“There’s nothing square about the new world of fun and adventure you’ll discover with your first ride.”
In the latter half of the 1960s, Yamaha, Suzuki and other motorcycle companies started targeting the young Baby Boomers, a massive generation with unprecedented levels of leisure money ready to be spent. These mod young suburbanites were primarily being sold on the smaller, less than 150cc brand of motorbikes – they’re cheaper and less intimidating. Perfect for the wannabe jet-setting playboys of the New Generation.
And, as you might expect, the primary consumers were males – and, thus, the primary means of marketing these motorbikes was the “sex sells” approach. Just throw in some groovy chicks to the advertising and the easily duped male consumers will believe a “Yamaha Street Scrambler” was his sure ticket to getting the ladies.
So, let’s have a look at some 1960s advertising (and a few from the early 70s) which target the up-and-coming, horny white male, flush with cash. Enjoy.
-Flashbak
