Harley Owners Group

So one of my best friends bought a sportster at eastern shore HD. They paid his membership into Mobile chapter of HOG. He wants me to join. Are there any HOG members on here? What really will HOG do for me that SAMCS doesn't. Not against joining, just wondering why i should?
Thanks for any input.

I have been a member for 25 years , I joined as a life member in 1987 .. You buy a new bike and you automatically get a one year membership in HOG .. I'm not a member of the local dealer sponsored chapter and will not be anymore ..

When we first joined HOG we joined the dealer sponsored chapter .. I been at this long before HOG ever started and HOG is not for us .. I do not like large group rides , nor a mixed variety of riding experience all thrown together in one group .. I dont care how many years one has ridden , IMO , most , not all , but most , HOG chapter members are not experienced riders ..

There are lots of cliques within the group , lots of people trying to be something they aren't ..

You may like it , you may not ..

I have never used the roadside service , have heard both sides of it "Great" and "Dont break down on the weekend" , "instant response" and "sat on the side of the road all weekend"

I had coachnet with my RV and I wud imagine that GoodSam , like coachnet is a much better roadside service ..

I have been a national member for 3 years. I will not join again. Lots of money and don't use it.

Been there, not doing it again. It really gets you nothing "extra" and even though they claim having a membercard gets you dealership discounts, most dealers do not honor it. There are fees for both the national membership and the local levels, so you pay twice. Your friend will find that out when he attends his first meeting, at least I did. The dealership paid for the national dues, but I still had to pay the local ones.

oopppss just realized your SAMS and mine were two different critters

I think being a member of national HOG is worth it. I have collected on their 4100 towing reimbursement a couple of times....regretfully. A number of perks with it as well.

Local HOG...been there...done that.....most likely never going back. It is only about $15 a year. But the one I joined ended up being a soap opera. often a lot of rookies trying to be bikers in there.

Thanks for all the input. I was leaning against it now I know not to Join.

I was a national member...$40/yr is a lot to spend on something I don't use....didn't really SEE the perks... The local group never contacted me and I never bothered with a meeting. I won't do large, organized rides for the same reason I never took my horses on large, organized rides. Just cuz ya own it, doesn't mean ya know how to control it... JMHO...

AMA is a better deal in my humble experience.

yeah keep saying gonna rejoin them , was a member back in 80's and 90's

They have some benefits as far as road help. They give pins for mileage, Maps, never been to a meeting though. It's about 45 a year or so. Oh and you can get a pin at Daytona.

Local HOG to me was a large group of posers. Most what everyone has said here sums it up pretty good.