Have you ever considered joining an owners club? If you have then I daresay it was for one or more of the following reasons:

· You have that make of bike ;o)
· You’ve been considering getting that make of bike
· The club was recommended to you
· You think it will give you access to a member’s knowledge base and articles archive
· You think it will give you access to spares
· Members will recommend dealers and places to buy spares
· Socialising with people with the same make of bike, celebrating the marque or model if you will

All of these are very valid reasons for doing so

However, joining an owners club, in my experience, can be a bit of a lottery.

Often our first experience of an owners club once we have dispatched our membership fees is receiving the membership card, current edition of the club magazine, possibly website members-only access and if you’re lucky a welcome letter.

In my experience several clubs fall short of this basic requirement and with it get their relationship with me off to a very shaky start indeed, one which they will have to work extra hard to improve if they want to receive my cash again for another year.

As I write this, I have been waiting for almost two months to receive my membership information from a club. This club have a good on-line presence and having spoken to members of the club at the Uttoxeter classic bike do we were impressed by their friendliness and knowledge of the machines. If you’re interested in this instance we fall into the category of considering this make of bike for a future purchase. Now I am feeling less than impressed. Imagine if you were waiting in a shop to be served and despite someone recommending the shop to you it took an inordinately long time to be served, would you be impressed? Thought not.

This is not the first time either.

I do think the quality of a clubs’ magazine is important too. This is the face of the club, if you like and I know that the editing of it can be a real challenge, especially when it comes to getting the membership to submit articles, photos etc and thus filling the pages of the magazine on a regular basis.

One issue I do have though with club magazines is the quality, or lack of it, I should say, having been a member of the owners club for a certain British marque, which shall remain nameless, and I am sure has a large membership, they seriously need to get new printers and stop printing photographs in black and white – I mean c’mon.

Now, I am not going to name and shame, and neither have I, I think, been unlucky in my choices but what I will do is tell you about clubs that I have been impressed with:

The Royal Enfield Owners Club – I have been impressed with this club from the off. My membership information was received in a timely fashion, the club magazine – The Gun – is absolutely excellent, there are plenty of bargains to be had in the club marketplace, an excellent website and good quality club merchandise.

The Moto Guzzi Owners Club – now I should say I am not a member of this club, but I know a man that is! This has mean’t that I get access to the club magazine – Gambalunga (meaning long-legged) – a very professional glossy magazine. I have also had the pleasure of attending the clubs V-twin rally in Fordingbridge and was really impressed with how tight the club is and how well organised the rally is.
Almost makes me want to buy a Guzzi )

So, what to do?

There is no doubt that there are some excellent owners clubs out there, but some of you, frankly, need to pull your socks up, and I am sure that you will be rewarded by an on-going and increasing membership which I know that for one the Royal Enfield Owners Club enjoy.

Do let me know of your experience with owners clubs and lets give the good ones plenty of bigging up!