A week prior to Rider's Edge New Rider Course (NRC), I received my class roster and noticed three of the eight students were from Singapore and worked for the Motor Company! The company being Harley-Davidson of course. So were these three company plants to see how we at Wisconsin Harley-Davidson are conducting Rider's Edge, were they here to critique me? Either way, I was looking forward to teaching new riders the importance of being skilled, riding smart and always being safe.
The first classroom session was typical, quiet as students kept to themselves, but by the next night we started to learn a more about each other and why these three from Singapore were in here. Harley-Davidson annually holds a Dealer Show that showcases new products such as motorcycles (dah!) and motor clothes. This year's Dealer Show was held at the Harley-Davidson Museum in Milwaukee! Our International Connection was here for the Dealer Show and since Wisconsin HD holds a few classes for Riders Edge Thursday - Sunday, they thought it best to take advantage of learning to ride before they got busy working the show.
It was interesting to learn that in Singapore, motorcycle licenses are issued in one of three different endorsements. First off, upon successful completion of a class, riders are provided with a Class 2B license, this is valid for operation of motorcycles size 200cc or smaller. After one year of riding with a Class 2B, motorcyclists can take a riding test and upon successful completion move into a Class 2A, good for operation up to a 400cc motorcycle. Again, after one year operating a 201cc-400cc, and passing a skill evaluation, the rider can move into the final step, a Class 2 License valid for those motorcycles larger than a 401cc. This is a 3 Tier Graduated Motorcycle License and law in Singapore.
In May 2011, Harley-Davidson announced that Singapore would be the Asian-Pacific Headquarters of Harley-Davidson Motorcycles. The Asian-Pacific Region accounted for 9.4% of motorcycle sales for the Motor Company. The three students in Wisconsin HD Riders Edge Class all work in the Asian-Pacific Region HD Headquarters. They forecast the motorcycle sales and delivery schedule.
All eight of our students successfully completed the NRC and received their motorcycle waivers. I forgot to mention that the three from Singapore, NEVER rode a motorcycle prior to this class! You may see many people in Milwaukee this next week wearing Harley-Davidson apparel, the Dealer Show ends this coming Friday. Soon the 2013 Models will be hitting the showroom floors getting ready for the 110 Anniversary next year. Hopefully JK, Hee-Jung and Peter will have an opportunity to visit Milwaukee next year for Anniversary, and if so, our house will welcome them without hesitation.
It was interesting to learn, set the record straight that the Motor Company has "plants" in Brazil and India, but that these plants are for "assembly" not "manufacturing". The tariffs in foreign countries place a huge fee on a fully assembled Harley-Davidson, though by shipping parts and having assembly take place in that country, the tariffs are less. Don't ask why, cause I still don't understand.
If you are a rider, ever dreamed of riding or know someone who rides, chances are Harley-Davidson has come into the conversation. Harley-Davidson is known world-wide and there exists a connection and commonality to others once you ride one. As the saying goes, "If I had to explain, you wouldn't understand".
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