'Never been around this many bikes before': Harley homecoming draws bikers from every corner of the world

MILWAUKEE (CBS 58) -- The steady rumble of motorcycles was the soundtrack all day Friday just north of the Walker's Point neighborhood, as riders rolled into one of the main gathering places for Harley-Davidson's 120th anniversary homecoming celebration.

The Harley-Davidson Museum hosted events throughout the day Friday, while Veterans Park will host concerts Friday and Saturday. Green Day is the headliner Friday, and Foo Fighters are the main attraction for Saturday's show.

The official event runs from Thursday through Sunday, but riders have been flocking to Milwaukee since the beginning of the week, and Harley-Davidson dealerships have thrown their own parties to welcome those arriving.

Harley homecomings even appeal to people who don't ride motorcycles, themselves, but said they wanted to see the concerts while soaking in a unique atmosphere.

"I'm gonna find a guy, find a girl, find whoever is willing to let me sit on a Harley," Kim Brindley, who came in from Doncaster, U.K., said. "And let me have five minutes and tick it off the bucket list."

For Chuck Parkhurst, Harley anniversary celebrations are can't-miss occasions.

The Roanoke, Virginia resident said this was his fifth trip to Milwaukee for a homecoming event, and he hasn't missed one since first experiencing it in 2003.

"It's sort of a brotherhood," Parkhurst said. "You know, ever since I was 17, I'd wanted a Harley-Davidson."

Parkhurst rode in with John Kern, who hadn't been to a Harley homecoming before. Kern said the ride from Virginia was the longest road trip he'd ever taken.

"Oh, this is crazy," Kern said. "I've never been around this many bikes before, and this is probably ain't even one percent of everyone who's all here."

For some riders, it's a chance to experience the United States before seeing Milwaukee for the first time.

Clemencia Rosales from Bogota, Colombia said she arrived in Miami, then wound her way to Milwaukee via Orlando, Atlanta, Indianapolis and Chicago.

Linda Walker, who's also from Doncaster, U.K., traveled to Washington, D.C. with Brindley, where they met Missy Fortune, a friend they met at a music festival in Spain.

Fortune, who lives in West Virginia, drove Brindley and Walker to Milwaukee, with stops at National Parks along the way.

The trio's primary interest was a chance to see both Green Day and Foo Fighters, but the sight of so many Harleys took them aback.

"It's great, I'm loving it," Walker said. "And all these bikes? It's fantastic."

A legacy of expression

In a departure from past homecoming events, Harley-Davidson banned reporters and photojournalists from the museum and Veterans Park grounds, except for limited 30-minute windows of escorted access.

Friday morning, a CBS 58 crew was allowed to step on the museum campus for an interview with Karen Davidson, Harley-Davidson's director of marketing and the great-granddaughter of William A. Davidson, who co-founded the company in 1903.

Davidson she believed the message that will allow the brand to keep resonating with young and future generations was that Harleys are a vehicle of individual expression.

"You never see the same Harley-Davidson twice," she said. "It's all about customizing, right?"

Davidson said she was still amazed to see how far people were willing to travel for Harley homecoming festivities.

She said she ran into the same German riders at a different 120th anniversary event in Singapore, then she saw them again this week in Milwaukee. Davidson said those are the types of stories that would make her great-grandfather proud.

"I think he'd have a big smile on his face," she said. "And be so proud of what this company has become to so many people around the world."