Motorcycling is slowly dying
Discussion
I'll start by saying I first passed my test in 1969, and have had around twenty five bikes since then,
It is quite obvious that if you go to any bike meet, Devil's Bridge, Matlock Bath, Rivington Barn, Squires cafe etc, that nearly all the bikers are in the age range 40-75.
In other words, young people are not coming into biking in numbers like they were in the 70s/80's, probably because it's not as easy to get a full licence as it used to be.
You see very few twenty/thirty year olds at these places, I'm not saying no new blood is coming through, but not enough to sustain motorbike shops in thirty years time.
Plus of course there's the introduction of electric bikes to come,
I really hope I am wrong, but am interested in others thoughts on the matter.
It is quite obvious that if you go to any bike meet, Devil's Bridge, Matlock Bath, Rivington Barn, Squires cafe etc, that nearly all the bikers are in the age range 40-75.
In other words, young people are not coming into biking in numbers like they were in the 70s/80's, probably because it's not as easy to get a full licence as it used to be.
You see very few twenty/thirty year olds at these places, I'm not saying no new blood is coming through, but not enough to sustain motorbike shops in thirty years time.
Plus of course there's the introduction of electric bikes to come,
I really hope I am wrong, but am interested in others thoughts on the matter.
Discendo Discimus said:
Most points have been covered already but it shouldn't be surprising that you don't see many young lads at the biker meets or cafes. They're full of old men who ask you about your bike only to spend the next 30 mins telling you all about their bike, even though you never asked.
Very true.
OutInTheShed said:
Back in the 70s, bikers were associated with decent music, a good time, young attractive people.
Now it's fat old men with loud exhausts meeting on Sunday to eat bacon rolls.
Those young attractive 70's bikers just got older and ate too many bacon rolls along the way.Now it's fat old men with loud exhausts meeting on Sunday to eat bacon rolls.
Seems a lot of faff passing a test these days,
Back in 1969 at 16 you could jump on a 90mph 250 with L plates, take your test, which comprised of an examiner with clipboard watching you ride round the block, do a few hand signals and an emergency stop and bingo.
Then (at 16) jump on a 110mph Triumph Bonneville with your mate on the back, you didn't even have to wear a helmet until 1973, and there was a right uproar when that law came in,
Obviously motorcycling can be very dangerous, and safety should be paramount, but it does seem as though the government is trying to make it as difficult as possible to encourage new riders,
Back in 1969 at 16 you could jump on a 90mph 250 with L plates, take your test, which comprised of an examiner with clipboard watching you ride round the block, do a few hand signals and an emergency stop and bingo.
Then (at 16) jump on a 110mph Triumph Bonneville with your mate on the back, you didn't even have to wear a helmet until 1973, and there was a right uproar when that law came in,
Obviously motorcycling can be very dangerous, and safety should be paramount, but it does seem as though the government is trying to make it as difficult as possible to encourage new riders,
Bob_Defly said:
LOL, I have no idea what the licensing arrangements are in the UK, but surely you have to allow for some progress over 55 years? Yes it may be a bit 'nanny state' now, but it's still better than, 'ride around the block with no helmet, yep, you're good to go mate! No more than two pints on the way home now lad!' 
Probably not too far away from the truth back then. PT1984 said:
Well you gents are welcome to it! I can’t think of anything worse. And I can’t imagine would be much different. I ride for fun. And the rain for me is not fun. You can add cold into that!
Me too.Used to go out in all weathers when I was a teenager, including show, loved it.
These days, bugger that for a game of soldiers.
It would have to be a minimum of 15c/60f with hardly any chance of rain.
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