Are young people interested in motorcyles?

[K250]

Sitting here on the couch, watching Kansas work on West Virginia, my son walked by to say see ya, he is off to wrestling practice.

At the spur of the moment, all crazy like, i decided to try an official, scientific method experiment.

"Son, you wanna take my Ducati?"

"Yep"

So there you have it.

I'll start applying for grants tomorrow and maybe do a little more research.

[Perazzimx14]

I have 9 of them in the garage and the daughter could care less. She did show a slight interest this summer and rode a couple hundred miles of fire roads with me. Now she' back to caring less.

[oldbike54]

 Either one of you guys want to adopt a 61 year old kid ?

 Dusty

[OkJohn]

The answer is yes!  Im young! 


Just 60.

[HardAspie]

62 years young.

I think a lot of the sportbike guys are young. But as I see youngies in my family what I see is generally eyes superglued to LCD screens rather than outside.

I think my generation is pretty tough. I mean, how many 60 year old metrosexuals do you see wandering around?

[Triple Jim]

My 21 year old daughter loves to ride the 250 with me when I'm on the Mille.  My almost 20 year old son has next to no interest.  And that's OK, they both have plenty of interests in general, so they aren't staring at phones much.

[cruzziguzzi]

I think entering the motorcycling world is less easy for current youngsters.

Was a time when a "decent" bike could be picked up on the cheap and kept running by wit, spit and a bit o' wire.

Not so much anymore.

Those "decent" bikes of the past are generally completely used up or have become collectible in their own right and so, somewhat overpriced for the entry level hobbyist.

Sure, exceptions exist but it's not like everyone knows several someones with a not-quite-clapped-out-bike to spare... one which will still provide transport and not a little fun to boot.

I just went through this for my nephew "Dr Science". We tried to get him a plodder for his new world as a Chem Prof at Princeton and all the old "stand-bys" have become classics and most new bikes leave him cold. I wanted something he would like (he's always loved my bikes) but would be OK were it stolen from the campus, reliable and nice to look at, intuitively repairable and maybe fun to tinker with.

Thin on the ground.

Sure - lots of "what about this" and "you musta missed thats" but they just aren't "trip over thick" - "please take it away but be careful" like they used to be.

Too, same could be said about autos. The draw of simplicity and learn as you go with tools from a garage sale just ain't "a thing" anymore.

Todd.

[TodkaVonic]

As a kid in the late 70s/early 80s, I was way into CHiPs...remember? That totally average TV show with Eric Estrada and that blonde dude? The kids in my inner city neighborhood used to practice riding our bikes two abreast down the sidewalk while belting out the theme music

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Ci8Ga-gCqno

That show, of all things, was the source of my fascination with motorcycles. So, silly questions: 1) were any of you guys/gals similarly influenced by popular culture and 2) is there a current equivalent to those types of shows? And maybe therein lies the perceived disinterest in riding?

Nate

[HardAspie]

That has been my trouble in searching for a new bike.

I remember the old days when the tool kit supplied with any new Japanese bike was actually enough to allow most maintenance to be done. When points and carbs would talk to you so you knew where the issue was without a computer. I know that in many ways the new tech is stunning. But if you are new to adult life and struggling to keep ahead of the bill collector the service costs of new anythings is pretty steep; just as it is subjectively costly for me.

I mean actually, would a $10,000 bike actually run for less money per mile than a new Nissan Versa? I doubt it, and a kid could put his snowboard inside the Versa and even sleep in it. Things have changed. For many the changes have been positive; for many others at the worst neutral; but for some the changes are not very helpful.

[HardAspie]

Erik Estrada!

I shot a (very strange) round of skeet with him and a few others out to Prado Tiro about 1990. Nice guy! Great shot too! And know how his teeth were as shiny as the grill of a fifties Buick? They were in real life too. he kissed my hand!

[redrider]

I was into bikes before the TV offerings. I did however watch them. Back then we only had 1 VHF and a couple of UHF channels and programming ended at 11pm or 12am. High Flight was the sign off.

[HardAspie]

I have heard of it!

[Guzzistajohn]

Most of the 20 something's I know are more interested in playing video games and schmokin' some Colorado whacky weed.                                                                                                                                                                                         
The young riders I see have  to be extreme, doing stoppies or pulling a wheelie for a block and a half down a city street.


I see a few out on the twisty Ozarks roads, but not many.

[TodkaVonic]

Erik Estrada!

I shot a (very strange) round of skeet with him and a few others out to Prado Tiro about 1990. Nice guy! Great shot too! And know how his teeth were as shiny as the grill of a fifties Buick? They were in real life too. he kissed my hand!

Ponch kissed your hand! That. Is. Awesome.

If you hold it up to your ear, do you hear the theme song?

[Green1000S]

My older daughter (20), no interest, sort of likes bikes but is scared of them. Mopeds-YES.

The younger one (18) is definitely a gearhead.
Sat on Quota back seat last 4 summers, now is getting (read: I pay..) her own KTM 390 Duke. She also rides mopeds.

So.... its 50-50.

[HDGoose]

Motorcycle are no longer the cheap transportation they once were. Reliable small cars, with heat, a/c radio can be had for $3000. A set of tires will last 50k on a car and cost $400 or less. One set of 12k tires on a motorcycle will cost $300 now.

And I will be selling my 1997 Moto Guzzi Cali 1100i in a few months for $3000. Or $2000 without Givi bags and racks. After I purchase my new (to me) bike.
 

[HardAspie]

These days if you mention the word, "technology< no one would think for a moment of engines, propellers, power transmissions, elevators, airfoils, telescopes, hydroelectric dams, submarines, ULCCs, nor anything else other than. . .

. . . computer stuff.

[canuguzzi]

The younger the better. An early interest can stay with younger people throughout life. I have a nephew who is 6 and speaks two languages fluently.

One day when he was a bit younger, maybe 4 he picked up a magazine and put his finger on it and flicked it side to side. He said it wasn't working. I laughed but they are growing up into a world we don't really see as they do. In their world, if something doesn't work it becomes boring immediately. fixing something means charging it or putting in new batteries. We can say that is crazy or whatever all we want, it is the way it is no matter what we think is better.

I decided to introduce him to a quad. Soon he will have one to run around on but more important, see that there is more to enjoying something than just playing with it. Just filling the fuel tank, checking the oil and tire pressure and making sure everything is as it should be is worth as much as riding it.

Hopefully, he will then gravitate to trying out a small motorcycle when the time is right (more to it than just his age) and then as he gets older he'll at least appreciate the sport.

He has seen the Norge and likes to look at it.

Who knows, maybe one day he will get an old mobile phone to help other kids in an emergency and also get a small leatherman multi-tool so he can wire up a connection to power the phone. ;)

[HardAspie]

Yes, Ponch kissed my hand. he was quite the gentleman, and also an impressive shot.

Oh, I coul d not hear the theme, but did not wash the hand for a day, and was glad that he had not taught me to ride.

[Rick4003]

Absolutly! I have a couple of bikes and I know several of my friends who also ride.

I think some of them is influenced by the Sons of Anarchy. So a few of them is into bobbers and such.

Also a couple of them with sport bikes and sport touring bikes.

most is engineers, so maybe that's explains it. Gearheads likes bikes

[K250]

Hey!  You rowdies!  Today is the flippin' GOLDEN years of motorcycles!  internet parts and help!  Ebay!  Craigslist! Its awesome. 

[K250]

Dusty come on over whenever you want!

Goose, 2000 without the bags sounds like a DEAL !   That will make someone happy!    That is about as cheap as a person can get.  Neighbors daughter made that much raking up leaves in the fall....

Tires-i always encourage people with low money to check tire cost before buying the bike...   One bike in my garage, part of why i bought it is it takes 10-40 car oil, and a new set of tires is under $100 shipped from jc whitney...  They are narrow enough they are easy to install in the yard..  Insurance on it is $60 a year...  Its never one time had a paid mechanic...   Yep a lot of fun cheap!

[HardAspie]

Cheap!

I call it low calorie motorcycling.
If I have to run a financial calculation before pushing the button I may as well not go.

But then, I have aspired to poverty throughout my life and have fallen short of that level of success.

[K250]

Im with you Aspie!  if it takes math to figure out how much a trip will cost i cant go.  Both because of expense and who needs that kind of stress.   For many years my limit was $100 a trip, have gone to Sturgis several times on that, currently am getting all extravagant and thinkin the outlandish amiunt of $200 would be acceptable...

Low calorie motorcycling
 Nice!!

[HardAspie]

Thank you K250!

I am looking forward to a new bike with that ability. Getting eager.

[HDGoose]

*snip*

Goose, 2000 without the bags sounds like a DEAL !   That will make someone happy!    That is about as cheap as a person can get.  *snip*

When I sell a bike, I'm realistic about the selling prices. Show up with less and I just tell you to leave.

[Dilliw]

We have a kid at the gym that's been riding pretty much everyday and that includes a lot days in the 30s.  He's well geared and even wears suspenders to hold up his overpants.

It can happen!

[HardAspie]

Congratulations on your success. You are The Guzzi Hero.

[BRIO]

I'm not sure if I qualify as a youngster at 32. Young riders are out there. Weed out the bad boy Harley types and ricer deamons and the herd gets thinner. I don't see many young people who do it for the zen and love of motorcycling. It usually seems to be more about being "bad ass".

[oldbike54]

 I met a nice young man today , probably 28 , just moved to Muskogee from St Louis . Guess how we met ? He was riding a 2010 Triumph T-bird , he had come from HD , decided he wanted something different . We didn't get to visit for too long , but I will bet he has been riding quite a while , judging by the way he handled a large powerful bike . Invited him to join WG , heck , we talk about Triumphs a fair bit here .

 Dusty