SuzukiSavage.com - Print Page

SuzukiSavage.com
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl
General Category >> The Cafe >> Why motorcycle sales are falling
/cgi-bin/YaBB.pl?num=1519613819

Message started by engineer on 02/25/18 at 18:56:59

Title: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by engineer on 02/25/18 at 18:56:59

This appeared on the wildguzzi.com forum posted by Guzzistajohn. If you happen to be a millennial don't take it personally, us old guys have been the butt of jokes since the beginning of jokes.

Apparently the Baby-Boomers all have motorcycles, Generation X is only buying a few, and the next generation isn't buying any. A recent study found the reasons why Millennials don't ride motorcycles:
1. Pants won't pull up far enough for them to straddle the seat.
2. Can't get their phone to their ear with a helmet on.
3. Can't use 2 hands to eat while driving.
4. They don't get a trophy and a recognition plaque just for buying one.
5. Don't have enough muscle to hold the bike up when stopped.
6. Might have a bug hit them in the face and then they would need emergency care.
7. Motorcycles don't have air conditioning.
8. They can't afford one because they spent 12 years in college trying to get educated in gender studies .
9. They are allergic to fresh air.
10. Their pajamas get caught on the exhaust pipes.
11. They might get their hands dirty checking the oil.
12. The handle bars have buttons and levers and cannot be controlled by touch-screen.
13. You have to shift manually and use something called a clutch.
14. It's too hard to take selfies while riding.
15. They don't come with training wheels like their bicycles did.
16. Motorcycles don't have power steering or power brakes.
17. Their nose ring interferes with the face shield.
18. They would have to use leg muscle to back up.
19. When they stop, a light breeze might blow exhaust in their face.
20. They would need to upgrade before the in-transit expired.
21. It could rain on them and expose them to non-soft water.
22. It might scare their therapy dog, and then the dog would need therapy.

I don't know what number 20 means either.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 02/25/18 at 22:38:09

I'm an early GenX ... I wish I could take selfies while riding!

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 02/25/18 at 22:41:07

I'm also the father of two millennial boys (one is now a tradesman, and the other is a computer genius) and a millennial girl (she runs a plant-equipment service centre) ... I don't recognise any of the above-mentioned millennial-traits ;)

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by LANCER on 02/26/18 at 03:18:14

744E515C53596F525C593D0 wrote:

It is probably more applicable to the US population of said group.
A lot of whom are rather spoiled and self absorbed, with no idea of the life most of the people of the world have to scratch for; those living in dictatorial regimes; being killed for merely speaking a word or daring to step outside of the lines; having to literally fight for your life on a daily basis.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by jcstokes on 02/28/18 at 00:21:06

If all these reasons are the case, maybe the millenials don't think motorcycling is "cool" to use that nasty, pathetic, obnoxious, and I could say cruder thing, word.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by batman on 03/02/18 at 14:29:50

The real reason is MONEY, the young people start working at Mikey d's or have collage loans for thousands ,they have the choise of a car or motorcycle to get them to work or play. Which one they choose might depend on climate , or needs of a young, person, couple or family, and they don't have enough money for both a car and a bike.Most would opt for a car. Getting a motorcycle license isn't as easy as getting a car license. There are fewer places to learn and it's much easier to turn a steering wheel in a car, than balance a bike a low speed. Buying a new bike ,hoping not to dump it while learning how to ride, and hoping to pass the road test might be a bit too intimidating for some.Bikes that you can ride without a MC license in N.Y. are limited to 50cc and top speeds of 25mph ,most of these bike cost around $2000 and are limited to secondary roads/urban streets.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/02/18 at 15:34:53

I've thought about it a while. At first I didn't have a clue, but maybe now I do.
My generation ENJOYED being outside. A Bicycle was freedom. And the sensation of the wind , speed and the feeling of leaning through a corner was something that nothing But two wheels would deliver.
We're starting to see a generation of children reaching adulthood who lived in the house playing games more than being outside with a herd of kids playing football and baseball and riding their bikes places that would have Freaked their parents OUT.
They don't look at two wheels and Feel anything . They simply can't relate.
I can see it as a long term trend, ending in motorcycle riders being very rare, barring a cultural change, we are effectively dinosaurs.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by LANCER on 03/02/18 at 16:44:06

Whenever an economy tanks things come down to dollars, and used bikes are cheaper to buy and cheaper to run and easier to park, sometimes avoiding parking fees or perhaps this is cheaper also.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 03/02/18 at 18:41:39

435C5A5D40477646764E5C501B290 wrote:

I reckon you might be onto something. What you say here reminds me of the opening, and closing scenes of the movie "On Any Sunday"

It's a motorcycle movie that opens with a bunch of kids on pushbikes, having a ball. And closes with Steve McQueen, and a couple of mates, mucking around on motorbikes on the beach.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/02/18 at 18:47:27

On any Sunday is a super cool movie.
It's t
The Endless Summer
of motorcycle racing.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 03/02/18 at 19:22:02

0B141215080F3E0E3E06141853610 wrote:

On any Sunday is a super cool movie.
It's t
The Endless Summer
of motorcycle racing.

That's a very astute comparison :)

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/03/18 at 04:00:03

I'm an AssToot kinda guy.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by raydawg on 03/03/18 at 09:59:55

Maybe a different take......

We live in a ulterior world of make believe, and if I just say, repeat it, enough, it shall come to be my reality.

It's like religion, folks bring their own witness, as proof, to their moral superiority, without the slightest inkling their actions belie their testimony.

I believe this mindset/belief, is a residual effect from the political correctness doctrine.
Where you promote a higher cause, based on assumptions, without interactions or challenge.

Not sure if that make sense, but hopefully you can see how I draw a conclusion from it ;D

These malleable minds except a certain criteria that all their taught motivation is superior and true.
That it is solely based on fairness, and what is better for all mankind, etc...
When you think of motorcycle, it brings with it a lot of negative connotations, noise, rude drivers, hells angels, fat beer bellies, tattoos, greasy and unkempt hair ;D

These minds of mush have been groomed to be better ambassadors of this higher awareness of civilized societies.
Where guns are no longer needed to settle scores, or protection, as big brother has seen to all our needs.
Indulgence of self, through whatever vice we choose, is except-able and encouraged so one can extend his awareness....

Riding a bike freely through the earths enviroment, with hair blowing back from our head, and experiencing a freedom from the grip of gravity, that all too often tries to pin us down to misery.....

Is seen as a threat of independence, and a challenge, to the tyrannical endeavors, of those who try and control mankind to their own whims.....

Maybe? ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by batman on 03/03/18 at 13:22:37

Raydawg . I think what you said may have applied years back ,'BIKER" brought the greasy tattooed bada$$ image to mind , but the Japanese invasion ,made a lot of change "You meet the nicest people on a Honda". Soon there were thousands of "normal "people riding bikes and that is still true today ,despite HD sales, most of which have been and are still being sold to motorcyclists ,not bikers. I have lost count of the number of times I have pulled over on the shoulder of the road to take a break or grab some water and have a cars slow or stop to see if I needed any help, I don't think our image is all that bad. As for tattoo's have you seen any 15 to 30 year old that hasn't got one?

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by raydawg on 03/03/18 at 14:04:55

Yeah Batman, fair enuff.....
I can’t argue the tats at all, even beautiful skinned babes scar their flesh forever with some hideous expressions.

Fine, back to the drawing board ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by norm92de on 03/03/18 at 14:20:42

I see tattoos in a very negative way- compromised intellect maybe?

The thought of a pretty young girl doing that to herself makes my flesh creep.

I guess this says a lot about me. Curmudgeon perhaps, but I don't care.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/03/18 at 18:55:55

I saw old people with tattoos when I was a little kid. Betty Boop wasn't cute, the battleship was sinking, and the anchors were faded.
I knew then to never get one.
The old ones died off, carrying the screwed up tattoos to the grave before these kids learned what they would get later.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by raydawg on 03/03/18 at 19:22:18

2F3036312C2B1A2A1A22303C77450 wrote:

Betty Boop was hot.....

Her boop-boop-de-do, was what sunk the battleship buddy! ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 03/04/18 at 00:25:45

I was going to say something very similar to what Batman said. I know a few younger people who ride Japanese sports bikes ... or even ... Hyosungs! They still feel cool on a bike, but seem oblivious to the bad-boy / rebel / counterculture concept.

To me, even HD has become a caricature of itself. The HD showroom here has so many shiny bikes, made to look old school but then given the new bike feel. I'm thinking of a bike a saw with a swirled, raw, machine-finished tank - and then coated with some kind of pearlescent clear coat to keep it pretty.

This isn't to disregard the heritage of the HD, just to say I think it amazing that it still has the bad-boy reputation.

I remember a drawing by Banksy - there was, a middle-aged guy, a young mother, and a punk rocker, queuing up at a stall to buy t-shirts with "Capitalism Sux" printed on them ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by raydawg on 03/04/18 at 08:32:40

I think I recall, not too long ago, a jap bike coming out with a ad....

It has a pseudo bad dude look on a young millennium.
I sorta recall guys poking fun at it on this site.

A real poser, wearing girls panties, sorta thing ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by DieselBob on 03/04/18 at 15:07:43

-

I do wonder about market saturation. Why buy a new Harley when Craigslist is loaded with very inexpensive used ones. That said, overall sales are indeed continuing to decline.

At least I did my part. With 3 college educated and gainfully employed sons, there are 4 bikes between them. So, they're doing better than a 1:1 ratio. Some times ya just gotta be proud.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 03/05/18 at 17:58:17

I noticed on the news last night that our government, here in Australia, said they would put a tariff on HD's coming here, if the USA goes ahead with the proposed tarrif on steel imports.

HD already announced a while back that they're closing a rim manufacturing factory here.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by HAPPYDAN on 03/05/18 at 18:20:15

7E445B56595365585653370 wrote:

It honestly does not look like that will happen, as many key US industries - auto, aircraft, and beverage, just to name three are absolutely livid at the mere suggestion. Many of us believe it is just another one of his smokescreens, designed to draw public attention away from the issue of kids packing serious heat and committing mass murder. He, who must not be named, must not upset the NRA. To do so could be career suicide. Now, back on thread. The military and the commercial air carriers are worried that younger people don't seem at all interested in pursuing careers in aviation. Or showing any interest in flying. I see a similarity here with motorcycle sales. Could be OP was on the right track.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/05/18 at 18:34:51

NRA,,nra,,NRAAAA, n. r. a.
NRANRANRANRANRA,,

with negligible numbers of members.
Runs the government.
So funny..

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by IslandRoad on 03/05/18 at 23:43:39

233C3A3D20271626162E3C307B490 wrote:

NRA,,nra,,NRAAAA, n. r. a.
NRANRANRANRANRA,,

with negligible numbers of members.
Runs the government.
So funny..

You had to go there, didn't you! ;D
Off to the Tall Table with you :-X

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by batman on 03/06/18 at 00:11:49

Come now everyone knows it the AARP that pulls the strings ,a vote against social security ,is a failure to be reelected .

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Rotorhead on 03/06/18 at 13:42:46

Standard/clutch. I work with a number of young folks, most of which have not learned how to drive a stick shift. I've had to explain the whole clutch/shifting thing. Some had never even rode a multi-speed bicycle (those who did at least understood the concept of shifting). Can't remember the last time I got into a new-ish car (other than an enthusiast's sports car) that had a stick shift. (I would love to try one of the auto-DCT goldwings myself!)

Also I understand the need for utility, and the financial burden of having a bike and a car (thus two insurance payments and maintenance costs). Easier for older people with a bit more income. Lots of folks on scooters as there is no shifting and no insurance (there is a cottage industry here hopping up 50CC machines).

Finally, not really the millennials but the old guys I work with don't ride because the requirements of the base safety department - everyone has to do MSF, and ride with all the gear including a reflective vest. Doesn't bother me a bit but some of the "tough guys" would rather drive their cars than "put on all that safety crap".

I commute daily on my bike, and a few folks have followed suit (most were old riders whose Harleys have been sitting in the garage collecting dust, but one new millennial also). However I just don't see what would drive young folks down to the dealer for a new bike when really good used ones are available.

-RH

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Dave on 03/10/18 at 03:08:13

A couple days ago I went and picked up an enclosed trailer that I was borrowing from a friend, and there was a Harley dealer right across the street. I thought I might as well go in and look around, as I had never been to that dealer before. So.......I pulled into the parking lot with a truck and trailer and went into look around.

They had a nice selection of new and used bikes, and there were 3 salesman, a fellow behind the parts counter, and a lady behind the counter where the clothing was.

The fellow asked me if I currently had a bike, what it was, etc. Then he took me over and showed me a Sporster model called a Roadster that was a lightly used and well modified bike. It had mid mount pegs, a Vance and Hines stainless exhaust, big cams......and the bike was dyno's and made 85 HP. Of all the bikes there is would have been the one that most suited my riding style....they even pushed it outside and fired it up so I could hear it run!

They were not pushy and were very knowledgeable about their bikes - it was obvious they wanted to sell me a bike on a cold, snowy Thursday! It is a bit sad to think that they likely will be struggling to keep their jobs in the coming months/years.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by engineer on 03/10/18 at 05:54:45

A little off topic but one of my brothers has a HD Sportster 1200cc, the Roadster model. It's a nice bike, well made, good finish and good looking, I like it but it doesn't fit me. The pegs are only slightly forward which I like but I think I would move them a bit, they hit my legs when stopped. What I don't like is the weight and the center of gravity that seems a little high. So I can ride my Guzzi that generally outperforms it and weighs a hundred pounds less and costs less so why buy the Harley. A guy down the street is giving up riding at 77 yrs old and selling his 883cc sportster but it is about the same weight as the 1200cc so I'll pass on that deal.

Lots of older guys like my neighbor are giving up their Harleys and they are flooding the market.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/10/18 at 08:03:05

0D363B2C3D312A2C373F322D5E0 wrote:

What did they want for it?
What does it weigh?
Did you think it was a good deal?
Was the lady good looking?

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by HAPPYDAN on 03/10/18 at 08:39:28

Someone made the point that small, cheap scooters seem to be catching on. I'll have to second that. Here in Gig Harbor, 50cc (no endorsement required) Chinese scooters are really catching on. Especially with the rapid housing build-up and influx of thousands of new residents in the last 2 years, our tiny country roads are jam packed with traffic now. And forget a parking space on a clear weekend - they don't exist. It also helps that our weather patterns have changed in recent years to allow dry conditions May through September. We still get the chuggers, but they're just a few older guys or tourists. When I ride my Honda CT110, I get a lot of looks and compliments from youngers, mostly ladies :). One even tried to steal it from a Target parking lot >:(.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by batman on 03/10/18 at 20:38:06

It's surprising to me that there are a few aftermarket kits for the 50cc scooters ,that are only a couple of hundred bucks ,to change them from 50 to 80 / 100 cc . and I've seen larger carb kits too. Makes me wonder if with a little head work , intake and exhaust tuning if they couldn't do a lot better than their rated 25mph.(fun city ride?)

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by badwolf on 03/10/18 at 21:06:20

We have a expert at hopping-up m/c engines here on the forum, maybe he could stroke one from 50cc to,,, say 450cc and add N2O!

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/11/18 at 09:03:54

That's Mean!
And Funny at the same time.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by batman on 03/11/18 at 09:45:55

What! No turbo?

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by zipidachimp on 03/11/18 at 13:56:00

regarding millenials, when I was a kid, nobody cared where the kids were as long as they were home for supper! Rode all over town with the milkman and his horse, breadman and his horse and finally on my bike all over town. Big deal! Now it's a non-stop line-up of cars dropping off kids at school. Progress? Ha!
8-)

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/12/18 at 11:34:17

Fear has destroyed the adventure of childhood.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Dave on 03/12/18 at 14:40:14

Here is the bike they wanted me to buy....although this is a stock photo and not the actual bike. It was pretty nice if this is what you want.

http://www.eastgateharley.com/default.asp?page=xPreOwnedInventoryDetail&id=5118554&p=1&s=Year&d=D&t=preowned&fr=xPreOwnedInventory

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by justin_o_guy2 on 03/12/18 at 15:18:59

If I wasn't a solid state/transistorized body type, I would have had something like that.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by MMRanch on 03/12/18 at 18:56:42

BatMan

It's surprising to me that there are a few aftermarket kits for the 50cc scooters ,that are only a couple of hundred bucks ,to change them from 50 to 80 / 100 cc . and I've seen larger carb kits too. Makes me wonder if with a little head work , intake and exhaust tuning if they couldn't do a lot better than their rated 25mph.(fun city ride?)

I had a 65cc Honda with that same motor. I just "Had" to see how it worked but left-out one of the wrist-pin-keepers on reassembly . By time I discovered my error there was a grove wore in the cylinder wall .050-.060" deep. So off to the machine shop I went with a third oversize piston + rings. It was faster than my buddy's 90cc sport model after that . ............. All was well , till the third gear in the transmission broke !
Too much upper end and not enough bottom end ! ;D

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Dave on 03/13/18 at 04:13:14

MM.....I can see where you are going with this!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tww0GVPTsSQ

[media]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tww0GVPTsSQ[/media]

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Gary_in_NJ on 03/13/18 at 05:55:50

The sad truth is we are the last of the freedom generation. When we were children and young adults we were free. Free to go out and play. Free to make mistakes. Free to be daring. Free to be unique. Free to face the consequences. Somewhere in the late 1990's or early 2000's freedom gave way to fear. What we are seeing now are the first young adults of the fear generation.

Freedom generation: Motorcycles? F yeah!
Fear Generation: Motorcycles? Ah...no thanks.

The fear generation will be safe in their living rooms playing video games and texting/snapchating/instagraming/tweeting - heaven forbid actual human contact and interaction. The fear generation have a lot of strange ideas about, well, just about everything. And they really don't give a crap about our knowledge or experience.

I fear the fear generation.

Title: Re: Why motorcycle sales are falling
Post by Dave on 03/13/18 at 07:06:58

Gary:

I agree with your assessment for a large part of the population - they are hiding indoors and not at all adventurous. However - there is also a portion of the population that is "extreme", and they feel that the stuff that is done at the "X Games" is within their ability. Wheelies on the interstate at 80 mph, high speed lane splitting, and traveling down a public highway at 120 mph are all deemed to be acceptable behavior to them. They have no problem putting themselves and all everyone else on the highway at risk. How has it become possible for a large group of sport bike riders to take over a highway so they can do stunts?

Ooopps....I got a bit off the topic. YouTube has thousands of videos of folks doing things on mountain bikes, surfboards, skis, snow boards, etc. that are far above and beyond anything we would have done in our youth. It seems that there are young folks on the both ends of the "active" spectrum.

And....there are still folks in the rural/farming communities doing what kids have always been doing - you just don't see them on YouTube or the evening news.