H-D Clothing Bundle
There are many who think the new Harley-Davidson Iron 883 (Dark Custom) is the most beautiful bike sans clothing, with U.S. press fawning all over the “back-to-basic” motorcycle.
Enjoying my Friday morning cup of “bucks” I thought how H-D marketing should offer limited editions of the machine with new clothing bundles to increase motorcycle sales. H-D and fashion go hand-in-hand. There isn’t much the motor company can do to improve the no frills design of the Iron 883, but having a few extra choices when it comes to what clothing gets draped over the bike is surely a good thing, right?
Call it the “Fashion Victim” series. Offer up a complete pre-bundled look with the motorbike. This turn-key and new way of expressing your individuality might appeal to the younger generation which the company desperately solicits. Motorcycle clothing can be found in the most prestigious boutiques around the world, but think of the time you’ll save when H-D does the heavy lifting traveling the world of fashion and pulls together leading brand names in motorcycle wear and pre-packages them for your exclusive fashion statement.
There is precedence for this. A couple of years ago MV Augusta designed a limited edition motorcycle (Hydrogen) specifically for Hydrogen Jeans. Customers could order designer jeans or the motorcycle to match right online!
So, in keeping with this Iron and new clothing bundle theme it would include:
- Jacket: Levi’s blanket lined, Big E. Extra cost for lining worn out at right hip due to knife rubbing.
- Pants: Vintage Lee work pants via Ballyhoo Vintage.
- Shoes: Chippewa moc toe (very Irish!). Cordovan polish then mink oil make them look well worn.
- Gloves: Marmot
- Shirt: JCrew. If you don’t like a fake cowboy shirt from JCrew then it’s Sears Western.
- Belt: Billykirk Mechanic’s. Very cool hidden buckle avoids tanks scratches.
- Knife: Leatherman Flair. The only one offering a corkscrew. Dude don’t look silly carting around tools but can’t even open a bottle…essential.
- Glasses: JPeterman. Captures that Aermachi Club look.
- Dew Rag: don’t be caught naked without a snot-rag/potholder/coaster bandana. Or wearing instructions!
- Reading material: Snowboard Magazine (A fave to maintain “dude” speak)
Cost? Of course undertaking a ‘Bianchi‘ like journey from Amsterdam to Chicago isn’t cheap, but I’ll let H-D determine the expressive value of the package and price accordingly.
Maybe I’ll go decaf tomorrow?!
Photo courtesy of 10engines.
Northwest Harley Blog 
I think you have a very valid idea in the bundling of apparel with the motorcycle. I’ve often wondered why a new helmet is not offered with the purchase of a new scoot.
What if the Iron 883 came with a nice matching black denim helmet, or something similar; anything but those fucking Ed Hardy helmets I’ve been seeing at the local HD dealerships…
I think it’s funny that people hate the fact that H-D is finally marketing to younger types. The 833 is a smart move to bring in new riders and the new fashion is a breath of fresh air. If the old men hate it then isn’t that the “Spirit” of individualism and in the right direction? I think it’s funny you called it “Fashion Victim” series. You could call most H-D cyclists notorious fashion victims. Yeha, they’ll bag on all the RUBS but check out any rally and they look like a sterotypical biker clones.
Check the http://www.limpnickielot.com
Not everyone wants to wear leather chaps with fringes or make their bike look like it was a magnet dragged through the chrome aisle.
Back to basics is what will help H-D when all the nearly deads become just that, dead….
P.S. Jonny Pockets is right. The Ed Hardy shit is lame.I bet he’s spinning in his grave with his name being pimped like that. Most people that wear poor old Ed’s designs are 40 oz bottles of douche .
Ed is not dead! I guess I was thinking Sailor Jerry!! Ed should be ashamed….
Bones nails it above… hello pot, this is the kettle.
Not noted above, the pic above is my actual jacket, hardly think a 10 year old denim jacket is F. victim. A bandana is to blow your nose, not wear as a headscarf. Boots aren’t “irish”… they are modelled after the Irish Setter boots of Red Wing. Please alter the tone.
i had not seen that basic dark custom before though. thx.
I’m just waiting to see biker models on the fashion runway displaying the latest “outlaw” styles. Hell, maybe its already happened. You don’t need fashion to ride, just ride. Jeans, a solid pair of work boots, a t-shirt and a jacket for those cold days. Slip on a pair of gloves and sunglasses and go. You can get it all at Walmart, minus the jacket perhaps. It makes me laugh when I see people dressed up like prospects for an outlaw club on a Saturday and all spiffed up on Monday backing their BMW out the driveway going to their bank manager job from 9 to 5. Damn people, just be yourself and ride. Just because you ride a Harley doesn’t men you have to dress outlaw. It is amusing to go to a biker rally and see a group of so called outlaws talking politics or economics or other random coffee shop chatter. What happened to talking about heads and pistons, the barmaid’s ass and war stories, true or not? Is there motorcycle parking at Starbuck’s?
I know this is old, but as I’m sitting here shaking my head.. I read Mark B’s comment. How refreshing. Took the words straight from my mouth.
Sold.