Despite this legacy, Harley Davidson has gotten old.

In post WWII America, young veterans seeking to live on the edge sought Harley Davidson motorcycles as their symbol of rebellion. At this time, an explosion of motorcycle clubs hit the streets from California to Maine. In later decades, movies like The Wild One and Easy Rider cemented Harley Davidson and the biker lifestyle in American culture.

So, how did Harley get old?

Somehow, Harley Davidson failed to capture younger motorcycle riders after the 1970s. As a result, Harley’s customer base is mainly made up of men in their 40s and older. While this customer base is loyal, Harley cannot survive and compete with other motorcycle companies that seem to have more success with younger bikers.

It’s not that Harley Davidson isn’t trying. They have been trying to gain increased brand recognition with the mixed martial arts community as a sponsor of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) major events. This organization attracts men from 18-35 and is the fast growing sport in the United States.

But will they buy Harley Davidson motorcycles?

Harley needs to find ways to get younger potential motorcycle buyers to see the value of their motorcycles. Popular TV shows featuring Harley motorcycles like Sons of Anarchy help but they have to be much more proactive. Without an active approach, Harley’s market share will continue to erode.

I’d like to see Harley do more hands on events. I’d like to see them have more free test ride events in conjunction with motorcycle rider safety courses and partnering with more organizations. I think the main issue is that new and younger riders have the wrong impression about Harleys. They probably think that Harleys are too expensive and do no have the performance and reliability of metric cruisers. Test rides will put that feeling to rest.

If this is true then I need to share my love of motorcycling with my friends and family. I need to make this a regular part of my motorcycling lifestyle.

These are stressful times and motorcycling has been very fulfilling way to find peace and enjoyment. Doesn’t matter if I’m riding with the Harley guys, a riding club, or a few outlaw bikers, we all have a great time.

I’m sure some of my friends and family can benefit too. So, one of my New Year’s Resolutions is to encourage others to ride as much as possible. Here’s my plan.

• My friends who ride: In 2010, I’m going to organize a few mid-distance motorcycle rides in South Florida with some of my friends. Many of them ride infrequently but are great riders. They just don’t make time to ride as often as I do. Maybe they just need a little encouragement to enjoy riding like they used to.

• My friends who don’t ride: Over the past few years, I have gotten a few people into motorcycle riding safety courses and a few have gone on to buy used motorcycles. I will make a point to invite non-riders to the events I go to so they can start to understand the value of motorcycling as a hobby and lifestyle.

• My family: I’d love to get my older brother on a motorcycle. He needs a hobby and I think he’d look really cool on a big cruiser. My mother loves motorcycles and I plan on taking a nice long ride with her on her next visit to Florida. I want my nieces and nephews to gain an understanding and appreciation for motorcycles and motorcycle safety at a young age.

• My girlfriend: She is actually a very good rider but has not been riding consistently for about a year. I need to get out and help her practice to regain the confidence she had a when she first started riding. She’ll make a great riding partner when she is ready.

2010 is my year to share the joy of the biker lifestyle. How about you?

Added to that list are TV shows to watch.

Next year, I am particularly excited about 2 shows that will air next year. 2010 will be another great year for bikers and the promotion of the biker lifestyle.

• Sons of Anarchy, Season 3: Without a doubt, Sons of Anarchy is one of the biggest surprise hits of 2009 and season 2 was a colossal success. Production of season 3 hasn’t started yet but there are already rumors about plot twists, drama, and new enemies for America’s favorite outlaw bikers. Unfortunately, season 3 will not air until the Fall of 2010.

• Motor City Motors: OK, so the first show actually airs on Monday, December 28^th on the Discovery Channel at 9PM EST but I plan on watching episodes in 2010. The motorcycle fabricators from the Detroit Bros. will be taking on weekly custom builds each week making the “run in the mill” into one of a kind.

Get your DVRs ready because 2010 will be a great year for motorcycle programming.

The American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) has been the flagship motorcycling organization since 1924. The AMA supports motorcycling rights, riding, and racing through member clubs, events, promotions, and advocacy. The AMA is the world’s largest motorcycle association with over 300,000 and supports biker initiatives across the country on local, state, and national levels.

There are some great benefits to joining the AMA. Members receive free access to the AMA roadside assistance program, money saving discounts with major retailers, and a subscription to the American Motorcyclist Magazine. There are also discounts with online motorcycle retailers and access to over 3000 AMA sanctioned events.

If you love motorcycling, joining the AMA is a great way to show it. Join as an individual member or register your club. Either way, you will help make sure the biker lifestyle for successfully rolls into the future.

Harley Davidson also has the unique distinction of being the first motorcycle manufacturer to offer a dealership to an African American. In the early 1920s, William B. Johnson crossed the motorcycle industry color line.

Born in 1890, William ‘Wild Bill’ Johnson built his motorcycle legend as a hill climbing racer in Somers, NY. So great was his ability that Wild Bill became the first African American to be allowed to join the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA) in the late 1920s. He was allowed to join before African Americans as group were allowed to join.

Wild Bill continued to race in hill climbing events all over New England and won many victories into his 40s, when he finally retired from racing. At the same time, his dealership and his reputation in the motorcycling community grew.

In 1969, Johnson’s reputation was put to the test. Harley Davidson awarded another dealership to Pat Cramer 5 miles away from his location. This was seen by many as a racists move to try to force Wild Bill out of business. Normally, Harley Davidson would not place 2 dealers in such close proximity. Cramer also tried to buy Johnson’s dealership years earlier but a deal never went through.

After some pressure from the NAACP, Harley Davidson told Cramer that he will have to co-exist with Johnson or his dealership will be pulled. Over the years to follow, Cramer and Johnson became friends and even worked together.

Johnson continued to work in his shop and continued to test ride repaired motorcycles well into his 80s. A fall on a bike ended his riding and mechanic days and he died in 1985 at the age of 95.

William ‘Wild Bill’ Johnson is a great man in the motorcycling community and a true maverick among bikers. Harley Davidson and the AMA should be very proud that they were able to move forward the idea of diversity and freedom among bikers by making Wild Bill the first African American Harley Dealer and AMA member. Johnson certainly deserves to be remembered in the Motorcycle Hall of Fame and it will be a great day when his trailblazing legend is more widely recognized.

Daytona Bike Week has a rich history starting in January 1937 with the first running of the Daytona 200 on the hard sands of Daytona Beach. From those humble beginnings, Bike Week has survived World War II and clashes between the biker and law enforcement communities in the 1980s. Today, Bike Week stands as a marriage between the city of Daytona Beach, the biker community, and the motorcycle industry.

Daytona Bike Week is an annual, cross generation pilgrammage of bikers and motorcycle enthusiasts who gather to share their love for the biker lifestyle.

One of the best features of Daytona Bike Week is Riding the Loop, a 22 mile stretch of scenic highway featuring the natural beauty of Florida. This leisurely ride is a great departure from the sometimes crowded events and displays. Make sure to bring your camera because Riding the Loop is an experience you will want to capture.

The last thing you will have to worry about at this event will be great bikes to see. You’ll see hundreds of one of kind customs, street bikes, and customized road bikes. Every imaginable vendor will be selling everything from biker apparel, motorcycle accessories, personalized memorabilia, food, drinks, and even motorcycles for sale. If you can’t find it at Bike Week, chances are it doesn’t exist!

If you are not convinced yet that you need to go to this event, all you have to do is check out the photo gallery. The picture gallery is divided in categories making browsing easier. You’ll be able to peruse the men, women, events, and even the ‘Wild stuff’ that Bike Night has to offer.

The 2010 Daytona Bike Week event takes place from February 26th through March 7^th. Words cannot adequately describe what 9 days of motorcycle heaven is really like so plan to make the trip next year. For more information about the 2010 event, please visit the official site for Bike Night 2010.