Despite being conceived in 1903, Harley-Davidson and the motorcycle industry as a whole didn't really take off until after World War II. Many people rode motorcycles during the war, and Harley-Davidson itself supplied nearly 90,000 motorcycles to the US Army during this time. Many veterans chose to purchase motorcycles upon returning home, as they enjoyed riding during the war and wanted to continue riding in their civilian lives. This generation known as "baby-boomers" quickly became the primary target audience for many of Harley-Davidson's marketing initiatives. As sales increased and the industry grew, many "motorcycle clubs" and "gatherings" were introduced. Unfortunately, due to the lewd behavior displayed by most people associated with these clubs and rallies, bikers typically had an image of being disorderly and rowdy. Harley-Davidson's image itself took a big hit thanks to the Hells Angels. This was a motorcycle gang who wished to become famous for "drug trafficking and other organized criminal activities", who used only Harley-Davidson motorcycles. All of this led to a decline in demand and sales throughout the industry during the 1960s. The industry was really helped by the release of the Hollywood film Easy Rider in 1969. This film helped change the public's perception of motorcyclists and triggered an increase in demand for motorcycles that lasts to this day. The motorcycle industry offers products that can be viewed as luxuries or wants as opposed to necessities. As for Harley-Davidson, the majority of motorcycle owners purchased their motorcycle as a second vehicle, using it more on weekends and in their free time rather than during the work week. This implies that motorcycles serve recreational purposes and are therefore an item that can sometimes be expendable. This has hurt the industry recently with the slight recession the US economy is facing. Another interesting thing to note about the motorcycle industry is the different appeal that bicycles have in different regions of the world. In the United States, for example, Harley-Davidson has been very successful due to market trends and people's popular tastes. Harley-Davidson has benefited from a U.S. market that enjoys casual and recreational riding. This is not necessarily the case abroad, as in Europe the trendier choice is a more stylish road bike, with a focus on speed and handling rather than power and comfort.