Welcome to Forman Harley-Davison. Harley Davidson Parts, Accessories, Sales, and Service.

An old adage says that to be successful and happy in your job you should identify something that you love and find a way to make money doing it. Tommy Forman figured that out early. He started with an interest in motorcycles and built that into a business that has been growing for more than 30 years. Forman took a job with Cooper Cycles repairing Honda motorcycles while attending Oklahoma State University in 1967. It wasn’t long after that he purchased his own shop – a 10- by 10-foot building – where he soon developed a reputation for quality motorcycle repair. It wasn’t long until his business outgrew that shop and in 1971 he purchased a building on the northwest corner of Main and Miller in Stillwater. Forman’s “Custom Cycles” handled Hodaka, Norton and Triumph motorcycles, as well as repair and custom service. The business continued to grow until about 1975, when the economy in England, where the cycles were manufactured, experienced a downturn and he couldn’t get any new motorcycles. “I was faced with getting a real job so I applied for a Harley franchise,” Forman remembers. “It eventually evolved into all this.” “All this,” as Forman puts it, with a sweeping gesture that takes in his 6,000 square foot showroom, is Forman Harley-Davidson. The modest business that started in a 10-foot square shed now occupies more than 30,000 square feet in seven buildings.	Perkins resident Elmer Sherrod with a Harley-Davidson belonging to his brother-in-law, David Sasser, circa 1916.
Forman moved his business from its central Stillwater location to its present location on S. Boomer Road in 1990. This gave the shop plenty of elbow room to expand and enjoy the renewed popularity of the American-made motorcycle. “It’s the perfect location,” Forman said, noting that the position just south of Stillwater makes it easy for his customers to find the store. Forman Harley-Davidson enjoys the distinction of being the oldest single-line Harley-Davidson Shop in the state of Oklahoma. And the business is becoming known as a destination spot for lovers of Harley-Davidson motorcycles throughout the region. “The majority of my business does not come from Perkins or Stillwater,” Forman said. “We draw lots of customers from Tulsa, Oklahoma City and Wichita.” And a large percentage of those customers are professional people. Lynn Youngblood, Forman’s human resources and dealer development director, points out, “When Tommy first started out, he sold the motorcycle and the service, now he sells the lifestyle. People anymore want to buy into the lifestyle.” Even though Harley-Davidson is currently enjoying unprecedented popularity, its earlier association with “biker” culture has clung to the cycles. “Our biggest problem is getting John Q. Public through the door,” Forman said. Youngblood agrees and notes the business makes efforts to appeal to the general public through its many “open” events during the year. “We know there’s a kind of stigma,” Youngblood said. “We just want people to know that this is not a scary place.”
“Scary” is not a term that comes to mind while browsing through Forman’s showroom. Sure, there are lots of leather jackets and items with fringe and metal studs. But there’s also a wide variety of other clothes available – everything from silk ties to sweatshirts, and ball caps to lingerie. And there even are t-shirts for kids that state, “My grandma rides a Harley.” The showroom features mugs, picture frames, toys, jewelry, and even vaults – all sporting the famous Harley-Davidson logo. Even Forman seems surprised at the success of the clothing and accessories. “It’s the dog and cat department that blows me away,” he laughs. Of course, Forman still sells lots of motorcycles. He shared plans to add another 6,000 square feet to his already large showroom soon. “The key is square footage,” he said. “You’ve gotta be able to show it if you’re going to be able to sell it.” Forman said he is confident the business will be able to support the growth, pointing out that he has a waiting list of customers who want to purchase one of the cycles. Both Forman and Youngblood said that Harley-Davidson has plans to tap two major motorcycle markets that have otherwise not been addressed: the women’s market and first-time riders. Youngblood said Forman’s makes sure their customers get the personal touch when they do business there. “It’s a big part of what makes this place so successful,” she notes. Another part is Forman’s belief in giving back to the community. The business sponsors a local Harley Owners Group (HOG) whose sole purpose is to ride and raise money for the community.	Lynn Youngblood and Tommy Forman in Forman Harley-Davidson’s showroom on S. Boomer Road. Posing with the pair is “Ivy,” Forman’s official greeter.
Forman Harley-Davidson boasts 6,000 square feet of showroom space. Forman is planning to soon add an additional 6,000 square feet on the north side of the building. The business now employs 26 people.	Forman also makes substantial donations to community groups, such as the donation of a motorcycle to the Stillwater Education Foundation last year. He also donated two cycles to the Stillwater Police Department and allows the department to trade the bikes in for new models each year for only $1 each. But for all the success that the business has brought to Forman, he said he probably gets the most pleasure from talking with his customers about their experiences. His favorite stories relate to some of those he calls his “third generation” customers – those he sold bikes to in the ‘70’s. If there is a magic formula for business success, Forman has discovered it. He started with his interest in cycles, developed relationships with their riders, and rode the wave of Harley’s popularity to its current crest. What a ride. © The Perkins Journal 2004 Photo cutlines Journal photos by Cindy Sheets
Forman Harley-Davidson occupies an easily recognizable bright orange building just south of the Stillwater city limits on S. Boomer Road.