you all hear about the Harley Davidson Summer internship?

[vash]

apparently, they are rallying for a younger crowd of fans?

12 weeks of riding across the country documenting the trip and posting on social media. damn fine fun if you ask me!!

Harley-Davidson Is Hiring Interns to Ride Across the Country | Fortune

[Jeff Higgins]

Pretty damn cool. I don't think anyone has ever done anything like this. Kudos to H-D.

Now wait for the haters - our usual cadre of non-riding "experts" - to proclaim they are only doing this because they are losing their boomer-based market, because they cannot attract the youth market, yadda yadda yadda, blah blah blah... Broken records, nodding to one another in silent approval...

[vash]

if i was young and knew how to use "the facebook" or if i was a hotass college chick.

i would be all over this. there is no doubt me and my six followers would not make me the top choice in any of this..

they want good looking kids with huge internet numbers. i would.

they get to keep that bike!! which is probably worn out from the 12 weeks of hauling a college kid around.

for the record: i ran a industrial sized DitchWitch to run some underground conduit for a water treatment plant AND did paving on a hundred miles of TX highway in 120 deg summer heat.

[varmint]

The thing about this sort of viral market is that YOU DO NOT TELL PEOPLE BEFORE HAND. it has to appear organic.

[HardDrive]

While I'm not a Harley fan, if I was going to tour the country, an HD could be the obvious choice. Massive dealer network that puts a priority on people touring if there is a problem.

[pwd72s]

Hell yeah. I'd have gone for a deal like this back when I was that age demographic...say 50 years ago. Road trip! Adventure! Lure of the open road.

[HardDrive]

To single out HD misses the larger picture. Kids are not nearly as interested in having personal transportation of any kind. Kids don't want a car, they want to uber.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

While I'm not a Harley fan, if I was going to tour the country, an HD could be the obvious choice. Massive dealer network that puts a priority on people touring if there is a problem.

I have personally taken advantage of this. Not for anything mechanical, but for a flat rear tire I simply could not get to hold air with any of my usual tricks. Tubed tire on a laced, tube only rim - never again on a touring bike.

Anyway, the dealership in question both arranged a tow for me and kept a guy after hours for two hours waiting for me. By the time he had me on the road again, he had put in three hours of overtime. They charged me their normal rate for a dismount/remount and a new tube.

On top of that, they had held some kind of parking lot party that afternoon. I had free access to their barbeque, remaining hamburgers and brats, and anything else I could find to feed myself and my wife.

If anyone can relate a similar story about any other manufacturer - car or motorcycle - whose dealers will go to those lengths, I would love to hear it.

[aigel]

The way this is usually done is that you do look for young, hip and good looking people that are posting on istagram about their hobby using your product and then make them a brand ambassador by giving them free stuff, money, hook them up with professional models, photo shoots etc. and get them to post more.

The fact that they have to make this an official "internship" speaks volumes. Obviously there is nobody hip or young enough out there that they can organically grow into an ambassador ... sorry Jeff!

G

[javadog]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

If anyone can relate a similar story about any other manufacturer - car or motorcycle - whose dealers will go to those lengths, I would love to hear it.

Well... once upon a time I was in Dallas on business and when I decided to head back home (250 miles away) I learned that I had a left rear window in my Mercedes S-class that wouldn't roll up. Not a huge deal, but it was over 100 degrees and at highway speeds the open window induced a headache-causing acoustical effect. No way was I headed home like that.

I called the local dealer (Park Place Benz) shortly before they closed and they kept two of their best technicians from going home, had them replace the regulator while I waited and charged me nothing extra for the job done after hours.

Nice guys...

[DWBOX2000]

Speaking of Harleys. Coming back from Hershey on Sunday I passed two motorcycle gangs in CT. One was the Sons of Sin and the other was A New World Order led by an Outlaw guy. It blows my mind that old guys do this stuff. Do they typically work or ride around supporting their lives by other means? I really don't get it but they probably would think my life is quite boring. They are tough looking for sure.

[Rick Lee]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

If anyone can relate a similar story about any other manufacturer - car or motorcycle - whose dealers will go to those lengths, I would love to hear it.

BMW (bikes) of San Diego definitely moved me to the front of the line when I got stranded at the end of Coronado on a Sat. afternoon. I was staying there anyway, so no real rush. But I wanted to ride home the following day. They sent out a flatbed, fixed my bike immediately. I had to cab it out there later in the day to pick it up, and it was a warranty item. But I think most bike dealers or shops will prioritize those who break down far from home.

[Jeff Higgins]

It's nice to hear that others are willing to go that extra mile as well. I know it's an official company policy at H-D; I wonder if that holds true for MB and BMW, or if you guys just found a couple of outstanding dealerships. Good on them, at any rate.

[Chocaholic]

Good to see them trying innovative things. But they seem to be trying a bunch of innovative things (rumors of electric bikes, acquisitions, downsizing, etc), all at the same time. Perhaps that’s not a bad thing but it’s often better to do one thing well rather than several in a diluted fashion.

Time will tell.

[flatbutt]

Originally Posted by HardDrive

While I'm not a Harley fan, if I was going to tour the country, an HD could be the obvious choice. Massive dealer network that puts a priority on people touring if there is a problem.

+1! Big time. I've always wanted a soft tail tourer.

[HardDrive]

One time I broke down on my Moto Guzzi in the middle of nowhere on a Saturday afternoon. After having my bike flatbedded to the nearest dealership 350 miles away, the shop owners got right on top of fixing my bike when they opened the following Tuesday. When the parts arrived 6 weeks later, they dropped everything and got me back on the road.

[vash]

at that age, i would drive anything across the country if someone footed the bill. it seems like a great fun way to pad the resume.

[KFC911]

Originally Posted by vash

at that age, i would drive anything across the country if someone footed the bill. it seems like a great fun way to pad the resume.

At that age, I was just trying to get laid, and didn't give a damn about a resume...sign me up !

[vash]

Originally Posted by KC911

At that age, I was just trying to get laid, and didn't give a damn about a resume...sign me up !

Oh. Maybe the cargo van internship would be perfect for you.
“Hello ladies! Check out my van! “

The cargo area could be less of a storage space and more of a “work area”

[ckelly78z]

Originally Posted by afterburn 549

Jeff, I am not a marketing expert but.. every time I walk in the HD shop there is nothing but guys 40 and over, way over.
Most are buying trikes.
When I (we) were growing up,- getting an HD was the Holy Grail!
Now it is not so much, in fact, the new generation(s) are not too excited about anything.
So in my opinion HD is up against the wall for a couple of reasons.

Today's youth is interested in playing virtual games, not actually experiencing life, and all it has to offer. I hope HD makes a go of this, but I do think they are fighting a losing battle with the "MEH" generation who is not attracted to anything but finding the best selfie angle and posting them for "likes"