Celebrity Bandwagon
- Jay Leno, television host of “The Tonight Show” consistently shares his passion for motorcycles with viewers and was featured on the January 17, 2005 issue of People magazine in the featured article “celebs and bikes”. Leno also provided much relief efforts to the victims of the Asian Tsunami by selling celebrity autographs on photos with their bikes.
- In May, 2004 the New York City Rockefeller Center Motorcycle Show opened with over 500 media and celebrities participating. Matt Lauer featured the event on the NBC “Today Show”. The Preview Party featured an auction of celebrity autographed helmets benefiting the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Actors such as Catherine Bell of “JAG”, Matt LeBlanc of “Friends”, Mark-Paul Gosselaar of “NYPD Blues”, film actors Ashley Judd and Cameron Diaz, several New York Yankees and talk-show host Conan O’Brien of “Late Night” participated. Saks Fifth Avenue celebrated the event with a window display sporting a motorcycle studded with over 50,000 Swarovski crystals.
- Famous husband of Brittany Spears, Kevin Federline, received a gift of a new bike from his wife. He was pictured with his gift in the January 24, 2005 issue of US magazine.
- Alton Brown, Food Network’s “Good Eats” and “Iron Chef America” delivers his homemade creations via motorcycle.
- Turner Classic Movies aired documentary about film icon Steve McQueen focusing on his passion for motorcycles.
- Tom Cruise arrived at the Hollywood premier of “War of the Worlds” with his actress fiance’, Katie Holmes. Cruise is known for his riding in movies, “Collateral”, “Top Gun” and “Mission Impossible”. Tom Cruise was also interviewed by Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa on CBS talk show “Live” and asked where he’d take a girl on a date. Cruise responded they would go on a motorcycle ride.
- Lance Armstrong renowned cyclist was quoted after the Tour de France as saying his plans were to spend more time “surfing, and riding motorcycles …”
- Megastar, Brad Pitt gets much press while riding his motorcycle during filming breaks in Morocco.
- Megastar, Angelina Jolie’s son was seen with Brad Pitt in the Sahara Desert receiving lessons on riding.
- Actor of “House Calls”, Hugh Laurie, shared his love of motorcycling on “The Tonight Show” and claimed he had ridden for many years and “had to get one when he came over here” from Britain.
- Megastar, Sandra Bullock marries famous “West Coast Choppers” garage owner and Discovery Channel host, Jesse James. Sandra says she loves to ride.
- Popular Mechanic magazine featured a huge photo and article of Jesse James, chopper guru.
- Michael Jordan, professional athlete of basketball and baseball, brought his bikes to the Daytona AMA Superbike race.
- The “Motorcycle Diaries” movie debuted in late 2004.
- Singers, Carlos Santana and Antonio Banderas performed a film tune from critically acclaimed movie “The Motorcycle Diaries” at the 2005 Academy Awards. The song won the Oscar for original song.
- “Team America, World Police” movie from the creators of “South Park” cartoon on Comedy Central featured motorcycle riding.
- Bravo TV’s “Queer Eye for the Straight Guy” calendar features the “Fab Five” hosts with two motorcycles and sporting motorcycle fashion gear.
- NBC “Scrubs” episodes feature lead character Dr. John “J.D.” Dorian riding a scooter.
- In Style magazine featured January 2005 issue ABC’s “NYPD Blues” star Paul Gossalaar sharing his love of motorcycles.
- BusinessWeek magazine featured the Honda CRF250X as among its “Best Products of 2004”.
- GQ magazine (Gentleman’s Quarterly) the major men’s fashion/lifestyle magazine featured in its January 2005 issue two full spreads of article and photos on AMA Supercross stars Ricky Charmichael and James “Bubba” Stewart and their rivalry.
- Catherine Bell, of CBS’s “JAG” series shared her love of motorcycling with FHM magazine, Howard Stern’s radio and television programs, on “Live” with Regis Philbin and Kelly Ripa and “Entertainment Tonight”, as well as Reader’s Digest and the New York Post newspaper.
- Matt LeBlanc of NBC’s “Friends” repeatedly mentioned his love of motorcycling on four
separate appearances on the “Tonight Show”.
Media and Advertisements
- McDonald’s “Loving It” campaign which includes “to go” bags with a helmeted, male rider and his motorcycle. The print campaign caption reads “Riding Together Keeps Us Close …”
- Alavert allergy medication television ad campaign features a couple of riders on a cruiser style motorcycle free of allergy symptoms thanks to the medicine.
- Silk brand soy milk features actress and stuntwoman, Jennifer Caputo, leaning back on her bike eating a bowl of cereal with soy milk.
- GoDaddy.com, who sells and maintains internet domain names, features a motorcycle mechanic in it’s campaign.
- U.S. Army Reserve ads excitement to a current print campaign shows a split-screen photo of a man riding a motorcycle and the same man in camo-gear riding a battle green dual-purpose machine.
- American Express Business Platinum credit card television ad campaign features custom custom motorcycle shop owner’s appreciation of the card.
- Honda Motors featured Superbowl ads showing two motorcycles in the bed of a Honda truck.
- Toyota Prius also featured Superbowl ads showing scooters in its ads.
- Ford Motor Company featured motorcyclists being scared of seeing massive numbers of Ford trucks parked outside a restaurant during its Superbowl ad campaign.
- Ford F-150 brand pickup trucks partnered with Harley-Davidson in a four year licensing deal to design and market the Harley F-150 pickup.
- Geico Insurance features motorcycle riding and it’s coverage of the sport.
Children’s Market
- Disney’s “Stitch” character featured riding a motorcycle in the TV ad campaign promoting the 50th Anniversary Celebration of Disneyland.
- Bratz doll collection sport cool motor clothes and fancy motorcycles.
- Power Rangers action figures and bikes sold in mass market toy stores and the TV show features the Ranger riding motorcycles.
- Mattel’s Hot Wheels Division markets Thunder Cycles that work on any Hot Wheel car track.
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