Although sometimes the public forgets, riders of Harley-Davidson's and other motorcycles are people too. We have the same concerns and needs as anyone else and the same desire to help those less fortunate. There are dozens of biker-sponsored charities out there including the few mentioned here.

Are you considering Iron Butt, dubbed the "world's toughest motorcycle rally"? If the idea of riding 11,000 miles in 11 days seems like a fun challenge, you first need to get your bike in shape.

Many people dream of owning a business, and turning a hobby into a profession can seem like the ideal way to realize that dream. If you like to build and fix your own Harley Davidson, you could turn your passion for motorcycles into a lucrative opportunity. The subject of starting a business is beyond the scope of this small article, but here are a few tips to get you started.

If you are going to build a motorcycle, the frame determines the basic look of the bike. Of course motorcycle frames affect not only the appearance of the bike but the handling and safety of the finished machine.

Building your own bike from motorcycle parts is cheaper than buying one new and is a whole lot of fun. When you are done, there is nothing like the satisfaction of driving around on a machine you built with your bare hands.

Some people build custom bikes because they are cheaper than buying one. Others just want the I-built-that feeling as they look at it. Still others might want customization that they can't get in an "off the shelf" model.

There is no bike on the road that looks like a Harley-Davidson. Over the manufacturer's century-long history, the look of the Harley has changed and the true enthusiast can tell the year of a bike at a glance. One of the most obvious clues is the distinctive Harley engine.