| Author | Message | ||
     Jaimec |
http://www.wired.com/underwire/2010/09/alt-text-ha rley-davidson/ These days, coolness seems to come in discrete electronic packages that demand to be replaced every two years at minimum. Celebrities, geek pundits and common folk alike fawn over the latest portable and semi-portable status symbols, then move on to the next pack of battery-powered wonders as Q1 fades into Q2. Brands have been powerful since they took the coca out of Coca-Cola, but there was a time when the product was often as enduring as the brand, when you could hope to pass your prized possessions on to your progeny — or at least be buried with them, pharaoh-style. Harley-Davidson used to be one of those brands, signifying a sort of indomitable endurance that, you’d hope, would apply to its motorcycles as well as their riders. Now, Harley-Davidson is facing a crisis as its core market ages, according to Fortune magazine. Harley fans who decided to pass on that whole “live fast, die young” scene are now dealing with the effect of high winds and vibrating handlebars on arthritis and rheumatism, and deciding that maybe you can still hear the call of the road from the inside of a Corolla. That is the problem with aiming your product at young rebel iconoclasts. The next generation of young rebel iconoclasts eventually comes along and looks at the last generation of ex-iconoclasts steadily assimilating into mainstream society, and decides that whatever the older folks like must be, on the “cool” scale, somewhere between hopscotch and being tucked into bed with a stuffed pony and a kiss on the forehead. Harley-Davidson used to have an advantage on that front. The archetypal Harley rider, a long time ago, was a leather-clad young Marlon Brando with a coyly cocked cap. He looked like some sort of BDSM milkman, but he was extremely cool. Nowadays you think of a Harley fan and you think of someone who’s balding, gray-bearded and has a beer gut the size of his fuel tank — and he’s still cool. You put an old bald fat guy in a Prius or a junior high school teacher’s lounge and there’s no coolness-measuring device on the market or in any research lab that can detect anything cool about that guy. The only conclusion is that some combination of a Harley-Davidson, a leather jacket and gravel dents in your face actually creates coolness. So Harley had a chance, a rare chance, to survive the ravages of fashion and work its oil-stained alchemy on generation after generation of largely identical rebel iconoclasts. So what happened? Cookie jars happened. I was on an airplane somewhere over New Mexico, looking through the SkyMall catalog, maybe a decade ago, when I realized that Harley-Davidson was pretty much over as a cool brand. There, among the Sharper Image air ionizers and the inflatable pillows, was a Harley-Davidson cookie jar shaped like a motorcycle, as well as a plush Harley-Davidson pig and similar items that make hopscotch look like single-malt Scotch by comparison. And it’s not just that they were marketing these kitschy Harley tchotchkes, it’s that they were marketing them to people who were flying over New Mexico rather than, say, driving across the state toward Mexico on the run from about 50 cops. The signifier had been forcibly removed from the signified and sent to a re-education camp run by cheerleaders and smiling grandmothers. But I’m not a complainer. I’m a problem-solver! I think it’s too late to win over a new generation of motorcyclists. There’s too little 3G coverage in the middle of New Mexico anyway. However, the people who currently ride hogs must be the hardest-dying of the die-hards, having survived decades of life on the road with nothing between them and the asphalt but a layer of leather and a fading Skynyrd T-shirt. They’ve also been able to think of themselves as Harley people in spite of the increasing ridiculousness of the brand. Clearly, they’re going to be around for another 20 years or so, and they want to be on something with the Harley logo for all of them. Think of the possibilities: Harley-Davidson-branded Segways. Harley versions of those three-wheeled scooters people ride around gated neighborhoods and Costcos. Harley stair lifts that make that distinctive rattling roar as they transport you upstairs in ease. Let Harley-Davidson die-hards go to that highway in the sky in, if not dignity, at least denial. - – - Born helpless, nude and unable to provide for himself, Lore Sjöberg eventually overcame these handicaps to become a wild child, a flower child and an inner child. | ||
| Glitch |
Born to be mild? | ||
| Blk_uly |
Nice read Dude.  | ||
| Jaimec |
Speaking of Segways... http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/eu_britain_segway_death | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
well at least he was living on the edge...to bad he died there too.  must have been the prototype for the H-D version... | ||
| Buellkowski |
Harley versions of those three-wheeled scooters people ride around gated neighborhoods and Costcos.  | ||
| Jaimec |
Just paint 'em black and orange and charge a $500 premium over the standard price. DONE! | ||
| 86129squids |
They still make Corollas? | ||
| Strokizator |
I don't know, it seems like yet another jump-on-the-bandwagon article about the "increasing ridiculousness of the brand". The guy probably never rode a motorcycle of ANY manufacture. People who never owned a HD product can continue to congratulate themselves for not getting caught up in the frenzy. Sort of like the self-loathing nerds who ten years after high school find themselves outperforming their more athletic peers and think they are cool after all. Nope, you're just a rich nerd and you don't do yourself any good by ridiculing the ex-jocks who are now paying for their crippling football injuries. I own a John Deere cookie jar - so what? I'll admit that HD way oversold the brand by putting their name on everything from coffee to cigarettes (remember those?)but we ought to be hoping for their survival and not rooting for their demise (present management personnel excluded). Heck, I'm mad as hell at Chrysler but I can't get a new Dodge truck out of my head. | ||
| Jaimec |
More publicity as to Harley's assinine upper management might induce the stock holders to elect a new board. When that IDIOT Wandell asked the clueless blockheads in the company "Why would anyone want a sportbike?" a quick thinking, non "YES MAN" should've asked back "Why would anyone want an overpriced, overweight, underpowered, WWII Museum replica in this economy?" | ||
| Strokizator |
"Why would anyone want an overpriced, overweight, underpowered, WWII Museum replica in this economy?" Wait, I'm confused. We're still taking about Harleys here and not BMW right? If I remember correctly, HD's WWII entry was a 750cc flat-head which hasn't been around for decades. BMW's boxer engine predates that. Look, I'm not defending HD but I am getting tired/bored with all the worn out cliches. The engineering aspect of a typical HD cruiser is centered in incorporating new technologies like fuel injection (HD was the first to use FI across its entire line-up), ABS brakes, modern wiring systems, etc. and make it disappear. I can look at a Honda, Beemer, or whatever and see right away whether or not it has ABS. Can you do the same with a Harley? You can argue that nostalgia ain't what it used to be but overpriced, underpowered and overweight are just opinions, not facts. I'm not picking a fight with anyone. I do feel that cheering for the collapse of a good American company is unpatriotic. I don't like my ex mother-in-law but I wouldn't cheer if I heard she had cancer. | ||
| Froggy |
I do find being a rich nerd does have its perks though  | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I do have a hard time wishing death apon a company I was raised to like. How ever I do hate what they have become and more importantly all of the crappy things they have done to Buell. Not just shutting them down but the constant shoot down of really neat bikes we never got to have. | ||
| Jaimec |
Strokizator:
BMW was the first to use FI across its entire line-up. There. Fixed it for you. This may come as a bit of a shock, but have you looked at BMW's line-up? No WWII museum replicas in the line-up. If you look at a Harley from the mid-forties (with the exception of the 750 boxer they unsuccessfully copied from Germany) they don't look much different than they do today. On the other hand, BMW has moved beyond the "Gentlemen's Express" reputation. They now build the world's most powerful and technologically advanced sportbike. They have dirt bikes, dual-purpose bikes, tourers and sport tourers (noticeably absent are "Heavy Cruisers"). BMW is also enjoying record sales. Harley can't say the same. | ||
| Strokizator |
If you look at a Harley from the mid-forties they don't look much different than they do today. I think that was intentional, don't you? You can criticize HD's marketing decision and praise BMW all you want. I came close to pulling the trigger on a 800 GS but it was too weird looking for my tastes (as if the KTM 990A I ended up with is less so). So, yeah, I have looked at their line-up. I like Guzzi's too. I like the V7 classic but it too is a museum replica and should be summarily dismissed as junk. And you're right, BMW makes no museum replicas - Ural's got a lock on the WWII BMW design and they too have their niche followers. This is not an argument over who makes the better bike. I was just complaining about how suddenly fashionable it's become to pile on HD even by those who have never ridden a bike. It's kind of like "Yeah, I don't ride motorcycles. I especially don't ride Harleys". It lacks imagination and I'm tired of it. Look Jaimec, I'm not trying to be disagreeable and I know when someone starts a thread they're not looking to be told they're wrong. I just take offense to the author's story, that's all. Peace! | ||
| Jaimec |
It WAS intentional... but it ain't working anymore. The problem is, Harley doesn't know how to change. They had a chance, but they blew it. BMW was the other manufacturer that was known for sticking to old technology to hang on to their "core market." However, they realized their core market wasn't going to live forever and decided to expand. They realized this back in 1983 (with the introduction of the water-cooled, fuel-injected K series). They kept both the "R" cooled airheads and the water cooled "K" series for another 13 years till they finally dropped the "R" airheads and replaced them with the vastly modernized oil-cooled "R" bikes. They've continued to expand with the new "K" series, the "F" series vertical twins and the "G" series singles and now the "S" superbike. All this time, what has Harley done? Bought MV Agusta for millions, and sold it back to the original owner for 1 Euro. Shut down the only innovative branch of their company, and is trying to entice the youth market by putting blackened parts on their old Sportster. Harley is going nowhere until they replace those idiots in charge with someone who actually has some VISION. Someone in my club pointed out that Harley got increased popularity when they were used in movies... from Easy Rider to all those biker exploitation flicks in the sixties. Today's "Biker Movies" all feature sport bikes (Biker Boyz, Torque, etc). What was the last movie to feature Harleys? "Wild Hogs" featuring four OLD guys looking for themselves... yeah... that'll capture the imagination of the under-30 crowd. Young kids seem to be BIG into "Stunting" from what I can tell. Buells were PERFECT for that crowd... high torque, short wheelbase, light weight... what does Harley have for the stunting crowd? Nothing, really. Nothing at all. | ||
| Sifo |
I have to agree with Strokizator. I'm lacking any real love for HD at this point, and there's plenty to criticize. Some of the comments I see around here make me wonder if they are made by people who have ever ridden a HD, much less payed any attention to the evolution of the bikes. I've still got the wife's Sporty in the garage. While it isn't what I want in a bike, I have taken it for hours at a time down the expressway at 80+ mph. Try that on a sporty from just 10 years ago and try to tell me they haven't changed. I wish the FI worked as flawlessly on my Buell as the Sporty. I also put a ton of miles on my Wide Glide when I owned that. Worlds apart from the '83 Sturgis that was my first ride on an HD. Both the WG and the current Sporty have been absolutely reliable, something that can't be said for the Sturgis. No doubt that most Buell owners are not going to be interested in a cruiser. I understand that. I also understand that there's plenty of hard feelings over the closing of Buell. Certain folks just make themselves sound incredibly uninformed about the facts of what HD currently offers though. This is the internet though and uninformed opinions are expected, so carry on... | ||
| Patches |
"Today's "Biker Movies" all feature sport bikes (Biker Boyz, Torque, etc). What was the last movie to feature Harleys? "Wild Hogs" featuring four OLD guys looking for themselves... yeah... that'll capture the imagination of the under-30 crowd." Jaimec, Here is a Movie by Quentin Tarantino for you. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gzjXl3d7tXE | ||
| Danger_dave |
But Harley can and have made some great bikes recently. Street Rod was the best bike they ever made. Outstanding machine. Sales tanked. Several others. XR1200X is a competent machine, attractively priced in its class. I think the problem is their customers won't change like a Z1000's has. Locally H-D has about 25% of the big bike market. BMW less than 2%. BMW's problem is price. The machines are as good as any - but the costs are steep. Whereas 883 sportster is now cheaper than the Suzuki equivalent here. Personally I'd like the H-D range to be more like Triumph's now. Retros and Sports in the mix. | ||
| Sifo |
No doubt HD has a boat load of problems right now. They desperately need to attract new buyers. They have painted themselves into a corner where traditional appearance means everything though. I totally agree with the Triumph line up. They have a bunch of great bikes that appeal to a wide variety of riders. Some of them even make Harley's big twins feel light and nimble, yet they seem to be able to sell them. I don't know what the right move is for HD. I think they are in for some lean years. I don't really know if they will make a comeback or not. If they don't comeback there will be a void that other mfgs can certainly take advantage of. That's one of the great things of a free market. | ||
| Glitch |
I think maybe H-D will become what Buell once was. A niche brand. I don't think H-D's problem is the bikes. We all seem to agree they're bikes are good, if even they're not for us. Those that feel H-D is for them knows the bikes are good. I think the issue is that H-D has pigeon holed themselves through their advertising. It's going to take some diversity of motorbikes to keep from being the niche brand. They need something new to attract the younger crowd. New as in advertising and at least one bike that's exciting to a younger buyer. Right now the kids that think H-D is their kind of bike are few and far between. It'll be interesting to see what they do in the next year or two. | ||
| Patches |
Glitch, Harley-Davidson has always been a niche brand.  That is why other Motorcycle Companies have always tried to copy them. | ||
| Ferris_von_bueller |
they better figure out a way to sell them inexpensively. The days of fast money for the masses is over. No more withdrawing cash from ever increasing home values or credit cards. | ||
| Badlionsfan |
Maybe a bowling ball and equipment company could turn HD around. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Jaimec - Another interesting social observation that I have made is Facebook. If business starts using the social networking sites as another advertising opportunity, then that networking site automatically becomes "uncool". Case in point: KFC has a facebook page, Sears has a facebook page - "I want to be a KFC 'friend'" - Not cool. And please, don't beat me up - I KNOW EB has a facebook page. The point here is that once businesses start using social networking sites as part of their strategy to be considered 'hip' or 'cool', then they instantly make themselves and the site 'uncool'. Comments reflect opinion of the author only and do not represent any endorsement tacit, or otherwise, nor should be considered to have any basis in fact or even reality..... (and jaimec, well presented rant, BTW) | ||
| Firebolt020283 |
I think there is a HUGE difference between a huge corprate giant that has a face book site that has some worker bee posting updates and a small business like Erik Buell Racing and Erik Buells personal facebook page in which he spends his own personal time connecting with his customers. I am pretty sure COL Sanders is not replying to the KFC face book page. (Message edited by firebolt020283 on September 29, 2010) | ||
| Hootowl |
Buell was the first vehicle manufacturer to have a web site. Erik's email address was published, and he responded personally. Now everyone has a web site. I still think Buells are cool | ||
| Budgolf |
Cool, like so many other terms, is relative. I hate what HD did to Buell, but you know, I sat my butt on a new Wide Glide a couple of weeks ago and I almost bought it. Yeah there is an awful lot of things about the Harley "life style" that aren't cool in my opinion. Like HD dog collars. But lack of coolness or dropping Buell or not having a legitimate sportbike or WWII technology or old people switching to hover rounds isn't why HD sales are down. THE ECONOMY IS IN THE SHITTER. Everyones sales are down. Hell Wasn't it Suzuki that didn't import any new models this year? The pushrod motor and springer front end isn't what hurt HD, their freaking business practices did. And Buell paid for it. | ||
| Stirz007 |
Firebolt - I tend to agree with your assessment. I am not poking a finger at 'mom and pop shops', sole proprietorships kinda deals. FB can be an effective way to get word out for a start-up. When I see Geico, KFC and other corporate ads saying 'check our page on facebook', then I know facebook has now sold out to the corporate interest and is therefore not cool. | ||
| Danger_dave |
It would take too long for the lawyers to approve all the © and TM and ® are correct before they could post on facebook. |
