Advertising Age published a blog post describing a launch party for Harley's new Nightster motorcycle...

http://adage.com/mediaworks/article?article_id=116528

The article describes the Motor Company reaching out to a new demographic of customers, the younger, hipper, punkier, motorcycle rider...

No ZZ Top beards here, no leather chaps and no excessive beer bellies. The required accessories at this party were tats (large; colorful; and the more, the merrier); piercings (large, monochromatic and multiple); and skateboards. Attendees had their choice of hats or spiky, bizarre, expressive hair (yes, more than one person was -- ironically? -- channeling Sanjaya).

It kinda goes along with some trends I'm seeing within the 1%er motorcycle clubs. Instead of the stereotypical thick bearded bikers reminiscent of the early 70s, I'm seeing trimmed and chiseled faced guys, wearing Dickies pulled half-way down their butts, looking more like a 21st century version of Billy Idol.

It perhaps goes to show that Harley is doing exactly what made it successful in the first place, marketing to culture, not necessarily to riders.

Labels: Harley Davidson Nightster