Do you have to own a Honda to join the Honda Riders Club of America?

[sfalexi]

Hear me out first!!!

Bought a honda CBR250R for the wifey (turning into my bike as of late) and so she got a free membership to HRCA.

The local HRCA chapter is very active and has good rides.  I'd like to go on those rides, but I ride a victory vision....

Is it wrong of me to ask to join using the CBR250 as my "reason" and go on most of the rides with my vision?  Can I get a member number of my own even though I personally don't ride a Honda that much?  Where's the line?!  AAARGH!!!

Alexi

[Silverbird]

You like neapolitin icecream huh?

[Kneescrubber]

Yes, it is wrong imho. HRCA is a brand specific club. I'm not a member of HRCA but I am a member of a couple of BMW organizations. I don't ride my Honda to their rides.

[GTS_Rider]

Yes, it is wrong imho. HRCA is a brand specific club. I'm not a member of HRCA but I am a member of a couple of BMW organizations. I don't ride my Honda to their rides.

On the other hand. Couple people I know got to hang out in the cool BMW-club/hosted accommodations @ the Miller SBK event. It was leaked that you really don't need to own a BMW to have joined the club if you knew far enough in advance...


 

[naustin]

Honda Riders have a very low ratio of douche bags.  Most of those club events are dominated by GoldWingers - at least in my area.   They are a pretty chill demographic.  Nobody will care what bike you ride.  You are a prospective honda buyer saving money for a Wing.

I'm pretty sure Honda will be happy to accept your membership regardless of make/model you choose to ride - you still Own a Honda at home.  A guy could have a fleet of Honda dirt bikes and show up to the club event on a BMW.   No one would care.   (they'd just give him shit all day about his time-bomb final drive.)

Sign up- go ride!

[Orson]

the Guzzi club is pretty tough to join.

You have to prove that you are at least 1/8th Italian, and then you have to prove that none of your family came from within 50 kilometers of Bologna.

[ray916mn]

I'm pretty sure you do not need to own or ride a Honda to join HRCA.

The only brand specific club that I know of that has an ownership requirement is BMW MOA. You must either own a BMW or be sponsored by two members to join. Years ago a buddy of mine went to one of the large BWM MOA rallies on his Triumph instead of his BMW and was refused admittance. Really pissed him off. Don't know if the events are still run this way.

Personally, I would not join any club with a brand requirement. I understand that some riders have brand preferences but the whole idea of a club being selective based primarily on what people own leaves me cold.

I own a couple of Ducati's and a local Ducati club is always after me to join. Every time I interact with many of their members it drives me the other way. If I never tell them that I own a Ducati, I all too often get a big dose of the Ducati is the best and if you don't own one or can't own one I'm sorry for you. If I tell them I own a Ducati, of course we're best buds. Really??? Of course not all the club members are like this, but brand specific clubs seem to hold a particular attraction for people who believe in judging others by what they own.

[sfalexi]

I mean, personally, I'll ride the CBR250 all day with the club.  But if the wife is coming along, we take the victory cause it's more comfortable.  I guess I can just try to show up, be friendly, and see if I get turned away.  Maybe if they realize I'm not a douche (or at least believe I'm not), I could be fine to stay.

Alexi

[Blunder]

I wouldn't belong to any club that would have me as a member.

[falconati]

-Groucho Marx

[Kootenanny]

CBR250R is a nice bike!  (I've been helping a buddy who has one with his newbie practice, etc.).

I was at a Victory demo a few years ago, rode the Vision.  Another guy there who'd shown up on his Gold Wing, said he preferred the Vision...so...

[Kneescrubber]

On the other hand. Couple people I know got to hang out in the cool BMW-club/hosted accommodations @ the Miller SBK event. It was leaked that you really don't need to own a BMW to have joined the club if you knew far enough in advance...


 

What local BMW club would that have been? Beehive Beemers? You're kinda clueless when it comes to marketing.

I visited the Ducati extravaganza at the Laguna Seca GP 06,07,08. Never owned a Ducati. Lots of hot chicks though.  

[Blunder]

I visited the Ducati extravaganza at the Laguna Seca GP 06,07,08. Never owned a Ducati. Lots of hot chicks though.  

Owners of both just sit around and complain about the high maintenance, leakage and lousy warrantees.

[Kneescrubber]

Owners of both just sit around and complain about the high maintenance, leakage and lousy warrantees.

Or ride the snot out of them and deal with what comes along without complaining. Approach is everything.


 

[Mac]

I do know one thing about the honda owners clus, if you get their towing insurance, it only works if you are broken down on the Honda.

Decided to ride the Kawasaki instead of the gold wing and blew a tire, forget it. Now they may be nice and call a tow for you, but they will not cover it. Ask me how I know about this sometime.

[falcofred]

I joined another Honda club back in 1987, the Honda Sport Touring Association (HSTA).
Prior to Honda starting the "Red Riders Club" we had a lot of involvement from Honda. They used to even bring a Honda semi truck full of demo bikes to our national rally.
The club started as a Honda Saber club, then transitioned into a Honda V-4 club, then just a Honda club, but as we grew many members strayed from the Honda brand, but not the club.
Now we have members with all kinds of bikes, many owners have multiple bikes.
We finally changed the name of the club to the Motorcycle Sport Touring Association (MSTA).

[Carbonero]

Hear me out first!!!

Bought a honda CBR250R for the wifey (turning into my bike as of late) and so she got a free membership to HRCA.

The local HRCA chapter is very active and has good rides.  I'd like to go on those rides, but I ride a victory vision....

Is it wrong of me to ask to join using the CBR250 as my "reason" and go on most of the rides with my vision?  Can I get a member number of my own even though I personally don't ride a Honda that much?  Where's the line?!  AAARGH!!!

Alexi

No, generally everyone is welcome (at least around here).

[olderigetfasteriam]

Try your luck with the H.O.G.?