It couldn’t be a more perfect day for Hot Metal
Harley-Davidson’s 2015 Model Year Open House. The air was filled with the smell of barbeque, the sound of blues, and
the warmth that only a beautiful end-of-summer sunny day in Western
Pennsylvania could provide.
On Saturday, September 20th, Hot Metal
Harley-Davidson ushered in the 2015 models with a huge party! The food was served up by Rowdy Barbeque,
Miller Light was on tap and the Miller Light Girls were sampling beer next to
the Pairadice Paint Tent.
Billy the Kid & The Regulators were playing the blues
outside from 12 Noon ‘till 3PM to a parking lot filled with bikes, people, and
vendors. Inside the latest in fall
riding and casual comfort wear were on display and guests registered for a
chance to win a Hot Metal Cash Card to be given away every hour.
At 1PM the Pleasant Hills Police Department brought their
K-9 unit in for a demonstration on the obedience of a police dog and they even
let Hot Metal’s Rocky Marks take a few bites by the dog in a special padded
suit as if he was on the run from the police.
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s summer-long Mileage Contest
wrapped up with Tom Schultz winning the first place $700 Hot Metal Cash Card by
racking up exactly 16,764 miles. The second
and third place finishers received a $500 and $250 Hot Metal Cash Card card
respectively.
For more information on Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s upcoming
events, you can go to www.hotmetalharley.com
or visit www.facebook.com/hotmetalharley
Friday, October 3, 2014
Friday, September 5, 2014
Hot Metal Harley Raises over $4,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities with our annual Toby Keith Ride!
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson hosted one of our most anticipated rides of the year to First Niagara Pavilion to see Toby Keith, who is one of country music’s biggest stars. The ride benefitted the Ronald McDonald House Charities by raising over $4,100.
Almost 400 tickets were sold at our dealership in just a few short weeks and hundreds of people showed up for the pre-tailgate party at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson on Saturday, August 9th! The party included live music, free food and refreshments, and a chance to go back stage at the venue.
During the party Hot Metal Owner, Toby O’Brien and General Manager, Lori Flanigan dished out the food while two members of Hillbilly Way played music to a packed parking lot of motorcyclists and country music fans.
At 4:30 the Allegheny Sheriff’s Department started leading nearly 250 bikes out of Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s parking lot bringing with them a trail of motorcycles! The bikes and their passengers wound their way through the South Hills of Pittsburgh at leisurely, yet non-stop pace.
Sirens wailed and lights flashed while cars were halted as the riders were escorted through busy intersections. The line of motorcycles gliding down the road two-by-two stretched for an impressive mile during the most of the ride according to the police.
Once out of Allegheny County, the Washington County Sheriff swept in front of the pack of motorcycles aided by Cecil, Smith, and Hanover Townships.
The ride lasted about an hour and ended when the parade of motorcycles were escorted into the VIP parking lots ahead of other cars waiting at the gate. The smiles, high fives, and general feeling of excitement were apparent as the riders dismounted their bikes and headed for the gates. They were ready for the show.
“The Ride continues to grow in popularity and this year it has expanded by nearly forty percent over last year. Our partnership with Live Nation and the continued success of all of our major fundraising events enable us to give back to the community and demonstrate our passion for turning wheels for a good cause, said Lori Flanigan.”
Even though this was a fun ride to see an amazing performer, at the end of the day this run was about the kids of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson would like to thank everyone who participated and donated to make this ride a huge success.
Almost 400 tickets were sold at our dealership in just a few short weeks and hundreds of people showed up for the pre-tailgate party at Hot Metal Harley-Davidson on Saturday, August 9th! The party included live music, free food and refreshments, and a chance to go back stage at the venue.
During the party Hot Metal Owner, Toby O’Brien and General Manager, Lori Flanigan dished out the food while two members of Hillbilly Way played music to a packed parking lot of motorcyclists and country music fans.
At 4:30 the Allegheny Sheriff’s Department started leading nearly 250 bikes out of Hot Metal Harley-Davidson’s parking lot bringing with them a trail of motorcycles! The bikes and their passengers wound their way through the South Hills of Pittsburgh at leisurely, yet non-stop pace.
Sirens wailed and lights flashed while cars were halted as the riders were escorted through busy intersections. The line of motorcycles gliding down the road two-by-two stretched for an impressive mile during the most of the ride according to the police.
Once out of Allegheny County, the Washington County Sheriff swept in front of the pack of motorcycles aided by Cecil, Smith, and Hanover Townships.
The ride lasted about an hour and ended when the parade of motorcycles were escorted into the VIP parking lots ahead of other cars waiting at the gate. The smiles, high fives, and general feeling of excitement were apparent as the riders dismounted their bikes and headed for the gates. They were ready for the show.
“The Ride continues to grow in popularity and this year it has expanded by nearly forty percent over last year. Our partnership with Live Nation and the continued success of all of our major fundraising events enable us to give back to the community and demonstrate our passion for turning wheels for a good cause, said Lori Flanigan.”
Even though this was a fun ride to see an amazing performer, at the end of the day this run was about the kids of the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Hot Metal Harley-Davidson would like to thank everyone who participated and donated to make this ride a huge success.
Friday, May 2, 2014
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson gives away a 2014 Harley-Davidson Sportster!
By: Rocky Marks
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson gave away a new 2014 XL1200N Sportster Iron during our Spring Opener on April 19th and it was an exciting day, especially for Kathleen Troha! She was the winner of the Sportster as part of our Roll-to-Win contest that started more than 7 weeks before!
Throughout the months of March and April, more than 1,000 people came to the dealership to try and roll the word: H-A-R-L-E-Y with 6 dice. If our guests hit the word, they earned a chance at the bike. If they didn’t roll “HARLEY”, they could come back every day to try their luck until they finally got the letters right. If a bike was purchased in that time frame of the contest, the new bike owner received two chances to win.
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson kicked off another contest during the Opener where riders could register the mileage on their bikes for a chance to win one of three gift cards to the dealership. There is still time to register. Whoever gets the most miles will win a $750 gift card. Second place pulls in a $500 gift card and third place wins a $250 gift card.
In May, Hot Metal Harley-Davidson hosted a functional riding gear and an L.E.D. lighting workshop, held demo rides, and free food on the grill.
Life Savers Animal Rescue, Inc. brought their dogs for adoption by with a monster truck. One of the dogs was rescued, adopted, and renamed “Harley” thanks to the event and everyone who came out to support it.
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson gave away a new 2014 XL1200N Sportster Iron during our Spring Opener on April 19th and it was an exciting day, especially for Kathleen Troha! She was the winner of the Sportster as part of our Roll-to-Win contest that started more than 7 weeks before!
Throughout the months of March and April, more than 1,000 people came to the dealership to try and roll the word: H-A-R-L-E-Y with 6 dice. If our guests hit the word, they earned a chance at the bike. If they didn’t roll “HARLEY”, they could come back every day to try their luck until they finally got the letters right. If a bike was purchased in that time frame of the contest, the new bike owner received two chances to win.
Hot Metal Harley-Davidson kicked off another contest during the Opener where riders could register the mileage on their bikes for a chance to win one of three gift cards to the dealership. There is still time to register. Whoever gets the most miles will win a $750 gift card. Second place pulls in a $500 gift card and third place wins a $250 gift card.
In May, Hot Metal Harley-Davidson hosted a functional riding gear and an L.E.D. lighting workshop, held demo rides, and free food on the grill.
Life Savers Animal Rescue, Inc. brought their dogs for adoption by with a monster truck. One of the dogs was rescued, adopted, and renamed “Harley” thanks to the event and everyone who came out to support it.
Monday, April 7, 2014
Thoughts About Planning A Charity Ride
by Rocky Marks:
Few things are as enjoyable as a ride on your bike with a group of fellow enthusiasts, knowing that your donation went to a good cause! This is the time of year when we start seeing the posters for charity rides pile up on the bulletin boards of dealerships all over the Western Pennsylvania Area.
Over the winter and into early spring, I've had many people come to me to inquire about what it takes to start a charity bike run. My first answer would be "time." These rides don't come together overnight, and the more successful rides are those that have been doing them annually for several years.
There has to be a lot of planning well in advance to make a successful charity ride. People often think that you can start one month out when in fact you should truly be starting more than a year ahead of time to make a successful charity run.
Another thing to consider is "manpower." How much help do you truly have? Help will be needed far in advance of the ride day. Many things to consider including start and location destination the timing the route the distance you want to travel not to mention the price what you want to include T-shirts dinner giveaways and prizes go as well as other factors when planning a ride.
Often people see rides with large numbers of motorcycles. But these rides have been around for quite some time and have been well planned in thought out over the years.
Another question that often comes up Is police escorts. Do police escort motorcycle runs? The answer is sometimes. Often we see many motorcycle rides taking the law into their own hands and blocking for other riders. This is illegal.
Getting a police escort also requires planning in advance, The cause of the ride, and the location of the ride. Please departments often do not like to travel into other jurisdictions. Frankly many police departments are often understaffed as it is and to take a car away from a shift would interfere with the operations of the police department. So it's not that the police do not want to escort, it's that the manpower isn't there to provide an escort for every single ride that happens.
There is a lot to consider when planning a ride. For more info, email rocky@hotmetalharley.com
Few things are as enjoyable as a ride on your bike with a group of fellow enthusiasts, knowing that your donation went to a good cause! This is the time of year when we start seeing the posters for charity rides pile up on the bulletin boards of dealerships all over the Western Pennsylvania Area.
Over the winter and into early spring, I've had many people come to me to inquire about what it takes to start a charity bike run. My first answer would be "time." These rides don't come together overnight, and the more successful rides are those that have been doing them annually for several years.
There has to be a lot of planning well in advance to make a successful charity ride. People often think that you can start one month out when in fact you should truly be starting more than a year ahead of time to make a successful charity run.
Another thing to consider is "manpower." How much help do you truly have? Help will be needed far in advance of the ride day. Many things to consider including start and location destination the timing the route the distance you want to travel not to mention the price what you want to include T-shirts dinner giveaways and prizes go as well as other factors when planning a ride.
Often people see rides with large numbers of motorcycles. But these rides have been around for quite some time and have been well planned in thought out over the years.
Another question that often comes up Is police escorts. Do police escort motorcycle runs? The answer is sometimes. Often we see many motorcycle rides taking the law into their own hands and blocking for other riders. This is illegal.
Getting a police escort also requires planning in advance, The cause of the ride, and the location of the ride. Please departments often do not like to travel into other jurisdictions. Frankly many police departments are often understaffed as it is and to take a car away from a shift would interfere with the operations of the police department. So it's not that the police do not want to escort, it's that the manpower isn't there to provide an escort for every single ride that happens.
There is a lot to consider when planning a ride. For more info, email rocky@hotmetalharley.com
Saturday, March 29, 2014
Watch Your Back!
By: Jerry Smith
Baseball great Satchel Paige once said, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Good advice, maybe, for a seemingly ageless pitcher, but not so good for motorcyclists, especially when they're stopped at an intersection and don't see the distracted driver bearing down on them from behind. It takes more than a working brake light to prevent being bunted into a busy intersection or squashed like a bug between two bumpers. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting caught in a squeeze play.
As you decelerate for a stoplight, check your mirrors to see if the traffic behind you is slowing down, too. Touch the brakes several times to flash your brake lights. Be extra vigilant if you decide to stop for a fresh yellow light in case the guy behind you decides to run it. And while we don't generally advocate running a yellow, that's your best course of action if it's clear that the car behind you is planning to.
Now that you've stopped, be ready to go again in a heartbeat in case the space you're in seems in imminent danger of being occupied by a speeding car. Position your bike on either side of the greasy center of the lane. Leave the transmission in gear and hold the clutch in. If that's not practical, put your right foot down, leave your left foot on the peg ready to engage first gear, and cover the clutch lever.
Always have an out in case the car in your mirror is becoming alarmingly large, alarmingly quick. If you're turning left and there's a curb or a median to your left and a car in front of you, position your bike on the right side of the lane so you can slip around the car if necessary. But be aware of through traffic coming up behind you that's not slowing down to turn. Stop far enough back from the car ahead to give yourself room to maneuver. If your front tire is inches from a bumper, you won't be able to turn without backing up first. That's a bad place to be.
In addition to bike placement, bike equipment can help tip the odds in your favor. Keep your mirrors clean and adjusted properly, and if all you can see in them is your elbows, swap them out for ones that do what mirrors are supposed to do. Check your brake light and taillights often, invest in some auxiliary brake lights, and add some reflective tape to the back of your bike for night riding. Every little bit helps.
Baseball great Satchel Paige once said, "Don't look back. Something might be gaining on you." Good advice, maybe, for a seemingly ageless pitcher, but not so good for motorcyclists, especially when they're stopped at an intersection and don't see the distracted driver bearing down on them from behind. It takes more than a working brake light to prevent being bunted into a busy intersection or squashed like a bug between two bumpers. Here are some tips to help you avoid getting caught in a squeeze play.
As you decelerate for a stoplight, check your mirrors to see if the traffic behind you is slowing down, too. Touch the brakes several times to flash your brake lights. Be extra vigilant if you decide to stop for a fresh yellow light in case the guy behind you decides to run it. And while we don't generally advocate running a yellow, that's your best course of action if it's clear that the car behind you is planning to.
Now that you've stopped, be ready to go again in a heartbeat in case the space you're in seems in imminent danger of being occupied by a speeding car. Position your bike on either side of the greasy center of the lane. Leave the transmission in gear and hold the clutch in. If that's not practical, put your right foot down, leave your left foot on the peg ready to engage first gear, and cover the clutch lever.
Always have an out in case the car in your mirror is becoming alarmingly large, alarmingly quick. If you're turning left and there's a curb or a median to your left and a car in front of you, position your bike on the right side of the lane so you can slip around the car if necessary. But be aware of through traffic coming up behind you that's not slowing down to turn. Stop far enough back from the car ahead to give yourself room to maneuver. If your front tire is inches from a bumper, you won't be able to turn without backing up first. That's a bad place to be.
In addition to bike placement, bike equipment can help tip the odds in your favor. Keep your mirrors clean and adjusted properly, and if all you can see in them is your elbows, swap them out for ones that do what mirrors are supposed to do. Check your brake light and taillights often, invest in some auxiliary brake lights, and add some reflective tape to the back of your bike for night riding. Every little bit helps.
"Where are you riding to?" vs "What do you do?"
By: Rocky Marks
Back in 1998 I remember taking a sociology class. One of the things we talked about or statuses, hierarchies if you will.
Today status is common forms of jobs where you are in management where you aren't in management and many people judge you based on what it is you do or do not do for a living.
For motorcyclists that's different though, the traditional what do you do for living turns into where are you going or perhaps what do you ride? The what do you ride doesn't necessarily indicate a status is simply a question to get the conversation started between two people that have a common bond on the road.
It's been my experience that most of the time people learn what other people do once they are gathered around a dinner table and start talking about work family and children. After that is still does not change the makeup of the crowd.
I shouldn't say I should say does not take up the dynamic makeup of I should say that it does not change the dynamic makeup of the group
I've been on rides with the unemployed disabled the hourly workers the minimum-wage workers salaried employees middle-management upper management CEOs CFOs and Supreme Court justices. And you know what they are all the same.
They are riders. Whether it is you're around seasonal or just a few times a month they are riders and they enjoy the fellowship on the road the investment they have between their legs and the camaraderie that they share with other riders.
I'd rather not get into the question of what is a real rider. Usually those debates are started by those that are insecure about their own status as a rider.
Back in 1998 I remember taking a sociology class. One of the things we talked about or statuses, hierarchies if you will.
Today status is common forms of jobs where you are in management where you aren't in management and many people judge you based on what it is you do or do not do for a living.
For motorcyclists that's different though, the traditional what do you do for living turns into where are you going or perhaps what do you ride? The what do you ride doesn't necessarily indicate a status is simply a question to get the conversation started between two people that have a common bond on the road.
It's been my experience that most of the time people learn what other people do once they are gathered around a dinner table and start talking about work family and children. After that is still does not change the makeup of the crowd.
I shouldn't say I should say does not take up the dynamic makeup of I should say that it does not change the dynamic makeup of the group
I've been on rides with the unemployed disabled the hourly workers the minimum-wage workers salaried employees middle-management upper management CEOs CFOs and Supreme Court justices. And you know what they are all the same.
They are riders. Whether it is you're around seasonal or just a few times a month they are riders and they enjoy the fellowship on the road the investment they have between their legs and the camaraderie that they share with other riders.
I'd rather not get into the question of what is a real rider. Usually those debates are started by those that are insecure about their own status as a rider.
2014 Schedule of National Bike Runs & Rallies
March 7 - 16: Bike Week 2014,Daytona Beach, FL
The kickoff event of the motorcycling year. Thaw out your bike and ride on down!
March 15: The Daytona 200, Daytona, FL
You don't have to be a racing fan to appreciate the skill on display at the Daytona 200, America's most historic motorcycle race. The kick-off to the 2014 motorcycle road season.
April 2 - 6: Arizona Bike Week, Mesa, AZ
This one gets bigger every year. If the April dates aren't enough for you, there are even Pre-Rally Days from March 28 to April 1.
April 23 - 27: Laughlin River Run, Laughlin, NV
Laughlin is billed as "the largest motorcycle event on the west coast." Help make it even bigger by attending this year.
May 25: Rolling Thunder Ride for Freedom, Washington, DC
This annual ride through our nation's capital is designed to bring attention to POW/MIA issues. 2014 marks the 27th year for the charity event, which raises awareness, funds and pulse rates.
June 2 - 7: Americade, Lake George, NY
The world's biggest all-brand touring rally gathers on the shores of beautiful Lake George.
June 14 - 22: Laconia Motorcycle Week, Laconia, NH
America's oldest motorcycle rally returns for its 91st edition this year, and it promises to be a blowout.
Riders from around the world fantasize about riding Route 66 from Chicago to Santa Monica. Here's a chance to join the 20th annual Rally along the 2,448-mile route.
July 11 - 13: AMA Vintage Motorcycle Days, Lexington, OH
Real vintage bikes from all eras racing around Mid-Ohio Sports Car Course, many piloted by vintage motorcycle racers.
August 4 - 10: Sturgis Rally and Races, Sturgis, SD
This year marks the 74th rally.
October 16 - 19: Biketoberfest, Daytona Beach, FL
Close out the riding season with one last warm weather rally. Heading into its 22nd year, Biketoberfest has grown to be a more manageable version of Bike Week, but still plenty fun and exciting.
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