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I think it’s time to put the bong down….
They need to lower the costs to get into the sport. THAT'S THE BIGGEST ISSUE. Its a lot of damn money if they are interested enough to start at 5 years old. I started at age 13 coming from riding BMX and worked out fine. Went thru 3 bikes before I was buying my own. Honestly we need the prices of bikes, gear, and exhaust to be dropped by 40%. That's the only way you are going to make this sport thrive again.
We need a modern Hodaka 100. Cheap, reliable, easy to maintain. I feel like late 90s suspension and brakes, with a 2 valve 4 stroke engine about 300-350cc, that could sell for less than $6k otd. Keep the bike the same for 6-8 years at a time. Something right between a CRF230 and CRF250R.
There’s definitely a gap in the market between play bikes and race bikes. Maybe KTM could fill the gap?
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I've never paid "extra" for races...if the channel they were on was included in whatever cable subscription I had at the time, I watched them. If they weren't, I just didn't watch them. So because I've never planned my TV programming around mx/sx I'd say I've never paid to watch SX/MX.
Apart from those whose income has not kept up, it's because motocrossers love to bitch. That's why MXA remains popular.
Moto people will dump all kinds of cash on bikes and gear, so there must be an image payoff that leaves people happy even if they bought $1k TI exhaust that will make zero performance difference to the rider.
The local land access issue is the biggest challenge the sport has.
You can't copy Drive to Survive, as many are adcocating for. It was lightning in a bottle. Many have tried and failed because F1 was already in a position of strength.
I think motocross, for the most part, is a leader in 'content'. You have a wide range of videos and magazines. You have big characters. You have documentaries etc... Your sport has been doing all this this already.
I think as a sport you're probably punching above your weight more than anything.
I grew up with the desert 5 houses up the street...I'd come home from school, and me and all my friends would hop on our xr80's (then eventually CR80's...we all loved honda's) and head to the hills and we'd ride the rest of the day...virtually every home in my neighborhood had quads and/or dirt bikes. Without that open public land up the street, nobody in my neighborhood would have gotten into riding.
Where I live now, there is no open riding within riding distance...so its at minimum a 30 minute trailer/truck ride to the closest open riding area...not bad...but I don't ride nearly as much as I could, if I could just ride out my garage to the public land that is two blocks down the street but closed to riding (the duck/pheasant hunters make sure its open to hunting, but its closed to riding because people complained)....
The entire motosports industry (manufacturers, aftermarket companies, dealerships, pro race teams and riders, etc. etc.) is screwing themselves by ignoring land use issues...the manufacturers, aftermarket companeis should be funneling tons of money to keep land open to riding, dealerships should be including memberships to ama/BRC/ETC with every machine purchases...pro riders and racers should be using their sphere of influence to encourage people to join those organizations and to join the fight...
Same here on the Eastern side of the country. Growing up In the mid/late 70’s in western Pa, my neighborhood had at least 10-15 kids that had bikes,and any combination of us would be riding every afternoon after school. We were pretty fortunate that our neighborhood bordered a bunch of woodlands,and we would roll out of the garage over the hill and onto one of our loops, and probably had 4 other places to ride within a 10 minute ride. Also, In a quick count in my head, we had at least 7 AMA Dist 5 tracks located within 30-40 miles of us. Every single weekend we had a race to go to, and almost every single weekend we had FULL gates , even in the “A” classes . People always talk about “growing the sport “ ,but on the local scene ,I’d just like to see it back to the 70-80 levels . There’s certainly a bunch of obstacles to overcome,and unfortunately I have no solution
Damn
I just love the brutal honesty of my Fellow Old Moto Bro’s.
California doesn't allow new motocross bikes in state vehicle recreation areas.
Electric is the only way to get past this without overturning law.
The sport cannot grow without solving this.
But you are paying a pretty hefty price tag to watch TV, it's not free, just because SX/MX is included in the hefty price tag that you have been conditioned to pay...does not make it free. I would also add, throughout most of my life, most of the "basic" cable packages available have not included the channels that SX/MX is on, you have had to pay for a more "premium" package.
Bottom line, a $5 subscription to Peacock is not stopping the sport from growing. Hell, if you're the type (like me) who has never paid $100-$300/month just to watch cable TV, Peacock is actually growing the sport because I pay to watch it!
Yeah you can look at it that way...but I don't. I pay for cable...if moto is on, great, if not, also great. If I paid for a premium upgrade just to watch moto, then I'd agree with you on that.
But, the reality is, this sport will never be main stream (I don't even want it to) and it's probably as big as its ever going to get...but those that do want it to grow and be mainstream, looking to TV (free or paid) isn't the solution (and there is no point in placing the blame there either)...it's convenient riding areas...that's the solution. A kid seeing his buddy/ies riding past their house, every day is eventually going to start begging his parents for a bike, which they might eventually give in to...this doesn't happen nearly as often when all they see are bikes in the backs of trucks or on trailers. And if it does, no parents-who don't ride-are going to drive 1-2 hours just so their kid can ride...but if their kid can ride out of their garage down the street and ride for hours it changes everything. This is one of the reasons I'm a fan of electric...they aren't perfect, but they can be ridden close to homes so much easier.
I never once thought about formula one racing as something to watch. To me it was below nascar for the boring racing.
I watched netflix Drive to Survive and it got me hook line and sinker. You want a really cool fan experience.....subscribe to Formula one TV. I couldn't imagine how cool MOTO would be with this kind of show. But I would pay about whatever they wanted.....I put Formula one right up there with Moto for me now...I don't miss a race because I know all the drivers and the weekday stuff they put in to be the best....thats cool.
The moto: inside the outdoors is probably more comparable. I think Troy did that one also
I know it was a paid thing. I was saying that if they could get some MX content like that , on a network that is already in a lot of homes like USA( since USA has had a NASCAR show that was a soap opera style and MX/SXr aces will be shown on USA) . The chance of people bumping into it as they are looking for something to watch would increase over a situation where they have to search it out. There is a lot of amazing MX content out there now , that is FREE . Maybe not the same kind of story telling or drama. But there is not a lack of free content for people who search it out. I think that getting something in that style on a network along with reruns of races and the show itself , maybe some of the great past races . Something that can let people get to know some of the racers. That they can happen on while looking for something to watch. It could get it jumpstarted. You where probable not making your comment on what I had said. But since I made a mile long post that had "That F1 show " in it I figured I would make a shorter post about my idea. Puting the racers Youtube or instagram on the bottom of the screen while interviewing at the races would be another way to help people get to know the racers more. And then have a favorite. I know I am more invested in watching a race with a local racer in it that I know . A lot of the vlogs and podcasters make you feel like you know the people doing them. If more riders where doing stuff like the Degans it could get some of the racers personalities out there that might not show when they do the 12 second podium interviews. Look at the privateers that Pulp has helped people get to know and what it has done for them. I will start to ask my family members , and their friends what they think of Motocross , and if they would or wouldn't watch a race and why. Maybe we are all just too close to the sport.
I blame the amateur promoters mostly. Any given saturday you have 30 classes with four lap motos. Sharp aggressive tracks that are just not fun for older or less agressive riders. Its interesting that local hare scrambles are doing really well at the grass roots level. A few hours of great riding for a single entry fee.
I think motocross could do well if the amateur promotors bring back longer motos on a more natural terrain style of track. Give people some actual seat time on a track that is enjoyable to ride. Not everyone is looking to race Anaheim style obstacles on the weekend. I for one am just tired and done with the amateur national style racing at local events. Have to pay for three classes to get a full day of riding. And then you have to spend most of the day waiting in staging to go out with your class because of the general disorganization that comes from running 30 or more seperate classes on a single race day.
Yeah I started doing local hare scrambles and will never go back to the amateur MX circuses
Completely up to you, but if you want more people to read your posts, you might consider sticking in some paragraphs regularly... Otherwise it's just a "wall of text"
Pit Row
This industry is mature enough that it boils down to business. Grow the sport or not, they are going to get every $ out they can because it's their jobs. With general inflation this year everyone can fold back on that as an excuse to raise prices anyways.
As others have said, open riding areas and cheaper bikes are they key. In the last 30 years with riding areas closing near urban centers there are less places to go where most of the people are.
Growing up in the 80s, I could ride out of my house, living in a rural area 10 minutes from town. Now that area is all track homes and no open riding areas.
I think the growth of mountain bikes in the 90s and now e-bikes are directing alot of young riders to mountain bikes to ride near home where you can't ride a dirt bike. It's not even a cost savings - have you seen the prices of mountain bikes lately? Makes a Works/Factory Edition MX bike look a little cheaper. But you can ride without spending hours in a truck to get someplace.
I think it’s a bit rich for mxa to slam 10k bikes. They are the ones who have endlessly promoted the Austrian bikes as best in class, regardless (and seemingly in complete disregard) of their cost vs the Japanese bikes. Case in point the latest 250 shootout. The two most expensive bikes are ranked 1st and second, and the two cheapest bikes were ranked last and second last. Beyond stating the prices, there seems zero consideration given to cost of each bike in the results.
Its not about being free, its about the average person flipping through the channels and end up watching a race. They like it start watching the series end up purchasing a bike gear etc.That is how the sport grows. Streaming does not allow this. Again it’s not about paying for programing hell cable and DirecTV cost a lot more than streaming the races.
Whilst your theory about flicking through the channels and becoming a fan would be perfect, it is simply not likely to happen, at least on a large scale.
once they look at costings and accessibility, they’ll choose the other sport instead. Nice idea, but not gonna happen.
people become fans by participating, not by watching.
It's true. Local racing has turned into a dick measuring contest of who can attain the most debt.
Growing the sport has absolutely nothing to do with tv
if that we’re the case why was it at its peak in the 70s when hardly any of the races were even televised?
You grow the sport by having easy access to riding areas, tracks and a reasonable entry cost.
if I didn’t already have a healthy addiction to Mx there’s no way in hell I would get involved as an outsider looking in
you want me to go spend thousands on s bike and gear and then pay 50 dollars a day to ride on s track where I’m probably just gonna end up getting hurt on when I (or some other jackass) make the slightest mistake??? Cuz remember iTs nOt If U gEt HuRt ItS wHeN
For a total beginner….Mx is intimidating and expensive as hell. The bikes are too fast. The jumps are too big and plentiful, and the risk vs reward is too low. I spent about 90 bucks to ride 11 laps at my last race if you factor in fuel for the bike and the truck.
It’s probably overall the worst sport on earth!
BUT GOD DAMN DO I LOVE IT!!!!!
The lack of growth of this sport is because of us. If you look at any list of state or federal applications for trail grants, millions of dollars goes to quads, UTVs, snowmobiles, horses, bicycles, anybody accept dirt bikes, we don't even organize or apply. I have taken friends to dealers, or ride days and they get filled with the whole "you can't handle this sport/bike" bullshit. We are the ones who constantly demand more technology from the manufacturers, more "gnarly" tracks and trails. We are the ones riding with loud pipes pissing off the neighbors, and aggressively treaded tires destroying trails. We are the ones who left garbage on the trails, who are the people who use tear offs on trail rides? We are the ones riding illegal dirt bikes on the street. We are the ones who don't organize, vote, advocate, contact politicians, support charities, put our sport in a positive friendly community oriented light. I have sent several Emails to ALL the dirt bike manufacturers, the AMA, race promoters, after market companies, riding clubs, and yes all the magazines like MXA, asking for economic impact information (or any kind of information) to present for trail grants. The only reply I got from anyone was from Davey Coomb's company, Racer productions. Thank you, Mr. Coombs. Nobody cares, despite all our moaning about our sport dying, none of us really care enough to do anything about it. Evidenced by the fact that we don't. We don't organize, we don't act responsibly, we are not inviting to newbies. We all look to everyone else to help grow the sport, like SX promoters, everyone except ourselves. Get any group of riders together to try and organize and it is like herding cats, some are pissed we can't use MNT bike or equestrian trails, others do not want to pay trail fees, others can not agree on ecological issues, there is no compromising within the dirt bike community. Dirt bike riders give a shit about what they as individuals want, not what is good for a future generation of riders. Of course this is a generalization, and there are exceptions. But on the whole, this sport is doomed not because of SX promoters, but because of us. This sport is US, it is not the magazines or promoters or manufacturers, and we are failing the future generation of riders. Shame on us. I doubt my grandkids will be able to enjoy this sport the same way I did.
Well, I now love F1 after watching Drive to Survive. I looked at the numbers and I cannot afford to participate in F1.
Thats because the average MXer has the IQ of a claw hammer.
Laugh out fucking loud. This sport has never been cheap.
I couldn't agree more, but I'm not sure how you get that genie back in the bottle. When I was young (I was born in '61), there were few, if any, dads or moms hanging around, and that made all the difference. Parents were seen as nothing more than buzz-killing rule-makers, and that was made that clear to them. Therefore, they all stayed away, and we were FREE to just RIDE. Now, parents are like mosquitoes, hovering around everywhere with stopwatches and thoughts of their kids becoming multi-millionaires. We had no such aspirations. We just wanted to be outside racing whatever we had whenever we could around whatever loop we could dream up in whatever field we could find. It was all soooo simple. It's nothing like that now. Now, if there aren't deep ruts, 150-foot triples, and pro scouts, "why did I even bother to bring my kid and his five practice bikes here?"
Agreed, but then it really needs to be a much better production compared to the stuff they have now. Otherwise it's the same stuff you see in between the races now, like Craig's stuff that actually made me throw up a little. Netflix does an amazing job on that show, tough to copy.
Post a reply to: Got to love the honesty of MXA