Erika Sherk
Northern News Services
Friday, July 6, 2007

YELLOWKNIFE - Freedom. It's the one word that pops up again and again. When describing the feeling of riding a Harley Davidson motorbikes, even hardened bikers melt a little bit.

Gord Olson, owner of Polar Tech Recreation, sits on one of the famed bikes that his store will soon be selling. - Erika Sherk/NNSL photo

Soon, Yellowknifers will be able to buy one of the famed bikes right in their home town.

Gord Olson, the owner of Polar Tech, announced on Tuesday he is opening up a dealership at his showroom and shop in Kam Lake.

"I'm so excited about it," said Olson, who is in Nashville to sign the deal with Harley Davidson. He is also there to check out which bikes and merchandise he'll order to bring up to Polar Tech.

"It's the most popular bike on the road," said Olson, showing where the motorcycles will be displayed in the open, airy show room.

The dealership has been a long time coming. He's been working on the idea for three years now, he said.

They needed to first get the space to attract interest from Harley Davidson, said Olson.

He started working on them in earnest after Polar Tech moved to its bigger location in the Kam Lake industrial park about two years ago, he said.

It all paid off. He will sign the official deal on Sunday - his 41st birthday.

"They said they could do (the signing) on Saturday, but they'll hold it for my birthday," laughed Olson.

Yellowknife is a great market for a Harley dealership, he said. There are over 100 Harley riders in the NWT, said Olson, and there isn't anything for them in the territory.

Once the Harley section of Polar Tech is up and running, it will have the bikes, clothes and accessories, and a team of trained Harley mechanics ready to go, according to Olson.

Art Young, one of the founders of the NWT Rider's Association, and a Polar Tech employee, said the service centre is the part he's most looking forward to.

"I won't have to drive 1500 kilometres on my bike to get it serviced," he said with a short laugh.

With his gruff voice, Harley shirt, earrings and long hair, Young has the look of a Harley rider.

He's got the experience to back it up too.

Young was 20 when he bought his first Harley in 1976, he said.

His cousin used to come and pick him up from public school on a purple and white '64 Police Special Harley Davidson, said Young.

He was hooked. He's been on bikes ever since, he said.

"It's such an exhilarating feeling," he said.

When it comes to Harleys, he said the biggest difference, for him, is the sound.

"It's a distinct thunderous roar," he said, chuckling a bit at his description.

"There's no other bike on the planet that sounds like a Harley."

The bikes are also "the most comfortable you'll ever ride," he said.

The dealership will have its own claim to fame, said Olson- it will be the most Northern Harley dealership in the world. Hence its official name - Trail's End Harley Davidson.

Yellowknifers will be able to admire about 15-20 bikes the first year, said Olson, and plans for expansion will continue from there.

He doesn't know any of the official '08 prices yet, he said.

Generally, though, Harleys run anywhere from $10,000 to $43,000, said Young.