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Harley Marks Milestone With Milwaukee Bash

Aired August 28, 2003 - 14:42   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.


KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, back here, bikers are going Hog wild as the beloved Harley-Davidson turns 100 years old this weekend. And in true Harley spirit, a four-day street party is getting under way in Milwaukee.
Another person going a little Hog wild there is our Keith Oppenheim. Not only is he in leather, but -- hey, what happened to the wig, Keith?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, don't worry, we can -- we can demonstrate that together later. How about that, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: OK.

OPPENHEIM: I'm just -- I'm just donning -- I'm not the real thing, you know that. I'm just donning the accessories.

But the real thing is here. You've got nearly a quarter million bikers who have come to Milwaukee for this four-day birthday bash. And they are going to have a lot of fun, music and enjoyment of motorcycles over the next few days.

So with all these folks here at the fairgrounds and throughout the city, we ask the obvious question, why they go so Hog wild over Harleys?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): They come from Berlin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty years we owned (ph) Harley Davidson motorcycles.

OPPENHEIM: From Quebec.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many, many people from all the world. It's a big show.

OPPENHEIM: And from Virginia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It took us about two-and-a-half days.

OPPENHEIM: They are driven by love of Harleys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I moved up to a 2000 Ultraclassic.

OPPENHEIM: By the love of good times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look for the women and eat the food, man. That's what I'm all about.

OPPENHEIM: And sometimes by a love for each other. Riding Harleys led this couple to matrimony.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then we got a tattoo afterwards.

OPPENHEIM: Harley's 100th is as much about fun as it is marketing. In the last 20 years, Harley has orchestrated hundreds of rides and parties to connect with customers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You learn a lot, that, I think, is the best way to run the business.

OPPENHEIM: The business has created such mystique some customers hop on a Hog a bit later in life and take on a new identity.

(on camera): Is there a little way to get, like, get, like, maybe a little ponytail to come off the side?

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): So at its centennial, Harley-Davidson is celebrating its achievement for driving the form of motorcycle through age and driving the culture of riding to a feeling freedom for all ages.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a wonderful way to go through a midlife crisis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OPPENHEIM: Well, Kyra, earlier you asked about the mullet wig that I had been wearing today. So in terms of the midlife crisis, I will now don it for you. Obviously, not to further my career in broadcasting, but rather to demonstrate how one accessory can make such an impact. There you go.

PHILLIPS: All right, now I asked you about the tattoo earlier on. You said you didn't -- or, I guess you couldn't show it to me. But you can always go get a couple temporary tattoos, you know.

OPPENHEIM: What kind of things are suggesting for me, Kyra? I'm trying to get through the day.

PHILLIPS: Keith, it will be great. Right there on the neck, you can put on "Watch LIVE FROM." You can be free advertising for us.

OPPENHEIM: Well, there's an idea. It's promotional. That's good.

PHILLIPS: All right. You hold on to that wig. It's improving your image. Keith Oppenheim, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com





Aired August 28, 2003 - 14:42   ET
THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
KYRA PHILLIPS, CNN ANCHOR: Now, back here, bikers are going Hog wild as the beloved Harley-Davidson turns 100 years old this weekend. And in true Harley spirit, a four-day street party is getting under way in Milwaukee.
Another person going a little Hog wild there is our Keith Oppenheim. Not only is he in leather, but -- hey, what happened to the wig, Keith?

KEITH OPPENHEIM, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Yes, don't worry, we can -- we can demonstrate that together later. How about that, Kyra?

PHILLIPS: OK.

OPPENHEIM: I'm just -- I'm just donning -- I'm not the real thing, you know that. I'm just donning the accessories.

But the real thing is here. You've got nearly a quarter million bikers who have come to Milwaukee for this four-day birthday bash. And they are going to have a lot of fun, music and enjoyment of motorcycles over the next few days.

So with all these folks here at the fairgrounds and throughout the city, we ask the obvious question, why they go so Hog wild over Harleys?

(BEGIN VIDEOTAPE)

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): They come from Berlin.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Twenty years we owned (ph) Harley Davidson motorcycles.

OPPENHEIM: From Quebec.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: Many, many people from all the world. It's a big show.

OPPENHEIM: And from Virginia.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: It took us about two-and-a-half days.

OPPENHEIM: They are driven by love of Harleys.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: So I moved up to a 2000 Ultraclassic.

OPPENHEIM: By the love of good times.

UNIDENTIFIED MALE: Look for the women and eat the food, man. That's what I'm all about.

OPPENHEIM: And sometimes by a love for each other. Riding Harleys led this couple to matrimony.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: And then we got a tattoo afterwards.

OPPENHEIM: Harley's 100th is as much about fun as it is marketing. In the last 20 years, Harley has orchestrated hundreds of rides and parties to connect with customers.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: You learn a lot, that, I think, is the best way to run the business.

OPPENHEIM: The business has created such mystique some customers hop on a Hog a bit later in life and take on a new identity.

(on camera): Is there a little way to get, like, get, like, maybe a little ponytail to come off the side?

OPPENHEIM (voice-over): So at its centennial, Harley-Davidson is celebrating its achievement for driving the form of motorcycle through age and driving the culture of riding to a feeling freedom for all ages.

UNIDENTIFIED FEMALE: It's a wonderful way to go through a midlife crisis.

(END VIDEOTAPE)

OPPENHEIM: Well, Kyra, earlier you asked about the mullet wig that I had been wearing today. So in terms of the midlife crisis, I will now don it for you. Obviously, not to further my career in broadcasting, but rather to demonstrate how one accessory can make such an impact. There you go.

PHILLIPS: All right, now I asked you about the tattoo earlier on. You said you didn't -- or, I guess you couldn't show it to me. But you can always go get a couple temporary tattoos, you know.

OPPENHEIM: What kind of things are suggesting for me, Kyra? I'm trying to get through the day.

PHILLIPS: Keith, it will be great. Right there on the neck, you can put on "Watch LIVE FROM." You can be free advertising for us.

OPPENHEIM: Well, there's an idea. It's promotional. That's good.

PHILLIPS: All right. You hold on to that wig. It's improving your image. Keith Oppenheim, thank you.

TO ORDER A VIDEO OF THIS TRANSCRIPT, PLEASE CALL 800-CNN-NEWS OR USE OUR SECURE ONLINE ORDER FORM LOCATED AT www.fdch.com