Beauty Meets Beast in New H-D Campaign

Motorcycle.com Staff
by Motorcycle.com Staff

Beauty meets beast in new H-D campaign

Supermodel Marisa Miller and V-Rod share spotlight
By Motorcycle.Com Staff, Oct. 09, 2008
In the text below youll find a link to Harley-Davidson's home page on YouTube. But did you know Motorcycle.com also has a home page on that hugely popular video website? Check it out at http://www.youtube.com/motorcycle!

Harley-Davidson has launched a new ad campaign to emphasize the pairing of sophisticated style and brute strength, by teaming up with American Supermodel Marisa Miller to introduce the latest addition to The Motor Companys high-performance line of V-Rod motorcycles.

The new V-Rod Muscle features a new sculpted physique that Harley-Davidson says exudes a contemporary and urban sense of style. The Muscles long, low profile and super wide rear tire are inspired by the drag strip, while the free-revving performance of the liquid-cooled Revolution V-Twin engine co-developed with Porsche give it a combination of power and sophistication.

The V-Rod Muscle stands out in a crowd of copies and generic motorcycle profiles, says Mark-Hans Richer, senior vice president and chief marketing officer for Harley-Davidson. It stretches the very definition of what it means to be a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.

The model and the muscle.

Partnering with Miller is a perfect match. The V-Rod Muscles sculpted body and commanding physique complement Miller, who not only represents classic American beauty, but also strength and athleticism. Miller, a Victoria Secret model and recently featured on the cover of the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, represents the return of the great American Supermodel. Miller grew up around motorcycles in California and has a strong appreciation for Harley-Davidson.

To represent such an iconic American brand is incredible, says Miller. I have grown up watching my dad and uncle ride Harleys. Its amazing to circle back at this point in my career, and work with a brand I have so much respect for.

In addition to gracing the cover of the 2008 Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue, Marisa Miller was also awarded the number one spot on Maxim Magazine's 2008 Hot 100 list.
Like the bike itself, Harley-Davidson chose a distinctly non-traditional marketing campaign for the V-Rod Muscle. Starting Oct. 13, an ad campaign launches that shows Miller stretched atop a sleek, black V-Rod Muscle. The black background and distinct lighting capture the aggressive styling of the bike contrasted by Miller, which brings the idea of American Supermodel to life. In lifestyle magazines such as GQ, Esquire, Complex, Road & Track and Trader, ads will make use of a new technology called SnapTell, which provides access to exclusive content upon photographing the ad with a mobile phone camera.

The campaign was pre-launched on Oct. 6 on Harley-Davidsons official YouTube channel, with a making of video that takes viewers behind the scenes at the Marisa Miller V-Rod Muscle photo shoot ( http://www.youtube.com/harleydavidson). Motorcycle bloggers and Harley-Davidson fans and friends on Facebook and MySpace were exclusively tipped off to the campaign. The video will also be available on www.h-d.com/muscle which launches Oct.13.

The Harley-Davidson V-Rod Muscle features a 1250cc liquid-cooled V-Twin engine with a five-speed transmission and high-performance Brembo triple-disc brakes with available ABS. Its race-bred clutch with slipper action helps ease drive train effort during downshifting while its broad-shouldered presence is highlighted by a huge 240mm rear tire. New bodywork with integrated turn signals and a clipped fender combine to give it a clean, contemporary look. The V-Rod Muscle is available in Vivid Black, Brilliant Silver, Dark Blue Denim and Red Hot Sunglo.

Related Reading

2009 Harley-Davidson VRSCF V-Rod Muscle Review
2009 Harley-Davidson Model Line-up
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Motorcycle.com Staff
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