E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

Message
Author
User avatar
ceemes
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2153
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:35 pm
Real Name: a big secret
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 26
My Motorcycle: 1998 Triumph Trophy
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada, Sol 3, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Known Universe.

E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#1 Unread post by ceemes »

Been battling a slight head cold for a week now and ran out of my favourite Fisherman's Friend lozenges, so during my lunch break yesterday, I wandered down to local Shell Station come Convenience store to pick up a pack. Did a wee bit of a double take when I saw their latest promotion plastered on their door.

Seems they have teamed up with Monster Energy Drink to give away a 2011 Yamaha YZF-R1.......and the only restrictions to entering the contest and winning this beast is you have to be 18, that and be able to log on to their web site and fill out a simple ballot.

Okay, I know that Shell and Monster Energy Drink have teamed up to sponsor the AMA Super Bike Series and I generally applaud anything that promotes motorcycling. But I really think they are making one hell of a big mistake with this promotion. It is open to anyone, even those who never been on a bike in their life and the odds of some newbie winning this beast are pretty high. Basically what Shell and Monster Energy Drink is potentially doing is akin to giving a kid with who drivers licence ink is still wet an F1 race car and telling to him to have fun driving it in traffic.

Monster's target demographic are young males, between the ages of teen-something and early 20's. Not the demographic you generally think about when it comes to putting rational thought ahead of irrational action. And definitely not the demographic you think of as having enough saddle time and experience to handle an R6 class of bike let alone an R1.

A lot of us here have spend considerable amount of time and energy trying to steer newbie riders into getting proper training, gear and more importantly, the correct bike to start out on. When so-called responsible Corporations pull a promotion stunt like this, they are not doing us any favours, unless of course one of us who has the skills and experience to handle this bike is lucky enough to win it. So, I will give them an E for Effort for promoting the sport of Motorcycling, but an EF for EPIC FAIL for picking the Yamaha YZF-R1 as the prize.
Always ask why.

Image

User avatar
mogster
Legendary 750
Legendary 750
Posts: 949
Joined: Sat Mar 26, 2011 10:06 am
Real Name: MOG
Sex: Female
Years Riding: 14
My Motorcycle: Speed Triple 1050 se '09
Location: Dorset, UK

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#2 Unread post by mogster »

Perhaps TMW could contact Shell + whoever makes Monster Energy drink to inform them of concerns of motorcycle community?

If they included a training package as well it could be used as excellent PR!

The racing scene should also pitch in with support for training.
MOG
:party:

The roar of her mighty TRIUMPH was heard throughout the land

Image

User avatar
sunshine229
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 1846
Joined: Sun Nov 23, 2003 12:02 pm
Real Name: Andrea aka Mrs. Total Motorcycle
Sex: Female
Years Riding: 14
My Motorcycle: 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
Location: Waterloo, ON

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#3 Unread post by sunshine229 »

Wow, what a great contest but I totally understand where you're coming from Ceemes! Someone like us would love to win an FZ1 but you are right, the target demographic is not really us...

I think Mike had a contact at Shell a while back... I'll speak to him and see if we can be in contact to voice our concerns. Wouldn't it be great if TMW could twist their arms to also offer a free riding course and even some gear? What a cool idea MOG!

:mrgreen:
Andrea :sun:

User avatar
totalmotorcycle
Administrator
Administrator
Posts: 29679
Joined: Sat Nov 22, 2003 1:00 pm
Real Name: Mike
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 32
My Motorcycle: 2013 Moto Guzzi V7 Stone
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#4 Unread post by totalmotorcycle »

Let me see what I can do, I do have a contact from Shell a few years back.

Mike
NEW 2024 Motorcycle Model Guides
2023 Motorcycle Model Guides

Total Motorcycle is official Media/Press for Aprilia, Benelli, Beta, Bimota, BMW, Brammo, Buell, Can-Am, CCW, Ducati, EBR, Harley-Davidson, Honda, Husqvarna, Husaberg, Hyosung, Indian, Kawasaki, KTM, KYMCO, LiveWire, Moto Guzzi, Moto Morini, MV Agusta, Norton, Phantom, Piaggio, Polaris, Ridley, Roehr, Royal Enfield, Suzuki, Triumph, Ural, Vespa, Victory, Yamaha and Zero.

User avatar
JC Viper
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2198
Joined: Mon Apr 03, 2006 9:12 pm
Real Name: JC
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 7
My Motorcycle: 1984 Kawasaki GPz900R
Location: New York, NY

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#5 Unread post by JC Viper »

I don't see a problem with it. I've seen people who get sponsored to race with only a year or so riding under their belt and they weren't really any good.
One thing you can count on: You push a man too far, and sooner or later he'll start pushing back.

Image

User avatar
ceemes
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2153
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:35 pm
Real Name: a big secret
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 26
My Motorcycle: 1998 Triumph Trophy
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada, Sol 3, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Known Universe.

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#6 Unread post by ceemes »

JC Viper wrote:I don't see a problem with it. I've seen people who get sponsored to race with only a year or so riding under their belt and they weren't really any good.
Bit of a difference between sponsoring a bad rider on the race curcuit and handing over a full on 1 litre class sport bike to a noob to use on the streets.
Always ask why.

Image

User avatar
Grey Thumper
Legendary 1000
Legendary 1000
Posts: 1434
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:21 pm
Real Name: Dino
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 9
My Motorcycle: 2004 BMW R1150Rockster, 2015 BMW R1200GS
Location: Manila, Philippines

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#7 Unread post by Grey Thumper »

Marlboro does that a lot here too. Last time they had some sort of promo, the grand prizes were an Aprilia RSV4, Ducati 1198, an R1 and a Gixxer thou. Most winners end up selling the bike (I assume to get something more practical, like uh, cash), but if you're a total noob who actually wants to keep and ride the thing, sadly, it's perfectly legal.
"If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be."

User avatar
ceemes
Legendary 2000
Legendary 2000
Posts: 2153
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 5:35 pm
Real Name: a big secret
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 26
My Motorcycle: 1998 Triumph Trophy
Location: Burnaby, BC, Canada, Sol 3, the Milky Way Galaxy, the Known Universe.

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#8 Unread post by ceemes »

Grey Thumper wrote:Marlboro does that a lot here too. Last time they had some sort of promo, the grand prizes were an Aprilia RSV4, Ducati 1198, an R1 and a Gixxer thou. Most winners end up selling the bike (I assume to get something more practical, like uh, cash), but if you're a total noob who actually wants to keep and ride the thing, sadly, it's perfectly legal.
Given the traffic and road conditions in you part of the world, especially outside of Manila, I can see why you would sell those bikes for something more practical, such as a 250. Plus I guess even the resell price of any those bikes would equal a few years pay for majority of Philippino's.
Always ask why.

Image

User avatar
Grey Thumper
Legendary 1000
Legendary 1000
Posts: 1434
Joined: Wed Apr 25, 2007 11:21 pm
Real Name: Dino
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 9
My Motorcycle: 2004 BMW R1150Rockster, 2015 BMW R1200GS
Location: Manila, Philippines

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#9 Unread post by Grey Thumper »

ceemes wrote:Given the traffic and road conditions in you part of the world, especially outside of Manila, I can see why you would sell those bikes for something more practical, such as a 250. Plus I guess even the resell price of any those bikes would equal a few years pay for majority of Philippino's.
Hell yeah. Even I'd sell a literbike if I won one. Who needs a supersport in these roads? :motorcycle1:
"If you ride like there's no tomorrow, there won't be."

User avatar
storysunfolding
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 3882
Joined: Wed Sep 21, 2005 10:20 am
Sex: Male
Years Riding: 22
My Motorcycle: Vstrom 650, S1000RR, XS850, ZX6R
Location: Reston Virginia

Re: E for Effort..and an EF for Epic Fail

#10 Unread post by storysunfolding »

I don't think we'll be able to convince shell. I think the best thing we can do is use our numbers to enter as many ballots for Storysunfolding as possible. After all, as a track instructor he's probably the best qualified in the US to get this handled correctly. :)
My Blog

Grasp life by the handlebars

Post Reply