Bike industry is dying

Maybe because they're not counting the older bikes.
Steve
www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2017-07-...-motorcycle-industry

True Steve, my gut feeling also tells me that more people are riding than ever. Just not nesserly purchasing new. I do however understand what they mean about the older market dying off. When I was young, I never noticed older men ridding motorcycles. Now the majority of riders I see are 50 and up. But then again, I live in Florida.

At least we can help our newer riders and help keep them safe. Lots of crotch rockets out there with no direction.
Steve

Agreed, I just got 22 year old started last month. Requirement #1 was an ABATE riding course. Found him a 2002 Suzuki SV650 in good repair. (it is what he wanted, no accounting for taste. ) Put new tires, a tune, sprockets and chain on it for him. Walked him through picking up the proper safety gear. He is loving life.

One reason for attracting fewer new riders might be the lack of what I would call "normal" new bikes. There are plenty of plastic Ricky Racer type bikes, cruisers, and big touring machines available, but there seems to be a lack of nice new bikes of almost any size that would appeal to a new rider who just wants to take a leisurely ride in the country. That new rider probably doesn't want some tiny 10 hp thing but he/she probably doesn't want something with 100+ hp or a big machine that weighs 800 pounds. There are a few new bikes out there that might meet the new guy's requirements, but he may be leery of buying a Royal Enfield (which he probably never even heard of) or some other "off" brand.

If you think about back in the day even though Harley hogs, fast Kawasakis, Hondas, Yammis, and Suzukis were available Honda sold a zillion plain Jane CB350s Kawasaki sold a zillion plain Jane KZ400 / 440s, etc. and most of those buyers were fairly new bike owners. What would be the equivalent bike for those new owners today? Ed

Gotta say the kids these days seem to be even more weird than we were! Most don't care for anything other than the latest shoes, video game, or smartphone. My son is at least somewhat savvy about vehicles (thankfully), but his mind does wander.

Get this....when he was 9, I had plans to sell my minty 100% original 04 R1. He literally had tears in his eyes when he found out! "But you can't sell the Yamaha - I want it!". I tried to convince him of the following points:
1. He wouldn't want it by the time he was old enough to ride it, as it would be an old bike by then
2. There was no way I would let him have it as his first bike, or his second...
3. The insurance would be more than what he would likely earn in a year at his first job
4. Actually riding it isn't as much fun as he thinks it is (in city traffic it actually sucks)



But to no avail, so I set it aside for him in the future. I ended up buying another one to avoid the temptation of riding his again. Not quite the final word...when he was 13, he spies an 82 Suzuki Katana 750 for the first time, a beat up pile - o - crap wasting away in a farmer's pasture, all rusty, beat up, and laying on it's side in the grass, Guess what? Dad, I'll trade the R1 for it! Not a chance...there isn't one part on that pile that won't need to be replaced! But if you are serious, I'll keep an eye out for a decent 1100 Kat, at least they are worth restoring...then at 15 he says he has changed his mind again - the new "must have" is the ZX-10 (has to be green, though), or an ex police Ford Crown Vic! He must be joking (I hope he is joking). But wait - we aren't done yet. Just a few weeks ago he has a dream were he was riding to school on a new R3! Well, at least it is closer to a learner bike than the others....and geez, I hope he was joking about the Crown Vic!

-Scott

Kray-Z wrote: Gotta say the kids these days seem to be even more weird than we were!..........

Now there's a frightening thought! :laugh: Ed

For me, it was all about the money. I bought my KZ900 back in '76 and paid about $2,200 for it. By the time I was thinking about getting something new, the cost had gone up to over $20,000 and with a family and a new business it just wasn't possible. Now with retirement I still have the 900 but don't ride as much as I used to. My son never had the burn to ride - he builds BMW M3's with Corvette engines. No accounting for taste I guess.

With all the road rage going on out there I don't think I'd want my child riding unless they had serious riding time with a good teacher. A lot of times when traffic backs up and I start splitting lanes some of the other riders will follow but there always is this one young buck that has to get past us and disappear. I cringe at the thought of coming up on a twisted bike and rider.
Steve

I think part of the problem is the prices of new bikes . When I bought my turbo in 86 I paid 2500 for it with 5000 miles , It was barely a year old . I saved the money up in three months .I Think that's why a lot of the younger guys are repurposing /cutting up the older bikes . Its the only thing in there price range . Who's got 12-15 thousand to buy a new one these days . Ive got like 10 older kawasakis in my garage . When the kids come over to play pool they don't even look at them . I bought a 05 636 . They are all over that thing .4 turbos and a bunch of gpzs . They dont even look . Its all junk to them . The do seem to like the zrx though .

I think these folks are just digital talking heads. Would they get paid as well just to stay quiet? I think they have no idea how to answer the basic question behind the numbers, most likely because they wouldn't know who to ask it of. "Why did someone who would normally have bought a bike after 2010 choose not to do so?" There are a myriad of answers some of which don't make good copy.
How about: "Right after 2010 I lost my job and new bike payments were the furthest thing from reality." Come 2013, I found a job but there were plenty of late model bikes available. Then in 2016: I can afford a new payment, but why take the risk? There are still plenty of good used bikes I can pick up on. Instead of doing any real research Mr Bloomberg has the temerity to tell the world that motorcycling is dying.
Hey! What credibility could they have?

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The obvious CORRECT answer is:

Why buy a new bike when you can always pick up a KZ?
Bill

I think I agree.:whistle:
Steve