Bikers are getting older and the chill from the presidents tariffs is getting colder whats an American icon to do?
Milwaukee is a pretty city. On any normal day, visitors can walk around the genteel downtown area, taking in a slew of neo-gothic buildings, or look to the east, where sailboats bob on Lake Michigan.
But this Labor Day weekend, it had a distinctly grittier feel. The air was filled with the roar of motorcycle engines, booming guitar music and the smell of smoke, both exhaust and cigar. It was the 115th anniversary celebration of Harley-Davidson and the bikers were in town.
The quintessential American motorcycle brand was founded in Milwaukee in 1903. The company is still headquartered here, and still makes some of its bikes in the city. For the past few decades, large-scale celebrations of the fact have taken place every five years.
But this year, after Harley-Davidson responded to Donald Trump’s tariffs by moving some production overseas, the president has been encouraging people to boycott the company. For the crowd of Harley owners who gathered this weekend, it was easy to feel torn between Trump and their beloved brand.
“It’s American made, it should stay American made,” said Mike Lupo, the owner of a Harley-Davidson Street Glide, a big, billowing motorcycle that looked like it could stand up on its own. “It’s one of the reasons we buy Harley, because they’re made right here. I understand Harley’s situation but I’m with Trump on this deal, I don’t think they should be doing it.”
Lupo, whose bike-riding nickname is “Six String”, owing to his prowess on the guitar, was eyeing up some new models at the Harley-Davidson Museum. Thousands of bikers poured in each day, American flags billowing behind some bikes, music blaring from others. Combined with country rock blasted from a stage, the throb of the engines was disorientating.
For many attendees, the fight between Harley-Davidson and Trump had a similar effect. People liked Trump’s tough tariffs on steel and other goods, meant to protect American workers. They were behind the president in most of his dealings. But not when it came to their bikes.
“I’ve had a relationship with Harley for 45 years,” Lupo, 62, shouted over the music. “I’m not going to stop riding Harley. It’s brand loyalty. It’s the way they sound, the way they look, the way they ride.”
A Vietnam-era air force veteran, Lupo is the founder of the Midwest Veterans group. Decked out in a black leather vest, he was wearing a patch bearing the name of his division. He was with another Midwest Veterans member, Bob “Beer Man” Sterling. A towering man with Harley Davidson anniversary tattoos dating back to 1993, he said riding a Harley was much more than a vehicular choice.
“It’s a lifestyle,” he said, gesturing to the thousands of other leather-clad bikers. “It’s here through the good times, it’s here through the bad times, there’s no other brand where you get this kind of thing.
“If you got a Harley and I got a Harley, that’s it. We’re friends. If you’ve got a Harley you’ve most likely got common views on other shit.”
Source: http://allofbeer.com/harley-davidson-lovers-in-milwaukee-discuss-trump-tariffs-and-time/