First Person:
By Dr. Al Carlos Hernandez
My affair with Harley-Davidson motorcycles began when I was ten years old. My mom’s cousin’s boyfriend used to come visit and he rode a converted hawthorn green, chopped police bike. He would ride up the sidewalk, park the bike, and it took my breath away. That year I bought tall, ape-hanger handlebars for my bicycle… and so it began. During my Brown Beret days I used to borrow my friend’s “Then Came Bronson” blue Sportster, rode my baby brother’s radical Springer rig, then 25 years later went to work at a Honda/Yamaha motorcycle shop. During that time I had a 1951 pan head and my last one there was a small 883 that I won in a bet.
When I started riding way back in the day there were very few Latino/Hispanic motorcyclists. Coincidentally, our cousin’s boyfriend turned out to be Fat Freddie – one of the founding fathers of a famous motorcycle club from Oakland, California.
For the fifth straight year, Milwaukee-based Harley-Davidson Inc. was the number one seller of new street motorcycles (all engine sizes) in the United States. This includes all bikes sold to young adults ages 18-34, women, African-Americans, Hispanics, as well as Caucasian men ages 35+. The newly available data from Polk shows that Harley-Davidson experienced a double-digit market share gain from 2008 to 2012 in the U.S. with these customer groups.
Harley-Davidson chief marketing officer Mark-Hans Richer attributes the company’s success to its unique purpose.
“We don’t just build motorcycles. We fuel personal freedom,” Richer said, “The desire for individual expression draws customers from all walks of life because it’s a universal, human value that transcends cultures, generations and history.”
“It’s more than an adage that almost no two Harley-Davidson motorcycles are alike,” Richer said. “The same is true for our customers. Members of our community come from all different cultures, backgrounds, and generations and their shared attitude about life is the tie that binds.”
Several years ago, I was made aware of a documentary film entitled Harlistas that was shot by a good friend of mine, Claudio Rocha. I finally found my lost tribe. I just recently decided to talk to Harley to ask about them embracing the Hispanic/Latino enthusiast. I found out that Roger Garcia is currently the Director of Market Outreach for the Hispanic segment; he is responsible for creating, maintaining, and supporting an integrated strategy that significantly improves Harley-Davidson’s reach and relevance within the Hispanic consumer segment. Garcia is leading the consumer team to develop and launch an integrated marketing plan for the Hispanic segment.
Dr. Al Carlos Hernandez (Dr. AC): How did you hook up with Harley-Davidson? What has been your history with motorcycles in general?
Roger Garcia.(RG): In 2011, I was called by a recruiter with the opportunity to join Harley-Davidson as a Director of Outreach Marketing. I had started riding motorcycles in the summer of 2006 when I moved to Colorado, so I was already an enthusiast before I got the call from Harley. Given the chance to work for one of the most iconic global brands was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so I pursued the position until I was hired in June 2011.
Dr.AC: What is a Harlista?
RG: Harlista is a term that signifies community and bond among Latino riders that started over 50 years ago. Latinos across countries like Mexico, Cuba, Puerto Rico, Ecuador, Colombia, etc. have been calling themselves Harlistas for a very long time. We estimate there are close to two million Latinos who have expressed an interest in one day owning a Harley-Davidson motorcycle.
Dr.AC: Tell us about the documentary. I know the cinematographer Claudio Rocha very well and this documentary was stunningly visual.
RG: The documentary film Harlstas: An American Journey was a project that Alfredo de Villa helped to develop. It follows the journeys of Latino Harley motorcycle riders as they seek adventure, camaraderie and the achievement of the American Dream. It was developed with real Harlistas who were cast from various parts of the U.S. with the help of our Harley-Davidson dealer network.
Dr.AC: The center of the film was about motorcycles and familial relationships, especially father to son. Tell us about the theme and how the film has been received over the years.
RG: Harlistas: An American Journey was the first-of-its-kind documentary and screened across well-recognized film festivals from L.A. to NYC. The documentary received many accolades, not only from Hispanic/Latino Harley owners, but also from non-owners and non-Hispanic riders. It is based on human truth and the bonds that Hispanics hold to be true, like family, brotherhood, and hermandad.
Dr.AC: Pictured in the film are some scary looking guys. How do you deal with the negative imagery of ethnic Harley riders?
RG: We focus on the positive aspects of the rider and their life experiences. We show the bond of father and son, and brothers, which are important aspects of the Latino community. Bonding and family are also an important part of the Harley-Davidson riding community.
Dr.AC: Who is the typical Latino Harley rider? Are they culturally product loyal or do they come to H-D off of Japanese bikes?
RG: Most of our owners are repeat customers who are loyal to the brand and appreciate all aspects of owning a Harley-Davidson. They especially know that a Harley is pallet for self-expression through customization and personalization.
Dr.AC: How did those Chopper-build-competitions help sales in the Hispanic community? Isn’t the Chopper thing a passing phase?
RG: Harley-Davidson has been inspiring bike builders since back in the early years of custom choppers and we, in turn, have been inspired by what some of the legendary Latino bike builders have done. For example, we recently launched Seventy-Two which is a Sportster that harkens back to the early 70’s with mini-ape handlebars and big flake paint. The name “Seventy-Two” was not only a physical inspiration but a design connection – that bike was born from the East L.A. Latino low-rider culture. Whittier Boulevard, aka route 72, was the birthplace of the low-rider culture and the Seventy-Two has elements of this infused into its styling – specifically the Hard Candy Custom paint which is bold and stylish. This is one reason we chose the name Seventy-Two.
Dr.AC: Harley pretty much allows you to customize your bike upon purchase. There are all types of styles – is a Harley more a recreational fashion accoutrement or just every day transportation?
RG: 97% of all Harley-Davidson motorcycles are customized in some way to reflect the owner’s personal style and self-expression. How they view their motorcycle is personal, which is reflected in our motorcycles being the most customized in the world.
Dr.AC: Why should a Latino of any age buy a Harley and embrace that lifestyle?
RG: Harley-Davidson is more than a motorcycle – for many Latinos in the U.S., Harley-Davidson represents the achievement of the American Dream, which includes many personal and emotional achievements as well. You can read some of the many stories that Latino riders have submitted on www.harley-davidson.com/harlistas. What is amazing about Harley-Davidson is that it brings people together from all walks of life, and truly unites all those who seek to fulfill their dreams of personal freedom. From Central to South America, the Caribbean and North America, Harlistas share a rich and proud history.
This story is dedicated to John “Lindy” Hernandez and Ricardo Huerta, true to the game OG Harlistas.