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I go to the beach with my 30-something nieces and they won't go close to the water without a lifeguard. Many young people I meet are all depressed about climate change and resources...one girl told me "why would I have a kid when there are so many people in the world already." You go out to eat and they drink water and vegetarian Burritos.
Even the "action sports" era of a few years back seems to be fading. To be replaced by endless worry... I guess my point is everybody acts like life is about raw survival these days, not any type of risk-taking for fun.
Introducing motorycles to people in a non threatening way is needed for most younger people today. Going to a supercross for the first time might get a few people interested, but for the industry to grow, you need to look at new avenues such as Alta and their ebikes.
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Does anyone not remember 97 to 07? Sure, today there are solid turnouts at the big races, but what about locally? I've seen waayyyyy more tracks close than open, the same can be said about shops. My local racing scene is dismal compared to the glory years, and has been for years.
Ya, basically back in the day the big companies would aggressively market, now days, not so much. Motorcycles are a far superior way to commute, yet few do for fear of their lives. I don't commute, but if I did, it would be on a bike on all days except below 30 degrees or loads of rain (riding on-road in the rain SUCKS).
B ) I posit a reasonable and fun bike should be significantly cheaper both in insurance and purchase price used Corolla, let alone your truck.
C ) You already stated everything is good in your era. So you are ok. I am speaking as a motorcyclist coming up, having ex-racing parents. I was never great, but convincing others, my spouse, my children of the financial resiliency of the sport is difficult. And, don't get me wrong, I'm fine financially. But as fine as it is to look at your truck, to look at mine (which probably isn't quite as cool), it's easy to see that decent trucks does not assess the ground level of our sport.
On road the bottom line is that it's getting really dangerous to ride street bikes anymore with all the distracted driving, texting, phone calls, etc. We planned on being a 1 car family after moving to Arizona and having street bikes. Then we rode the street bike here and realized it just isn't safe. We sold it and bought another car.
Read it again.
Just imagine for a second that Kawasaki does something reckless and says, "New for 2018, a limited edition KX500 two stroke. We are only making 500 of them!" The way people scoop up Factory Edition KTM's at +$10,000, I would think all of those KX's would gone in preorders.
Give people back, what they have been asking for. Honda could do the same with new takes on their old line....the TRX250R would be a homerun as well.
Sounds more like the industry is asking, "Why aren't people buying the stuff we want them to buy."
I have a 2017 Road Glide Special, I paid $22k for it and i thought that was a lot of money. Apparently there are people who think otherwise as i see $40K CVO's on the floor.
I would love to buy an ADV bike, but theres another $15K, that is just too much. I will wait around and get one on the used market.
Prices are insane. I remember my first brand new bike was a new 1981 CR125R and it cost a whopping $900!
Pit Row
But for the article, pay attention to it. Kids don’t want motorcycles anymore and that’s bad news.
There are 3 letters missing.
AMA.
They were created, almost a century ago, with the goal to promote and grow, heck some would say save, the industry back then.
What have they done lately?
Besides offer free towing.
Any ads on TV promoting the lifestyle?
How about radio.
Anyone catch an ad in USA Today on the sport of motorcycling?
I know I haven't.
Besides the magazine, which only existing members get, or the exposure that comes from the different
racing venues, which by the way pay The AMA, what the f@@@ are they doing to promote us to the general public?
Would it kill the budget, are things that tight in Ohio, to run even a few 15 second spots on a few mainstream
programs?
One wonders, is the guy running that organization, with his vision of cloning a 2 wheel AAA, the right guy for the job? Is that the way to secure motorcyclings future growth?
How many here salivate at the thought of free roadside assistance?
Or 15% off a motel bill?
Anyone?
Is that what got you into bikes?
Yes, they say, and probably do, fight for our rights in DC. And I'm not saying that isn't something to be ignored, or taken lightly.
But, that was not their Mission Statement in the beginning.
In ones opinion, they need to read their history, where they came from, and maybe get back to some of that.
They hold a great responsibility to the welfare, and well being of this industry.
Keeping it in the public eye, assuring interest, assuring growth, can and should not be left to the manufacturers and race promoters alone.
If the powers that be, at the very top of the AMA, don't see that, or maybe don't believe that, or don't want to do that, well, maybe it's time for a change, to someone that does.
I agree the price of motorcycles today isnt doing the industry any favors, but it certainly isnt the biggest factor.
Motorycles did well in the past because they were "cool". That isnt the case anymore, phones are cool and technology is cool. Why buy a motorcycle when you can buy a phone to show off to your friends?
The people that can possibly afford them live in the city where theres nowhere to ride, the few riding areas that do exist are not able to stay in business, all free public land is restricted from riding.
The few people that live in rural land and can afford to ride cant keep the industry alive.
On the street, its gotten so dangerous and bikes are so expensive.
Its a niche industry for well to do folks, its not like selling Corollas. (I was going to say Civics but who can afford one anymore???)
Motorcycle popularity has been on the decline longer than it was ever on the upswing, especially in the USA. It was a boom. And except for the flurry of activity in the early 2000's (which centered around cruisers and touring, not sport machines), the decline has been pretty consistent since about 1980.
I've been involved with industries much, much smaller than motorcycles, and they're still there, still truckin' along with new products and new niches, one after another, just like always. Personally, I could give 2 shits if motorcycling keeps shrinking. I'm not worried. It will always be here in my lifetime. One can only pretend to care what happens when they are gone.
This state we're in also reaffirms my suspicions that most people don't actually give a shit about the environment. What is more efficient than a motorcycle? They use less oil, less fuel, less rubber, and require the smallest carbon footprint to manufacture. They also do much less wear & tear to the roads...which, last time I checked, were also made out of oil.
Why don't enviro groups promote scooters and motorcycles as a more eco alternatives to cars? Even electric motorcycles are going to be 10 time more efficient than electric cars..
Why are scooters and motorcycles not being subsidized by the government for this purpose? or at the very least promoted?
Why don't manufacturers make it a huge point? They should be cramming this "eco solution" down your throat.
The average , single person, transportation device in the U.S. has 7 cylinders and 4.2l displacement and uses more oil in one year than a mid-sized motorcycle will use in 10. Thats just stupid.
no one has ever mentioned the seventies and millennial together. general consensus?
(Im 29, 1988)
This issue is Two Folds, My dad is a baby boomer so he got me into riding when i was 14 in 2004.
Rode a great deal from 14 till about 20. Had to start working and going to school and picked up the sport of hockey. (Mainly due to accessibility, i could go to work and still go play afterwards, almost every damn day)
The issue i see with me and my colleagues, Is that one new bikes are expensive especially when your job isn't even coming close to 50k a year. (even for people with degrees). The second issue has everything to do with getting to riding spots. its far and there is no way you can do anything else with your day, sitting in 1-1/2 hours of traffic going and 2 hrs of traffic heading back home... plus the fees and maintenance cost...and if it explodes your ass aint riding for awhile cost wise
There is hope on the horizon though... Electric bikes,
whoever in the motorcycle industry can make a mx or on-road electric bike thats fun as shit and cost sub 6k (probably impossible) and you would see a fucking explosion from the millennials....Combustion will always have a spot in the heart... but electric will allow old riding spots to come back... and you can sneak off and moto around your neighborhood as the only way to get caught would be for someone to literally watch you (and call the cops on your spot)... because with no sound you can literally do what ever.
I feel like motorcycles have a silver-bullet... but either the technology isn't where it should be battery wise.. or somebody is afraid to go all in.
Post a reply to: No easy ride: Motorcycle industry is in deep trouble and needs help fast, panel agrees