This initiative, presented by Bannister Ford Penticton, features a custom-built chopper, being hand-crafted from January to April, where one fortunate supporter will win this dream bike.
The fundraiser honors the memory of Jerome Abraham, the former executive director of Discovery House, who sadly passed away last year after battling cancer.
A 1971 Harley Davidson rigid frame Springer is being uniquely crafted by a dedicated team of volunteers, led by Darrell Richards at his motorcycle shop, Sinister Speed Co.
The bike is being constructed from the ground up, with meticulous attention given to the frame and finishing paintwork.
Although he didn’t succeed, the aspiration to host another chopper fundraiser continued.
Board member Jimmy Slimz mentioned that he and Richards presented the idea to the board around six months ago. They successfully secured funding, purchased a frame, and commenced the bike-building process.
“An essential part of that goal was to involve the clients at Discovery House,” Slimz explained. “Every Wednesday night, we invite two clients to join us for about three hours to work on the bike.”
Richards noted that a key condition for using his workshop was ensuring client participation.
“Discovery House kindly allowed clients to come to the shop,” he said. “It’s been a valuable experience; it offers me insight into their daily lives.”
On Wednesday, Jason Schafer and Shannon Masuskapoe, both participating in recovery for over 80 days, joined Slimz and Richards.
Masuskapoe mentioned being “voluntold” to help, which he welcomed.
“It’s teaching me how to engage with the community rather than just take from it. I want to give back,” he said. “I aim to raise awareness about addiction and mental health, as there’s a stigma surrounding addiction.”
Schafer shared that he has a background with motorcycles.
“It brings back fond memories of childhood when I wasn’t getting into trouble,” he added. “It’s an enriching experience. It warms my heart to know I’m part of something meaningful.”
Slimz, who was a client at the house a decade ago, views this project as a way to give back and support those currently in the program.
As of mid-February, the team has invested countless hours into building the bike.
“We’re nearing the completion of the mock-up stage, meaning the bike is assembled as we envision it,” Slimz noted.
After that, the bike will be disassembled again for painting and additional customizations.
“Once that’s done, we’ll reassemble the bike with the clients for the final touches.”
The four participants expressed their pride in the progress achieved so far.
Richards described the bike as a “rolling piece of art symbolizing sobriety and new beginnings.”
The fundraiser is currently seeking businesses and individuals to become sponsors.
“We are still on the lookout for more sponsors,” Slimz said. “This requires comprehensive support from local businesses, residents, and, of course, our shared time to bring it all together. So, there’s been significant involvement from all sectors.”
“For Jimmy and me, especially as passionate riders, motorcycles mean more than just machines—they embody personality and life, and this one is already establishing its own identity.”
The chopper has temporarily been named Hope.
Once the bike is finalized, it will be revealed in a special ceremony to commence raffle ticket sales.
Raffle tickets will be available from May 1, 2025, to October 31, 2025.
During this period, the bike will feature in a community roadshow, appearing at local events like Peachfest and the beach cruise.
All proceeds will directly benefit Discovery House, which offers support for wellness, recovery, and improved quality of life for individuals facing addiction challenges.
The winner will be announced in November 2025.
For more details on sponsorship, contact community engagement coordinator Dennis Sweetnam at [email protected] or call 778-931-1464.
A unique motorcycle will be crafted this year, funded through donations from community raffle ticket sales, to support Penticton’s recovery resource organization.
Discovery House unveiled their Chopper of Hope fundraiser on Thursday, inviting “motorcycle enthusiasts, community advocates, and those ready to make a difference.”
This fundraising effort features a custom-built chopper, hand-assembled from January to April, with one fortunate supporter set to win the motorcycle of their dreams.
“The Chopper of Hope fundraiser represents more than just the creation of a remarkable motorcycle,” stated Blaine Russell, Executive Director, in a press release.
“It symbolizes the hope we build together, fosters connections, and makes a lasting impact on our community. This year’s bike promises to be exceptionally unique, and we eagerly look forward to sharing it with everyone.”
Russell noted that this initiative is dedicated to their late Executive Director, Jerome Abraham, who passed away last year after battling cancer.
“We decided to involve current clients in the design, planning, and assembly of this incredible project. The ‘Chopper of Hope’ will play a role in their recovery journey,” he shared.
“Without revealing too much ahead of the unveiling, we have spent the past two months constructing a 1971 Harley Davidson rigid frame Springer, with much of the motorcycle being custom-made. This bike integrates modern technology while exuding a classic aesthetic.”
The motorcycle is being meticulously built from the ground up by a team of experts, from the frame to the fine paint details.
Discovery House mentioned that updates on the building process will be available on social media, alongside behind-the-scenes footage.
“We invite both businesses and individuals to become sponsors of the Chopper of Hope fundraiser. By choosing to sponsor, you not only support a noble cause but also enhance your exposure and reputation within the community,” they added.
“Join us in making a significant impact and unite with us in this extraordinary endeavor.”
Raffle tickets will be on sale starting May 1, 2025, and will remain available until October 31, 2025.
All proceeds will directly benefit Discovery House, which offers support for wellness, recovery, and the enhancement of life quality for individuals dealing with addiction.
The winner will be announced sometime in November 2025.
For further details regarding sponsorship opportunities, please get in touch with community engagement coordinator Dennis Sweetnam at [email protected] or 778-931-1464
Harley-Davidson is a name synonymous with cruisers, and it is America’s longest-running motorcycle company. It can’t claim to be the oldest, but it has never taken a break from selling motorcycles, although it came close to shutting its doors a couple of times over the decades. Other American manufacturers have all, without exception, shut down for a period of time.
Today, Harley is slowly expanding beyond the cruiser segment into other segments that also promote exploration on two wheels, just like its core cruiser and tourer lineup. There is something about the brand that has grown over the years that makes it endear like no other. It is something that almost cannot be articulated, but we’re going to try our hardest to express it in this article.
To ensure accuracy, the information compiled in this article was sourced from the manufacturer’s official websites, as well as other authoritative sources.
120 years of history, with a lot of milestones along the way
1
A Storied History
One Of The Oldest Continuously Selling Brands
Wikipedia
Harley-Davidson is the oldest continuously operating American motorcycle manufacturer. However, it is also one of the oldest continuously selling motorcycle marques in the world, second only to Royal Enfield. Royal Enfield had a long period of stagnation where it essentially made and sold the same model from the end of World War 2 until current ownership took over and started changing things in the early 1990s. Harley-Davidson also had lean periods, most notably the 1970s when the government had to bail it out by imposing import tariffs on large-displacement motorcycles.
That unwittingly gave us a run of turbocharged motorcycles that we haven’t seen since. However, Harley-Davidson continued to innovate and put out motorcycles that were desirable when those lean periods were in the mirror. It was also involved in the war effort, supplying motorcycles that would help the effort in the World Wars, helping contribute to the patriotic brand image that keeps it so dear to many Americans.
2
Strong Brand Value
The Badge Means A Lot
Mecum
There is a lot of pride in being American, and Harley-Davidson prides itself on being American-made. Only in its very recent history has the company started assembling motorcycles outside the USA; currently, there is a plant each in Brazil and Thailand, and there used to be an assembly plant in India. However, any Harley you buy in the USA is assembled in the USA, and this matters to fans of the brand.
This is an increasingly difficult situation for the company, since manufacturers are global entities, and brands across segments have ownership that is purely financial, and nothing to do with the history of the brand. However, Harley-Davidson has been the best American motorcycle company for a long time now, and that is in no small part due to the pride and ownership that its employees and customers take in its products.
Luckily for Harley-Davidson, it operates in a space where profit margins are considerable. So it can afford to price its products well despite the higher costs of production. Also, in a marketing masterstroke, the brand has managed to turn the financial disadvantage of manufacturing in the USA into positive press, which helps sell more motorcycles.
3
Unique Character
A Torquey V-Twin Reminds Us Of One Brand Only
Harley-Davidson
Harley-Davidson’s first-ever motorcycle was a single-cylinder model, and by 1909, it had developed its first v-twin. It wasn’t long after that it had its first successful v-twin with the Model 7D that was launched in 1911. This long-stroke, narrow-angle twin-cylinder configuration has been a signature of the brand ever since. The single crank pin and bank angle have given Harleys their signature ‘potato potato’ idle sound over the decades, and the advantages of the v-twin configuration have allowed it to make some astonishingly great motorcycles for cruising and touring.
This format was so successful that the Japanese started making their own cruisers and tourers with a narrow-angle v-twin, some of which were truly great competition. But they invariably missed out on that certain something that cannot be described logically. The Japanese had the measure of Harley when it came to reliability, refinement, and specs – Japan even produced the largest v-twin in the history of motorcycles – but none of them could bring in the customers like good ol’ American iron could.
Harley-Davidson Engines Available Today
Milwaukee-Eight 107
Milwaukee-Eight 114
Milwaukee-Eight 117
Milwaukee-Eight 121
Revolution Max 1250
Revolution Max 975
4
Brotherhood Of Bikers
Do The Letters ‘HOG’ Ring A Bell?
Wikimedia Commons
Motorcycling has been perceived as a rebellious activity in the USA since the car is the default mode of transportation. Plus, for most of the country, the winter months won’t allow you to stay on two wheels anyway. This led to bikers being a close-knit community, and sometimes, there was notoriety associated with it. This gave rise to the ‘bad boy biker’ image, which was also appealing on some levels – the adage of all publicity being good publicity does hold true sometimes!
Harley-Davidson was savvy enough to see the potential in this feeling of kinship, and the first Harley Owners’ Group was formed in 1983. It was formed to build closer bonds between customers and the touchpoints of the company, but it has proven to be the single most effective marketing tool in H-D’s history. It is so successful that owner groups are now common across motorcycle brands, with the aim of replicating the success that the Harley Owners’ Group brought to Harley-Davidson.
5
The Accessories
Not Many Can Accessorize Like A Harley
Harley-Davidson / TopSpeed
Today, you can accessorize a motorcycle with an endless list of accessories, both OEM as well as aftermarket. Some motorcycle models are more conducive to this accessorizing, like tourers and adventure motorcycles. There are basic things like luggage (both hard and soft, waterproof, lockable), taller or more aerodynamic windscreens, lights, wheels, paint jobs, rims, and seats; the list is endless. Harley-Davidson was one of the few manufacturers along with the likes of Ferrari that recognized the power of the brand and used merchandise to increase profits.
If you had a Harley-Davidson, you’d get some of the accessories mentioned above, but you would also have the option of purchasing a branded jacket, boots, gloves, jeans, sunglasses, bandanna, underwear (we kid you not), baby booties, a whiskey glass set… do you see where this is going? This, like the Harley Owners’ Group, opened up the brand to people who weren’t going to buy one of the motorcycles but loved the brand anyway. Its success is not measured just by how much it contributes to the profits every year, but by the fact that every single automotive company has performed this with varying degrees of success.
Looking great and feeling protected on a bike isn’t always easy to pull off, luckily Harley-Davidson has just the gear to do it right.
6
Potential For Customization
It May Be A Brotherhood, But Standing Out Is Important
Jody Only
Motorcycles, unlike cars, aren’t just appliances that help the owner get from point A to point B and back safely. They’re exhilarating, impractical, and dangerous. It stands to reason then that most motorcyclists will want to stand out from the crowd – even if it is a relatively small crowd of motorcyclists. For this, one needs a motorcycle that is easy to customize. Harley-Davidsons of old were simple enough that you wouldn’t upset the balance or performance with customization, and the manufacturer has been at the forefront of the customization scene ever since. Bobbers, choppers… you’ll find them all.
Thunderbike
Once more, Harley has managed to take this a step further and offer ‘factory custom’ motorcycles with upgrades galore. You’ve already heard of Screamin’ Eagle exhaust and air filter upgrades, and you might know that there are crate engine upgrades as well for a lot of the Harley range. But did you know that you can also purchase a Screamin’ Eagle spark plug lead upgrade? Other upgrades include suspension with more adjustability (and by top quality brands like Öhlins), touring seats, and audio system upgrades from brands like Rockford Fosgate.
7
Harley’s Role In Pop Culture
Prominent Both In Real-Life As Well As Big Screen Heroes
Flickr
No matter what generation you’re from, we can assure you that a Harley-Davidson has not just been present in an influential area of pop culture but also helped enhance whatever it was present in. The movie Easy Rider is an obvious one, with its ‘Captain America’ Harley-Davidson. Many decades (and a couple of generations) later, Captain America himself rode a Harley-Davidson, as did Jason Momoa’s character Dante in Fast X. Between these two extremes were a raft of movies, including Ghost Rider, Wild Hogs (bonus points if you remember this one), and Terminator 2, all of which featured a Harley-Davidson prominently.
There have been more than a few songs written with Harley-Davidsons as the theme, most recently Katy Perry with her song ‘Harleys In Hawaii’, which, last we checked, had clocked over 170 million views on YouTube. That’s a lot of marketing for the brand. In real life, The King Of Rock N’ Roll had more than a few Harleys in his garage; Elvis’s love for his H-Ds was well known. Evel Knievel’s most famous jumps were done astride an XR750, too.
8
Success In Racing
A Storied Racing History
Mecum Auctions
Harley might be the default manufacturer when it comes to cruisers or tourers, but that doesn’t mean that it hasn’t involved itself in racing. Yes, it does participate in the King Of The Baggers today, but its racing history goes back a little further. Thanks to Walter Davidson, Harley entered its first race in 1906. Four years later, the original ‘Wrecking Crew’ was formed, and by 1921, it was setting records in racing, with a small break to help with WW1.
In the 1930s, Harley was the dominant brand in racing in the USA, but by the ‘50s, the British motorcycles were leading the way with their lighter curb weights. Harley hit back in the 1960s with the KR and KRTT, and it was so successful that the media resurrected the ‘Wrecking Crew’ name. The 70s brought the XR 750 with the alloy engine, and this is the most successful racer in AMA history. If you think Ducati in MotoGP is dominant today, it is nothing compared to what the XR 750 did in its time. In the 80s, Harley-Davidson dreamed of competing in WSBK, and designed the VR 1000 to compete in the AMA Superbike racing series. Success was a far-fetched dream, though.
Harley-Davidson
More recently, in the 2000s, the company offered a select number of customers what was officially known as the Harley-Davidson VRXSC Screamin’ Eagle V-Rod Destroyer, a factory drag racer that was not only fast but reliable. The engine needed a rebuild only at the end of the season, which is unique in the drag racing world. It came complete with a wheelie bar and quick-change enabled ratios, and was capable of 9-second passes even with a novice, as long as said novice knew what to do.
EXCLUSIVE: Motorcycle aficionado John Dingwall never had the opportunity to ride his dream Harley Davidson during his lifetime, but his loved ones arranged a fitting tribute for his funeral.
Biker John Dingwall enjoyed a farewell ride in a special sidecar hearse beside his dream Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
The motorcycle lover, who passed away at the age of 68, had always dreamt of a road trip on an iconic Road King, yet never had the chance. However, his dream was fulfilled when his coffin was transported by the classic bike before he was laid to rest.
The resident of South Shields, Tyneside, led a procession of over 50 bikers. On that day, his brother Robert spearheaded the emotional convoy, revving their engines in unison until John entered the crematorium.
John had always dreamed of riding a Harley (Image: Marc Walker)
His wife Louise remarked: “John’s final journey was precisely what he would have wanted.
“He lived his life in the saddle, and now he’s taken one last ride on his dream bike.”
She expressed her gratitude to Co-op Funeralcare South Shields for arranging what she described as a “truly fitting tribute”.
Louise added: “We were all deeply moved by the motorbike hearse, which allowed John to be encircled by his family, friends, and fellow riders.”
John was introduced to the world of motorbikes by Louise and soon became an “avid biker”, even learning how to construct them and obtaining a welding qualification from South Tyneside College, where he enjoyed lunch with his daughter Chloe, who was also a student there.
His craftsmanship allowed him to build over 100 motorcycles and several teardrop trailers.
He rode a variety of bikes, including models from Suzuki, Yamaha, Honda, and Kawasaki, yet he always longed to experience the thrill of riding a Harley.
John earned numerous medals at biking rallies and raised significant funds for air ambulance services and children’s charities.
He was a passionate supporter of veterans and participated in rides to Bents Park in South Shields for Armed Forces Day celebrations.
Louise said: “John always made a point to support those in need.”
Sophie Alderson from Co-op Funeralcare remarked: “We were committed to allowing John a chance to ride his dream bike, the Harley Davidson Road King, so David Nye, the funeral director at Co-op Funeralcare South Shields, reached out to Motorcycle Funerals, which provided a specially-fitted custom hearse sidecar that truly honored John’s passion for the open road.”
Harley Davidson X440: This motorcycle boasts an impressive and powerful engine, capturing attention in the Indian market with its top-notch quality features. If you’re a fan of motorcycles like Bullet and Royal Enfield or are considering a purchase, this new model offers an excellent alternative with remarkable features and options for enthusiasts.
Outstanding Mileage and Features of Harley Davidson X440
When discussing the mileage and features of this motorcycle, it’s clear that the Harley Davidson X440 comes equipped with premium attributes, including a video meter and a digital instrument panel, both delivering exceptional performance. This motorcycle offers a mileage of approximately 29 kilometers per liter of petrol.
Harley Davidson X440
Performance of the Harley Davidson X440 Engine
Focusing on the engine performance, this motorcycle is powered by a 448.48 cc engine, featuring liquid cooling technology along with a 6-speed manual gearbox and dual-channel ABS system. It delivers a maximum output of 35.86 bhp and is equipped with a disc brake braking system and tubeless tires.
Harley Davidson X440 Pricing
Regarding the pricing of this motorcycle, it starts at approximately 240,000 INR in the Indian market, going up to 270,000 INR. If you’re interested in financing, you can visit your nearest showroom to inquire about EMI options for the motorcycle.
