sun was shining and the people were coming.

DJ Spike Man, Ohio's most sought after car show DJ, graced us with his presence and did a spectacular job. I swear he had new people talking to him every time I turned around! People love this guy!

Wild Wes Pinstriping was set up all day and stayed very busy. He does a great job giving a personalized look to any bike. And...he painted the side of Spike Man's Truck. Truly a jack of all trades.

Not only that, but the Air Force came out with their HUGE monster truck - man was that a hit! And Hospice of Tuscarawas County raised over $700 selling pop and hot dogs! What a great day!

In the end, over 75 trophies were given out and we had just about 700 people visit our store on Saturday. It was definitely a change of pace to have so many CARS in the parking lot - but a welcome one. We had a lot of fun and it seemed as though everyone else did too.

SEE YOU SOON!

Nicki Snyder

Marketing Manager

Ode to Adventure

2009-04-22T14:58:00.004-04:00

The fog is lifting, the mist is thick
Light breaks through, it's source cosmic

Vehicles bustle by, amidst the highway
An ominous purr heard far away

Lights switch on, music plays louder
Chrome shines bright in the early morning hour

Engines revv; hear them roar
The thrill of the sound that rocks your core

Our doors unlock, the people appear
No more waiting, the season is here

So come one, come all, come have some fun
The time is now at Adventure Harley Davidson!

Dirt...

2009-04-08T09:40:00.002-04:00

There is dirt falling from the sky. Ok, you got me. Not dirt per se, the exact definition is crystalline water molecules frozen around a small particle of dirt. That's right, snow people. Snow. But it's gonna take a lot more than some snow to keep true Harley riders down. No, they are still out, still riding. The only exception being they appear less like actual human riders and more like michelin-man-esque piles of gear, but hey, as long as you can swing one leg over the bike, you're good to go!!

The irony of the snow is not wasted on the motorclothes department, as we got our first shipment of SUMMER PRODUCTS in! So, as we scurry about, putting out the brand new skirts, tanks, jeans, and blow-out vests, the snow falls in drifts outside our walls. That's ok, never fear. We won't ever let a few flakes of snow ruin our good time. This is Ohio, snow in April is nothing new. So, we will just continue to ignore it, wear our new summer line of clothing under approximately 7 to 8 layers of clothing, and get our hogs on the road!!

Chelsea McIntyre
Motorclothes Associate

GOLD BAR & SHIELD AWARD!

2009-04-06T16:35:00.000-04:00

Wow, we did it again! I got a text message at 10:59pm from our District Manager at Harley-Davidson that said "You won, Adventure Harley-Davidson is a Gold Bar and Shield Circle of Excellence recipient." This is our second year in a row winning Gold Bar and Shield. Winning the first time was difficult, winning two years in a row is monumental. You see, Gold Bar and Shield means you are recognized as one of the top 25 Harley Dealerships in the country. Out of almost 700 dealerships, this is a great honor, as many dealerships have never won.

When Franscene and I bought the dealership in 2003, we had many goals. Build a new facility, be the dealership of choice for our customers, employees, and the Harley-Davidson Motor Company. We also wanted win a Gold Bar and Shield award. Bar and Shield is a measurement of your customer satisfaction, employee training, sales performance, facilities, and overall dealership efficiency. You don't win Gold Bar and Shield by yourself. You win it with the hard efforts of a lot of people.

Winning Gold B&S to me is confirmation. Confirmation that our plan to take care of our customers and employees was correct. Confirmation that we have the RIGHT people. Our dealership team from the Managers, technicians and service staff, sales departments, administrative, marketing, and the people in the back you never see, is loaded with GREAT people. We know to be recognized as a Gold B&S dealership that many people had to support the effort and pull in the same direction. We also know that many loyal customers and HOG chapter members who support us and volunteer at our events had to step up to help us win. These people have worked side by side with us as we have worked to make this a great dealership.

We are very proud as a team of this accomplishment! But, we also know this is recognition of last year's performance and that we have set a standard that our customers, fellow associates, and the Motor Company expects from us. We don't take that lightly and we will do everything we can to perform even better this year for our stakeholders; our customers, employees, and the Motor Company.

So if you are reading this we thank you, because you in some way contributed to our success and we recognize and appreciate that!

Mike Davis
Dealer Principal

Spring Has Sprung

2009-04-02T12:13:00.000-04:00

Spring has sprung. Sprung right from the area. The teaser warm spell we had for about two weeks is making us all a little bitter, while offering some hope for the future. The stream of giddy customers, however, has not slowed. Good old Ohio weather keeps us all on our toes, and makes gearing up for riding an interesting situation. Thank goodness Harley Davidson does really well with coming out with extremely versatile gear, for those days when it starts out at 12 degrees fahrenheit and shoots to 90 by noon. (Anyone who's lived in Ohio a while knows this is not that big of an exaggeration). We always have a wide range of jackets, and a fifteen minute long spiel I won't get into on here, but will gladly tell you in store. (Consists of explaining some of the many features of our jackets, with large gestures and an excited tone that just can't be conveyed via text, so I won't ruin it. Just ask me in store.)

The changing weather also makes merchandising/dressing mannequins/maintaining sanity a feat as well. We try to keep the clothes most relevant to the season right up front, so they're easier to find. (It was once suggested we should hide them, and print up treasure maps, but people were finding it difficult to follow the little white rabbit down the yellow brick road....) But, lately, the weather has been throwing us into a frenzy, trying to decide what people need at any given hour of any given day. We recently flipped our entire department in hopes of making it easier, and certainly succeeded in confusing our employees. Now, upon entering, you will find the men's section is right up front, riding gear in the middle and women's/children's in the back. This sort of streamlined the shopping experience. You will also notice the ever-moving, ever-changing mannequins floating around the shop. These poor beings are poked, prodded, adjusted and get a complete outfit makeover every 2-3 weeks. Their existence is one of being dressed, undressed, and dressed again, with the sinking feeling of only being appreciated for their torsos. Right now, you'll find some of our dark custom line donning the mannequins by the customer lounge, and for the mannequins by our F&I offices? Rain suits! (In case you ever wondered or needed to know, legs and arms make wearing rain suits infinitely less complicated.) So, your next visit by, please take the time to check out our mannequins. They are desperate for your attention, and the only happiness the have in life is showing off some sweet Harley Davidson Apparel!!

Chelsea McIntyre
Motorclothes Associate

Ladies Garage Party!

2009-03-28T09:07:00.016-04:00

Ladies Garage Party. Three words that don't instinctively go together. But when executed correctly, those three words become an awesome learning experience introducing women into the world of riding. This past Wednesday, Adventure hosted a Ladies Garage Party with nearly 70 women in attendance!

The night began with delicious appetizers from Dante's Pizza and Pasta House, immediately followed with all the fixings of a chocolate fountain. Chocolate covered strawberries, chocolate covered peanut butter cookies, chocolate covered marshmallows...let's be honest, what's not to love?

After appetizers and dessert, every woman in attendance had the opportunity to have her photo taken on a yellow '09 Screamin' Eagle Fat Bob. Some chose to have individual photos, and some with friends. The photos were put into custom Adventure photo frames and passed out for the women to take as souvenirs, along with the other items in the "goody bags" given out to attendees at the start of the evening.

After photos, the real fun began. The women were separated into 5 groups as they traveled through our 5 fun and educational work stations. The first station was all about how to pick up a dropped motorcycle. Cathy G, one of our service writers, along with our Service Manager Jim demonstrated the correct technique while answering questions and talking through the process. After reading the post party surveys, this station was the heavy favorite for the night.

The next station was in the Motorclothes Department. Margie, our Motorclothes Manager, along with her staff, talked with the ladies about the proper gear when getting ready to ride. Each woman also got a one-on-one consultation with one of our Motorclothes associates and a personal shopping experience.

Next was the Custom Chrome station. Two of our favorite Ladies of Harley members, Jackie and Barb, brought in photos and showed the women how they customized their own bikes. Barb talked about how she customized her 2005 black cherry Softail Deluxe. And Jackie has done it twice! First with her 2006 glacier white Softail Custom and most recently with her 2008 olive pearl Crossbones.

After that, the women moved on to the Rider's Edge station, led by our Operations Manager Sarah. Sarah talked about her experience taking the class and how 3 years ago, it gave her the confidence to now ride her 2007 colbalt blue and white pearl Softail Deluxe. At this station, we also signed up quite a few women for our summer classes!

The last, but certainly not least, station was the Bike Sales station. This is where the women got to actually sit on the bikes, start them up, and get the engine going! We set up our giant fan to blow in their faces giving the illusion of the open road.

Overall, the women seemed to have a fantastic time. Of course it doesn't hurt that we ended the evening with over 20 door prizes and shopping time! So to recap, Ladies Garage Party are 3 words that may not SEEM to go together, but they sure make for one heck of a party!

Nicki Snyder

Marketing Manager

NEW Bluetooth Enabled Helmet!

2009-03-23T20:39:00.001-04:00

Adventure is a highly appropriate name for this venue. Not a dull day in the bunch, and it's all because of our customers and the product we get to sell. This past weekend, it was my job to sell Harley's next big thing: Bluetooth technology for your helmets. Some of you are nodding your head right now, trying to contain your excitement, and others are shaking your head in utter confusion wondering why anyone would want blue teeth and what that would have to do with a helmet.

To those confused, let me start from the beginning. Bluetooth is basically a hands-free/wire-free way to talk on your phone or listen to MP3's (Layman's terms: music). Have you ever seen the people walking down the street or in the mall, seemingly talking to no one/themselves/their invisible friend? There are two possible explanations: a.) They are crazy. Steer clear. b.) They most likely have a bluetooth in their ear. It looks like a tiny headphone that usually wraps around one ear, and will sync up with your phone or MP3 player so you don't have to have the hassle of holding a phone up to your face or getting yourself hopelessly tangled in the wires of headphones. For awhile we've had the convenience of bluetooth technology, but wasn't able to use it whilst on the bike, for lack of the available system and headphones. Well, fear no more.

Harley Davidson now has it's own bluetooth system! It's basic function is not different than any other bluetooth. What makes it special is that it can be installed in your helmet, so you don't have to risk your life and everybody else's to make/receive a phone call or listen to music. The basic premise is two headphones that velcro to the inside to the helmet, a velcro mic for full face helmets, and a stemmed mic for half or 3/4 helmets.

The system is sold with both full face and half helmet set ups, so no matter what you have, you're covered. The bluetooth comes with it's own clip, and just clips to the outside of the helmet, and simply plugs into the headphone/mic combos. You simply sync up your bluetooth capable device and go! What's even better, is we also sell a converter. This will make any non-bluetooth capable device.....well, bluetooth capable!! This would include older versions of cell phones, cd players, even a walkman if you please! This is a really sweet set-up, and proof that Harley is keeping up with the times! Next step, how to communicate to mars.........

Chelsea McIntyre
Motorclothes Associate

That Saturday Feeling

2009-03-21T09:37:00.006-04:00

I love Saturdays. I know what you're thinking. Most people love Saturdays because they get to enjoy the day off from work. Not me. I love Saturdays because I get to work. No you didn't read that wrong. As many of you may know, at a Harley-Davidson dealership, Saturdays are basically the culmination of everything we strive to be. The enthusiasm is palpable. Hundreds of people stroll through our dealership on the 6th day of every week, each with his (or her) own purpose. Some are browsing the showroom floor, making plans for that perfect set of wheels that sits in front of them. Some are looking for the perfect gift in our Parts or Motorclothes Departments. And some come just to hang out in our customer lounge sharing stories with other riders. Whatever the reason, whoever the person, everyone gets to enjoy free food and coffee and participate in a dealership activity. Today that activity happens to be a drawing for a $250 gift card. There is no better way to brighten someone’s day than to greet him or her at the door with a friendly “hello” followed by “how would you like to win $250”? It’s a quick way to make friends. :) The best part about Saturdays here at Adventure is the positive aura our customer’s bring in with them. The excitement is in the air and everyone shares the same passion. A simple “ready to ride?” can take two strangers from having never spoken before to instant friends. That's why we call our customers family. Family is about trust, loyalty, and enjoyment. So if you haven't joined the Adventure family already, you don't know what you're missing. Don't believe me? Come visit us on a Saturday and I'll guarantee you'll leave with a smile. I love Saturdays.

Nicki Snyder
Marketing Manager

It's 70 Degrees!

2009-03-18T11:28:00.000-04:00

It's mid March here in Ohio and 70 degrees outside! For those of you who get to enjoy warm weather year-round, you may not fully appreciate the magnitude of this statement. We have been anxiously awaiting this shift in weather for oh, about 5 months. The white stuff has finally melted, the sun is shining, and birds are singing. And more importantly, engines are REVVING! Cabin fever has come and gone and I don't know about you, but I'm over it.

Now that the weather is no longer an excuse, I fully expect to see your smiling faces at our dealership in the very near future! We've got a lot of really exciting things happening and if you don't visit us, you'll miss them.

As we round out the final weeks of March, don't forget to swing by our customer lounge to enter for a chance to win a weekend getaway to Milwaukee, complete with 2 tickets to the Harley-Davidson Museum and a 2-night stay at the Brumder Mansion Bed & Breakfast. You can sign up once every single day - so why wouldn't you?!?

Also keep in mind that every Saturday in March we are drawing for a $250 gift card. We draw at 3:00 every week and you don't have to be here to win. You only get one entry for this drawing, though, and we start over every Saturday.

This Saturday we have a special seminar on the new Bluetooth enabled helmet. This thing is wired to sync with everything! Margie (our Motorclothes manager) will be explaining how to use it and why the features are so beneficial.

So get on the road, stop in to see us, and keep an eye out for our SUMMER OF ADVENTURE calendar that will be posted on our website in a few days!

Nicki Snyder
Marketing Manager

Adventure Harley-Davidson

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NEW Bluetooth Enabled Helmet!