Ridin’ California on a Harley-Davidson

Harley-Heaven customer and HOG member, Rod ‘Rowdy’ Eime, couldn’t resist the urge to get out on the road during a recent trip to Los Angeles. He gives us the lowdown.

It would have been a wasted opportunity not to get out on the road when in California recently, so I called in a favour and joined a group of colleagues on rental bikes from EagleRider (ER) at Newport Beach.

Luck would have it when ER founder and CEO, Chris McIntyre, turned up for the ride making the day a bit of a celebrity event.

We set out on a loop from the ER store led by Chris down the scenic coastal drive past Laguna Beach to San Clemente with a quick stop at Tommy’s roadside diner for coffee. Tommy’s is one of those classic American fast-food joints straight out of ‘Happy Days’ before the big chains ate them all up.

Stage Two Burger and Fries

Next, we headed inland toward the canyons in the wilds of Orange County. Located at the juncture of Santiago Canyon and Live Oak Canyon roads, Cooks Corner has to be one of the most famous biker bars in all of Southern California. And on a cool, sunny Saturday, the place is alive with hundreds of motorcycles (overwhelmingly H-Ds), live music and an oversupply of colourful characters.

This unashamedly ramshackle ‘mess hall’ venue, can trace its history back to 1926 when it began as a ‘watering hole’ for miners and ranchers. The mess hall was bought from army surplus and installed in 1946 and became the famous biker hang in 1970 after a local Santa Ana motorcycle accessories owner purchased it.

The band knows exactly what to play to the crowd and the kitchen work overtime pumping out comfort food like burgers and fries. Looking for a kale and bean sprout salad? Sorry.

Sufficiently fed, it was an easy amble back down to Newport Beach to complete an easy day out.

Guys and gals, if you’re looking to hire a Harley-Davidson pretty much anywhere in the USA, check out rental partner, EagleRider.