In the late seventies the motorcycle world was much different one than
today. It was all about the Japanese-the Big Four, Triumph was fading fast, not
sure who owned Ducati that week, and BMW was breaking out of its stodgy old mold
and bringing out some neat touring bikes, even if the price kept them form the
main line riders. And then there was Harley, AMF Harley Davidson it said on the
tank, and no one was interested in 1936 technology, being marketed by a sporting
goods company. The Sportster was all but forgotten, not a girl’s bike yet, and
the big bikes, the 74’s, were outdated, under engineered, and out performed by
250 cc Hondas. Something had to change, or soon they would join Indian and many
other American brands in history. At the right time a group of men bought
Harley Davidson, 1983 to be exact, and had to rescue the company, keep dealers
while gaining new points, and improve the product, greatly if the wanted to
survive. An old saying tells us to “sell the sizzle, not the steak,” and Harley
did. At the Durango Tour Motorcycle Rally in 1983, I met with Barbara, who was
in charge of dealer placement, and part of the how do we save Harley committee.
They were asking people what they wanted in a bike, they listened, and I was
questioned about a club they were starting within the company to unite the
owners. It didn’t have a name yet, but she listened to our input, even me a
Kawasaki rider at the time, and they responded. Still with limited product,
they came up with one of the most ingenious marketing plans ever, and sold a
lifestyle, family based on ownership, and the club became HOG. I knew it back
when...before when.
Talking with a Harley Davidson dealership owner yesterday, he was concerned
for the success and his success of the company. A few years back you paid over
retail and waited, now with 2018’s about to be released, they still have 2016’s,
and are discounting new bikes. All bike sales are down, not just HD, but this
owner expressed hope, for he had a lot invested in his dealership, and was
honest about the weakness in the product line. A new 750 Street Rod, with an
ugly gas tank, a footrest cover on the exhaust, and the need to be at least a
950 to compete. Harley advertising had garnered them favorable reviews for
awhile, but color changes and new wheels and sound systems aren’t making it.
They need new product, the age group of Harley buyers is approaching that of
Lincolns-old, and no young ones are coming in to replace the retiring old
riders. It will take engineering, a lot of PR, and continued strong marketing
for them to succeed. I hope they make it, we need Harley Davidson, we need to
bring in new riders, we need the HOG groups, and we need to ride more.
One other area of concern was the new regulations on customizing and
selling motorcycles. It seems those that don’t ride have power to enable and
enforce laws over those of us who do. When we don’t police our own, the
government steps in and will do it for us. As an example, loud pipes don’t save
lives, but they do annoy those asleep at 6am when you start and rev your engine
for 20 minutes. When the music music that you can barely hear when riding
becomes a nuisance when you stop, and it blares at non-riders. And yesterday I
was reminded that we buy bikes to ride, not just to look at. Marketing is a
good thing, but it should never outperform what it is selling.
I used to believe the world invaded the church, but I was wrong, the church
invited it in, shut the doors behind it, and won’t let it out. Years ago when
attending a new church, and joining a Bible study, I found it was more of a
pastor’s study, “he said this last week,” and less of Bible. These men who
attended the church, were like little puppets of the pastor. If he said it,
they quoted it, no matter how much out of context it was. I was out of place,
for when scripture says “unless God builds the church they labor in vain,” they
bragged about their size, their pastor, and their church. Sometimes on Jesus,
and I felt like an outsider. A scripture for each occasion, a marketing plan to
grow, almost 100 ministries, but little Jesus. And as I talk with others who
want more than just church rhetoric, they are leaving the church, starting small
groups in their homes, and doing less studying and more ministering one on one.
Fewer worldly blessings and more spiritual ones. Where the size of the group
doesn’t matter, but who is in it does, down to last individual. And it is all
about Jesus again. The doors are open, and you are invited. How can we help,
what can we do for you? How can we love you? And lives are being changed by
the spirit moving upon them. We want all the Jesus we can get, not programs,
processes, and procedures. We want to be heard, and listen for the answer. We
want Jesus, not the marketing of him, we want the spirit! Unlike Harley, we
have the product, sadly the churches have gotten it backwards.
I see God’s spirit moving on many in small ways, lots of little steps. And
when Jesus changes their lives, they just have to tell someone, and they do.
They share their testimony, they show love, they listen and pray, then get out
and do it. Just like some 12 men did 2000 years ago. The poor don’t care about
your Israel trips, who you know or what books you write. They care about
themselves first, because they are in a survival mode. Yet we neglect to feed
the hungry, cloth the poor, visit those in jails, or minister one on one. We
don’t even listen, we know it all. Every week I am asked for more workers, one
to just make a phone call, a visit, to show the less fortunate they care. So
often one men’s group has been approached to do just this, I stopped, I cannot
stand the excuses. The harvest is plentiful, the workers are few, but those
that are called reap more and reap more blessings. Jesus asked his disciples
“could you not stay awake one more hour?” Can you? Are you asleep and don’t
know it? “If the seat of your pants is wearing out faster than the soles of you
shoes, you have a problem,” God told me. Are yours?
Unlock the door to your heart today, invite him back in. Seek wisdom, for
knowledge puffs up. Ask Jesus for his will to be done, deny the world’s
influence, religious marketing and seek the truth. How would you feel if you
were the one in 99? Jesus went back for that one, will you? Jesus raised the
dead, he never raised money. Spare me the excuses...
Harley marketing and your church, is it for you?
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com