Where are all the young guzzi riders?

[faffi]

German situation in 2020 (Source: PS 1000) :

The average motorcyclist is a... ahem... experienced
The first two facts will hardly surprise anyone: Motorcyclists are on average of advanced age and male. There is an upward trend among female riders, but they still only make up 13.6%. The average age is noticeable at biker meetings, but is also confirmed by the statistics. In fact, more than half of motorcyclists have gray heads in their helmets. 36.5% belong to the largest age group of 50-59 years. Those over 60 make up another 14.7%. That is more than the 30-39 year olds, who only make up 13.4%.

Young people need action, adrenaline and speed, or at least that is what the statistics suggest.
Although those aged 29 and under only make up 16.6% of all motorcyclists, more than a third of the sports and super sports bikes sold are in this age group. However, this conclusion is not entirely correct, as a second look reveals. The share of young bikers in the super sports bike market is very large, but this market itself is not very large. For example, the 6,184 sports and super sports bikes sold are compared to 48,374 naked bikes. In 2020, young people bought more than a third of the super sports bikes (2,123 units), but at the same time they bought significantly more naked bikes (10,177 units).

The 30-39 age group: rare and balanced
If you are in this age group and ride a motorcycle, then you really have nothing to do with the average. Only 13.4% of bikers fall into this smallest group. This is probably because people get married, start families and build houses during this time. There is often no time or money left for hobbies such as motorcycles. But if these bikers do not let their two-wheeled passion be taken away from them, then they have a more balanced approach. Tourers and supersports bikes are a marginal phenomenon, but naked bikes, enduro/supermotos and even cruisers/choppers are options for 30-39 year-olds. Here too, naked bikes are in first place with 7,460 units. This segment is led by three Japanese models (Kawasaki Z900, Yamaha MT-07 & Kawasaki Z 650), followed by the 790 Duke and the 390 Duke from KTM. Enduros/supermotos were bought by 30-39 year-olds, at 3,829 units, just over half as often as naked bikes. There will still be a few supermoto riders here, but most will probably go for the adventure bestsellers BMW R 1250 GS, Yamaha Tenere 700 & Honda CRF1100L Africa Twin.

40-49: The border between old and young
At 18.8%, this is the second largest age group after the 50-59 year olds. They don't want to be pushed in one direction, but want to participate in all parts of the motorcycle market. The shares in the segments range from 16.8% (sports/super sports) to 20.2% (choppers/cruisers) and are thus the most balanced between all age groups. This stage of life also seems to mark the border between the trends of the younger and the older generations. Enduros are getting closer to naked bikes, choppers/cruisers are gaining ground and super sports are also a little more popular. In fact, it is the hardest to find a stereotype for this group. Sure, naked bikes are still ahead, but it is no longer so clear. Even with enduros and cruisers you are still in the middle. Here we are again approaching the average biker across all ages. No wonder, after all, more than a third of all motorcyclists fall into this category. Naked bikes (15,478 units) and enduros (15,141 units) are evenly balanced, while choppers and tourers have finally left sports/supersports behind. Although the really sporty motorcycle categories are no longer so popular with the older groups, men still don't want to do without power. In all motorcycle segments, around half of the registered bikes have 99 hp or more. Only chopper/cruiser riders take it a little more leisurely. Here, 48.4% of motorcycles are between 78 and 99 hp.

14.7% of all motorcyclists in Germany are over 60.
Uncomfortable supersports are mostly out of fashion at that age (but not always, as some 80-year-old on their supersports bikes impressively proves). People prefer to ride naked bikes, enduros and cruisers. Tourers are still a little more popular than with 50-59 year olds, but there are significantly fewer in absolute numbers due to the smaller number of people over 60. The typical motorcyclist over 60 is therefore very similar to his 50-year-old colleague, except that he cruises around on a Harley Street Glide a little more often.

[Motormike]

While I was at Sturgis this year, could not help but notice all the "older" gentlemen in the parking lot with their heavy Harley Davidsons.  Older than me anyway. Since I am in the same aging demographic, as part of any parking lot conversation, I would ask how old the person is (in a hopeful effort to find them much older than me, giving me a psychological boost that I have a few more years left!) One rider I spoke with was 72, another was 79! Mind you these fellows were all riding 850+ lb touring Harleys.  The 79-year-old was planning to ride to the West Coast and was asking me about the best Serria Nevada Passes (Ebbetts, Hwy 4).  Still, they were not immune to the ravages of father time, as the 72-year-old dropped his bike in the parking lot a few days later, requiring several of us to help right the leviathan.  And on my last day at the hotel, I bumped into the 79-year-old, who had abandoned his ambitious plans to ride out west.  While the California wildfires had a lot to do with his decision, he admitted he wasn't sure he was up to it.  Time waits for no man.

[faffi]

I joined an offroad/dirtroad event in Sweden back in 2017. With my at the time 53 years, the majority of the 300+ participants was definitely older.

[Moparnut72]

I tried to find the article I mentioned but was unable to find it. However there is an article on Common Tread discussing this very subject I was referencing. It is concerning Harley and the info comes from Harley's quarterly report. There are definitely flaws in the method the info was obtained but I don't think it is too far out of line.
kk

[ZGuzzi]

I’m 33 and on my third Guzzi since I was 24! First was a Griso, which got traded in for a Cali14. Had to sell that For a cross-country move and was without a bike for a few years (a mistake). Now I’ve had my ‘14 Stelvio since last April and love it. I’ve wrenched a ton on it to rescue it from the previous owners neglect, haha.

Next bike will definitely be a Guzzi also. 

It would be nice to see more younger people into Guzzis (and motorcycles in general) even if just for the sake of industry/hobby longevity. That said, I really value and appreciate the friends I’ve made in Guzzi community as it is!

[AJ Huff]

From what I see being out and about, an average of 50 seems about spot on for my area. Harleys and all bikes.

-AJ

[kidsmoke]

57 yr old here.

I was gonna pop in to say that who you see on Guzzi's may say more about where you roam than the existance of younger riders. Seems many of my Guzzi mates are in the 30 - 45 range locally.

I'm in Indiana. In what we call the tri-state area, Kentucky Indiana and Ohio, our MGNOC reps are in their early 30's (2 - each exactly 33 actually) and mid 40's (1). These are riders and ambassadors of the brand. several more locally around 40, and one of the dudes I fraternize most with, great freind and budding CARC expert is ZGuzzi (33), who I was surprised to find had just chimed in above.

GenX seems to the be the youngest generation to fully embrace the Forum ethos. Millenials and Z don't hang around here as much. Lunches on a weekend hold less appeal after a 50-60 hour work week when you've got kids and a yard to reconnect with. Bike time on the weekend needs to involve TURNING wheels, not parked wheels. My point is not seeing them doesn't mean they're not there.

Maybe we who value community should consider promoting weekend rides rather than weekend meals, and see what happens to attendance. Just an idea.

[Rochey42]

40 here. I don't know if I speak for all young(ish) riders, but I prefer solo riding to group rides, and meals or rider meetups can be a real challenge with a full work and family schedule.

A particular type of person is drawn to Guzzis, I don't think it has anything to do with age.

[zip50]

My son just took his MSF. Starting him out right on a V7 III.

[blu guzz]

I think the demise of the moto magazines has had an effect too.  When I read my first article about a Guzzi (a lemans) in the late 70s or early 80s, I really wanted one, but the price was far above my pay grade then.  This magazine article accomplished 2 purposes.  First, it introduced me to the brand which at the time was so different from the big 4 bikes and Harley, so red and sexy.  Big glossy pictures in cool locations.  Second, it set the hook.  Sadly, it took about 30 more years for the stars to align.  Now, instead of well tested and thought out articles by professionals, all young people seem to have is some kind of "influencer" or other self-proclaimed expert blathering on You Tube.  Not surpirsed.

[faffi]

The attention span of people today is very short. If you find a print magazine, there are lots of pictures and very little text. It used to be the other way around. Ever so often, I pull out one on my old Cycle or Cycle World magazines and revel in all the information they provide, particularly Cycle magazine. Cycle World has a podcast also shown on Youtube with the editor and Cameron that also provide in depth information. Not quite to the level of the written magazine, but much better than most youtube content.

[blu guzz]

But with a magazine, you could post the pictures on your bedroom wall. 

[cliffrod]

But with a magazine, you could post the pictures on your bedroom wall.

I have never taken a picture out of a magazine.  They were my Encyclopedia that were referenced & studied so much that even the ads between the articles were typically memorized..

Now, when I look at one of those old pics, I want to spread it with two fingers to enlarge it so I can see the little details better….

[Huzo]

Now, when I look at one of those old pics, I want to spread it with two fingers to enlarge it so I can see the little details better….

So many lines and I can’t use one of them…

[Moparnut72]

Cycle was my favorite of the two. It was probably through Cycle that I learned of MG. In 1970 I was in the market for a new bike. Between the Army pay and a second job working 7 days a week averaging 14 hours a day I had saved up quite a bit of money and could get just about any available bike. I test rode an Ambassador and liked it but the new R75/5 was more sporting which is what I decided on. That MG stuck in my mind all these years. I 2014, I think, I went to a bike store shopping for a tank bag. There was V7 Racer in the parking lot. I waited by the bike for the owner to come out. When he did I asked him where he got the bike. Turns out there was a dealer in town way off the beaten path. It wasn't too much longer before I got my first MG and now I am on my third but I still also have my second. I will have them until I have to downsize to a Vespa.
kk

[Bulldog9]

I started riding at 10. Some Rupp Trail bike, then a Yamaha 125 dirt bike. My first Street was a CB 350, then an LTD 454. From there, upon graduating college I bought my before mentioned XS1100. So basically all 'Standards' or UJM. That's what I still like for the most part.

PLENTY of crotch rockets back then, but none interested me. Closest I got was my ZG1000 (Concours) and FJR 1300.

But truth be told, other than a few bikes here or there, I had to have max performance, and most of my bikes were Liter Plus.  I was addicted to the IL4 power.  I have often wondered how I would have reacted to my first ride on the Griso if it happened in my 30's. I DO remember seeing the 1200 Sport in a Moto Rag, and it was instant lust. Can't believe I have one now.

In the end, it is all too often about the spec sheet, and AVAILABILITY.  Like many of you, I am a total fanatic and borderline obsessed with all things motorized. I LONG knew about Guzzi, long admired, but other than maybe 1-2 times over the years never saw a Guzzi Dealer, or saw one in the wild, and the ones I saw were ratted out old Ambo/Eldos.

The skinny jean/latte sippers (aka hipsters) seem to be drawn to the V7's, and the V85 has drawn in many from the ADV crowd. Both are brilliant bikes and have made an impact. It will be interesting to see how the new V100 architecture shapes the future and draws in new riders.

It's too bad Guzzi couldnt/wouldnt continue to develop the 1400's. They were just starting to make an impact on the large cruiser crowd.   

[MG_rider]

"Plucking the Stradivarius String" by Cook Nielson in Cycle, back in the day, his report on riding the Suzuki 500 twin crank bike.

One of the best of the best ever, along with his articles on the life of his Ducati 750.

There's nothing like those articles written anymore.

[Moparnut72]

Most articles now are on the internet and are short and don't carry much useful content. Full of cliches and fancy words thrown in to show how smart the author is. The brevity is probably to keep the attention of the modern reader whose attention span is nil.
kk

[AJ Huff]

As a SAHD who just sent their only daughter off to college, families and a kids are a major time suck. Really no time for motorcycles. Very few miles. Time is spent chauffeuring, school events, sports. The very limited riding I do is weekdays. Weekends are family time. I suspect that's also true for young people out there too. And we only have one kid. I'd imagine lack of time is proportional to the number of kids one has.

-AJ

[larrys]

My daughter, now 34, never was interested in motorcycles. Still isn't. However, my five year old grandson is hell on wheels with his Razor electric motorcycle that lives at my house. Looking now for a 50cc kids dirt bike. He's ready...
Larry

[blackcat]

"I started riding at 10. Some Rupp Trail bike, then a Yamaha 125 dirt bike."

My first bike at age 11 was a 3-1/2 powered Rupp then I moved up to a 5hp Rupp and then my brother's unused Honda 350 Scrambler at the age of 16.