QUAID HARLEY-DAVIDSON: ON THE BUSINESS OF GOING FAST AND EATING TACOS

I rode out to Quaid Harley-Davidson on a 2025 Low Rider® ST—a rental from Harley’s fleet that felt right at home smashing down a California freeway. It took me about an hour and a half from Long Beach, cutting inland on the 91, past the canyon ridges near Chino Hills State Park. LA faded in the mirrors. The traffic thinned. The air got dry. The wind blew hard and kicked sand all over.

Out past Riverside, the landscape starts to breathe. The scenery shifts from warehouse sprawl to foothills and wind-battered signage. Strip malls give way to wide-open sky. And that’s where the riding starts to feel different—looser, quieter, older. Like the freeway’s letting go of the city and handing you off to something with a little more history baked into it.

By the time I hit Loma Linda, it all clicked. This was San Berdoo country—a place that’s been tied to Harley-Davidson lore for longer than most dealerships have been alive. And Quaid blends into that legacy like it was always meant to be here.

It’s not flashy, but it doesn’t need to be. The building sits wide and confident off Redlands Boulevard, a familiar stop for riders from across SoCal looking for parts, service, or just a place to kick it and regroup for a bit.

On the day I rolled in, there was a taco truck parked out front and a steady stream of bikes in the lot. And before we even sat down to talk, Brandon Quaid handed me a couple of taco tickets.

I had just walked through the door when he spotted me, smiled, shook my hand, and asked if I was hungry. He handed me a couple tickets like a guy welcoming you into his home. “Grab something whenever you’re hungry,” he said. “Truck’s out front.”

Quaid is that kind of dealership. You get folded into the mix. You’re welcomed in and introduced to all the friendly new faces.

That moment stuck with me. It said more about the place than any mission statement ever could, and by the time I was leaving, I understood why these guys were on my list.

The Quaid family took over Dale’s Harley-Davidson in San Bernardino back in 1996. Before that, it was all four wheels. Brandon’s dad and uncles grew up in Detroit, went through GM College, and carved out careers in the auto world. They ran 19 car lines before deciding to jump into the world of two wheels.

They moved the shop to its current home in Loma Linda in 1999. Brandon was still in high school when the shift happened, watching from the sidelines as the family built something new in the heart of the Inland Empire.

Then the 2008 crash hit, and like a lot of dealers, they had to pivot and rethink their business. They powered through some bad times and by 2010, business was picking back up and Quaid was stepping into being something more than just a dealership.

Since then, Quaid Harley-Davidson has become a kind of hub for the region’s performance Harley scene. They’ve worked with some of the most recognizable names in the space—including the Unknown Industries guys, Mark Atkins (you probably know him as the Rusty Butcher) and many more—and helped build bikes that pushed the brand’s identity beyond what most shops would even attempt.

“We’re not just here to sell bikes,” Brandon tells me. “We’re here to build community and to keep the spirit of Harley alive in the way that feels authentic to us.”

And you can feel that everywhere. Upstairs in the offices, he shows me around—introducing me to his team, pointing out his family’s collection of limited Harley gear, and walking me through some of their custom chopper builds. There’s a Knucklehead motor on a stand, and a soft-spoken pride in the way Brandon talks about it.

At one point, Brandon stops mid-sentence and grins. “You wanna see the bikes?”

Before I can answer, he’s already leading me down the hall like a kid excited to show off his favorite toys. And that’s exactly what it felt like. Not a showroom tour or a PR moment, but a real one.

We head out back to one of the garage bays, he opens the door, and there they are. Track-prepped, fire-breathing V-twin Harleys, lined up and ready to run.

Brandon backs them out of the bay, one by one, lining all three street sweepers next to each other like a proud dad. He fires them up and has me hop on one to explain the foot controls and saddle setup.

By the time I’m getting off the bike, he’s talking to me like he can feel I’ve wanted to race Harleys all my life, too. He ain’t wrong.

Brandon got his racing license at 40 years old and started competing in the lightweight class on an XR1200. He’s raced Chuckwalla, Sonoma, Laguna Seca, The Ridge in Washington, and even up in Utah. He’s also run the air-cooled twins class in the Super Hooligan series. Not for trophies, but because it’s just damn fun.

Quaid has taken that same energy and brought it into their builds. They worked with Roland Sands on a one-off build, gave Twitch his Dyna, and handed Rusty Butcher an XG750 to tear up the streets with.

“Racing is part of who we are,” he says. “We’ve spent so much time and effort helping others embrace that side of the Motor Company that I was finally like, ‘f*ck it, I’m going for it.’”

It’s all part of the shop’s larger ethos to build bikes people actually ride, not just look at.

That’s especially true at their events. Quaid throws some of the most well-known bike nights in all of California. Full-blown community events that bring together riders, builders, vendors, artists, and locals.

Brandon tells me people travel from hours away just to get a taste.

The dealership feels like an anchor in a part of California that’s always been rich with riding culture. And the folks here know it and everyone leans into it in all the right ways. Not by chasing trends, but by supporting the people who show up, weekend after weekend, with their own stories and their own bikes.

“Rebellion is ingrained in the spirit of every single Harley-Davidson dealership,” Brandon says. “And we know our customers better than anyone.”

Walk the floor and you’ll see it. Veterans chatting near the service counter. Riders scoping out parts for their next upgrade. Young builders picking brains. They all know Quaid is the place. This is a dealership run by people who love the brand, the bikes, and the world that comes with them.

And speaking of veterans, Brandon’s also the Vice Chair of the Warrior Built Foundation, a nonprofit that supports combat veterans through vocational and recreational therapy, including motorcycle riding and building. It’s a cause that aligns closely with what the dealership believes in: giving back, staying connected, and building something that lasts.

There’s no shortage of Harley dealers across the country. But there's only one Quaid Harley-Davidson.

It’s not just the racing, or the events, or the custom bikes. It’s the way all of those things come together to create a dealership that feels plugged in. Not just to Harley-Davidson, but to the people riding it. Quaid Harley-Davidson knows who they are and they’re not trying to be anything else.

Before I head out, Brandon makes sure I grab a water for the road and loads me up with some merch like I’m a long lost homie just passing through on my way to wherever. You’d have never guessed that we’d just met a couple hours before.

And riding out, that’s what stuck with me. Not the bikes or the banners, but the people. The way this place runs on relationships.

If you’re ever riding through Loma Linda (or hear talk of a Quaid bike night) swing by. Grab a taco. Walk the lot. See what they’ve got going on.

You’ll find them at 25160 Redlands Blvd, Loma Linda, CA 92354. If you need to call ahead, the number’s (909) 796-8399.

https://www.quaidharleydavidsonlomalinda.com/ 

It’s worth the stop.