Harley Ride Virtual Tour - Melbourne

What Women Want

Being a Harley Rides operator has helped me to understand human nature, and in particular it has given me an insight into the "female mind".

The reality struck me during a telephone conversation with a female customer, who wanted to organise a Harley Ride as a Valentine's Day gift for her boyfriend. She was interested in  what she described as a "chopper style" Harley Davidson. She wanted something with a "look". It was at this point that I began to realise the difference between men and women.

Women want to be seen. They are fashion oriented. As one girl said to me a few years ago, "I really am not interested in being the rider, but I do enjoy sitting on the back of a Harley at a 'fashion accessory'."

From the conversation which I have had with the thousands of women (of all ages) over the last ten years I have learned the following:

• They love the feel of being on the back of the bike doing something that that their parents would never approve of.
• They love to talk - and I have had some amazing discussions (all in confidence and which I would never repeat - and always on the understanding that I had no interest in taking anything beyond the end of the ride...).
• Being seen is paramount. The attention and looks people give them is important in their enjoyment of the Harley Ride.
• Strangely, they don't go for the best looking bike - they go for the one that looks like it will be the most comfortable for them.
• Whenever I take a couple of girls out in a sidecar on a Hens Night ride, they want to wave at everyone. Its the attention thing.

One the other side of the coin, men differ. They are more interested in the size of the bike - its engine and the technical aspects, performance etc.

In the end, men and women are very different.

Interlude with Red Balloon Days

NB Since writing this article my company has ceased its association with Red Balloon Days. Red Balloon has, in my opinion lowered its standards in its desire to provide products at a "lowest price guarantee". Some of my competitors offer a similar product, but they do so with older motorcycles and maintain lower bike maintenance standards etc. When I started with Red Balloon Days, they chose my company based on high quality. I know that they haven't checked the company who they now use or assessed that company's standards or compared them to mine. Regretably, we have therefore ceased our association.

Last night I found myself spending an evening with several of my peers in the Melbourne Adventure experiences industry at a restuarant called Interlude .

The evening was hosted by Red Balloon Days for whom my company supplies but one of many Pleasure Experiences.

But, before I talk about Red Balloon, I feel that I must share my Interlude Dining experiene, because you see - Interlude is just a little bit different. It is what I would describe as a fantastic Taste Experience. We sat down for a five course meal, of which each dish was something to tantalize the pallette, but not so much as to be so filling that one couldn't get through it all. This restaurant must be experienced. Trust me it is Six Stars!!!

Back to Red Balloon. To become a Red Balloon supplier one must be invited. That is what happened to me when they started in Australia 5 years ago. They put me through a quality assessment and judged that my Experience was good enough to be included in their listing of Pleasure Experiences.

And who were the others at Interlude last night? One runs a Tank Museum - where you can go and actually drive a Centurion Tank (we were able to share notes from my Army days when I actualy had a Tank Troop of Leopard Tanks way back in 1981), a Skydive Operator, a Balloon Company, a Sail and Spa from Sorrento, a Sailing School (big yachts) based at the Melbourne Docklands and an Adventure Event Specialist.

Last night I came to understand the term Pleasure Experience - as I shared notes with my peers. That is what we are all committed to doing - giving pleasure.