When filmmaker Starbuck shared on social media what he claims are Harley-Davidson's woke wishlist of internal policies, discontent turned to outrage for many.
The situation has drawn comparisons to the Bud Light marketing suicide move of 2023 in the beer brand's decision to partner with Dylan Mulvaney.
Harley riders have been concerned about the direction of the company since the German-born Zeitz took over as CEO.
The company's alleged DEI focus today contrasts sharply with the image that has appealed to core customers for decades.
Attendance declined dramatically last week at the annual Harley-Davidson Homecoming Festival in Milwaukee, where about 60,000 people attended the event, a 25% drop from the 80,000 who took in the festival last year.
Harley last year ditched its globally iconic logo of orange and white lettering on a black shield. Its new logo is an empty metallic shell – the same shape, but different colors and no words.
Sean Strickland isn't letting his hatred for the woke die down any time soon. The former UFC middleweight champion has shared a video on social media explaining why he can no longer associate himself with Harley Davidson.
The motorcycle company has long been in partnership with the UFC and is considered a product that essentially resonates with fight fans. Strickland was one of the many who supported the company, all the way up until they began promoting controversial musician Machine Gun Kelly.
The motorcycle company has long been in partnership with the UFC and is considered a product that essentially resonates with fight fans. Strickland was one of the many who supported the company, all the way up until they began promoting controversial musician Machine Gun Kelly.
Strickland went on a social media tirade, threatening to sell his bike and announcing his displeasure at Harley Davidson "going woke".
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/harley-davidson-woke-accusations-sturgis-bikers-breaks-heart
https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/harley-davidson-woke-accusations-sturgis-bikers-breaks-heart
Not sure it matters. Harley can either offshore some work and survive longer or not and go away sooner. The market for $30K motorcycles is fast aging out/disappearing and their branding successes/failures is well understood.
ReplyDeleteIt's not the first time people have been critical of Harley-Davidson. Here's what Hells Angels prez Sonny Barger once said:
ReplyDelete" But Hell's Angels started riding Harley-Davidsons mostly because, unlike today, they didn't have much choice. In 1957, it was either ride a Harley or settle for a Triumph or BSA. They'd already stopped building Indians. It's always been important for Hell's Angels to ride American-made machines. In terms of pure workmanship, personally I don't like Harleys. I ride them because I'm in the club, and that's the image, but if I could I would seriously consider a Honda ST1100 or a BMW. We really missed the boat not switching over to the Japanese models when they began building bigger bikes. I'll usually say, "#$%* Harley Davidson. You can buy an ST1100 and the mother#$%*er will do 110 miles per hour right from the factory all day long." The newest "rice rockets" can carry 140 horsepower to the rear wheel, and can easily do 180 miles per hour right out of the box. While it's probably too late to switch over now, it would have been a nice move, because Japanese bikes today are so much cheaper and better built. However, Japanese motorcycles don't have as much personality."