The power of the TEST RIDE

[TomBrady]

HD sales manual --

http://www.yamahafz1oa.com/forum/sho...&postcount=352

Cheers,
Adam

[DesmoTull]

[Sheppo]

It's actually not bad sales and marketing strategy period. Your eyes clouded 'cause it's an HD add?

[TomBrady]

It's actually not bad sales and marketing strategy period. Your eyes clouded 'cause it's an HD add?

Nope, I presented it without comment for a reason. I admire the sales and marketing psychology they put into their product and lifestyle positioning. Ducati, etc do the same thing.


Your eyes clouded because you sling bikes for a living?

Cheers,
Adam

[Sheppo]

Nope, I presented it without comment for a reason. I admire the sales and marketing psychology they put into their product and lifestyle positioning. Ducati, etc do the same thing.


Your eyes clouded because you sling bikes for a living?

Cheers,
Adam

Nope just overly sensative to all the HD bashing on this place..

[TomBrady]

Nope just overly sensative to all the HD bashing on this place..

Ah, okay - no offense intended, in either the OP or my followup. They have lifestyle marketing and sales down to a science (not a dig, either.)

Ducati is emulating it as well with WDW, the Corse Wines, their track day promotion, etc etc. To be honest, most companies can only dream of having the HD/Coke kind of brand loyalty and positioning.

It's just jarring to see it in black and white, you know?

Cheers,
Adam

[Wanderer]

Nope just overly sensative to all the HD bashing on this place..

Doug, semi-offtopic, but any idea if the XR1200X is coming over for HD this year?

[Sheppo]

Ah, okay - no offense intended, in either the OP or my followup. They have lifestyle marketing and sales down to a science (not a dig, either.)

Ducati is emulating it as well with WDW, the Corse Wines, their track day promotion, etc etc. To be honest, most companies can only dream of having the HD/Coke kind of brand loyalty and positioning.

It's just jarring to see it in black and white, you know?

Cheers,
Adam

Most sales and marketing material is as black and white as that. I agree, when you can have the blind loyalty like HD, Ducati, Coke, etc get's you're living large.

[Sheppo]

Doug, semi-offtopic, but any idea if the XR1200X is coming over for HD this year?

I don't know Giles. I can look through the power sports rags, but bet you'ld find it faster online...

[Wanderer]

I don't know Giles. I can look through the power sports rags, but bet you'ld find it faster online...

Ah ok - will have a rummage Keep meaning to testride the Xr1200, and the X version is a nice refinement.

[DesmoTull]

Ah ok - will have a rummage Keep meaning to testride the Xr1200, and the X version is a nice refinement.

From what I remember Boos saying, not till next year?

[ff36buell]

Makes me want to buy something foreign.... oh well....

[TomBrady]

Most sales and marketing material is as black and white as that. I agree, when you can have the blind loyalty like HD, Ducati, Coke, etc get's you're living large.

Completely off-topic, but saw a report on Coca-Cola's marketing "building" they use ... It's set up to emulate shopping in any sort of environment where Coca-Cola products are sold. They have cameras and do psychological analysis on test shoppers to see what responds in a higher purchase rate. Fascinating.

Cheers,
Adam

[bryco13]

I think it's good sales tactics. I know when i went to get my bike there wasn't anywhere i could test ride a new bike except for HD and Victory. A lot of the business HD dealers get is people who do want to immerse themselves in the HD lifestyle, but in sport bikes there are tons of chuds doing the same thing. I can't wait to get a cruiser next year, and i'm sure i'll be trying out a few HD's, and i'll be sure to rev up at every stop light, cause there are no people on sportbikes doing that either right?

[schleppy]

The sad thing is that I'm sure that manual is nearly 100% correct. For the average schmoe going to get a HD, I'd wager their chief motivation for buying one is attention.

[SRTie4k]

Why do they refer to a Harley as a "genuine Harley Davidson" anyways? Are there any non-genuine Harley Davidson branded bikes out there?

[DesmoTull]

I think they mean in comparison to metric cruisers.

[JohnnyV]

I'd rock a Harley...

[fjrrider RI]

A test ride will do it every time. Will not buy any vehicle without it. Razee's has let me test ride their bikes for many years and I have bought lots from them because of it. Just had yamaha let me test ride a fz6r at their tent in laconia during bike week and it was a sweet bike, they had a guided test ride situation set up. My luck it was during a downpour but we still went. Of course there was the new dirt bike I dropped while test riding and didn't buy oops! I think harley has advertising down - even though I wouldn't own one. Good topic. But their idea of financing every bike will end badly.

[e30addict]

Not Harley specific really.

More likes sales 101.

[eboos]

From what I remember Boos saying, not till next year?

They announced the launch of the XR1200X last month. It should be available within the next few weeks.

[eboos]

The sad thing is that I'm sure that manual is nearly 100% correct. For the average schmoe going to get a HD, I'd wager their chief motivation for buying one is attention.

This is not exclusive to HD.

[DesmoTull]

They announced the launch of the XR1200X last month. It should be available within the next few weeks.

Awesome, thanks for clarifying!

[Garandman]

Nope just overly sensative to all the HD bashing on this place..

What do you think is the basis for the HD bashing here and on other forums?

[schleppy]

This is not exclusive to HD.

Oh absolutely! I just feel that the cruiser segment in general (not just HD) is more about look/attention than anything else.