
Flying high
From gliders to Harleys, nothing keeps Taja Kerčmar grounded for long
Even as a small girl, Taja Kerčmar always preferred toy cars over Barbies. Although motorcycles weren’t part of her family life growing up in Slovenia, she always had a passion for seeking adventure, starting out with learning to fly gliders. Now, at 27, she’s a proud Harley-Davidson® rider and committed adrenaline junkie.


“When I was 16 years old, I passed the theoretical part for a glider licence,” she says of her first steps into thrill-seeking. It was a passion sparked by a close friend she met while training in karate – an instructor who introduced her to the world of flying. Unfortunately, tragedy struck in 2016 when he died in a plane crash. “I was devastated. It put me off flying for a long time,” she reflects.
For a while, Taja redirected her energy into other outlets, including volunteering at the local aviation club, organising events for Porsche Club Slovenija and continuing her karate training – yet the dream of flight never truly left her. “Through time, I decided I wanted to get the licence. I like trying new things, and I wanted to feel that freedom,” she says. Two years ago, she finally completed her practical glider licence and now spends her free time flying solo through Slovenia’s skies.
It was in 2022, something else stole her heart: a Harley-Davidson®. After her mum and partner attended the 29th European H.O.G. Rally in Portorož on foot, Taja was hooked – without even being there. “I was furious that I’d missed such an event,” she laughs. “I instantly decided I needed a Harley® because of all the camaraderie I saw in the pictures they took. I wanted to be a part of that.”
Taja did her research and found the perfect beginner-friendly bike: a 2018 H-D® Sportster® Iron 883™. “I bought it two months before I passed my licence,” she grins. A friend taught her to ride, but she kept the Sporty hidden in a friend’s garage. “I was too afraid of what my grandma would say,” she says. These days, though, “she’s the happiest person in the world when she sees me on my bike.”
Her mum and partner joined her in the Harley life, purchasing a 1998 FLHR Road King® Anniversary model. “We originally planned to share one bike between us, but the Sportster was too small for them, so they decided to buy their own,” she adds. “Now we’re partners in crime.”


Taja has since racked up the miles. She rode to HD120 Budapest with a friend on the back during the parade and has been a regular at European Bike Week® in Faaker See. “I’m really looking forward to this year’s European H.O.G. Rally in Medulin, Croatia,” she says. She’s also very clear about her road trip preferences. “I don’t like rain, gravel or camping. I prefer more comfortable stays,” she laughs. Even her 19-year-old cat seems to agree – its favourite napping spot is the seat of the Sportster.
Taja joined H.O.G.® Lipa Chapter Slovenija as soon as she got her bike and quickly signed up for Life Membership. “I’m young enough that Life Membership will be worth it,” she jokes. She’s built friendships across borders, especially within H.O.G. Pleter Chapter Croatia and H.O.G. Kärnten Chapter Austria, with whom she toured Carinthia during European Bike Week.
Alongside riding and flying, Taja holds two degrees: one in Textile Design Technologies and another in Graphic Design from the Academy for Digital Communication. She works as a package checker for a pharmaceutical company, but she’s also hands-on with her bike. “Before crossing the border to Austria, I routinely change the exhaust mufflers on my Sporty all by myself,” she says (a must, thanks to strict Austrian noise regulations).
Her enthusiasm hasn’t always equalled expertise, though. “I tried to remove the bugs from the windshield with the rough side of a dish sponge!” she says. “There was no chance of polishing the deep scratches off, so I bought a new windshield.” Another time, her phone flew off the handlebar holder on a Croatian motorway. “I turned around, rode back, turned on the four signals, and picked up the phone, which luckily hadn’t been run over.”
Taja lives for the rush and says: “There has to be something wild going on in my life or I’m not satisfied. I keep on searching for adrenaline challenges. The more gasoline smell and the more sound there is, the more I like it!” Her biggest dream? “Riding the Mother Road – Route 66 – with a brand-new H-D Low Rider® ST.” For now, the Croatian Adriatic coastline is calling. “If I wasn’t limited in time and money, I would ride around the world!”





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