[slamin sammy]

Have any body seen the tv add that Harley has on , i almost fell on my a$$. it is the very first i have ever seen, so does this mean all the shops will have bikes? can we read things into this. maybe we as consumers will get some benifit from this.

 

[FifthGear]

Sammy, if it's the one where the grampa is on the porch with the grandkids...yeah I saw it the other night. It was funny. It sounded like something I'm always saying about something to tell the grandkids.

I think there are more new Harleys available right now than in recent years. They are ramping up production and are going to have a 14 month production run on 2003's and less on 2004's. Who knows if they are trying to increase demand or just an advertising tax wright off or to keep the dream alive in the back of someone's mind who always wanted a Harley.

 

[Big Al]

Here comes the Baby boomers and this is the ramp up for the 100th anniversary.

 

[Devildog101]

What station was the comercial on, NBC, CBS, ABC, FOX?

 

[HIPPO]

All over the place. They must have shown it 3 or 4 times during the Daytona 600 supersport race on Speedvision, and I'm pretty sure it was on FoxCableNews also.

I can see where they may have a temporary problem selling the remaining 02's considering many will wait for the anniversary models.
The real problem however seems to be selling the one and two year old used bikes, and if the gap between the market value of the used and new bikes continues to increase it will become harder to sell the new ones.

I have a lot of faith in old time riders, as a group they are definitely not the sort to let corporate whores shove fuzzy new age logic down their throats, regardless of how much they may love the machines.


If you ever saw the old commercial with the blind man they had a couple of years ago, and then you watch the current one, it becomes very obvious that it is directed at a totally different target audience.

 

[JimmyK]

I've seen it 3 times so far. They are going for the wallet and those that have one. They are aiming at the 40 to 50 age group and know EXACTLY what they are doing.

"No, I bought aluminum siding.." ( sigh )

They are aiming at the couches of America and that add alone will pull a few fat slobs to their feet. It is also designed to hit the wives who may have a lot to do with the decision not to buy. The typical female will think "poor old guy, missed out on his dream." Then she will start feeling sorry for her old man.

That was a GREAT commercial from the standpoint of placing the message right where they wanted it. My guess is if they run another one, they will follow the "You only live once" theme.

These guys did not get Forbes most admired Company for nothing.

When they start playing BINGO at HOG meetings, it will be too late! Blahahahahahahh

 

[Big Al]

____________________________________
...typical female will think "poor old guy, missed out
on his dream." Then she will start feeling sorry for her
old man.

...the "You only live once" theme.
When they start playing BINGO at HOG meetings, it will
be too late!
____________________________________

Hey, whatever works. I used some of the above techniques plus more to ensure that I'd get my new bike. ...and what's wrong with BINGO as long as they serve beer?

 

[pasadenajim]

When they start playing BINGO at HOG meetings, it will be too late! Blahahahahahahh [/B][/QUOTE]


Jimmy, Jimmy, Jimmy. Where have you been? Bingo is already very popular at many official H/D and HOG functions. You're not surprised, are ya?

The median age of a new H/D owner is getting on the "mature" side. And Big Al, I suspect that they'll be serving Metamusal with that beer at the bingo games before too long.

The "demographics" thing struck home for me last summer at Sturgis. IMO the median age for the crowd was 50+. Maybe this is why there was a Viagra display booth at Sturgis? Hmmm. With the commerical, H/D is just playing to it's audience.

 

[logical]

Average buyer went from 35 years old in 1987 to 45 years old in 2000. But that's true for lots of things because they are the people with MONEY.

It's a business, lets get over it.

 

[Big Al]

_________________________________________
Average buyer went from 35 years old in 1987 to
45 years old in 2000. But that's true for lots of things
because they are the people with MONEY.
_________________________________________

Not sure about the above 'fact', but if it's true, then it's not
the money, it's the same people. They were 35 years old
in 1987, and 13 years later in 2000 they were 48 years
old. That's one reason, I believe, Harley has went with
the V-Rod. It is aimed at the younger generation, 20-35.

I may be getting old(er), I just turned 50 in November, but
I'll tell you, I don't feel any older (maybe a bit wiser) than
I did when I was 25. Still gawk at the same age girls (25)
and like the same things that I did back then. Sometimes
a few aches and pains are there to remind me that I'm not
the same dude as back then, but then, I think I appreciate
the everyday ride much more than I use to as I know that
someday it will end.

You guys just gave me an idea...an ole geezers thread where
we can tell BS stories....can start if off with stuff like when I was
25, I thought 40 was the end of the line. Now that I'm 'on the hump'
I look at NASCAR's Dick Trickle who is 60 and wonder if his name
has any truth in it!


Cheers

 

[logical]

_________________________________________
Average buyer went from 35 years old in 1987 to
45 years old in 2000. But that's true for lots of things
because they are the people with MONEY.
_________________________________________

Not sure about the above 'fact', but if it's true, then it's not
the money, it's the same people. They were 35 years old
in 1987, and 13 years later in 2000 they were 48 years
old. That's one reason, I believe, Harley has went with
the V-Rod. It is aimed at the younger generation, 20-35.

The "fact" was taken right from the Harley website...all kinds of stuff there if you look beyond the bikes, jackets and chrome. At first when I posted, I was gonna make the point about it being the same people but after thinking about the large number of people on this and other forums who mention they are buying their first Harley, I decided it just didn't add up that way. And yes, of course thats why they went with the V-rod...harley readily has admitted that much. Similar really to what Caddilac and a few others are doing as they see their average customer getting older and older.....not a good trend long term because you find yourself after a few decades with a customer base who is too old to drive.

 

[HIPPO]

Old truckers never die, they just get a new Peterbilt

or bagger, LOL

 

[PTParks]

HD (or any other brand of anything) doesn't have to advertise IF the product is moving off of the shelves (or showroom floor). How many Corvette commercials you seen lately?? None, 'cause every Corvette is bringing in top dollar and it's life on the dealer's floor is measured in days, sometimes hours. Maybe the HD inventory is backing up and they feel a little exposure is needed to "remind" folks of the mystique of ownership.

I frankly didn't think it was such a great commercial. Cute, but forgetable.

 

[guido]

Who in the the hell knows what the boys in Milwaukee are up to, they've made some really strange,illogical decisions over the years.

I personally like the commercial, I think the Mo Co did their homework, but it kinda makes you wonder "why now"?

The next few years should be very interesting ones for H.D. guido

 

[Boismier]

> The median age of a new H/D owner is getting on the "mature" side.

Exactly why I bought an H-D! I wanted to join a group where not only would I be one of the younger guys, I'd be one of the thinner ones too ... The retired sumo wrestlers wouldn't let me in ... ;-)

 

[electrified]

yeah, I saw the commercial, where I live, the local dealers (not may) are expanding. Something has ta bring the new and larger market in. they will try to "hit" each market and see how it works.....who know...next mounth we may see that 25 year old guy sitting on that porch swing with the new wife and baby in the kitchen window crying and nagging and this poor (young) bastard sitting there dreaming of the h.d. as an escape even if for an hour or so.......(if that happens, I want royalties...) anyway, if ya throw enough s**t against the wall, some of it is bound ta stick.

p.s. I for one hope the ads work, because if they dont, ya think parts are expensive now?? wait till the company goes down.