Rant Regarding the Decline of Motorcycle Riding

[exgman]

I read a long piece today (11/9/2024) on the Bloomberg website. Seems to be off base in its conclusions and many of its observations about riding a motorcycle. I'm not a subscriber but it didn't seem to be hidden behind a paywall. Here's a link: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2024-11-08/why-us-motorcycle-sales-may-never-recover

 

[mjfink420]

Statistics support the assertion of the author. However, I don't think it's because it's uncomfortable, or you get wet, that's always been the case. The younger generation is FAR more risk averse than older people, in person conversation is too "risky" for many of them, let alone sitting on the back of a motorcycle. The financial aspect is important too, motorcycles are expensive especially if, again, as is the case with most of the younger generation, you have no idea how to maintain it yourself.

I'm not sure what will turn the trend around. The move away from supersport/track bikes certainly seems sensible, getting more twins/triples with good road manners, fun to ride, and light enough to be handled by most.

It's funny, like many things, there seems to be two camps developing. "Ride to live" (5 bikes in the garage, a dozen track days per year, a dirt bike for the off season, etc) and "couldn't care less". The uber-specialization continues, even in hobbies it seems.

I hope the younger generation does find a passion for it; it's gotten SO much safer than it used to be, the bikes are SO much better, and it's so much easier to access information on what bike to buy, how to maintain it, etc. The younger generation seems to just not be responding.. Not a good time to be Harley, that's for sure!

 

[kickstandsup]

The younger generation is...the product of their parents.

Yes, society, culture, shifting norms, choices, wealth, time and technology all play a role. But parents, what they do and how they do it, are key.

I think it is exceedingly rare that a child grows up to be a "petrolhead," in any form, when their parents are completely disinterested in, or in opposition to, cars/bikes etc.

Star football player from a disinterested household? Doubt it. Star tennis player? Doubt it. Hockey player? Doubt it. Doubt that any kid is even a fan of any sport if that sport was not in some way part of their childhood...if not at home, at school or some other organization.

Today, we bubble-wrap kids, strap them into car seats suitable for a moonshot and generally teach them that cars/bikes/scooters are "bad." That's why the rate of young adults without drivers' licenses is at an all time high. And they wait longer to get them. In 2021, only 25% of 16 year olds had a drivers license, down from 46% in 1983.

It will take a few more generations, but I expect motorcycling in the US to become similar to horseback riding...

Throwin' down the sunshine, I know...

 

[collingsbob]

The younger generation is...the product of their parents.

Yes, society, culture, shifting norms, choices, wealth, time and technology all play a role. But parents, what they do and how they do it, are key.

I think it is exceedingly rare that a child grows up to be a "petrolhead," in any form, when their parents are completely disinterested in, or in opposition to, cars/bikes etc.

Star football player from a disinterested household? Doubt it. Star tennis player? Doubt it. Hockey player? Doubt it. Doubt that any kid is even a fan of any sport if that sport was not in some way part of their childhood...if not at home, at school or some other organization.

Today, we bubble-wrap kids, strap them into car seats suitable for a moonshot and generally teach them that cars/bikes/scooters are "bad." That's why the rate of young adults without drivers' licenses is at an all time high. And they wait longer to get them. In 2021, only 25% of 16 year olds had a drivers license, down from 46% in 1983.

It will take a few more generations, but I expect motorcycling in the US to become similar to horseback riding...

Throwin' down the sunshine, I know...

There is truth in this…my parents rode…both of my grandfathers rode…two of my uncles rode. I got my first motorcycle when I was 9. My first wife was afraid of motorcycles, maybe thats why my son doesn't ride - odd, for a man named Vincent…

 

[kickstandsup]

There is truth in this…my parents rode…both of my grandfathers rode…two of my uncles rode. I got my first motorcycle when I was 9. My first wife was afraid of motorcycles, maybe thats why my son doesn't ride - odd, for a man named Vincent…

In Europe, everybody rides. Your grandmother rides. Women ride. The Scooterati are everywhere, and everyone starts on a scooter. I do, however, expect e-bikes to eat into even that ingrained culture.

 

[mjfink420]

It will take a few more generations, but I expect motorcycling in the US to become similar to horseback riding...

I'm not taking the other side of that bet. IDK when, or if most of will live to see it, but self-driving cars are coming. Could be a few years from now, could be a few decades, but, unless there's a huge setback in our overall society (IE, all out/nuclear war), it's a foregone conclusion. Once that happens, a whole lot more people will never even learn to drive a car. Shoot, a few decades after self-driving tech is released, it may not be legal to drive a car on the public roadways, if you want to drive, go to a track.

I honestly think that off road/dirt riding has more staying power, doesn't take a ton of money, no concern about interacting with other (automated) cars..

But I think we've either seen or will soon see "peak motorcycle" (and also "peak human driven automobile"). Of course, just like your analogy, there will still be people who have interest and someone will build motorcycles for them; perhaps track only machines, perhaps bikes that have smarts to communicate with the self-driven cars? Don't know. But it's a sport/hobby that's becoming more and more "fringe".

 

[etiennelau]

I have stated in other posts. The issue is Canada and US keep calling motorcycle riding "Motor Sports", keyword Sport. As such it is only deemed as a leisure/pleasure activity. Whereas the ROW views riding 2 wheels as a viable and needed form of transportation. As long as the industry keeps calling themselves as Motor Sports and treating it as a Motor Sport the ridership will keep going down.

 

[omega man]

For your consideration…..
It would seem to me that all this technology is great in some respects…….forgetting or not bothering to learn the basics, not so much. It reminds me of an interesting movie- WALL-E. Technology has taken over and the humans have become basically immobile.
A clip-

So you’re rolling along in your self driving car, will it have self fixing flats? As it is, it would seem that many car owners can’t change a tire…….they don’t even know if their car came with a spare.
Bring back shop classes, both wood, metal and even Home Economics so people can be exposed to, in a hands on fashion, how things work…..and more importantly if something stops working, it really doesn’t need to be thrown away.
There is some real mechanical talent here on the forum that I hope is being passed on. Mechanical talent that can figure out a problem by the sound and vibration- no need for an OBD port and test gear.
Fixed things on one’s own can be personally satisfying. More satisfying than calling THE GUY. Chances are considerably less expensive and takes less (down) time.


OM

 

[88bmwjeff]

My son is 16.5 and here's my perspective. His generation was not given the freedom we were at a young age. I remember riding my bike to get around town, I was out of the house on my own (or with friends) for hours at a time. My parents were not concerned. With the new hyping up the kidnapping, etc., parents became afraid and slowly but surely the younger generation was constantly watched over and taken places. Also, when people under the age of 18 get their driver's licenses, they have a provisional license for the first 12 months. This means no driving around with friends, late at night, etc. I couldn't wait to get my license at 16 to go out with friends and on dates. Due to the provisional licenses along with social media, the younger generation just doesn't have the desire to get their license. My son's generation doesn't really start with getting the freedom we did at a young age until they are tweens. Many of his generation see public transportation as being a reasonable alternative. They'll probably change their mind once they try using it--at least around here. Public transportation is not that great in the suburbs here.

With regards to riding on two wheels, in urban areas, I'm seeing a lot more scooters. So, the younger generation is opting for scooters over motorcycles. That being said, my son would love to get his motorcycle license and go out riding. But, I'm insistent that he needs to drive for a few years to get used to the rules of the road before getting his motorcycle license.

 

[stevenrankin]

I wonder how many of us riders are really so concerned with the future of motorcycling as much as OUR future in motorcycling? How much of this conversation is driven by will I be able to ride a bike for the next ten or twenty years. For the guys who trade bikes every three years, will BMW, Harley or Honda be in business so I can buy the newest model bike, to continue to ride? Or for guys like me who ride old bikes, will I be able to get parts to keep the old bike running before I run out of time.

I worded at Kodak, saw my job go away because of modern times, I am still alive and the world goes on, all good things come to an end in this life. Quit worrying about the future and concentrate on the now. What ever the younger generation choses to make themselves happy let us pray it is good for them and doesn't harm them. St.

 

[Toruk]

Born in 1950, got combustion fever at a young age. Motorcycles and muscle cars were my passion. No computers in sight!! The love continues at 74 years old. I did have a 10 year old come up to me while parked sitting on my 23 RS Sport .... told me it was the nicest motorcycle he had ever seen. Made my day!! There is hope.

 

[wbringman@gv.net]

I wondered about the declining interest in motorcycling by the next generation and thought AI would have an opinion. So a query on Chat GPT made a reasonable case for the sheer economics of motorcycle ownership. It’s expensive for us but almost cost prohibitive for younger people especially insurance costs for that under 25 male demographic. A motorcycle is usually a choice for disposable income after primary transportation is acquired and when faced with it the cost of ownership it’s simply out of reach. I am giving thought to deducting the cost of MC insurance for 1 st year from the sale of my motorcycle to a prospective younger buyer as a way to “pay it forward “ and perhaps create an opportunity for someone who might otherwise not afford it.

 

[GTRider]

Pretty sure this points to one large contributing factor in the decline in numbers of MC riders…




Best,
DeVern

 

[skibum69]

From his article it doesn't sound like he even likes motorcycles. And I think he made a bad choice in windshields.

 

[stevenrankin]

So Skibum69, hits the same vibe I got with the guy writing the article. Perhaps he could have save a lot of typing if he had just said "Rode my bike across the country, was mostly miserable, should have done it in my car like most people."

In my Mazda, driving is boring. My convertible BMW is no so much, on my RT, I am alive and it is far from boring. Guess which method of travel I like best. I have been riding 50 years and will keep riding until I can't. Sweating in my gear, crosswinds, cold rain, all make traveling on a bike part of being alive.

Maybe the author should pull up a screen of some sort and do what it seems a large portion of younger people are doing today, burying themselves in the media world and ignoring the real world. St.

 

[glenfiddich]

I think another factor is we’ve lost the gateway of dirt bikes. Growing up in San Diego my early teen friends and I would spend all day with no adult supervision in the canyons surrounding the city, first on mini bikes then a progression of Yamaha, Honda, Hodaka and Bultaco. Most of us still ride.

These days there are few places to ride. Back home those endless canyons were filled in and topped with cookie cutter homes. And heaven forbid a teenager be left to his or her own devices all day!

 

[rich]

I think another factor is we’ve lost the gateway of dirt bikes. Growing up in San Diego my early teen friends and I would spend all day with no adult supervision in the canyons surrounding the city, first on mini bikes then a progression of Yamaha, Honda, Hodaka and Bultaco. Most of us still ride.

I think you pegged one of the main reasons right here. If you grew up on a motorized dirt bike of some sort it is much more likely you continued riding into adulthood. I've ridden motorcycles since I was 10 years old, and my wife knew when we married that there would always be a motorcycle in our garage. If a newly married young adult male wants to go buy a motorcycle, I think he is pretty hard pressed to convince his new bride that he should be able to go out and buy one, especially if he didn't grow up on one. Housing, vehicles and children take priority, and the expense (and danger) of a motorcycle doesn't fit into their lifestyle. For some it will fit in later, but it seems those cases are few and far between.

 

[mjfink420]

I think another factor is we’ve lost the gateway of dirt bikes. Growing up in San Diego my early teen friends and I would spend all day with no adult supervision in the canyons surrounding the city, first on mini bikes then a progression of Yamaha, Honda, Hodaka and Bultaco. Most of us still ride.

These days there are few places to ride. Back home those endless canyons were filled in and topped with cookie cutter homes. And heaven forbid a teenager be left to his or her own devices all day!

Good point, I hadn't thought of that. My "gateway" was dirt bikes, and I suspect that's the case for a lot of us here, grew up on 125/250's. Also a good way to learn that falling hurts and try to avoid it before the stakes get to "you might well die" if you fall.

As we have become more and more urban (a trend I'm not 100% sure will continue, work from home and the absurd cost of cities and the problems they have today seems to have reached a tipping point), the "gateway" isn't there. If you live in a city, a dirt bike is about as useful as a cell phone in Montana with the Uber app on it but no service. Yes, it could work well, and does, but not here. So you get fewer and fewer kids/young adults learning how to ride a motorcycle; the jump straight to street when you have no idea how a clutch works for many may seem (and, IMHO, they're right) daunting. I know lots of people do it, many here probably did, but knowing how to ride a dirt bike first makes street a LOT more approachable, IMHO.

For some it will fit in later, but it seems those cases are few and far between.

I have a ton of respect for people who at 50-60-70 decide "I'm going to learn how to ride", but, realistically, that seems to be a small demographic. I wonder if there are even many people who once they reach 25-30 swing their leg over a motorcycle for the first time? Put another way, if you didn't do it as a kid/young adult, how likely are you to ever do it? IDK, but guessing, I'd go with "not very". There's a reason brands focus so much of their advertising on the younger generation even though they are the least likely to have the $$ to afford it; without new riders, there are no old riders.

 

[skibum69]

I didn't get my first bike until I was 25 but I was riding bicycles since young and have always loved 2 wheels.

 

[tenequip]

Born in 1950, got combustion fever at a young age. Motorcycles and muscle cars were my passion. No computers in sight!! The love continues at 74 years old. I did have a 10 year old come up to me while parked sitting on my 23 RS Sport .... told me it was the nicest motorcycle he had ever seen. Made my day!! There is hope.