Help me out here……..

If “…Each episode follows James as he readies himself for a different death-defying (motorcycle only?) challenge he has always wanted to face and beat…”,…. exactly how will that “…only help us all sell more of what we sell….”???

Isn’t that like saying the Saturday Night Destruction Derby helps sell Custom Cars on Monday….???

Seriously, some of this thread is sounding more like a 7th grade “who’s-yer-Buddy,” and less about credible business talk.

Who are the advertisers…???

-nicker-

Well you’ve made some points, but all your issue don’t necessarily follow.
Simply because we (the biker and builder community) dont’ necessaryly constitute a homogeneous group.
So ya gotta be more specific about who your talking to.

RE:
“…TV shows help give publicity to the industry(any publicity is good publicity right)?…”

Not the way i see it.
Bad publicity createes bad public perception that puts all sorts-a policy and financial pressure on those of us who don’t reap any benefit from that publicity. (insurance, laws, regstration…. etc.).

RE:
“…people come on here and blast the posers …. ”
“…shows, good or bad, is what brought more of the general public and the posers into motorcycles and in turn their money…”

While that may well work for those manufacturing “market driven product lines” do you really think there’s any relevence to those who target niche markets (re. custom high end art, vintage, …. etc.)?

RE:
“…Do you want the “posers” to stick around and spend money …”

Well, here again, it depends on the individual’s business case.
And it depends on the poser.

So if ya gotta put up with them, ya suck-it-up and listen to the drivvel.
If ya don’t ya walk away.
At the end of the day, how much stupidity your willing to out up with is up to you.

The point is, there isn’t one easy patt answer.
BUT………. one thing is certain, stupidity and moronics is bad for all of us, no matter who ya are.

-nicker-

RE:
“One must be true to themselves” and “At the end of the day you are what the public perceives you to be…”

Yep….. that about sums it up nicely.
It’s subtitle. Ya gotta read it carefully……….

Thanks

-nicker-

Thanks Jeff

Lets all rise above the negative comments left on this blog by those that cant,

and those of us that can will continue to piss those off that cant, Which makes us want to do better

anyway, so who is the real winner?

Stay positive and you will find out my friends.

The same people who blast the posers and media are also concerned about what the guys do on TV because it leaves a perception with the public and this could in turn hurt builders and/or shops sell their products/services.

In my opinion, these shows, good or bad, is what brought more of the general public and the posers into motorcycles and in turn their money. Yeah a lot of it was in merchandise but there was also a lot in ground up custom builds, customizing bikes, maintenance and parts.(And the demand was evident by all the new shops that opened and at least survived for a couple years.)

Let’s not kid ourselves; the average joe wrench head didn’t bring in extra money and flood the industry with money. They are the ones who fix it or build it themselves in their garage, living room, porch, etc and know everything about the bike from front to back.

These same people who are complaining about the posers and TV shows are also complaining now that they are not making any or as much money as they used to and that the industry is heading south real fast.

So what do these people complaining want? Do you want the “posers” to stick around and spend money as well as have TV shows help give publicity to the industry(any publicity is good publicity right)?

Early in my motorcycle career I was fortunate enough to have Arlen Ness share some insight with me …… his advice to me was …. “At the end of the day you are what the public perceives you to be.” I have kept those words of wisdom in the forefront of my pea sized brain for many years now. With that wisdom in mind I have always avoided the “raising hell, drinking until up punk on national TV persona” that seems to be what the TV Producers, as well as most Americans, want to believe about anyone who rides a motorcycle. I have turned down four (4) different offers to participate in TV programs now. I refused the offers primarily because I will not abuse my children verbally on TV, or at any other time for that matter, I don’t need to jump up and down, throw tools or threaten the first born of any employees, on national TV, to accomplish a bike build. I was therefore told I “could not be worked with” by the producers! OH WELL!

The bottom line is, in my humble opinion: “One must be true to themselves” and “At the end of the day you are what the public perceives you to be.”

Over & Out,

Jeff

If what these guys do didn’t have an impact on “The Industry” no one would give a rosy rat’s ass what they did and “live & let live” would be cool.

HOWEVER, if what they do does have an effect, then it does have an impact.

On the one hand, they impact you builders who have to make a living selling to the public.

On the other they impact some on like me who has to put up with the general public who associate me with the moronics portrayed by some of these people (and you all know who they are).

Even worse ….. are antics which draws more morons into the sport.
Because, the general public starts to initiate policy to further squash an activity that has been central to my life for decades.

So, what icons “of the sport” or “of the industry” do in the public eye has direct bearing on all of us
in a bunch of non trivial ways.

The issue is how does what they (JJ, OCC, NEss…..etc.) do in the public eye effect us all.
It aint about friendship it’s about perception.

IMHO, anywya…….
-nicker-

That being said, Paul Sr. pulled himself outta the gutter also. He built a million dollar ironworking business and now also has a multi million dollar tee shirt, oops, er, um, bike business.

All they did was sell T shirts and memorabilia. They didn’t put any butts on seats that wouldn’t have gotten there anyway, perhaps not counting the giveaway bikes. Their magic was bringing the WWF audience to normal motorcycle venues to wait in line for autographs on overpriced apparel.

Conrad Nicklus

Went to a great little rally called WoodStock in the Weekend but back to work today….there goes reality fucking with my life again..

James

Well B.Hussian Obamas choice for OUR secetrary treasure doesn’t pay his taxs either. What’s the big deal Jesse’s second wife ?

I feel Jesse is a major asset to the industry. OCC? Not so much.

Jesse puts the REAL biker into the youth of today. The elders already know better and soon the youth will be the elders who know better and the new youth will have their “Jesse” of our industry long after we are all gone. The “biker” will never die, it may evolutionize and turn into different forms with new erotic styles of bikes, but bikers will always be here.

He isnt here to bring the “biker inside” out to everyone. His main targets ,I feel, is the youth of America. They are the ones who will oneday be building and oneday be riding bikes. I say Rock On Jesse, keep it up. Fuck the rest and let the nay sayers stay jealous.

And Mr T…. cool hair cut, pity your attitude is not quite as pretty!!
If you “are” a rambling old fuck that is sad, cause there are a lot of smart,articulate ol Fucks that make clear and logical constructive comments on this blog. And not all sell motorcycl parts or Motorcycles.
I have to admit I would like to burn all copies of Wild Hawgs, but then in 50years I might be looked back on like the good Reverend Snow who publicaly burned R&R records…!!…maybe not..shit where’s the kero…

Jesse James is Fucking good for this industry and brings along young people. And that is so critical.Tarnation, we bikers world wide now average between 45-50 years.In 20…. it is all gone.
You might want to dribble in a rest home that you were the last of the reptiles that slithered out of the 40’s,50’s and 60’s but many others want it to go on and on…and…like a good,,,,,,,,,

None so blind, than those that cannot see.

Rock and Roll, James (KIWI)

I think a lot of people in the industry would agree with me when I say OCC fucked a lot of stuff up in our industry. It did not do anything good bike sales wise besides help sell a shitload of t-shirts and crap. I contribute a lot of issues in our industry to them.

Jesse may not be everybody’s cup of tea but he is a talent and a star. And this program will be damn good.

OCC guys may be doofuses but you cannot deny they gave the business a boost and brought new riders into the fold. How many stick around now, who knows.

You don’t have to like Jesse’s bikes or OCC’s bikes or their personalities to acknowledge what they have achieved. And I think his West Coast Choppers makes some really nice bikes.

Over & Out,

Jeff