Heath Cofran; A Fashion Forward Brand Focused on Motorcycle Safety

If you’ve followed me for any length of time, you know that I love motorcycles. 

There’s nothing better than getting out on the open road on two wheels. Not only that, but the camaraderie found in riding a motorcycle is second to none.

For all its pleasure, there is a dark side to riding. Chance are if you’ve ridden a bike for some time, you probably know a guy who knows a guy who had a few tussles on the road.

For the longest time, I always dressed for the worst-case scenario. When all that exists between your bike and the road is the leathers you wear, it’s important to have the right gear. 

That’s why I was so excited to have Heath Cofran on our latest episode of The Art of Making Things Happen with me, Steve Sims. 

Heath is the head of Communications & Branding at Alpinestars, a fashion-forward brand that puts a heavy emphasis on safety. If you’ve ever bought one of their many fashionable lines of apparel, you know one thing — you feel as fashionable as you feel safe. 

A Man and His Motorcycle 

While Heath is the first to admit that he got into riding motorcycles late, he always had a thing for them. He was always a big fan of Evel Knievil. 

Evel was his sole inspiration for his very first motorcycle, a Triumph Bonneville. He explains that when Evel jumped Ceaser’s, he was on a Triumph, so when Triumph came out with the modern-classic Bonneville, he jumped at the chance to own one himself. 

Even today, his Triumph is decorated in Evel Knievel fashion. 

He has driven his Triumph over 120,000 miles in two different countries and 19 states. He has done flat track racing, hooligan racing, regular tracks, motocross racing, and more. 

A Dream Job Emerges

Through his experience on his bike, he fell into doing commercials for Harley Davidson and eventually helped them select riders and trained them for commercials. 

Although he went to school for engineering and marketing, his love of working in the motorcycle industry grew. It eventually led to his dream job, which married his interests in engineering, marketing, and motorcycles.

After a stint of working as a cameraman for Jamie Robinson, he landed a role in a commercial for Alpinestars when Jamie couldn’t make a shoot. 

It was a serendipitous moment that would change his life. During the commercial shoot, the team asked him to apply for their media position based on his background, and the rest was history.

A Brand Focused on Rider Safety

Alpinestars is a fashion-forward company that focuses on rider safety. As the brand has grown, it has put a heavy emphasis on designing gear that’s fashionable and safe.

The company spends a considerable amount of time on research and development. One of their mainstays is the Tech Air, an airbag safety feature that makes riders safer. 

For the last 15 years, they have been perfecting their design by studying the movements riders make before crashes. The data they have generated helped them make a  fashionable and functional design simultaneously! 

Sensors read a motorist’s movements and react in milliseconds. They inflate when the sensors detect a rider may crash, protecting their upper body from the devastating effects of high-speed crashes. 

It’s this dedication to motorcycle safety that has made Alpinestars a beloved brand by motorcycle enthusiasts all over the globe. 

Looking for More Great Interviews? 

Alpinestars have built a brand on fulfilling a giant need in the motorcycle industry. 

If you’re an entrepreneur looking to build an unforgettable brand, start by solving a massive problem. It’s the same advice that this billionaire quoted in a past interview. 

If you’re a motorcycle enthusiast, do yourself a favor, check out Alpinestars. 

As always, if you’re looking for more great interviews about entrepreneurism and more, please check out The Art of Making Things Happen Podcast with Steve Sims.