Harley-Davidson Summer Of 1st Love

Men, what are your dreams? What you would love to do that you never done before? Harley-Davidson is convinced that riding one of their bikes is one of the secret dreams of many men. So they launch a huge campaign to incite all those as young as 18 to 55 to participate in the sport of motorcycling. And to convince them, the campaign features super model and motorcycle enthusiast Marisa Miller whose job, in modeling on a Harley, is to encourage and challenge men to live out their dreams and to start riding this summer.

The campaign kicks into gear this week around the Maxim Hot 100 issue, including an in-book ad, as well as exposure at the Maxim Hot 100 party in Los Angeles, on the Maxim Web site, on the Harley website and in television programs. Men can register for the chance to win one of hundreds of free Rider’s Edge New Rider Training Courses, as well as an exclusive package featuring the chance for one lucky winner and four friends to 1-:Select the Harley-Davidson motorcycles of their choice 2- Go on the road trip of a lifetime… with super model Marisa Miller. To get started, men can  visit The Start Something Campaign web pages to download exclusive photos of Marisa and her motorcycle, as well as view behind-the-scenes video from the ad shoot.

Then, Harley expects that you will go visit your local Harley-Davidson dealer who has all the answers to address everyone’s concerns in their new Guide to Ride. Will Harley plans to get motorcycle dreamers in gear this summer succeed? If yes, it would prove again that in this world, even during a recession, (beautiful) women still rule.

25 Responses to “Harley-Davidson Summer Of 1st Love”


  1. 1 Tour Man May 13th, 2010 at 9:46 am

    The only thing wrong here is the age group of men age 18 to 55. 90% of riders in this age group are not interested in a Harley. To lure this demographic HD will have to change there image away from “Outlaw” and bring out more modern motorcycles. The old heavy cruiser does not appeal to this age group.

  2. 2 busfreak May 13th, 2010 at 9:59 am

    Sorry Tour man, but I beg to differ with you. I know a lot of people that would love to have a Harley but it’s the price that drives them away. If Harley would drop the price and there dealer attitudes there would be a lot more people on there bikes.

  3. 3 Seymour May 13th, 2010 at 10:20 am

    Both are correct.

  4. 4 Manhattan Choppers May 13th, 2010 at 10:47 am

    The campaign sounds like a waste of money.

  5. 5 The Producer May 13th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    1. I like the idea that, H-D is working to reach outside the rider community and invite non riders to become part of the community. Remember it was Honda who reached the mass market with their ads back in the early sixties which started the cycle revelution here in the states. Reaching outside the inner circle is a great idea.

    2. Will every dealer have women that look like this showing these young or not so young guys how to mount a bike and take it for a spin?

    3. MAXIM is a watered down Playboy that reaches young guys with plenty of testosterone but pretty empty billfolds. Why not do the campaign using classic photography and images of men and women riding from the old days and then place ads in Esquire, GQ and other Top name mags which reach the money makers. Why not Forbes since Mr Forbes used to ride a Harley himself?

    In the end its the same old same old – pretty body to sell a bike attitude nothing ever changes. I think its a wrong direction and should be retooled as decribed above.

    But hey the numbers will show if it hit its mark or not.

    The Hog Radio Producer

  6. 6 ian May 13th, 2010 at 11:17 am

    If she rides a Harley – then I am going to get me one!

  7. 7 Knucklehead May 13th, 2010 at 12:07 pm

    Women have always ruled. Even in time of war. Eva, Josephine, Hillery, Monica my wife. Oh yea it will work. Just by her something you can’t afford and you are in. Go get the Gluide.

  8. 8 Solo Sam May 13th, 2010 at 1:10 pm

    What ever she’s selling ….. I’m buying !!!!

  9. 9 4Cammer May 13th, 2010 at 1:32 pm

    She needs to eat a few Big Macs…..a tad too skinny. 🙂

  10. 10 fuji May 13th, 2010 at 1:37 pm

    4Cammer
    A Spinner.

  11. 11 fuji May 13th, 2010 at 3:16 pm

    Whatever it takes.
    I think they should post this young lady on billboards throughout India just to show them / Indians what a Hell’s Angel looks like on a Harley.

    You know , That image thing.

  12. 12 nicker May 13th, 2010 at 11:09 pm

    Question is;
    (other than Dykes-on-Bikes)
    Does this ad alienate all the potential women buyers HD worked so hard to cultivate…..???.

    -nicker-

  13. 13 Doc Robinson May 14th, 2010 at 7:13 am

    “Harley-Davidson is convinced that riding one of their bikes is one of the secret dreams of many men.” You bet brothers, you bet. And that goes for men all over the world. Count on it.

  14. 14 Brett May 14th, 2010 at 8:15 am

    18-55 & there isn’t anyone in that age group riding a Harley??? So are Harley riders all 60 to 80 then? Guys who are in their 30’s & 40’s fit into the 18 to 55 age demographic.

  15. 15 madpuppy May 14th, 2010 at 8:58 am

    ” What you would love to do that you never done before? ” Her.

  16. 16 youngdude May 14th, 2010 at 9:20 am

    Alright I’m sick of all this “young guys don’t want Harleys / build better bikes” crap. Somehow this has become orthodoxy in the motorcycle world and it’s complete B.S. I’m 32 and I just picked up a 2010 Street Bob about a month ago and I love the bike. I stopped by the dealer to get some paperwork last week and asked my salesman how business was. He told me they sold 54 bikes in April! However, they only sold one XR1200. That bike has gotten by the far the best reviews from the mainstream motorcycle media of any new Harley in a very long time. And yet, it’s not selling. Why is that? Now I won’t claim to have the answer to that, but I can tell you it’s not because it’s slow, heavy, or expensive. The bike is competitive in every way with others in its class. The new Sportster 48 is selling very well too. In short, there’s no crisis at Harley. Sales are down less than they are at other manufacturers and the company acted quickly over the last year or so to bring its operations into line with the reduced demand levels that all businesses are seeing in this economy. The bikes are better than ever – fuel injection, new touring chassis, six speed trannies, etc. So Harley is fine and young people who want a quality bike made in America that can be financed will continue to buy them just like I did. Please stop speaking for my demographic.

  17. 17 busfreak May 14th, 2010 at 9:46 am

    Nicker (Dykes-on-Bikes)
    Thats funny do they realy exist? Like do they wear patches and shit.

  18. 18 live2rideaglide May 14th, 2010 at 4:02 pm

    HI GUYS, THANKS YOUNG DUDE. I KNOW A LOT OF YOUNG DUDES THAT ARE INTO BIG VTWINS AND SPORTYS. HARLEYS AINT FOR EVERYBODY, NEVER HAVE BEEN HOPEFULLY NEVER WILL BE. ANYTIME YOU BUILD AND MARKET WITH THE GOAL OF EVERYONE LIKING IT( WHATEVER IT IS ) YOU CHEAPEN AND WATER DOWN THE PRODUCT. IF A HARLEY COSTS TOO MUCH THEN BUY SOMETHING ELSE. I WORK ON HARLEYS AND METRICS BOTH AND I SEE THE DIFFERENCE IN ENGINEERING AND QUALITY OF COMPONENTS. I KNOW SOME OF YOU OUT THERE HAVE A GOLDWING WITH 9 MILLION MILES ON IT AND THE ORIGINAL AIR IN THE TIRES AND THAT’S GREAT FOR YOU. MY FRIEND’S 65 FLH HAS 178000 ON IT AND ANOTHER’S SPORTY HAS 200K. IT’S A HARLEY THING , YOU EITHER GET IT OR YOU DON’T. I AM NOT A GREAT FAN OF THE CORPORATE BUT I APPRECIATE THE HISTORY, THE RESILIENCE OF THE COMPANY AND IT’S LOYAL RIDERS. I SEE ALOT OF METRIC ” COPYCAT ” VTWINISH BIKES SO HARLEY MUST BE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT. GLIDEONBROTHER, BE SAFE.

  19. 19 Larry R May 14th, 2010 at 5:25 pm

    I’m old and I love my 1981 customized HD FXWG. And I always will.

  20. 20 nicker May 16th, 2010 at 9:39 pm

    RE:
    “… do they realy exist? …”

    Oh ya.

    RE:
    “…do they wear patches and shit…”

    Don’t know (never got that close).
    Ya might ask the HA.
    If they really run the 3-patch deal, guess they would be giving the Dykes the OK to fly colors.

    Wonder what a Dykes prospect does…………… 🙂

    -nicker-

  21. 21 rich ulmen May 17th, 2010 at 2:16 pm

    Believe me Harley-Davidson knows how to market to men between 18 and 55. Marisa Miller is awesome.

  22. 22 Bill Siemer May 19th, 2010 at 6:52 am

    Us old guys ride choppers too. Anyway, I do get tired of all the crap about high prices. I mean, yea you can go into a Harley dealer and be wowed by the chromed and tarted up junk with prices thru the roof. But, there are lots of fairly reasonable priced bikes if you look. Sportsters, Standard Soft-tails, and Dyna Glides. Pick one out that hasn’t been violated and the prices are in line with the other makes. I always hear the story of every bike costing $28,000 and it just ain’t so. Harley builds a good bike for the money. Do some research and spend wisely. By the way, my bike has a built from parts title. There are always ways to ride what you want to ride. Hot babes are a tradition with bikers. Go for it, Harley.

  23. 23 Jones Nov 7th, 2010 at 10:39 pm

    Younger guys worry about the price of bikes. Us older guys have money.

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