U.S. News and World Report says 80 percent of Americans fail at keeping their New Year’s resolutions. You know why? Because most people resolve to do something difficult and unpleasant. We’re here to keep you out of that group.
Don’t sign up for a gym membership. In January every gym in the Dallas area is going to be packed with people trying to banish their holiday weight gain. Do you really think hanging out with sweaty, flabby, grunting people will make you happier?
Don’t go to the grocery store and load up on kale and quinoa. Kale will make you gassy and people will quit inviting you to parties.
Hold off on buying that online course to learn a new language or learn to play guitar or become a beekeeper. Nobody likes a know-it-all.
If you put off breaking bad habits or forming good ones in 2019, spending money toward that end at the start of 2020 isn’t going to make you stick to it now either. Instead, read through these resolutions and find one you’ll actually want to keep.
Ride More
You probably could have predicted this one. The top 2020 New Year’s resolution for Harley® riders is to spend more time on their bikes. When they look back on 2019, they realize there were missed opportunities, and they don’t want to make the same mistake in the year ahead.
If you’re making a resolution to get healthier, this one checks off a lot of boxes. Riding improves your core stability, strengthens your legs, improves your mental health and gives you a more positive outlook on life. No quinoa required, no gym membership fees involved.
But like all resolutions, this one can be tough to keep. You mean to take your bike more often, but life gets busy. Here are a few tips for following through on your good intentions.
- Get gear you can wear over regular clothes – If you don’t have to change to go for a ride, you’re more likely to take the bike to the office, to visit grandma, whatever. Talk to a store associate when you come by Dallas Harley-Davidson® in Garland and they can help you find what you need.
- Add storage to your bike – When you need to zip to the store to grab a carton of eggs or you’re just picking up a burger, you might not want to put it in a backpack. We can add storage to your bike so you don’t have to. Talk to someone in service and they can explain your options.
- Get an accountability partner – Sure, riding is about solitude and freedom, but that’s more enjoyable when you share it with someone. Find someone else who is resolving to ride more and figure out how you can hold each other accountable.
Improve Your Riding Skills
Whether you’re a new rider or you’ve been doing it for years, there’s always room for improvement. If you’re new, you probably know lots of things you need to work on. If you’re a seasoned rider, you might have picked up some bad habits along the way, and fixing them will make you a better motorcyclist. Either way, keep your New Year’s resolution when you sign up for a motorcycle safety course.
We recommend the North Texas Motorcycle Safety Course, where you can take scooter school, basic rider, advanced rider, private lessons, and tutoring. We also have a group that meets at the dealership regularly to work on becoming better at riding. Get in touch and we’ll send you more details on that.
Buy Another Harley
Some lucky souls aren’t limited to one bike. Maybe you love a Sportster for everyday riding, but you’ve been dreaming of buying a touring bike for the road trips you have planned this summer. Or perhaps you love your CVO, but the idea of having adrenaline on tap with LiveWire™ has a strong pull. Stop wishing, stop settling and join the elite group of riders who have more than one bike. Talk to someone in our financing department to find out how we can help make it happen.
Make a Difference
Sometimes completing another trip around the sun makes us introspective. We measure success, not in dollars earned or fame won, but in the number of lives we’ve touched. If that’s you, this is a good time to plan ahead.
Resolve now to participate in some of the rides and events for charity we participate in here at Dallas Harley-Davidson® in Garland. We hold events throughout the year like our Motorcops for Kids toy ride, car and bike shows to benefit fallen police officers, our Think Pink event and more. The best way to stay in the loop is to follow us on Facebook and subscribe to our newsletter.
Find More Scenic Rides Near Dallas
You don’t have to burn vacation time to go on a scenic ride, there are plenty nearby you can complete on a Saturday or a weekend. Try these for starters:
- U.S. Route 67 past I-20 traveling south
- Red River Roadway near Denton
- I-20 East through East Texas through Canton to Lake Tawakoni
- Ride to Broken Bow Oklahoma
- Head Southwest through Cleburne toward Possum Kingdom Lake
When you’re through with that list, open your map app and pick a lake you’ve never visited before. Then take back roads to get there.
Save More – So You Can Spend it On Your Motorcycle
A common New Year’s resolution is to make a budget and stick to it. Good intentions get derailed because if you’re just spending less and saving more so you can squirrel that money away for your kid’s inheritance, that’s really no fun.
If you really want to whip your spending habits into shape, incentivize it. Make a list of the bike accessories you want or the new Harley you’d like to buy and put that on your fridge. Set up auto-draft to automatically deduct from your paycheck and put that in a motorcycle savings account. Then you won’t have to remember to do it regularly, and you’ll get something you want in exchange for all that self-discipline and wise spending.