Is Motorcycling dying?

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Bernard Smith
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Bernard Smith »

davec wrote:It's been said before enough times, modern bikes are too complicated and too expensive. Maybe Chinese imports will save the day? I wouldn't buy one myself (yet) but I hear they're getting better all the time?
True - I've just bought back my old R100RT (1991) - happy days swinging spanners again while the F800GS computer thingie looks on..... nice bike though!




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Dazzer
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Dazzer »

I think part of the reason why dealers are closing is the Internet.

Since 2003 internet sales have been rising .Before this how many of us would nip down to the local dealer to buy all the extras and parts we needed. Now we shop on line late at night and only use the local dealer to look at new bikes and have a brew.

I know most dealers have web site's but there are now people selling parts from home without the over heads that the dealer has.

Back in 1978 All I could afford ( and wanted )was a bike. Now 17 year old's can get a Car and insurance cheaper than they can for a bike.
picos mestizo
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by picos mestizo »

This is dying:-

hayabussa.jpg
hayabussa.jpg (10.45 KiB) Viewed 1650 times

Killed off by Macho Plonkers who think there's a place for 200mph 20mpg machines on developed societies congested roads.

These are alive & growing:-

dr200.jpg
dr200.jpg (8.73 KiB) Viewed 1650 times
trojan.jpg
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Demanded by the developing comunities in the underdeveloped world as all terrain comutes & farming derivatives.
65mph, 100mpg & go anywhere is a sensible criteria for these nations.

I don't have a problem with tough testing for teenagers while race track vehicles are freely available for road use.

Lets hope that fuel prices have rid us of these potential antisocial monsters & that common sense will prevail allowing the growth of these little Traily Comuters & there bigger 450cc &+ Adventure Tourers.
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special one
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by special one »

I think the people suggesting that a car is a cheaper option than a bike, I think you're not in touch with reality, a bike is massively cheaper to insure than a car for a teenager.

Generally a decent second hand bike is cheaper to purchase and run than a second hand car, biggest problem is the government is making it harder and harder to get a license yet car licenses dont seem to be getting any more difficult to obtain.
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by motorbike »

Hondas New crf250l is on the right track again..well priced at a possible 3600 100mpg and practical but mainly loads of fun......
Tonibe63
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Tonibe63 »

In the UK I think the likes of the new BMW and Big KTM have a decreasing window of opportunity for sales, they're too expensive, too thirsty and just too fast for our licences to stand. There is also a rapidly shrinking target audience as 40 something bikers grow older and don't want to be struggling with big heavy bikes that they can't use to it's full potential.
Any teenagers that do manage to get a licence are (largely) the mobile phone and internet generation who are used to short term phone contracts, must have latest fashion items and small/cheap modes of transport which the Chinese scooter and mid range bikes are ready to fill.
There will be more casualties among the few remaining main dealers as they struggle to meet their franchise obligations.
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Treadtrader
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Treadtrader »

Motorcycling has been changing since the fifties.
When I obtained my license in the mid sixties it was easy.
The bike was for commuting and fun at weekends, easy to fix when it went wrong and easy to store in Dads shed.
As cars became more affordable many of us switched to them for our growing families.

Since the seventies bikes, for me, have been for pleasure only and as salaries have increased with outgoings getting easier, bigger and better bikes have been bought.

Today youngsters have a wider choice, parents supplying "safer" cars for instance.
The bike test becoming more challenging than the car test.

I don't think it's dying so much as changing to a more niche pastime.
There are so many more exciting and challenging pastimes available to todays youngsters that biking is just one of them.
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mikeyboy
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by mikeyboy »

Dazzer wrote:I think part of the reason why dealers are closing is the Internet.

Since 2003 internet sales have been rising .Before this how many of us would nip down to the local dealer to buy all the extras and parts we needed. Now we shop on line late at night and only use the local dealer to look at new bikes and have a brew.

I know most dealers have web site's but there are now people selling parts from home without the over heads that the dealer has.

Back in 1978 All I could afford ( and wanted )was a bike. Now 17 year old's can get a Car and insurance cheaper than they can for a bike.
this post states the truth,
if you dont support your local dealers and businesses how do you expect them to survive!
i always try to use local dealers/suppliers for my parts but quite frankly they shoot themselves in the foot nearly everytime with poor service :angry:
a few weeks ago i ordered some triumph service parts ,and from the initial phone call to order to me haveing to pick them up from the post office ,it was ten days.with all of the usual ,calls not being returned,"its on backorder"etc,etc,these were parts for a modern triumph ffs,they should have been in stock and delivered next day.these scenario,s are a normal part of my working week and it drives me to use the tinternet for parts.(as much as it pains me).i really could go on all day giving examples but it just seems to be normal for poor service these days.thankfully there are some shining examples out there and these will servive and hopefully thrive. ;)
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Willy_Eckerslike
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Willy_Eckerslike »

picos mestizo wrote:This is dying:


Killed off by Macho Plonkers who think there's a place for 200mph 20mpg machines on developed societies congested roads.

These are alive & growing:-

Demanded by the developing comunities in the underdeveloped world as all terrain comutes & farming derivatives.
65mph, 100mpg & go anywhere is a sensible criteria for these nations.

I don't have a problem with tough testing for teenagers while race track vehicles are freely available for road use.

Lets hope that fuel prices have rid us of these potential antisocial monsters & that common sense will prevail allowing the growth of these little Traily Comuters & there bigger 450cc &+ Adventure Tourers.
Utter drivel that would make a Daily Mail letters page seem reasonable and considered.
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Andysr6
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Re: Is Motorcycling dying?

Post by Andysr6 »

Willy_Eckerslike wrote:
picos mestizo wrote:This is dying:


Killed off by Macho Plonkers who think there's a place for 200mph 20mpg machines on developed societies congested roads.

These are alive & growing:-

Demanded by the developing comunities in the underdeveloped world as all terrain comutes & farming derivatives.
65mph, 100mpg & go anywhere is a sensible criteria for these nations.

I don't have a problem with tough testing for teenagers while race track vehicles are freely available for road use.

Lets hope that fuel prices have rid us of these potential antisocial monsters & that common sense will prevail allowing the growth of these little Traily Comuters & there bigger 450cc &+ Adventure Tourers.
Utter drivel that would make a Daily Mail letters page seem reasonable and considered.
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