The oldest racing organization in the country dedicated soley to motorcycle road racing, the AFM is a Northern Californian non-profit racing organization that has helped hone the skills of riders like Eddie Lawson, Wayne Rainey, Kenny Roberts, and Steve Rapp — not mention a weekend warrior or two. Each year the racing league comes together for a banquet, and lately the tradition has been to include a highlight film of the year’s racing. I’m not sure what films in the past have been like, but if the latest AFM banquet video doesn’t give you goosebumps, you might want to check your pulse. Bonus points for the including the Versus “Second Place” monologue — it’s very apropos.
Grab some popcorn, because this video from Ducati North America is over 14 minutes long. Telling the story of Ducati at the 2011 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), DNA has put together a great video that really captures how special the racing is at Pikes Peak, and how gorgeous the scenery is of the Colorado Mountains. With Santa Barbara Ducati’s Carlin Dunne winning the overall motorcycle category on his dealership’s Multistrada 1200 demo model, Alexander Smith from the Spider Grips Ducati Team made it a double podium for Ducati in the 1205cc class. If you’re new to racing at Pikes Peak, or wanted a quick re-cap of last year’s race, Ducati’s video pretty accurately sums up racing on the mountain and the anxiety around last year’s race.
Ducati has announced its factory team for the 2012 Pikes Peak International Hill Climb (PPIHC), and the Italian company has secured the services of last-year’s winner and Rookie of the Year Carlin Dunne as well as six-time PPIHC winner Greg Tracy. Ducati has also partnered with the Spider Grips team, who will help prepare the teams Ducati Multistrada 1200 for the “Race to the Clouds” on July 8th. For 2012, the Pikes Peak International Hill Climb will be fully-paved to the top of the mountain, which will surely see the speeds of competitors increase, and lap times drop on the 12.42 mile long course that ends at 14,110 feet.
I was flipping through some photos from the 2011 EICMA show, and found these shots of the Ducati 1199 Panigale’s Superquadro engine. Unfortunately at the show, Ducati had its 1199cc v-twin motor behind a Lexan case, which created a bit of a glare, reflections, and of course had smudges from the touchy-feely Italian crowd. But still, the photos give a good idea of what’s going on in Ducati’s most-advanced production engine to date, and are better than just looking at the CAD renders. If you look at the shots very closely, you can almost see where the 195hp and 98 lbs•ft of torque is lurking inside.
In addition to testing the factory Ducati Desmosedici GP12 “Phoenix” this week at Sepang, Valentino Rossi is also trying out a new lid from AGV. Aside from the carbon fiber goodness, and of course the Rossi stickers (which add 5hp & $200), AGV’s prototype helmet sports a noticably pronounced rear spoiler. Tucked in behind the windscreen, it is obvious why the Italian helmet manufacturer designed such a large protrusion off the back of the prototype helmet, as it looks to be clearly helping the flow off the back of the helmet, across the rider’s hump, and down his backside.
While Ducati Corse is busy playing hide-the-Desmosedici at Sepang, HRC is all business in Malaysia this week, and has debuted its 2012 Honda RC213V MotoGP-contender. Honda isn’t saying too much about the RC213V, simply stating that the race bike is all new, but is also a continuation of the company’s design with the 800cc Honda RC212V. Testing the Honda RC213V over the course of last season, reigning-World Champion Casey rode the new 1,000cc machine three times in 2011, while teammate Dani Pedrosa swung a leg over the RC213V twice (missing one test because of injury).
You may have been misled by some eager journalists today and yesterday, if you saw a Ducati Corse livery-clad Ducati Desmosedici GP12 that some sites were passing off as the first shots of the “90% new” GP12. With the alleged new GP12 looking surprisingly similar to the aluminum-framed “GP0″ that was tested at Valencia, Valentino Rossi’s mechanic has now Alex Briggs confirmed that the photos taken were not of the all new “GP12 Phoenix” that the factory team will race this season. While the Ducati lords can taketh away, they can also giveth, and Valentino Rossi himself has posted the first photo of the factory Desmosedici GP12, and the bike is clearly different.
Zero Motorcycles has announced the full-commencement of production for its 2012 model line, which is expected to hit dealers in February & March of this year. First off the line was the 2012 Zero DS back in December, though the electric motorcycle company has recently started building the Zero S, Zero XU, Zero X, and Zero MX at its Scotts Valley facility as well. A story we broke back in November, Zero Motorcycles debuted its important 2012 electric motorcycle line up at the 2011 EICMA show in Milan, with the 2012 range being a substantial improvement upon the company’s previous offerings.
Getting a look at Dainese & AGV’s 2012 collection, Asphalt & Rubber was down in Orange County earlier this week to see the highly anticipated Dainese D-Air Racing leather suit, which has a four liter airbag system that helps reduce the risk of injury during a motorcycle crash. Dainese has been working on the D-Air Racing system for 10 years now, and after soft-launching the airbag suit in Europe, the Italian company is ready to bring the game-changing technology to American soil.
Us Danes, we’re a strange breed. From the culture that taught you how to rape and pillage, Scandinavia is making yet another contribution to the motorcycling world with this latest video. Featuring Danish Supermoto Champion Andreas Mikkelsen, we get a RoToR camera-esque perspective (this rig is actually home made) on the Dane’s practice session at the Als Supermotard Club in Denmark. It’s videos like this that are slowly eroding my will-power to resist getting into supermotard riding. Also, I don’t know who was in charge of the music selection on this thing, but my hat is off to him/her. I love the nightlife. I’ve come to boogie.
Nice! Finally H-D does it right… Almost makes me want to go buy one so I can feel closer to Marrissa
More Harley Davidson stupid advertising. Why can’t HD just make a decent motorcycle and skip all the outlaw bullshit. I am so sick of loud harley davidson motorcycles and the morons who dress like the Village People who ride them just to show off there loud exhaust and do stupid shit like this commercial.
This is marketing to men, not women. And she could be strattling a toaster and we’d be saying “Kudos, Kitchenaid!”
Is it hot? Yes. Is it genius marketing? No.
There is not a commercial made that would get me interested in buying a Harley. Harley Davidson should be spending money trying to improve there aging line of bikes instead of making commercials.
Who the hell is Marissa Miller and why should any of us care if she’s in a Harley ad? Their marketing department is missing the boat (still) in that bike ads should be about bikes, not some pseudo-celebrity tart.
Say what you want, but I’m calling you a homosexual if you don’t like this ad. Call me immature or what have you, but, hey, it’s primal instinct to find this attractive! Props to H-D, both your advertising and your bikes!!!
Hahahaha, ohh you guys crack me up. This is as simple as marketing can get, but boy, oh boy, do i like it! ;)
-peter
only problem is… what bike?!
-peter
I suddenly feel the need to grab a handful of…wait for it…throttle.
Nice job, Harley. Finally an ad campaign I’d like to get behind.
Also, she’s much too cosmopolitan for most HD guys. Not enough junk in the trunk.
For the love of God, would someone please buy that girl a decent meal? And guess what: it’s STILL a Harley.
Marissa Miller Poses for Harley-Davidson – Future Ambassador to Woman Motorcyclists? – http://aspha.lt/10h #motorcycle
Heh, they did the burnout just off the pavement edge in the sandy dirt to get it to break loose…
@johnrdupree: Marissa Miller is the hot new thing in the modeling world. She was on the cover of Sport Illustrated’s Swim Suit Edition, and she is a Victoria Secret Angel
Yes, this is the same vein of “pretty girl on a bike” marketing, but the kicker is Miller actually rides. No one in the industry has really cracked how to bring the ladies into the industry in a meaningful way, and honestly it’s because no one has really made a concerted effort to appeal to them in a way that resonates with that demographic of buyer. Having someone like Marissa Miller be a spokesperson for Harley-Davidson could bridge the gap needed to breakdown the stereotypes of what a lady biker is (over-masculine), and show women that they can remain feminine and attractive while being on two wheels.
Over course it’s entirely possible HD marketing misses the opportunity they have here, uses this add like any-other pin-up, and continues it’s death spiral into the lower rings of hell…it really could go either way.
I am not even interested in watching the useless ad. There is nothing in the HD line of lead sleds that would interest me. I am interested in motorcycles company’s that are on the leading edge of technology not old school out dated motorcycles with stupid names.
@ Doctor Jelly: Yeah! I was thinking “photoshop” when I saw that photo too! Funny how she is EFFORTLESSLY holding that bike back…. And I mean EFFORTLESSLY! It doesn’t even look like her hand is actuating the brake…. oh but “she rides”……. puh-leeze. Just one more fail for HD…..
nice campaign! RT @Asphalt_Rubber: Marissa Miller Poses for Harley-Davidson – Future Ambassador to Woman Motorcyclists? http://aspha.lt/10h
Rather pathetic isn’t it . . . I mean the level of desperation ? BTW what happened to the KKR
story ? You could probably pick up close to $10/share selling the stock here. But use a stop above the recent highs.
And I am sorry Jensen, but the “opportunity” Marissa ! brings to this eludes me.
Weeks on now from the initial post on this I still see no change in trend.
Again, its over.
RIP
I haven’t heard anything more on KKR, there’d obviously be a post if I did.
The opportunity I see here is that 50% of the American population is automatically routed out of being the target audience for motorcycle ads. If OEM’s want to get women on bikes, they need to effectively communicate to women (not just women riders) about motorcycling, and start addressing the reason women in general don’t ride.
If a company can show women that they can retain their femininity and still ride a motorcycle, they’ll be taking one step closer to capturing that market. My point in this article was that Marissa Miller could be that bridge to that market, since she already hocks lady undergarments, and rides herself. The bonus too is that an ad campaign with her wouldn’t alienate the male market in the process, which is the trap that wait for marketers with this goal.
But yeah, does Harley-Davidson see it that way? I dunno, but they’ve read this post, and the choice is there’s.
Excuse me while I get “Harley Davidson” tatooed on my face…
Jensen,
I applaud your optimism and willingness to find a solution. History does not give much support however to the notion that women will take to motorcycling in any significant numbers. Haven’t scooter sales to this segment also disappointed ? So “50% of the American population” represents a base beyond real prospects.
I could be persuaded though that an expanded campaign (and I mean a large budget) featuring “regular” Harley gals mixing it up with celebrities might have potential. That complemented by dealer supported “Lady’s Ride” events, etc. could create something that might catch fire in specific markets. Seems like a long term investment.
Unfortunately the headwinds of Global economic weakness, a highly competitive leisure market and the natural life cycle (brand and demographic) seem most daunting.
A tough nut, indeed.
A kid can dream right Willie?
Harley marketing mistakes is a group project for my marketing course.This ad simply proves my point that HD has never attempted to gain a female client bass. If I were a lesbian
I may think this ad was aimed at me but real women do not consider super models as real people.
Although sex sells, HD has alienated average American females by sprawling women out all
over their bikes and then suggesting that the ad was for them. A little suggestion, put some really hot hunk in the Bitches Seat with his flesh glistening in the sun. That would be an ad for us ladies. It worked for Coca-Cola.
I am no lesbian, but call me vain, because I found this all exremely appealing ^^’