New Harley ad

[UFO]

Not going to say a word.  

[Bunbun]

Masterfully crafted ad in my opinion.  For those with that mindset, the ad brings up good fuel mileage but discounts it in preference to being macho, a REAL American, the "HD nostalgia" and even throws in an allusion to sex/ getting laid.  And of course riding to bars.  I think that ad absolutely nails their target audience.

Bun

[JamesG]

Not going to say a word.  

Feelin' mischievous today eh?

[atadaskew]

I think it's great.  Seriously think about it.  The first thing it mentions is great mpg but if that was it it would shape you in the same image as a pussy whipped Prius driving wussy (no offense meant to all pussy whipped Prius driving wussies out there    )
It goes on to list all those things that people think they are buying Harleys for, but those p-whipped guys who really want one for those reasons can now justify it to their over bearing wives by mentioning "hey honey, it gets 50mpg!"

Nice work!

[Tar Snake]

With the bike in the trailer behind the Excursion I only get like 5mpg?

Where's they get 50mpg from?

[naustin]

I got a Harley "Passport" in the mail yesterday.  Its like 15 pages at least about the "Dark" bikes.  It goes on about "blackness" and how you don't have to waste time polishing chrome because you just want to ride...  And how you can steal girlfriends out of silver sedans if you have a black bike...  It is full of disturbing sketch drawings of dragons and whores.

I'm thinking because I own a buell, they think they can sell me a Nightster.  It was ridiculous.  I kept thinking about how much this advertising must have cost them!

I'm going to put it in an envelope along with a picture of my new ST1300 and mail it back to milwaukee.    Or maybe I'll send it to Erik in East Troy along with a letter.  At least I know he'll get it and read it...

[1KPerDay]

The "so screw it, let's ride" campaign is the lamest in the history of the MoCo.

[bomber]

another ad from Milwaukee that hits the center of the intended target --  that it doesn't strike a chord with anyone that doesn't match the folks they are not trying to reach means nothing

given the Iron Tower's complete and utter failure in marketing Buells, I am eagerly awaiting their efforts to move their newest brands -- should be fodder for much laughter

[Mac]

With the bike in the trailer behind the Excursion I only get like 5mpg?

Where's they get 50mpg from?

 

[chornbe]

Aren't the "so screw it..." ads actually taken from public submissions in response to a magazine article/request?

Anyway, must be a lot of bored folks today.

[Bodhi]

I had to fight to stay awake while reading the ad text.

[Ded Fred]

To get 50 mpg on my hog, Id ride it for 26, and push it for 24!

[chornbe]

To get 50 mpg on my hog, Id ride it for 26, and push it for 24!

*shrugs* Whatever. I'm getting 46-50 on the big twin and closer to 50-55 on the little guy. And I don't putt around.

PS... I think I just had a seizure watching your avatar.    

[M.Brane]

 That add tells me there's not as many house rich people buying HDs as toys these days.

[Geoff]

Great ad. Harley has better marketers than product designers.

[FZ1 Matt]

I got a Harley "Passport" in the mail yesterday.

I got one of those too. Did you see the awesome stickers? They even tell you they're awesome.

I think I'm going to put them on my KLR  

[naustin]

I got one of those too. Did you see the awesome stickers? They even tell you they're awesome.

I think I'm going to put them on my KLR  

Yeah, I got the stickers.  A dragon - again, I figure they are tying to tap into my Buell traits by referencing Deals Gap.    What'd they have a 2nd year psych major come up with that??    And the 8-Ball is even better.  So what, I'm a coke head?  Their marketing department is obviously unable to understand anyone under the age of 50 -- I bought a Honda just a few days before I got that expensive marketing package in the mail....   EPIC FAIL  

[atadaskew]

I bought a Honda just a few days before I got that expensive marketing package in the mail....   EPIC FAIL  

Dood you bought a Honda St1300.  It's not like you would have bought a Harley no matter what they sent you in the mail.
 

[naustin]

Exactly, I'm saying they should have KNOWN that and not wasted their money on sending me a bunch of insulting shit in the mail.

Their marketing department is losing it.  The fact that they think they can sell me a Harley because I own a buell is just one more nugget of proof that Harley doesn't "get" buell or Buell Owners.  They have been completely unable to market Buell, and no wonder...  

[atadaskew]

Lighten up.
It's called a mass mailer.  Success rate is something like 5% if not less.  At least they are trying to market their bikes.  What's wrong with that?
How exactly would the have known what you were in the market for?  They are not clairvoyant.  They tried, you didn't bite, no big deal.
Why are you so worked up over this?

[gritsngravy]

Harley needs to reach out and touch as many potential buyers as they can cause soon the average HD buyer will be eligible to collect social security.   The younger cats want cutting edge super sports from Japan and Buell just isn't cutting it.  

Then there are those of us that don't quench our thirst on the heritage real steel kool-aid.  

[chornbe]

Lighten up.
It's called a mass mailer.  Success rate is something like 5% if not less.  At least they are trying to market their bikes.  What's wrong with that?
How exactly would the have known what you were in the market for?  They are not clairvoyant.  They tried, you didn't bite, no big deal.
Why are you so worked up over this?

Because it's got the Harley name on it and people like to bitch about Harley. It's cool and it's easy and it's what all the cool kids are doing. It's just that simple.

Oh, and it's also really, really original.  

[Snowbird]

Terrific ad.  

As for gas mileage, a 96 incher will get nearly identical mileage as my FJR.... nearly 50.

[atypical1]

Their marketing department is obviously unable to understand anyone under the age of 50 -- I bought a Honda just a few days before I got that expensive marketing package in the mail....   EPIC FAIL  

Hmmmm....you are under the age of 50 yet you bought a Honda ST? Is that even legal?  

james

[naustin]

Because it's got the Harley name on it and people like to bitch about Harley. It's cool and it's easy and it's what all the cool kids are doing. It's just that simple.

Oh, and it's also really, really original.  

Wrong.  I was a buell customer.  They should have sent me a BUELL mass mailer.  I'm pissed because they don't understand the buell brand, or the buell buyer.  Buell is not, nor will it ever be a stepping stone to a Harley.

PS, Chornbe, I don't appreciate your characterization of me in the least.  

[naustin]

Hmmmm....you are under the age of 50 yet you bought a Honda ST? Is that even legal?  

james

   

Edit:

(Fuck Dude, I'm under 30 and I bought an ST... )

[atadaskew]

Wrong.  I was a buell customer.  They should have sent me a BUELL mass mailer.  I'm pissed because they don't understand the buell brand, or the buell buyer.  Buell is not, nor will it ever be a stepping stone to a Harley.

Then I think Harley got it exactly right.  You were a Buell owner, but are no longer.  And instead moved to a much more sedate bike.  So of course they're gonna try to sell you a Harley.  Your complaint about not getting a Buell mailer may be more valid if you bought a Buell type bike like a Triumph or Ducati, but you bought a Honda St fercryinoutloud!

You are just looking for something to whine about.  Instead of applauding a motorcycle mfg for promoting the sport, you bitch against it.  How active are the other mfgs in their marketing campaigns?  Here's a clue, the only one people remember Honda doing is the "you meet the nicest people on a Honda".  That was from over 30 years ago...

[naustin]

I don't consider the ST sedate.  Its faster than the Buell ever was.  Sure its bigger and heavier and designed for two-up riding, but its no golf cart for chrissake.  I don't quite see how the GT class, including the FJR, C14, and the ST13 are (sedate).  I considered the XB12XT when I was shopping, but opted for the ST for better wind protection.  I don't like the uly because it has no fairing.  


If you want to attack me personally, you can go right ahead.  Keep it coming.  I'm not sure what I said to draw personal attacks from people, but I think it says alot more about you than me.

[chornbe]

PS, Chornbe, I don't appreciate your characterization of me in the least.  

Just reacting to the words on the page man. Don't take it personally if the words you typed aren't really your personality. But the way it went is like this...

I had a Harley-backed product.
Harley sent me a mailer.
Harley should have known I bought a Honda.

Really? Uhm... ok.

Harley is marketing in several channels. That's what marketeers do. When was the last time you got anything... ANYTHING... from Honda or Yamaha or Kawasaki that wasn't a "LOOK AT OUR GREAT FINANCING THAT COMES TO YOU THANKS OF THE CHINESE GOVERNMENT". Seriously.

 

Here's one in that same vein for you...

I got a Tide laundry soap trial in the mail the other day. Those knuckle heads should have KNOWN I have one of the H.E. style front loaders and the trial version of their detergent isn't the HE-type... They should have known that, and that I get my shirts dry cleaned.

Haven't you ever received any mass-mailing for any other products before?

[atadaskew]

If you want to attack me personally, you can go right ahead.  Keep it coming.  I'm not sure what I said to draw personal attacks from people, but I think it says alot more about you than me.

Where do you get that this is a personal attack from?  You are complaining that Harley is sending out marketing materials.  Something else that no one else is doing.  
I say that you are whining, cuz let's be honest what else could it be?  They are sending out marketing materials! Nothing else!
If that's personal, well, wow.
I guess you were hoping that people would chime in and agree with you when you type stuff like  " EPIC FAIL   ".
Shame no-one agreed.

I'll ask you again, and take this as a personal attack if you want to.  What kind of marketing attempt has any other mfg done to reach out to potential customers, beyond placing an ad in a magazine?  Have you even checked out Honda's website?  It's about the worst there is.

[st ryder]

...I don't quite see how the GT class, including the FJR, C14, and the ST13 are (sedate)....

Ride anyone of those at the speed limts, if you can, and you may find they are very sedate. My FJR didn't "come alive" until I was well over. The main reason I had to let it go was to slow down, my license was hanging by a thread with me trying to get an exciting ride out of that 600lb beast. Your ST is 90 lbs heavier.

I traded the FJR on a FXDL, and found the HD ride experience was thrilling at speed limits. It's not the actual speed you achieve that makes a ride thrilling, it's the sense of speed you feel that makes it thrilling, ergo V-boost on the V-Max: it's doesn't make it any faster, just more funner. In that regard, my FXDL was more exciting to ride than my FJR since it felt like it was going fast, when it wasn't.  A FJR (hyper GT) at any speed limit is borrrrrring.  

[chornbe]

Ride anyone of those at the speed limts, if you can, and you may find they are very sedate. My FJR didn't "come alive" until I was well over. The main reason I had to let it go was to slow down, my license was hanging by a thread with me trying to get an exciting ride out of that 600lb beast. Your ST is 90 lbs heavier.

I traded the FJR on a FXDL, and found the HD ride experience was thrilling at speed limits. It's not the actual speed you achieve that makes a ride thrilling, it's the sense of speed you feel that makes it thrilling, ergo V-boost on the V-Max: it's doesn't make it any faster, just more funner. In that regard, my FXDL was more exciting to ride than my FJR since it felt like it was going fast, when it wasn't.  A FJR (hyper GT) at any speed limit is borrrrrring.  

BINGO! You summed up my FJR ownership experience exactly. I love the machine, but it's wholly impractical for someone like me who likes to feel like he's working when riding. Getting an FJR (or any SS or GT type machine) to the point of feeling like you're working is venturing into daily triple-digit rides - and that's not cool for a bushel of reasons.

[Geoff]

Ride anyone of those at the speed limts, if you can, and you may find they are very sedate. My FJR didn't "come alive" until I was well over. The main reason I had to let it go was to slow down, my license was hanging by a thread with me trying to get an exciting ride out of that 600lb beast. Your ST is 90 lbs heavier.

I traded the FJR on a FXDL, and found the HD ride experience was thrilling at speed limits. It's not the actual speed you achieve that makes a ride thrilling, it's the sense of speed you feel that makes it thrilling, ergo V-boost on the V-Max: it's doesn't make it any faster, just more funner. In that regard, my FXDL was more exciting to ride than my FJR since it felt like it was going fast, when it wasn't.  A FJR (hyper GT) at any speed limit is borrrrrring.  

Harley riders will stick with their big V-twins even though other bikes make more horsepower. That's because Harleys make usable power low in the band where you need it for everyday riding. Most riding occurs between 2,000 to 4,000 rpms.

[stevent]

Harley riders will stick with their big V-twins even though other bikes make more horsepower. That's because Harleys make usable power low in the band where you need it for everyday riding. Most riding occurs between 2,000 to 4,000 rpms.

That's exactly what I love about mine. For day in and day out all purpose use I just don't need a ZX14 The Harley is good up to 100 which is faster than I go anyway plus it's smooth and comfortable at any speed below that.