We Are Not an Arrogant Bunch: Harley Davidson Jakarta
Jakarta. Many people think of Harley Davidson riders as rude and arrogant, taking up valuable space on the road with their weekend group rides, and harassing other road users with their uncouth behavior.
But a Harley Davidson community leader in Jakarta pleads for people to see past the group's bad boy image, and asks them to take the time to know the group better.
Harley Davidson opened a new authorized dealership in Kelapa Gading, North Jakarta, on Sunday (29/01), giving the Jakarta Globe an opportunity for an exclusive interview with Sahat Manalu, the dealership's owner and also the leader of Indonesia's Harley Owners Group, a community club for the big bike brand.
"We're not arrogant. It's just that people don't know what we're really like. Just like in the Indonesian idiom, 'Don't know 'em, can't love 'em,'" Sahat said.
"You can't judge people from their appearances, we know we can look a bit fierce on the road and we rev our engine a bit too loud sometimes, but that doesn't mean we're not nice people," he added.
In 2015, a man acting on his own bravely blocked a Harley club ride in Yogyakarta. Many sympathized with his action and the story and the photos from the incident quickly went viral on social media.
"After every group ride we always make a donation to a community in need, that's one thing people should know about us," Sahat said.
Sahat added that Harley riders now come from many professions and backgrounds, not just the upper class anymore.
"In the past five years, more people have started owning Harley bikes — entrepreneurs, public servants, technocrats, doctors, bankers, even students," he said.
Sahat's Anak Elang dealership in Kelapa Gading has the famous big bikes available for sale and offers after sales services with a complete range of authentic spare parts.
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