The underwater Harley-Davidson helping to rebuild ocean reefs

Meet the Thai H.O.G.^™ member behind some impactful initiatives, including the submersion of a Harley-Davidson^® Sportster^™

Words by David Sexton

When Khun Wittaya Wongwichienkul first heard the unmistakable rumble of a Harley-Davidson^® back in 2001, something clicked. “It wasn’t just the look or the sound,” he recalls. “It was what the brand stood for: freedom, individuality, and the open road.” That moment sparked a lifelong passion, one that would eventually shape the Harley Owners Group^™ community across Thailand.

For Khun, like many other riders, Harley-Davidson is more than a motorcycle. “Every ride reminds me that life is about the journey, not just the destination,” he says. “Harley has given me friendships that feel like family, unforgettable adventures, and a sense of identity that goes beyond words.”

His first Harley was a 2010 Street Glide^™, and Khun’s greatest journey has been his mission to create a safer, stronger riding culture. In 2017, he started a clinic to teach basic skills to H.O.G.^™ members and enthusiasts. This vision grew into something bigger, bringing in officially trained Harley-Davidson instructors. Today, that dream is fully fledged and the Skilled Riders Training (SRT) programme is now approved by Harley-Davidson and expanding across Thailand and to other Asia Emerging Markets. “It’s been challenging but rewarding,” Khun says.

A 1,500km ride from Phuket to Chiang Mai, with 60 H.O.G. members, is one of Khun’s fondest memories. “The sound of engines in sync, the laughter at rest stops, the helping hands when someone had trouble. That ride reminded me that this is more than a club. It’s a brotherhood and sisterhood on wheels.”

Khun proudly champions women riders. In collaboration with chapters across Thailand and the Regional Director of H.O.G. Thailand-North, Khun helped launch the Ladies of Harley^™ in Thailand. His leadership also inspired the first Thailand H.O.G. Rally in 2020, born from a desire to unite riders nationwide. “I wanted something beyond local chapter rides, a national event that celebrated our lifestyle and strengthened our bonds.” Organising it wasn’t easy. Co-ordinating chapters, securing permissions, and meeting brand standards took time and effort – but the result was unforgettable. “Seeing hundreds of Harleys roll in, riders from every region laughing together, calling each other ‘brother’ and ‘sister’. That moment made all the effort worth it.”

Khun’s vision goes well beyond the road. In 2019, he created the Harley Submarine Project, a bold and symbolic initiative within the Khao Lak Underwater Museum. Designed by Sarun Rongruengkul, director of H.O.G. Phuket Chapter, the project features a Harley-Davidson Sportster^™ mounted on a concrete base shaped like the Andaman Lotus, symbolising enlightenment and the rise of Harley-Davidson culture throughout Asia. Submerging the Harley served two purposes – one symbolic, the other ecological. Khun believes it connects riders to the larger cause of protecting and restoring the ocean and creates an artificial reef that promotes coral growth and provides shelter for marine species. “It’s a tribute to our brotherhood’s commitment not just to the open road, but to the planet we all ride across,” Khun says.

For Khun, Harley-Davidson isn’t just what he rides. It’s who he is. His story proves that the spirit of freedom and unity can create ripples far beyond the highway, into communities, oceans and generations to come.

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