How long was it and how many posts did we see here at this site about how Husaberg NA needed to be more supportive of this site since this site was the go to place for the avid Husaberg enthusiast? Not only for the technical support aspects, but also for the camaraderie and shared experiences from around the globe.
Clay found this site and realized what a great group of people, and support system we had here at the site, heard about our Force Ride and approached us to support our get together for riding and good times. It was also a great opportunity for Husaberg North America to offer up free test rides of it's new model bikes in some of the most epic riding conditions in the United States.
It was also Clay who provided us the dough to get the T shirts made for the event ahead of time, and all he wanted in return was for the shirts to have the NA dealers name on them, and for us to mail one shirt to each dealer. He also brought along a good cache of hats, shirts and tie downs to give away at the rally. Not to mention the 9 2009 model bikes for test rides.
For those of you who attended, and for those who didn't, I offer up some further support that Clay made possible for our Force Ride. For anyone who went to dinner with Clay, Charles, and Rod, you didn't pay for your liquid libation or your dinner, Clay picked up the tab. When we rode off of the Clovin's property, it was Clay who paid for the Brat's, Hamburger, and further liquid libation camp fire cookout when we returned from what was probably the most epic days ride over to Aspen for some, and some single track with Fritz for others.
Out on the trail, we had logistical support from his friend Rod and NA tech specialist Charles Jirsa who helped everyone with their bikes no matter what brand you were riding. Not to mention Rod and Charles hauling all our fuel and ice chests up to the reservoir where we stopped mid day on day #2 I believe. And basically doing the same for each day that we rode. All the while providing brand new bikes to ride, for free with a factory mechanic who worked on everyone's bikes making sure the new bikes had the right maps installed, fixing leaky gaskets, and helping Kzoo with the jetting on his Husky.
Clay had arranged this support for our ride as a good way to expose more people to the new bike, but more importantly, Clay wanted to come out and ride with a group of people he liked because of what he saw on this web site. He admired our love of our bikes, and even though there were problems, we didn't trash the brand or talk smack, we found solutions to fix our bikes, make them better, and go riding. A real enthusiast.
For me personally, I never thought I would get what I consider to be the rock star treatment from the factory. Bikes, fuel, food, parts, mechanic, all the stuff you read about in the magazines. Except it wasn't factory rider for a day, it was factory rider for 5 nights and 4 days, and for that I will be forever grateful.
I don't know what Husaberg NA is thinking by letting an employee of this caliber get away from them, for it is this type of employee, the enthusiast, that has made Husaberg and KTM such great off road motorcycles.
