For a while now I have been trying to figure out what exactly the Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) does, because while the MIC “exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations…” the industry group does a pretty poor job of doing much of anything along the lines of its mission statement, if it does anything really at all. Showing signs of life though, the MIC is making headlines today after it disclosed Harley-Davidson’s Q1 2012 earnings, ahead of the publicly-traded company’s shareholder meeting. Nice.
The move caused a bit of a shuffle over in Milwaukee, as the Bar & Shield brand had to make an emergency filing with the SEC that it had in fact found a 25.5% sales gain in the first three months of the year (bravo to Harley, by the way). For those that aren’t as a familiar with the MIC, the nonprofit group is essentially comprised of representatives from the various motorcycle OEMs, aftermarket, and other industry businesses, and is the corporatation-focused counterpart to the American Motorcyclist Association (AMA), which supposedly has the best interests of motorcyclist at its heart.
“The Motorcycle Industry Council exists to preserve, protect and promote motorcycling through government relations, communications and media relations, statistics and research, aftermarket programs, development of data communications standards, and activities surrounding technical and regulatory issues. As a not-for-profit, national industry association, the MIC seeks to support motorcyclists by representing manufacturers and distributors of motorcycles, scooters, motorcycle/ATV/ROV parts and accessories, and members of allied trades such as insurance, finance and investment companies, media companies and consultants.”
You should note the interesting progression in that statement, where the MIC claims that since its has the best interests of motorcycling’s corporate entities at heart, it therefore serves motorcyclists as well — I don’t even have the strength to address the colossal conflict of interest between those two parties, nor do we need to get into how the MIC fails to serve motorcyclists…not that the AMA really does either. Moving along, while the MIC was preserving and protecting whatever interests it actually does serve in its day-to-day tasks, Harley-Davidson dropped the following note off with the US Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC):
“On April 20, 2012, the Motorcycle Industry Council released to its members certain information regarding the motorcycle industry in the United States, including Harley-Davidson, Inc. (the “Company”), subject to terms of applicable restricted use agreements. The Company learned that one of the members of the Motorcycle Industry Council, in apparent violation of those terms, disclosed information in a research update, presumably based on the contents of the Motorcycle Industry Council report. While the Company will not confirm the contents of the research report, the Company is confirming that U.S. retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles by independent dealers were up 25.5% for the first quarter of 2012 compared to the first quarter of 2011. The Company must rely on information that its dealers supply concerning retail sales of new Harley-Davidson motorcycles, and this information is subject to revision.”
With the US motorcycle market up 6.7% in the Q1 of this year, Harley’s 25.5% increase is looking exceptionally strong — especially since it accounts for the lion’s share of that growth. In other news, be sure to check out the MIC’s latest campaign, where dealerships can download animated e-cards to help promote…oh hell, who am I kidding?
Source: Harley-Davidson
The MIC is a “not-for-profit” trade organization not a non-profit as in a charity. The MIC is the MSF, same leadership, same offices, and such. The MSF is also a not-for-profit trade organization. Both of these have as there number 1 priority “motorcycle sales” not motorcyclists or safety.
Sounds like the MIC pulled a serious dick move on Harley. As for their function, from what I’ve been able to find, they’re more interested in keeping OHV areas accessible, as well as some talk about starting their own race series, to compete with the AMA’s.
Oh, and as for that ad, I was in Yuma visiting family this weekend, unknowingly stumbling into the Yuma Prison Run, something I didn’t even know existed until this weekend, and I’ve been visiting family in that town my whole life (Over 35 years now). Anyways, not one of those guys looked anything like the biker in the ad. They all looked like accountants, dentists and telemarketers. Oh well, at least the Snowbirds weren’t there.
@ anonymous
So basically the same thing as the AMA.
Since we’re talking semantics, “not-for-profit” refers to an act, while “nonprofit” refers to a group, though the two terms are virtually interchangeable. There is no legal distinction made between trade organizations and charities, as far as earnings-related terminology is concerned.
MIC is a bunch of mooch nothings that feed scared executives and managers numbers to make them feel better about themselves and the decisions they make. Basically telling companies what’s selling and what’s not from their competitor’s lineup, that’s it. In all it gives OEM’s a false crutch to pretend they have their finger on the pulse and continue to follow the lowest common denominator.
So the Harley ad is directed toward pedophiles. Great marketing idea – Pedo Pirates Unite!
Tom is right, thats weird.
Harley up, Ducati up, Triumph up. Some brands booming. RT @Asphalt_Rubber: MIC Leaks Harley-Davidson's Q1 Sales Report http://t.co/4WpFDBYr
What a great line!!!
Why not –
I’d never let my wife ride on the back.
At least not till she hits puberty.
Is Harley hiring a marketing person? I can write crazy shit!!!
That ad pictured is what Harley feels is the sophistication level of their customers.
Gary Glitter would ride a Harley, why wouldnt you?
harley riders are a bunch of pedofiles lmfao.
Re: the ad above.
Don’t bother explaining it to me. I wouldn’t understand.
What a piece of crap Advertisement. Lets buy a Harley and play dress up with our black assless chaps and pretend we’re ‘Billy Bad Ass”. Give me a brake. These must be the guys that got their ass’s kicked a lot back in high school. I know…you be Dennis Hopper and I’ll be Marlon Brando. What a bunch of clowns.
Harley Davidson Cigaretts
Harley Davidson tools (made in china)
Harley Davidson beer
Harley Davidson sound sued over by
Harley Davidson molesters
Harley Davidson clocks made in china sold at Sears
Harley Davidson Insurance that is brokered thru other real companies
Harley Davidson helmets that are not safe
Harley Davidson cloths that are made by slave labor
Harley Davidson bicycles
Harley Davidson Toys
Harley Davidson dog clothing
Harley Davidson not 100% made in the USA (big fat no no …. dumbfounded dip sh_ts)
Harley Davidson has focus so much on the brand that they forgot about the product (what product)
Harley Davidson Augusta debackle O and Buell
Harley Davidson can only be clever so long, most riders laugh at this once respected company
Harley Davidson pompous service departments hosing customers
Harley Davidson tats people are sick of looking at
Harley Davidson window decals on f150 harley editions trucks that look at home at a nascar race
Harley Davidson who cannot compete in dirt track the way they once did
Harley Davidson forcing dealers to only sell HD bikes in stand alone stores only – or else….
my head hurts now
my head hurts now and I cannot find my Harley Davidson asprin
Please tell me this isn’t true and that HD isn’t selling more bikes. That just means longer leather trains parking it in the twisties and then the gaywads getting all butt-hurt when real bikes have to pass 30 of them at a time. Say it ain’t so!
love this site. so when H-D sales are down, we’ll all talk about how their product is shit, how they aren’t diversified, how they’ll never connect to the younger generation, and how death is eminent.
but when H-D sales are up, we’ll just talk about the picture posed at the top of the page.
@jensen – what do you think of H-Ds new ad campaign(s)? i think the ‘no cages’ campaign is pretty good, but the ‘anti-stereotype’ ads are where it’s at. great campaign and great move by H-D(or their marketing agency rather) to downplay their own image and try to get people into showrooms.
@Ry_Trapp0
All Harley would have to do to regain my respect is come out with ONE just ONE model that is slightly outside their comfort zone.
Hey the cafe’ scene is hot right now, why not shove an 883cc lump in a small steel frame with a decreased rake, throw a tall tank on it, price it around $7,800 and call it a “Cafe Sport”.
The Sportster line used to be about “wheels and an engine” type of motorcycling. Now it is a fashion accessory.
Triumph have done what most other companies can’t, tap into the young market. I know every time I wander downtown all I see are Bonnevilles lining the streets. That is kinda awesome though…
That ad is even funnier than the one that had 3 harleys parked in front of a bar. The CEO needs to fire a few employees.
I’m pretty sure that’s an old ad I remember seeing it like over 10 yrs ago. Definetly weird but it did make me laugh.
@ Steve Lang
Actually, Brando’s character rode a Triumph Thunderbird in The Wild One.
@Steve Lang:
Aren’t all chaps assless :^D …
ACE
Trappo, HD products are shit but some people love shit. This isn’t the problem. The problem is that people like you claim that HD is real American exemplifying the best of American values because this is the best we can do. No, it is something that we can do and its not good or bad in and of itself because taste cannot be argued. But, when you make claims that pro-wrasslin is The Godfather then sir, you will have an argument on your hands because objective standards do exist independent of taste.
Finally, you should also do better to differentiate between wanting HD to fail versus pointing out how objectively inferior they are. Beware the loveless critical and the uncritical lover.
@Damo – believe me man, i agree with every single word you said! in the mean time though, i don’t think H-D cares about regaining your respect in light of this 25% sales increase.
@tom – oh, hi tom! “people like you…” yea, i’ve never once claimed that H-D is “real american exemplifying the best of american values blah blah blah”.
i know their products aren’t as good as the competition.
i have no interest in owning an H-D anything, unless it happens to say “buell” on it.
i should differentiate between wanting H-D to fail vs point out how objectively inferior they are? sorry, your full of shit. this article has NOTHING to do with their percieved quality, nor their actual quality vs the competition, and it has everything to do with their significant Q1 sales gain. yet not one single comment down here even mentions anything about said sales gain. no, all of the comments are instead talking about the above picture that really has nothing to do with the article. so, what the hell am i supposed to differentiate again?
The picture is talked about because it is pertinent to sales. Marketing to pedophiles to gain sales got talked about because who buys H-D products is important to their future….or lack thereof. Nuanced thinking….look into it.