Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/617259
35 THUNDER PRESS www.thunderpress.net by Don Kline LONG BEACH, CALIF., NOV. 20—EagleRider Motorcycles USA, widely regarded as the premier motor- cycle rental and touring business, recently announced its new member program called Club EagleRider. For a subscription fee of $29 per month, members are provided with: • One free rental per month and one on your birthday • Access to the entire fl eet of motor- cycles, trikes, dirt bikes and ATVs • Roll over of rental credits • 15 percent off additional rental days and EagleRider guided, self -drive and freestyle tours • 15 percent off EagleRider apparel • 15 percent off EagleRider motor- cycle service • Invitations to all Club EagleRider events and rallies • Automatic enrollment in EagleRider's Rewarding Referral Program • Exclusive access to Club EagleRider member-only deals • Free access to Club EagleRider concierge • Free DMV test rental bike • Free EagleRider Club welcome kit While at the Progressive International Motorcycle Show in Long Beach, California. I got to spend a few minutes with EagleRider found- er and CEO Chris McInytre. I asked Chris how EagleRider got started and he told me it all began with four bikes in a garage in Colorado, and that the fi rst people to rent from him were very happy having been able to fulfi ll their dream of riding in the U.S.A. EagleRider now has locations through- out the country, including Hawaii, and most rental locations are in major cities. I asked Chris what kind of events EagleRider hosts, and he replied that they open the dealership to club mem- bers after normal business and it has been very popular. You can usually fi nd EagleRider at many motorcycle events and venues such as the one being held here in Long Beach. Chris is a very energetic and pop- ular guy; many times we had to pause the interview as people stopped and had to say hello and when staff came by. And I noticed that the staff seems to be like family. I asked Chris why he came up with the idea of Club EagleRider. His response was that it is a way of giving back to the motorcycle com- munity, and it's a way for riders to get involved in the motorcycle com- munity. I also asked about the monthly fee and how easy it would be for a club member to rent a bike. Chris told me that a club member would reserve the model they want to ride online. He also mentioned that coming soon is an app that members can use, much like some of the apps used for some transportation services. Club EagleRider is such a good idea, I have to wonder why no one ever thought of it before. But that's been the hallmark of Chris McIntyre's success—anticipating riders' needs and providing the services to match. 4 tours take place. Among the vendors were K&N fi lters, Rivera Primo and Kiwi Indian who had a booth set up with some of their motorcycles. The California Highway Patrol had a booth for the California Motorcycle Safety Program. The CMSP recently under- went some changes and everything is now in place for new riders to start learning how to ride. I ran into a few members of the Christian Motorcyclists Association at their booth. This is a good group of folks, and I know fi rst-hand how they support the motorcycle community. Among the things they do is go on many charity runs and provide break- down assistance for riders on the way to the Laughlin River Run. Outside there was a demo ride area where you could test ride bikes from Harley-Davidson, Indian and Victory. They all had several models ready for people to take a ride. Victory had three of their electric-powered Impulse TT motorcycles for riders to check out, with many waiting to take a test ride on this interesting motorcycle. One of the things many people, including myself, enjoy about these shows is the custom motorcycles on display by various builders. Some of the notable builders were Cory Ness who had two motorcycles, one a super- charged Sportster and a big a custom two-into-one engine. Gard Hollinger had one of the bikes he builds in con- nection with Keanu Reeves called the KRGT-1 prototype. A pair of interest- ing dual-sport Sportsters by Carducci Design of Northern California were in the show. I got a chance to talk to Jim Carducci on Friday and he told me about the parts and work that goes into making one of these motorcycles and that the parts are available on their website for those wishing to build their own version. There was also an area for vintage bikes and sidecars and there were some classic Harley- Davidson and Indian motorcycle in the group. The weekend turned out to be per- fect for the show, a high-pressure ridge came in and bumped temperatures up in the area. In fact, Long Beach had a record high temperature of 90 degrees on the Saturday of the show; defi nitely a nice day for motorcycle riders. I'm looking forward to next year's show. 4 Dan Smee with the Wounded Warrior Project EagleRider staff came prepared to talk about their new Club EagleRider program CLUB EAGLERIDER Pick of the litter New program provides many benefi ts to motorcyclists