motowebmaster

If you subscribe to MOTORCYCLIST Magazine, it wouldn't have been difficult to miss the multi-page ICON Ad.

In the recent issue, readers fired off complaints and shared their thoughts about what it does to motorcyclists in general. A Marketing Manager for ICON responded with an explanation that was both emphathetic and unapologetic.

Did any of you see the ad? What do you think?

Speedtrip

I almost wrote in to ask for more Icon adds.

SidecarFlip

How about a link?

I take it thae ad is a bit flashy??

I get too many rags now. Problem is, none are bike rags. Thry are all industry magazines like Metal Fabricator and Welding Monthly plus Hay and Forage and American Farmer. Can't forget about the Warchtower and the AARP monthly.

The Prophet

I haven't picked up the June issue yet, but I'll guess that it's a whole lotta womens with their breastest's sticking out?

I'm as perverted as the next guy, but what IS the deal with Bike's, Boob's, and Ass-less Chaps, etc.?

What does this have to do with riding? And should I really care? Why can't I have one of these chicks? Nevermind!

Along the same lines, in the new issue of Cycle World, I think on the back page, is a full page photo of a pseudo-tough (Full body tattoo's, mean face, leather, facial hair, doo-rag, etc.) "Biker", obviously without any stitch of safety gear at all, including no helmet, whom the caption beneath finally explains is an Allstate Agent.

And presumedly, thus you feel comfortable, "just like you!"

Ride Safe!

__________________

• A good traveler has no fixed plans, and is not intent on arriving. ~Lao Tzu
• Motorcyles are not my whole life, but they make my life whole. ` me

motowebmaster

There is a presumption that this encourages guys to put protective gear on their significant others.

Some degree of reality has to enter into the picture. I mean, if a girl was wearing a leather jacket without anything on under it and rode with you around Arkansas she probably wouldn't be in a good mood

However, having her wear a leather jacket with questionable cut lengths is better than a halter-top.

The Prophet

I can see what you mean Shawn, she DOES look uncomfortable,
poor thing.



Nice bike though!

SidecarFlip

I find it interesting what Icon has morphed into as it's angled away from the original Koni, something that I'm sure a lot of people don't realize.

I still prefer Progressive or Wilburs over Ikon anyway.

Half nekkid girls and less than savory biker dudes are about 'living the dream' not existing in reality.

I think that's why HD riders are, for the most part, posers. HD has perpetuated the 'Living the Dream' scenario into a cult like fantasy. I give Willie G and his boys credit. Fantastic marketing.

The Prophet

I agree, HD has done an almost perfect textbook program of extremely slick, and well done (?) "Lifestyle" marketing, and continue to do so to this day.

As you will remember, Harley fought very, very hard to totally distance itself from the "outlaw biker" image back in the late 50's through the 60's, as Honda introduced the "meet the nicest people on a Honda" campaign, and channeled sales by the millions away from them.

Then, in a complete turn-around during the 90's, they latched onto the multitude of "wanna-be's", mid-life crisis victims and psuedo-tough guy posers who ate up the "lifestyle" image fallacy like hungry wolves. I've always found it very odd that full grown, assumedly educated men would want to emulate and dress up like imaginary "1%"er bikers. The reality is that these guys they look up to as role models and idols are in reality drug pushers and petty criminals who have absolutely nothing to do with motorcycling, riding, racing, etc.

Are rebels and non-comformists that dress up and act exactly alike... rebels? "Freedom of the Open Road"... what exactly is that?

Harley should - and undoubtably does - know better, but the profits pour in from overpriced bikes and accessories, as well as service charges to put air in the tires for a typical weekend poser, so who's to complain?

All that said, on the other hand there are a few - a few - Harley owners who are top-notch people, unfortunately the posers and weekend dress up queens far outnumber the real enthusiasts.

I have heard murmurs of a new direction, that being a new, improved marketing approach directed at seeking out the "younger" generation as us "Boomers" fade out slowly into the sunset.

I'm gonna go out kicken' and cussin', and expect at least 15 or so more years of riding, so don't give up on us just yet boys! Now, where'd I leave my stick on tattoos and my fringed chaps?

motowebmaster

If Harley's models would just split their jackets open a bit, who knows

The Prophet

We ARE talking about the female models here...


Right?