Motorcycle Riding Concepts Inc. ....from beginners to experienced riders, we teach all levels of the essential cores
Maximum Effective Braking
Curve Negotiation and Turning Skills
Collision Avoidance and much more....
About Us
Located just a few miles from the capital of our great nation in beautiful Fairfax, VA, Patriot Harley-Davidson is the area’s premiere dealership. From sponsoring the Ride of the Patriots to join Rolling Thunder every Memorial Day weekend, to being a proud provider to our overseas military men and women, our staff embodies the word Patriot.
You won’t find a friendlier, more knowledgeable and enthusiastic group of motorcycle people than the gang here at Patriot. Our emphasis is on customer service, and it shows: we are here to assist you, whether it’s purchasing your first ever motorcycle, or customizing your new Ultra Classic, picking out a new leather jacket or just getting a simple oil change.
Stop in the store, or drop us an email at harley@patriothd.com. We’d love to show you the true meaning of customer service in this impersonal digital age. Come on down and see the difference it makes.
Sincerely,
The Gang here at Patriot
Click here to read about our Staff trip to tour the York Plant
Employee Rides
Employee Bio's
Keith Brooks
For many, owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle has been a life-long dream, and when you walk through the door at Patriot Harley-Davidson to buy a new motorcycle, we think it should be a thrilling and memorable event. Sales Manager Keith Brooks shares the enthusiasm and excitement that our customers experience when they finally throw a leg over their new Harley.
Keith has been passionate about motorcycling since his teenage years, when he used to sneak his father's Yamaha Virago out of the garage and cruise around the neighborhood showing off his riding prowess to his friends. Apparently, Keith's dad still doesn't know about his motorcycle being "borrowed" back in the day. Perhaps Keith should arrange some demo time for dad (that Virago has got to be pretty crusty by now).
Keith spent many years as a drum tech roadie, touring with various rock-n-roll bands. The rock-n-roll tour bus life-of-style rolled to a stop in front of Patriot Harley-Davidson in January of 2003, and Keith hopped off, just as Harley-Davidson was celebrating their 100th Anniversary. Jumping at the chance to work on Patriot's sales floor, Keith was loving life. Within two weeks, Keith bought a 2002 FXD Super Glide, figuring he had to "live it" in order to "sell it." It was 28 degrees outside when Keith rode his new FXD home for the first time, an ear-to-ear grin frozen onto his face. Keith is still riding his '02, though it has been heavily modified with lots of powder-coating and custom paint. Keith readily admits he still gets a thrill every time he looks at his Super Glide.
After five and a half years of working Patriot's sales floor, Keith earned his position of Sales Manager in August of 2008. Keith enjoys coming in to Patriot everyday (perhaps you've heard his laugh from halfway across the property), crediting Patriot's family atmosphere and the great friendships he's formed over the years with many customers. Keith's goal is a great buying experience at Patriot Harley-Davidson, and helping to make people's dreams come true is his payoff.
Jeff Gallop
Having a floor jam-packed with Harley-Davidson motorcycles is just part of what we do here at Patriot; we know you'll need to maintain your bike and create a machine that fits your personality. Our Parts Manager Jeff Gallop has the knowledge to help you do both.
Back in the day before the "safety police," Jeff rode on the fuel tank of his father's Yamaha 250. The three year-old Jeff held the handlebars and placed his feet on the engine guard, beeping the horn at everyone he knew. As far as Jeff was concerned, he was the "rider" and his dad was the "passenger." The saddest childhood day for this little biker was when dad told him he was too big to ride on the fuel tank anymore. The die had been cast, however.
Jeff has been working in the Harley-Davidson dealer network since 1996. He joined Patriot on Friday the 13th, 2001, destroying the myth that bad things happen on that day. Jeff has done just about everything that can be done at a dealership, from washing bikes to being a service manager. This experience is invaluable when it comes to running a top-notch parts department.
Jeff's pride and joy is a 2006 Street Glide, one he has worked hard at turning almost every nut and bolt completely black over the past couple of years. Jeff also has a 1990 Sportster and a 1983 Yamaha Virago.
Jeff rode in 1998's Rolling Thunder, getting his picture on the front page of the Potomac News. Now Jeff usually works Memorial Day weekend, helping keep many Rolling Thunder riders from out of town on the road. Jeff feels fortunate to be working at Patriot Harley-Davidson because he gets to earn a living doing what he already lives and breathes.
Bobby Ross
Here at Patriot Harley-Davidson, we have many customers that come in to buy their second or third or fifth Harley, which leaves us with some very nice previously-owned bikes on our floor. Bobby Ross, who brings a lifetime of experience Patriot, makes sure that these bikes find new homes.
Bobby was born and raised on Long Island, New York. Those halcyon days were spent riding bicycles and mini-bikes, and helping his neighbor build and repair anything with two wheels and an engine. As a young adult, Bobby moved to New York City, studying with and working for top fashion photographers Klaus Lucka and Rebecca Blake. Bobby professionally shot magazine ads and product photography, including the Leica catalog, using a Hasselblad camera. Hasselblad cameras were used by Apollo astronauts on the moon, and Leica cameras set the standards for 35mm photography. Impressive stuff for those in the know!
Bobby spent the 70's partying at the legendary Studio 54 and CBGB’s. The party was so hard, in fact, that he felt a move to Los Angeles would get him far enough away to stay out of trouble. Professional photography kept food on the table in LA, and Bobby decided that he needed to build a California chopper. Bobby acquired a basket case '49 FL, and found the parts and help he needed to get it roadworthy by hanging out in the bad-ass West Coast biker underworld. Aptly named "8 Ball," Bobby is still riding the custom FL today, some thirty years later.
Bobby married in California, and when his daughter reached high school age, he felt a move "Straight Outta Compton" was necessary, landing here in Northern Virginia. Bobby's daughter has since graduated from Motorcycle Mechanics Institute and is now a jet engine mechanic in the United States Navy serving in Pearl Harbor.
Bobby has been with Patriot Harley-Davidson for eight years. When he isn't attending to his many loyal customers and duties here at Patriot (including shooting many of the images on this web site), you can find him tending to his garden of exotics, playing soccer on a 30-and-over league, giving pool leasons in 8 or 9 ball, keeping up his photography skills, and of course, riding. As Bobby likes to say, "Enjoy the ride, soon and often." If you see Bobby on his chopper or Road Glide, be sure to give him the Harley "nod" or wave.
Mike Piccarillo
Not all of us can afford to walk into Patriot Harley-Davidson and plunk down cash to fulfill the dream of owning that new Ultra or Softail. Our Business Manager Mike Piccirillo gets a rush watching new Harley owners excitedly walk up to their bike after he has helped them find the right financing. Mike knows what it is like to be destined to ride a Harley-Davidson.
Mike was born just outside Myrtle Beach in Conway, South Carolina. Being a child in a military family, Mike moved around a lot and has experienced many different places and cultures. Mike has known he would ride a Harley ever since one fateful day when he was twelve years old. Mike was visiting an Indian dealership in 1973, checking out the latest in Indian off-road motorcycles, when he noticed the Harley-Davidson dealership next door. Mike lost interest in the Indians and wandered over, checking out all the chrome on the "real" motorcycles. Just then, a leather-clad bike walked out, swung a leg over his FLH Shovelhead, kicked it over and blipped the throttle. Looking at the drooling twelve year-old Mike, the biker smiled and gave Mike a thumbs-up. Mike's fate was sealed, leaving him, in his own words, a "chrome-aholic."
Mike rode in the dirt and raced motocross as a youth, and has been street riding since he was 18 years-old. Currently Mike rides a 2007 Heritage Classic with custom paint. Mike says the bike is a work in progress and continues to accessorize it to make it his own creation, a process well known to all Harley owners!
Mike has worked in financing and banking for twenty years, and it was a timely suggestion by his wife that he find a way to tie his passion for Harley-Davidsons and the need to pay the bills together. Mike joined Patriot Harley-Davidson in March of 2008, and looks forward to coming to work each day with the anticipation of helping someone's dream of owning a Harley become an adrenaline-filled reality.
