Melbourne - Perfect Riding Weather 365 Days a year

When is it too cold to go for a ride on a motorcycle in Melbourne?

As I write, it is winter here in Melbourne.The maximum temperature forecast for today is 16C and sunny.

Melbourne lies at 38 degrees south of the equator. That's the same as the latitude of Sicily north of the equator. Italy is a country where motorcycles are very popular and ridden 365 days of the year.

When it gets cooler we simply wear more warm clothing, and when the sun is shining one can get quite hot inside the protective jackets we supply for our Harley Ride customers. Many has been the time that one of my passengers has complained of being too warm in the middle of winter here in Melbourne.

So, if you are planning a trip to Melbourne - don't let the idea that it gets cold in winter here stop you from taking a Harley Ride experience. We guarantee that you will enjoy the experience and that it will be nothing like anything you expected - in fact most people go away saying that it was the opposite of what they expected.

We once took two girls on a ride down the Great Ocean Road in the rain. We managed to keep them totally dry. They described it as a Great Adventure.

The Problem with TripAdvisor - Don't Get Fooled

Here at HD Chauffeur Ride Pty Ltdwww.harleyrides.com we have a TripAdvisor rating that would be the envy of any other tour company. But, lately I have noticed an anomaly that doesn't seem to sit quite comfortably with the TripAdvisor philosophy of recommending the "right" to the "best quality" attraction.

Take a close look at this and you will see what I mean:

TripAdvisor Ad

To my great shock, I recently noticed that there seated in the middle of my TripAdvisor page is a Google Ad that takes the reader straight to my nearest competitor. I am left to wonder how much business I am losing because someone clicks on this link, thinking that its my company they will be booking with.

I have nothing to do with Adrenaline. We do know something about the company who supplies Harley Rides for them - but its not our company and we know that they don't have a TripAdvisor rating.

So, don't be fooled by the ads you see on TripAdvisor. They are not endorsed by them, they are chosen by Google. The quality of the companies in these ads isn't measured by TripAdvisor - but TripAdvisor do get paid every time someone clicks on one of these ads.

Just a thought that we would let you know about :)


And who are Adrenaline? What is their Trip Advisor Rating? I found this example on Trip Advisor, who have a terrible rating for one of their product listings:

And it would seem that HD Chauffeur Ride are not the only victims, as can bee seen in this example. I checked to see if there was a relationship between Peek Tours and Tours to Go - and there is none:

Not All Operators Are The Same Quality

Not all Harley Ride operators in Melbourne are the same and we take pride in being the trend setter in the industry. It may surprise people to know that our industry is very small, and that we all tend to work together. 

But, there is one the operator in the Melbourne Harley Ride Industry who has been used by us on one of our group rides in the past. BUT, that was in the past, I now no longer use him because he doesn't come up to the high standard my company has become known for. 

Only this past week he was involved in an accident that appears to have led to his motorcycle being written off. On a job he attended in December 2014 he was seen arriving with two dogs in his sidecar, which then remained in the sidecar while his passenger sat on the back of his bike for a group ride out to a local Yarra Valley winery. Recently one of our customers, who had been out on a ride with this other operator told us about a frightening experience they had with him, when the axle nut on his bikes rear wheel fell off, and they almost had a serious accident. Shen chose not to come out with him for her next ride. We were not surprised.......

There are a number of Internet Agents Sites for whom this other operator is a supplier. These site supply a wide range of adventure activities. It may interest anyone reading this to know that none of these agents do quality or safety checks on their product suppliers. 

Our business is about "making people happy". If I was in it for the money, then I certainly wouldn't be doing it. Motorcycles are my passion and sharing that experience with our customers is why I am in business. All the riders I use service and maintain their machines to the highest standards. Safety is the priority.

Examples of the type of Internet Agent sites are Red Balloon, Adrenalin and Experience Oz (this last company were the ones who used my Harley Ride images without my permission last year).

Here are some images from some of our recent rides, where we put a huge smile on their faces.

The standard that we apply   is that all the bikes we use are regularly maintained and serviced by Authorised Harley Davidson mechanics. The individual in question services his bike by himself and he is not a Harley Davidson qualified mechanic. Next time you are comparing products on the internet, ask yourself, "Does the low price equal quality?" You get what you pay for - if it is cheap then there is normally a very good reason why.

Valentine's Day Gift

Have you remembered that Valentine's Day is fast approaching? Do you have any idea what to get your valentine in 2013? A Harley Ride is something that never fails to impress people, who have undergone the experience.

Maybe, you have a girlfriend who is not into bikes, but you are, and you would really love to have her understand why you love motorcycles as much as you do? Give us just one hour with her and we guarantee she will come back demanding that you get one, and take her for a ride. She may even come back wanting to get her own motorbike licence (we have seen it happen - believe it or not!).

Just recently, a guy booked a ride for the love in his life, the excitement on her face and the reaction she had during the ride just had to be seen to be believed : )

It doesn't matter what age they are, in our experience the result is always the same. At the end of the ride they always just want to keep going, and "Its never long enough".

We have plenty of bikes available for rides on Valentines Day this year. And you can come along too - on another bike - and join in the experience with your valentine. Maybe you are planning to take them out for dinner - get picked up and use us instead of a taxi.

The best thing to do is call us and get some technical advice - we can offer many ideas and suggestions. That is what we are here for. Our phone number is Freecall 1800 182 282 (inside Australia only). 

Visit our Facebook Site or our Mobile Site

Groupon Discounts - the truth behind their facade

Just over a year ago, I was getting calls a couple of times a week from Groupon, Living Social and their "coupon clones". Their claim was that they could bring my company, "heaps of new work, and that there were thousands of customers queuing up to buy my product that I was supposedly missing out on.

The problem is, as I pointed out to them, that volume sales doesn't match the service I provide. One of my competitors in the Harley Rides industry had already been burned getting involved with several of these discounters, and I didn't want to suffer the same fate.

My focus is on providing a Quality Experience for my customers. Providing Quality requires that the Harley Davidson motorcycles I use to transport my customers, are maintained and serviced to the highest standards. This means that their safety is guaranteed - that no short cuts are taken.

To achieve this goal I never service or repair my motorcycle - I'm not qualified to do that. I pay a qualified Harley Davidson mechanic $100 per hour plus the cost of parts to perform that task. This means that my bike and all the bikes I use are in tip top condition.

But, some of my competitors in the Harley Rides industry here in Melbourne, don't take my approach. They cut corners and maintain very old machines that are more prone to breakdowns. One of those uses Red Balloon and Adrenalin Tours as agents for their Harley Rides business and has fallen foul of Groupon and Living Social and lived to regret that experience.

http://www.theage.com.au/technology/technology-news/consumer-watchdog-targets-website-product-reviews-and-discounts-20121214-2bf7b.html#ixzz2FFodeWK2

Why book through a multinational holiday or "experience" promotional website?

To book accommodation, restaurants, holidays, Harley Rides etc go direct to the person who owns and operates the business he/she does not have to pay large commissions. Visit our website here at Harley Rides in Melbourne or call us direct on Freecall 1800 182 282 - our technical advice is free - you don't get that at Groupon etc. And as for Red Balloon and Adrenalin - they don't even conduct quality checks on the products they supply. All they are interested in, is getting their 25% Agents commission. At Groupon, after factoring in a 50% discount or something similar, and after they take their cut - that leaves the supplier with almost nothing. In my case not enough to cover my costs. And I'm not prepared to cut corners to get more business at the expense of scarificing my customers safety

Mr Rob Sims, ACCC ''People are buying a voucher and the circumstances are such that they cannot actually redeem it, and therefore they just lose their money. Many do get a discount, but some just lose their money,'' Mr Sims said. ''That is unfair on the small- business person who either breaks his or her back to try and meet them, or just suffers the reputational damage. And it is unfair to consumers.''

The owner of a Sydney driving school told the Herald his business was damaged by a group deal. He made no profit and had to put his own customers aside while fulfilling vouchers.

''It is not worth it [because] I made no profit at all and the price they advertise my business is too cheap for me. I cannot afford it [and] they take too much [commission].'

Before you do book something online - do your research. We have many good reviews on Trip Advisor - Harley Rides in Melbourne and are recommended by Tourism Australia . After reading many reviews, its pretty easy to tell which ones are fake.

Youtube Harley Ride Clips - For the Dreamers

Without a doubt, motorcycles are gaining in popularity. But, for many people owning their own motorcycle, getting their bike licence just isn't something that is ever going to happen. The reasons for this are many and varied - for many they just can't fit one into their busy lifestyle, of they don't have the funds to purchase one (let alone buy all the necessary protective gear - and undertake the training), or maybe they have a spouse nor parent who won't let them get one.

The dream of owning a Harley Davidson is out of reach for many, but the experience is not.

That is where we come in. There is a way for these people to experience the Joy of Riding a motorbike, without a licence. Harley Davidson Tours, motorcycle joyrides have been operating in Australia since the early 1990's.

If your dream has been to get a motorcycle of your own, or if you have a friend who has that dream, then that is where HD Chauffeur Ride Pty Ltd can help you out. Over the last 20 years, they have helped many people get focussed on their motorcycle dream or satisfied that inner yearning to get a motorcycle joyride on a genuine Harley Davidson off their bucket list : )

Do you know someone who needs to have this experience? Are you someone who has always wanted to get a motorcycle of their won, but life got in your way?

Even if you have never sat on a motorcycle before, this is an experience we guarantee you will enjoy. You don't need to have ever have thought about motorcycles before. We know that after you have spent an hour or more with us - you will understand : )

Visit is on Facebook

Where have all the tourists gone?

Things are very quiet in Melbourne right now. Maybe its the economic climate, or that people aren't travelling from the USA or Europe in as greater numbers as in the past. I wish I knew why more people aren't coming out for a Harley Ride with us.

The most common question I get asked when someone is sitting on the back of my Harley Davidson (a 2012 Heritage Softail BTW) is, "How many time a week do you take people for a ride John?" My answer is, "Not that often actually. If I was in this business for the money, then  I would have quit years ago." Interestingly, one of my peers in the Harley Rides industry just quit and stopped doing rides because he wasn't making any money doing it......

My situation differs a little from most. I have no debts and as a retired Army Officer I have a military pension that gives me more flexibility than most. For me riding a motorcycle is my passion. There is just nothing else that I would rather do - so taking people out for motorcycle joyrides is it : )

Maybe, its the cost of the ride. I'm the first to admit that its not cheap to come out for a ride with us. But, interestingly its been almost 3 years since we last raised our prices. If anything we have stayed a little behind inflation prices or the cost of living increases. Maintaining a Harley Davidson motorcycle is not cheap - and I am a stickler for keeping my bike in great condition (so it doesn't let me down at the most embarrassing time, like in the middle of a ride). Some of my peers in the Harley Rides industry service their own bikes to save money. Several own very old bikes to save money. So competing on price is not easy.

Or is it the Public Perception of the Motorcycle? According to certain Government Agencies, like the Transport Accident Commission (TAC), riding on a motorcycle is a very risky business. According to them if you get on a motorcycle you are guaranteed to have a accident. I haven't had an accident for over 30 years on my motorcycle. In fact I am highly aware of what to avoid and how to stay out of trouble whenever I am on my bike. In fact I am paranoid about making a mistake that will result in getting my bike scratched. If anything, sitting on the back of my motorcycle as a passenger is far safer that being in a bus or taxi or hire car in my biased opinion.

Is a fear of motorcycles stopping people from coming out for a ride with us? Many rides are a surprise for the person we are taking out. These rides are often booked as a surprise gift for their birthday, anniversary, fathers day or mothers day, even on their wedding day. The responses we get are diverse, and the frequent response is immediate apprehension - usually goaded by their friends with silly remarks like, "Now, don't fall off", said with a big smile and accompanying laughter.

After a person has been been sitting on the bike and have moved off, their apprehension quickly evaporates. I make a point of explaining why the bike stays upright when we are in motion, and demonstrate the physics that make it difficult to fall off the bike - unless we are stationary - or something hits us (which is very unlikely as long as I am in control).

By the end of the ride, our passengers have a new perspective as to why I ride a motorcycle - which as someone I know declares, "Is the most fun thing you can ever do." It is an addiction. I know the risks and I know how to manage them - I just wish people understood that fact.

Visit us on Facebook

Birthday Surprise Harley Ride

On this particular day, we turned up at the school where Paul is the Headmaster. His sister organised the Harley Ride as a surprise gift. Noteably, his students were very impressed as can be seen by the amount of attention we got at the time we picked him up. 

You Tube - Ride The Yarra Boulevard with us

One of the great things about Melbourne is its parklands. The Yarra Boulevard is just one such location and its very close to the city. And what a Harley Ride it makes!

We quite often integrate this route into our Harley Rides when we takes someone out for one of our motorcycle joyrides. Its the only place I know where you are actually in the middle of a city like Melbourne, but you feel like you are right out in the Australian countryside. Just another experience we offer.

What Women Want

Being a Harley Rides operator has helped me to understand human nature, and in particular it has given me an insight into the "female mind".

The reality struck me during a telephone conversation with a female customer, who wanted to organise a Harley Ride as a Valentine's Day gift for her boyfriend. She was interested in  what she described as a "chopper style" Harley Davidson. She wanted something with a "look". It was at this point that I began to realise the difference between men and women.

Women want to be seen. They are fashion oriented. As one girl said to me a few years ago, "I really am not interested in being the rider, but I do enjoy sitting on the back of a Harley at a 'fashion accessory'."

From the conversation which I have had with the thousands of women (of all ages) over the last ten years I have learned the following:

• They love the feel of being on the back of the bike doing something that that their parents would never approve of.
• They love to talk - and I have had some amazing discussions (all in confidence and which I would never repeat - and always on the understanding that I had no interest in taking anything beyond the end of the ride...).
• Being seen is paramount. The attention and looks people give them is important in their enjoyment of the Harley Ride.
• Strangely, they don't go for the best looking bike - they go for the one that looks like it will be the most comfortable for them.
• Whenever I take a couple of girls out in a sidecar on a Hens Night ride, they want to wave at everyone. Its the attention thing.

One the other side of the coin, men differ. They are more interested in the size of the bike - its engine and the technical aspects, performance etc.

In the end, men and women are very different.

You Tube Harley Ride Video Clips

In Australia a Harley Ride means taking someone, os a pillion passenger, for a joyride on a Harley Davidson motorcycle. In Australia, we don't refer to our machines as "our ride". We go for a ride with friends, and we take people for a ride on our bikes....

In Australia, we have a Harley Rides Industry - yes, people who have never been near a motorcycle in their lives, or have never thought of owning a bike, actually pay to be given a motorcycle experience. You would be amazed at who and what we have done with our H-Ds over the years.

A complete set of Harley Ride video clips, taken over the last few years are now on You Tube. Or you can view the best of them here (please rate them for me and let me know what you think):

Here is the first video clip I produced several years ago, on a Yarra Valley Wineries Tour:




This clip was one of the first ones I did with WIN TV about our Introduction to Melbourne Tour :




You can view all the other clips Here

What a Month

December is always a busy month for the Harley Rides industry, and 2006 was no exception.

The first weekend of the month saw the demand for sidecars stretched to the limit for Corporate Family Christmas parties. We had 3 on Saturday 3rd Dec and 4 on Sunday the following day. I started at 9 am on Sunday doing a 3 Sidecar job for Tourism Victoria, where we took a group of Travel Agents from New Zealand for a familiarization tour of Melbourne, then did several hundred short rides at the GTV 9 Family Christmas Party and ended the day taking an 80 year old and two of his grand children for a sidecar ride.

From time to time we get some pretty special requests. On Wed 6th December I received a call from the Herald Sun newspaper to take a special little boy for a ride. Tyler Fishlock lost his sight to cancer early in 2006. He is only 4 years old and had asked Santa for a Harley ride. The Herald Sun obliged and I was called upon to do the job. Tyler is an amazing child. But it was his parents Georgette and Brad who impressed me most. They have given up a lot this past year and are facing the challenge with amazing strength.

This is Tyler seated on John's Heritage Softail

Then not one week later I took another visually imapaired girl out for a Harley Ride. Krista loves Harleys and was given a Gift Voucher for a 1 hour ride by her friends as a birthday present. It was a pretty interesting experience for me as we cruised up into the hils and she took in the smells and felt the wind in her face.

The month ended as busy as it started after Christmas Day. There were a massive number of tourists in Melbourne for the Boxing Day Cricket Test. We picked up quite a bit of work from them and one afternoon after the match (and the game) was finished took Ian Botham away from the MCG to Pier 35 where a helicopter was waiting to fly him down to his home on the Mornington Peninsula.