You have to respect HD the company

**HenryDorsetCase** · 2nd February 2008, 10:44

sure its a billion dollar corporation and all that palaver, but in terms of listening to its customers and dealers, ther is none better.

HD have a problem: the average HD buyer is even older, fatter and balder than me. So what happens when they drop off their bikes and buy that Zimmer frame with the tassels and extra chrome (Hey you can probably get one already in the HD catalogue).

But for a company that sells motorbikes, they have to get new people's bums on seats.

Preferably ones with money.

How? By tapping into that GEn X or Y (whatever the fuck its called) market and crossing over into other "edgy" type activities: skateboarding (really) and Ultimate Fighting Championship and like that.

Check this out. Bitchin'

Because I am nothing if not impressionable, I require a Cross Bones, right the fuck now!

and some Vans with checkers.

and one of those "German" helmets.

and next time I go snowboarding, Im taking the bike (might be a wakeboard, that would make more sense).

Whatever, Jeeves, bring me a Cross Bones!!!

even that background music doesnt suck....

**Headbanger** · 2nd February 2008, 11:54

meh, I don't "have" to respect anything, sure they make money, means nothing to me, no more then Honda making money. I don't get any of it.

Marketing, Mindless dribble for the soft headed fools.

Dealers?, Screw them, just corperate whores, Populated by try hards on both sides of the counter.

I have bought one bike through a dealer, A brand new off the floor 1996 FXD, I had to visit 3 dealerships before I could even get served, 11 grand cash in my pocket and they couldn't even take the time to offer me bad service, Just no service.

I'm sure I didn't look like I had any money, and was treated like it.

The bike had a fault caused by them in there pre-delivery inspection, and they jacked me around on the issue, $22 grand and they are jacking me around because they dropped a bolt into the engine mount, which made the entire bike shake so hard you couldn't hold onto the bars.

And modern dealerships just reek of the pretend warrior crap.

For me, its about a bike that apeals to me, The company is nothing.

**HenryDorsetCase** · 2nd February 2008, 12:09

Originally Posted by Headbanger

meh, I don't "have" to respect anything, sure they make money, means nothing to me, no more then Honda making money. I don't get any of it.

Marketing, Mindless dribble for the soft headed fools.

Dealers?, Screw them, just corperate whores, Populated by try hards on both sides of the counter.

I have bought one bike through a dealer, A brand new off the floor 2006 FXD, I had to visit 3 dealerships before I could even get served, 11 grand cash in my pocket and they couldn't even take the time to offer me bad service, Just no service.

I'm sure I didn't look like I had any money, and was treated like it.

The bike had a fault caused by them in there pre-delivery inspection, and they jacked me around on the issue, $22 grand and they are jacking me around because they dropped a bolt into the engine mount, which made the entire bike shake so hard you couldn't hold onto the bars.

And modern dealerships just reek of the pretend warrior crap.

For me, its about a bike that apeals to me, The company is nothing.

my point was that if I owned stock in HD, I would be very happy that they are actively courting new markets, making my investment pay better dividends.

Isn't your attitude just as cliched as the one you lambast as displayed in that advertisement?

**Headbanger** · 2nd February 2008, 12:39

clichéd?

Probably, can't say I care how its perceived.

But, I suppose that's a cliché as well.... But, I'm not spending millions in order for people who don't share my wavelength to mass market it to others....

Marketing can only make me want to avoid a product.It either suits me or it doesn't. The marketing of image over product is repulsive.

To me.

**duckonin** · 2nd February 2008, 17:21

Originally Posted by Headbanger

clichéd?

Probably, can't say I care how its perceived.

But, I suppose that's a cliché as well.... But, I'm not spending millions in order for people who don't share my wavelength to mass market it to others....

Marketing can only make me want to avoid a product.It either suits me or it doesn't. The marketing of image over product is repulsive.

To me.

Yep you are right stick to your guns..

**Coyote** · 2nd February 2008, 17:32

Even if one guy isn't fooled, marketing on the whole works. Rap music, Ipod, Nike, all of which are shit but they're popular because of marketing.

**Angusdog** · 3rd February 2008, 08:14

A cynic would say that all HD have to sell is 'attitude', as their bikes fail to match up technologically to other manufacturers' offerings. Which is why I'm a little uncomfortable with this kind of marketing: it's implying the above fact is true, whereas I think their bikes do measure up on various levels. Granted, you sorta need to 'buy into' their lifestyle (which is why I bought an M50

), but the latest HD's seem to be very good products.

In other words, HD probably don't need to sell purely on attitude. And I do love the video (just not the Nazi helmets which is another argument which has been thrashed through here before).

**Skyryder** · 10th February 2008, 18:54

HD market an 'image.' Intersting they are targeting the skate boarders. This would not be a random target but the result of considerable research for potential customers.

They are there to sell a product........so far they are doing it better than anyone else on the planet.

Skyryder

**Pwalo** · 11th February 2008, 11:15

Originally Posted by Skyryder

HD market an 'image.' Intersting they are targeting the skate boarders. This would not be a random target but the result of considerable research for potential customers.

They are there to sell a product........so far they are doing it better than anyone else on the planet.

Skyryder

I reckon there might be a few Honda step thru owners who would dispute that.

HD do very well on the stock market, and on brand awareness/marketing clap trap, but I think if you look at actual motorcycle sales the individual Japanese manufacturers do better.

**scumdog** · 11th February 2008, 11:18

Originally Posted by Pwalo

I reckon there might be a few Honda step thru owners who would dispute that.

HD do very well on the stock market, and on brand awareness/marketing clap trap, but I think if you look at actual motorcycle sales the individual Japanese manufacturers do better.

Possiblt true re bike sales - but don't forget all the bling, clothing and other accessories HD churns out.....

**Pwalo** · 11th February 2008, 11:46

Originally Posted by scumdog

Possiblt true re bike sales - but don't forget all the bling, clothing and other accessories HD churns out.....

Too true! My wife was in Melbourne last week (for business), and she visited the bike shops to get me a couple of t shirts, etc. She could only find one official Suzuki t shirt and cap, but you could buy ANYTHING with an HD label on it.

Still I do like my new Suzuki polo, my new Rossi long sleeve t shirt, and my new Aussie MotoGP t shirt.

**Headbanger** · 11th February 2008, 16:48

Originally Posted by Pwalo

I reckon there might be a few Honda step thru owners who would dispute that.

HD do very well on the stock market, and on brand awareness/marketing clap trap, but I think if you look at actual motorcycle sales the individual Japanese manufacturers do better.

No kidding, Honda probably sell more then all other manufacturers put together...that we know of.

The ones we don't know of?, Chinese manufacturers making millions of bikes for their domestic markets.

anyhow,if we are going to pay mad respect for companies for marketing (fuck, that's just pathetic) then lets all Hail McDonald's, Shit food, awesome marketing department.

woohoo, Lets hear if for Dell, Mail order, Bottom of the barrel components, shit after sales service, crap pricing, Rubbish software configuration, Yet they sell millions.

HAIL MARKETING, WE ARE YOUR SLAVES.

**Bonez** · 11th February 2008, 18:37

Gotta love the marketing blurbs just for the entertainment value.

"and dark as a month in the hole"

or

"dark metal parts with history in them"

or

"built from blood swet and chrome"

or

"dark comes at you a different way"

or

"Your mother forgot to mention about the creatures of the dark...."

or

"Taken down and stripped clean of anything that doesn't matter"

**The Pastor** · 11th February 2008, 19:26

I actually like the look of one or two of those

**Pwalo** · 12th February 2008, 06:32

Originally Posted by Headbanger

No kidding, Honda probably sell more then all other manufacturers put together...that we know of.

The ones we don't know of?, Chinese manufacturers making millions of bikes for their domestic markets.

anyhow,if we are going to pay mad respect for companies for marketing (fuck, that's just pathetic) then lets all Hail McDonald's, Shit food, awesome marketing department.

woohoo, Lets hear if for Dell, Mail order, Bottom of the barrel components, shit after sales service, crap pricing, Rubbish software configuration, Yet they sell millions.

HAIL MARKETING, WE ARE YOUR SLAVES.

Are you still talking about HD?