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People are getting lost in the argument about how "expensive" the sport is becoming. The number one reason (IMHO), and it has been mentioned previously, is the lack of discretionary income for the middle class. I can't speak for everyone, but the cost of living for me has far out-paced income growth, and it's the same for the vast majority of people I know who used to ride/race, etc..
If you're into riding dirt bikes, you'll find a way to ride dirt bikes.
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I make descent money but I am not loaded by any means. I just cut out a lot of the luxuries so I am able to have a bunch of toys and can comfortably live. I drove a beat to shit 1994 Toyota Paseo for years, a few of my friends told me they would not be caught dead in it....but it saved me a lot money. I put a lot in the bank and now have a very managable mortgage. So I can have dirt bike an Rx7 projects without worrying about having to eat this week.
They werent any different than an 85 today really. Think about that.
As always, I'm not speaking in absolutes.
People in California say there loosing
Riding ground but money not as much of
An issue. MI says money good and car sales
Are great. Others from different states claim
Different opinions back and fourth then bring up
Mountain biking in place of the actual Forum.
The real issue is none of these brought up
Will help our real cause if we do not stand together
And give answers.
The industry should be working on governments over those things that you mentioned or it will b all over very soo
You want to ride, you figured it out. Keep it up and have fun!!
Americans Lead World in ABility to Justify Unnecessary Purchases
Pit Row
I had all the negatives going against me. Family divorced, no one was into moto or motorcycles,not much money and no idea about how to get on a track. I did have private land to ride on. Dirt roads, too. Having the ability to ride everyday was huge. I did that until after college then got a better bike and started to race.
But there's also metric tons of wasted capital. Nobody needs three flat screen TV's and this year's Galaxy S137.3^6
The "bad" facts I see:
* Middleclass income not keep pace - absolutely
* Too many classes so you wait all day - absolutely - when I started in the 90's everyone hated being the class after the 50's because it took so long. Key word: THE 50 CLASS. Now almost all races are after a 50 class LOL
* Good kids not racing anymore - absolutely - used to be all good racers raced every weekend at the local tracks, now they just want to "train"
* Not enough track time – True, but also debatable
* People doing other things because they like it more - Maybe, but don't get me started on substituting MTB'ing. MTB’ing in almost no way compares to riding a dirt bike. You are on two wheels on dirt I guess, but the feeling is no way close to hitting the power on a good dirt bike and railing a berm or ripping up a hill. Or of course actually motocross racing. Sorry I don't buy it. Rip me if you want, I am not dissing MTB, I have and ride one, I am just saying it is not even close to the felling of ripping around on a dirt bike, completely different experience.
* It takes too much time - absolutely, but are you really wasting it doing the other things you have to do to be able to ride?
The "good" facts:
* If you want to ride you will still find a way. As workscracer said. - I race a 2007 KX250. I used to love getting combined with the 250 class when I was on my 125 (vary rare). It was so fun to beat them on it. Now I get the same feeling blowing by the 9000 dollar 450's on a 10 year old 2-stroke that still rips. Fun is what it is about.
* So many classes - I can now easily ride 3 different ones on race day if I want. However, I also don't buy this excuse of "I can go practice and ride 3 hours instead of 30 minutes." Well go do it then but you are not racing, and racing is what we love. Also, are you really not tired after a 5 lap moto? Are you in such good shape you want to race a 30 minute moto? I am ready for a break after a short practice and intense 5 lap moto. Am I out of shape? Probably, but no more so than 80% of every one out there. But I don't trail ride or "practice" while I am at a race. I race and race hard so I am ready for a break. And I best most people are as well. But I do get it, I sometimes go nuts waiting for all the 50 and 60 classes. I guess I need my son to start racing
* It takes a lot of time - You bet it does, but I love most every minute of it. I get up at 6:00am and drive 2 hours; I have a good breakfast, coffee, talk to the family a bit on the way. And think and get excited about the race and how lucky I am to not be sitting on the couch waiting for some TV show to start. I enjoy the time between the races, going to the different vendors even if you don't get anything, looking at other people’s bikes. Just BEING a part of the races. I enjoy the 2 hour drive home after getting sore and tired and "feeling it" and thinking about the day, then have a good dinner on the way home. I enjoy spending the 10 or 12 hours with my family racing, even though I only "raced" 30 minutes.
The big, main, real hurdle I see is it is very hard to do this sport alone. So the next time you pull through the gate and give them your 10 (or 40) bucks just to drive in, look over at the person/people who are with you and thank them. Thank them from the bottom of your heart, because you are getting to go race motocross. There is nothing like it.
500 bucks.
In 1982 2 80 cc race bikes in a crate was 1283 dollars.
In 1983 it was 1200 for 2 because we bought 4.
Whoever said back then 35-40 grand was a good salary.
Most people make that or less today.
In 1982 my mothers salary was 120K.
That same job today pays 43,000 with a starting salary of 28K.
That, people, is the result of cheap labor being available. Ill let you decipher the meaning of that.
Every now and then, I take my rusty old '06 YZ250 out for a spin in the desert. I can't afford to fix the leaky fork seals, wasted caliper that needs a rebuild or the janky steering stem bearings, but she still runs (for now).
And they wonder why we're not buying $10,000 450s...
Maybe more have no real need of it in their homes.
We grew up with 3 tv channels, now there is 300 channels and less interesting stuff on tv than when we just had 3. We also grew up in Florida without air conditioning in the house or in my parents car. But man we had fun, my dad hooked up the toys, skim boarding and surfing.
With all the access to information on the internet people are less educated than ever before but they can tell you about the slice of toast that had Jesus face on it or the tomato that was shaped like a rabbit.
The only thing the internet has donee for these people is given them easier access to porn, useless trivia and farmers.com, they can't even torque sprocket bolts properly.
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