“In the thousands of miles that AMA members ride each year, we run into our fair share of situations that don’t call for a full rain suit but still expose our legs to unfavorable conditions,” said AMA Director of Business Development Jim Moore. “These are just the type of conditions that Biker Rain Chaps are designed to protect you from, thoroughly and economically.”

“As a 15-year member of the AMA, I’ve been on many rides, long and short,” said Mitch Harris, owner of Biker Rain Chaps Ltd. “No matter the distance, nothing ruins a great ride faster than bad weather or worse, when we had rain gear in our bags that didn’t get put on until AFTER already soaked. Even when we manage to avoid the rain, the road spray from the wet pavement still will thoroughly soak rider’s at least from the knees, down. This is why I created Biker Rain Chaps.  Much more convenient than full rain gear, they protect the most exposed part of your body from wind, cold, rain and general road grime. At the end of the day, when the road gets you wet, Biker Rain Chaps keep you dry and comfortable and it is our most sincere pleasure to offer the members of the AMA this discount.”

Biker Rain Chaps normally cost $19.99. AMA members can now purchase them for $14.99 — a 25% savings. More information on how to access this discount is available in the Members Area of AmericanMotorcyclist.com.

Erik Buell with the redesigned 2010 Buell Blast

I think the “Purple Cow” just came home for the slaughter…  I’d love to hear what marketing moguls had to say, preemptively, about this campaign…

Okay, so I’m going to go a little bit of the way down the rabbit hole with this one, but ride along with me if you don’t mind…

I was on the AMA’s web site last night and I saw an advertisement (it was a skyscraper ad for Buell) that caught my attention.  It said “Introducing the 2010 Buell Blast”.  Immediately, a crushed block-o-motorcycle dropped into the ad and they swooped in their tag line of “Ruthless Engineering”.

Interesting.

Going to their site, I came across this campaign.

It’s all about how Erik Buell “Ruthlessly Reengineered” the 2010 Buell Blast into a block of trash because it wasn’t inline with their corporate culture of performance biking.

In essence, people were identifying Buell as the company that makes that tiny, cute little bike, the Blast, rather than the company that makes high-end street and racing bikes.

Genius!

Many other companies would have just let the brand/model die.  When was the last time you saw a Chrysler in a car crusher?  Erik Buell, on the other hand, used it as an opportunity to kill off a potentially under performing brand that wasn’t in line with the corporate strategy AND (AND AND AND) reinforce the overarching, high-performance brand.

B E A U T I F U L!!!!

I just wish I was a fly on the wall when Buell’s creative agency came to them with that strategy…  Either Erik Buell has one hell of a sense of humor or that was one hell of an interesting conversation/pitch.. 

Just trying to keep your brains fresh!

- Ray
The road gets you wet.
Biker Rain Chaps keep you dry!

I love it when a 3rd party gives us their unbiased opinion.

In his first post, here, he did raise two concerns based upon his initial, out of the package, perceptions.  The first had to do with the fact that there is no heat shield on the Biker Rain Chaps.  This is true.  If Biker Rain Chaps come in DIRECT contact for an extended period of time with your hot exhaust pipes, they will loose.  However, by the time they melt, you’ll have realized that your leg is in direct contact with the pipes and you will have moved it.  Moral: while they are not heat proof, we do not have problems with exposure to exhaust pipes because of the material used and the general design of the product.

The second concern had to do with whether or not they would stay down without a foot strap.  The answer is, yes, they do…  unless you’re trying to set a land speed record with them on (and if some one can get Jesse James to try them out, I’ll be more than happy to put boot straps on his pair…   ).  Due to the Velcro ankle and calf strips, they hold together tightly even if you’re cruisin’ the road a 80+ miles an hour.

Hopefully, real-life product test (next time it rains) will prove these statements out.

Until later…
- Ray

So, Flo from Progressive is a bad ass…

Saw this commercial while watching a show about mega yachts…  Cute commercial.  I need to sell a bunch of chaps in order to buy one of these boats…   And my high-end Ducati…

I find that to be a load of bull poop.  I mean, it’s their site, they can do what they want, but I find it hard to believe that Fortune 1000 companies will allow a link back from their site or pay the cheesy prices that these sites mandate…

None the less, I found a very cute little site with a kick-ass domain name which is totally free…  It’s http://www.contestguide.com.  Kudos on the domain name!!

Very simple…  But it works.  Seems as though their revenue comes from a tiny little Google Ads banner on the top…  Very tasteful compared to the other sites which beat you about the head and neck with the ads…

Anyway, like I said, check them out and, if you know of one, submit a contest.

- Ray

I say interesting, not because the use is that unusual…  Police ride motorcycles, right?  And they don’t like getting dirty and wet, either.  That’s not the interesting part.  I just think it’s interesting that they contacted me and that they are my first…

What I DO think would be cool is to see a police officer on a Segway or mountain bikes using them.  Both are AWESOME applications of Biker Rain Chaps.  That would be something to write about!

As a matter of fact, I will give a free pair of Biker Rain Chaps to a hand full of police officers who:

1. Can provide me with their department name and badge number (to prove that they are a police officer; this data will not be put online)
2. Will provide me with a product review and a quotable statement
3. Will provide me with a picture of themselves, in uniform, on a police-issued motorcycle, mountain bike and/or Segway

Just use the tab at the top of the page to send me your contact information, badge number and department and I will get you a pair in the mail (once I confirm that you are a police officer).

Thanks & I look forward to hearing from you!

When the road gets you wet, Biker Rain Chaps keep you dry!

There is a bull in a field that found and then swallowed a hand grenade. Which of the following words best describes this situation?

1. Terrible
2. Awful
3. Abominable
4. Sad

Think you’re smart?  Then tell me the answer…

What are your thoughts on this? Do you think that right now is a pivotal point in our country’s history or does it just seem so pressing because we are present in this point in time?

That is actually a question I struggle with all of the time.

Here is a related event in my home town…

NONE OF THE ABOVE in the next election; let’s get some folks in there that can actually affect change.

Do not listen to in open settings or if you’re annoyed by foul language…  It’s a little harsh.

From The Onion News Network…

0 – 60 in 3.3.
Top speed around 175 mph
33,000 British pounds ($48,000 USDs)

OMG!!!