This week, City Weekend's Full Throttle series is following Beijing expats who know the city's roads better than we pedestrians, taxi-riders and subway cargo could ever hope to. Every day, we're featuring a different group of Beijing motorists whose weird and wonderful rides never fail to turn heads.

After bringing you fixed-gear cyclists and tricked-out e-bikers earlier in the week, we're donning our leathers and cranking up the power today with a band of biker brothers that cruise the capital's highways on machines that carry a heritage as far-reaching as their engine note...

Mad Dog Harley Heroes

“The infrastructure in China is fantastic for motorbiking. Outside the city, all the roads were constructed in the last five years, and they’re well-kept,” says Papadad, President of the Beijing Mad Dogs Motorcycle Club.

The Asia-wide Mad Dogs are modifying the face of motorcycle clubs: “Positive action is important to us,” says Papadad, who points out various charities in which the Dogs are active.

The relationship between the Mad Dogs and their bikes is reflected in the chrome customizations each low-riding beast is equipped with. "Chopped" with high handlebars, tuned to pitch-perfection and re-sprayed in unmistakeable orange-and-black, the bikes represent hundreds of hours of obsessive maintenance.

“For most of the guys in the club, motorcycling is life. Some guys love the Harley lifestyle so much they'll sell everything they have to buy one.”

When that lifestyle includes a mandatory tattoo, Jaeger-fuelled weekly get-togethers, and 300-kilometer Sunday rideouts that continue deep into Beijing’s nippy winter, it’s not surprising that the Mad Dogs consider each other brothers. Papadad explains: “It's about fixing the bikes, riding the bikes and the brotherhood. My biker bro's come above all else in the hobby.”

DETAILS:

Vehicle: Harley-Davidson Motorcycle

Cost: ¥120,000 and up

Perfect For: Beijing's road warriors

Get Rolling: Get rolling on a Harley (try Beijing's Harley-Davidson dealership: www.harley-davidsonbeijing.com), then get in touch with the Mad ones at www.mdmcbeijing.com

Set your homepage to City Weekend so you don't miss the rest of the riders and rollers we'll be bringing you this week