BIKER BARBIE -- SHE'S NO TOY, SHE'S AN INVESTMENT

Dazzling in black leather and studs, she's a biker's dreamgirl. She's also one of the most sought-after ladies in the land.Forget your Sleep & Snore Barney and the Sony Play Station.

The item really in demand this holiday season is the HarleyBarbie doll by Mattel.

Since her debut in July, this limited-edition Barbie isbringing in double -- sometimes triple -- her $60 retail price. Itis rumored that prices on the Internet have reached $500, but asearch turned up only offerings for $135.Barbie Doll collectors and Harley-Davidson memorabiliacollectors, both avid in their passion, are in hot pursuit. Thedoll is available only at Toys "R" Us and some Harley dealersacross the country."We get at least 15 calls a day requesting the Harley Barbies,"said Dianne Brinkworth, vice president of Buffalo Harley-Davidson."We placed an order with Mattel when the doll came out, but wewere told that due to the huge dealer demand all orders were cut inhalf. The dolls we received were pre-sold and we can't reorder,"she said. "I wish we could."It's the same story at Toys "R" Us.Michelle Gospodarski, manager of the chain's Amherst store,said the demand was high even earlier this year before HarleyBarbie came out."Through the Internet, Barbie collectors knew when she wascoming out and what stores would have them and how much they cost,so they were buying them early," she said.There was a waiting list before they arrived at the store."They're in such demand, we were taking rain checks for them sothey never made it to the shelf," Ms. Gospodarski said. "Now we'vestopped issuing the rain checks."By combining two American icons, Harley-Davidson and Barbie,you have a creation that a large segment of population can relateto immediately. In fact, both companies, definitive experts atmarketing, didn't have to do much at all to fuel the demand forthis instant hit.It appears little girls won't be playing with the HarleyBarbies. They are being purchased mainly by collectors who willnever let them out of their see-through package to, heaven forbid,be played with, and speculators seeking a quick profit."It's an adult-directed collectible doll," Sara Rosales,manager of public relations for Mattel Inc., says from her officeat corporate headquarters in El Segundo, Calif.The company would not say how many dolls are being produced.Everyone knows motorcycles are the primary business ofHarley-Davidson, and you might wonder why its name is on a Barbiedoll, a far cry from leathers and chrome.The company has been increasing its licensing activity to"create an awareness of the brand among the non-riding public,"according to documents filed with the Securities and ExchangeCommission.Donna, from somewhere in cyberspace, saysthe main reason she collects Barbies is that "they can produce anincredible profit and it is a carried-over hobby from childhoodwhen times were pure and simple. The newer Barbies are doctors,dentists, paleontologists, soldiers and even president! Thisrepresents how far women have come in just a short time."Johnny in South Dakota has been collecting Barbies sincechildhood. She sees Barbie "doing exactly what she was meant to:providing children with a means to fantasize their dreams and playthem out."David, a toy collector, said he bought the "Biker Chick Barbie"and a few specific others because of their unique reflection ofpopular culture."This Barbie was the blending of two unlikely cultural icons,almost absurd in their marriage, but so natural a symbol ofAmerican culture that there is identifiable familiarity about her,"he wrote."We know this Barbie. Not fragile like Wedding Day Barbie, butstill a woman. Pretty, but a little bit too much makeup (check outthat lip liner), kind of rebellious. Notice there is no Harley Ken.This Barbie can take care of herself."