Are we at the end of the era for motorcycling?

[shrub]

I sometimes wonder what the future holds for motorcycling, and I suspect that it's not rosy.

1. We're getting older. Most of us are 40 plus, and the number of teens and 20 somethings buying bikes has dropped compared to even 20 years ago. Without new blood the demand will drop as we all shuffle off this mortal coil.

2. Bikes are inherently dangerous. In a modern world where we all need to be protected from ourselves in case we ever hurt ourselves I can't see TPTB encouraging a pursuit that places the participant at risk - hell, even my neighbours spa pool has to have a fence in case a child climbs into it, and how many kids drown in pools - 3 or 4 a year?. We have seen the beginnings with the ACC levies, and that's just the start of it.

3. Enjoyment of motorcycles often involves speed, and I challenge anyone to honestly disagree with me (unless they're a diehard classic or cruiser rider). Speed has become the silver bullet for cutting the road toll and I hear that the lovely Paula Rose has stated that motorcyclists will be targetted this year in an attempt to cut the road toll.

4. Motorcyles use petrol, and it's getting bloody expensive because it's a finite resource and we're wasting it on moving freight in trucks, running SUVs and having hundreds of thousands of people commuting to work on their own in cars and SUVs (a criminal waste if you ask me).

5. Bikes are kind of at their pinnacle technologically - take a modern sports bike for example. How the hell can you improve on the current crop? I have a good mate who has an 03 Gixxer 1000, and he can't come close to it's limits and he is one the best riders I have ever met.

I wish I was wrong, but I suspect we're in the good old days of motorcycling. Motorcycling will survive, but with fuel efficient, low risk and low carbon bikes instead of the magnificent and soul stirring machines we currently enjoy.

[NONONO]

Get yourself a Rocket 111 Roadster and see it all out on a high mate:yes:

[Gremlin]

I'm a 20 something... no... I don't want it to be the end of the era :bye:

Stop riding on highways, start visiting the lesser roads, or start exploring all the gravel roads... They only have so many cops, and treating the road like a race track was never going to work long term.

Yes, petrol is expensive, so I'm making sure I get my share now :yes:

Pinnacle of technology? Don't think I agree. Stuff like ABS, traction control and electronic suspension adjustment are somewhat in their infancy. Does it add or subtract from riding? That's a personal thing, but more technology will keep coming.

[crazyhorse]

I agree Shrub,

But when riding is a passion, and you have the wind in your hair, and you smell the fresh smells of nature. I for one, won't be trading in my bike for my air conditioned car anytime soon.

[Spearfish]

Where is going is up to us, I believe we are the masters of our own destiny.
Many hundreds of smaller bikes are sold each year, mopeds included, what happens to those riders, why don't they progress through their riding career?
If they only have the shining examples of how not to ride we see on TV and papers is all they have "what it is to be a biker" then little wonder bikes sit in garages until sold a year or so later.

Remember though many riders aren't on KB going about their riding without fuss or bother, all the riders I ride with couldn't be fucked sitting around on a puter its just the way they are.
Some like to explore new places and actually stop, pitch a tent and walk a track or three.

Then there are the thousands of riders who commute all year round and see their bikes as a relevant alternative to public transport.
If your passion is speed then do a track day or three cant be any more boring than doing lap after lap around the coro loop, NZ's answer to the isle of man, at least the other bikes are going in the same direction.

Its a long way from dead but we are writing the script of our own relevance.

[Kickaha]

5. Bikes are kind of at their pinnacle technologically - take a modern sports bike for example. How the hell can you improve on the current crop?

It was either Neil Chivas or Dave Hiscock (maybe even Neville)who said something very similar about the GSX1100 of the early eighties

[Big Dave]

The next era will be electric (looking forward to that now I've ridden some) and high efficiency smaller engines that will still offer good performance.
Consider how a new Twin Turbo 1800 destroys a 70's big block on a track. I've ridden a viable 50cc machine this past year.

Still plenty of kids riding MX too. Lots of them grow into road riders.

[Scuba_Steve]

Motorcycling will always survive there will always be the "core" biker but we are probably due for our 'dip' in the cycle, after all history always repeats and we have had our growth and I think the Govts put a stop to anymore at this stage so as they say what goes up must come down. So yes we probably have "come to an end of an era" and it'll be our children or children's children which will again bring the rise of "biking".
As for me I'll carry on biking and if others want to stop, we'll stink for them.

[cheshirecat]

Get yourself a Rocket 111 Roadster and see it all out on a high mate:yes:
Made like this one Building the Triumph Rocket (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEuzxC4eGc)

[EJK]

Lets wait and see. But I bet I will be keep riding.

[Gibbo89]

My first comment is that there are way too many fucking boy racers on the roads these days, the cars are relatively cheap to buy and people just stick to cars from then on until a mid-life crisis type thing and will probably just go buy a Harley.

I'm young, I am the only one out of all the people I know from High School that own a motorbike, the rest own a wee 1.5 type run-a-bout (nothing wrong with that) but they would never sell their car and go buy a motorbike and put up with the winter riding.

I don't think we are at the end of the era, it's just young people these days want a subaru legacy gt and don't start on small bikes like you older fella's did.

In regards to what spearfish said about no one progressing from mopeds, I am pretty sure it's to do with the whole wof and more expensive rego side of things after the 50cc class.

I hope I can always own a motorbike, the young people my age don't know what they're missing out on with their shitty nissan silvia's. But then again, I'm not sure if I want those rice racers hopping on bikes if they drive anything like they do behind the wheel of their current cars.

[SMOKEU]

My first comment is that there are way too many fucking boy racers on the roads these days, the cars are relatively cheap to buy and people just stick to cars from then on until a mid-life crisis type thing and will probably just go buy a Harley.

I'm young, I am the only one out of all the people I know from High School that own a motorbike, the rest own a wee 1.5 type run-a-bout (nothing wrong with that) but they would never sell their car and go buy a motorbike and put up with the winter riding.

I don't think we are at the end of the era, it's just young people these days want a subaru legacy gt and don't start on small bikes like you older fella's did.

In regards to what spearfish said about no one progressing from mopeds, I am pretty sure it's to do with the whole wof and more expensive rego side of things after the 50cc class.

I hope I can always own a motorbike, the young people my age don't know what they're missing out on with their shitty nissan silvia's. But then again, I'm not sure if I want those rice racers hopping on bikes if they drive anything like they do behind the wheel of their current cars.

Have you been living in a cave lately? Go around the central city in the weekends at night and you'll see more taxis than 'boy racers'. Cruising around in cars causing trouble has gone out of fashion in Christchurch.

[ellipsis]

fashion in Christchurch.

...oxymoron...surely...

[SMOKEU]

...oxymoron...surely...

You must surely know what I mean though if you've been living here for a while.

[Ronin]

You must surely know what I mean though if you've been living here for a while.

Stop calling him Shirley.

[ellipsis]

...I generally avoid the place, like the plague...I only go in there in my Landcruiser with a reinforced roof...just in case a building falls on me and I keep my eyes closed. so that I dont have to see the scooter riders playing dodgem with parked cars in jandals , shorts and t-shirts...and I try to be behind locked doors by 8.30 pm...

[swbarnett]

There was a decline in motorcycling in NZ in the late 80s. This was brought about by the advent of cheap Jap import cars. Like all things motorcycling will rise and fall in popularity. Maybe we're heading back to "rebel" image you see in 50s movies (part of me kind of likes that idea).

Fewer bikes on the road will not be all bad. Fewer bike will mean less police focus. Hell, I remember when you could do 150kph on the motorway and the worst you would get is a friendly chat.

[shrub]

It was either Neil Chivas or Dave Hiscock (maybe even Neville)who said something very similar about the GSX1100 of the early eighties

and it was Ken McIntosh in the early 80s who told me that the Japanese engines were fine but needed to be liquid cooled to get any real power and that Japanese frames were stuck in the 1950s technologically and were basically the same design as a Norton Featherbed.

Consider the improvements from the revolutionary and state of the art 1969 Honda 750 four to the 1973 kwakka 900 to the 1980 GSX1100 then the 1984 GPZ900. Every 4 - 6 years there was a quantam leap in technology and performance and the GPz900 is as big a jump on the GSX1100 (I've owned both) as the Kwakka 900 was from the CB750 (I've owned several CB750s but sadly never a Kwakka 9).


Now compare the first generation R1 and Gixxer 1000s to the latest crop. In 10 years the power has increased from far too much for 99% of (road) riders to far too much for 99.9% of riders and handling and braking have improved incrementally (for road riders). The only significant improvement for most road riders is the ability to change your fuel mapping.

I remember when I had my first CB750. Even then I knew the handling and braking were crap and the power was only slightly better than the 71 Bonnie I had before it, so i fitted aftermarket shocks, an extra disc, big bore kit, hot cam, high comp pistons etc etc, and while it was now faster than my mate's GS1000s, Z1000s etc, it still handled like crap and had no brakes.

When I had my GSX1100 I knew full well the frame flexed, the brakes were wooden etc, even though it was still a pretty crash hot bike for the day. What changes would you have to make to a 5 year old Gixxer 1000 to make it a half way rideable bike? Major changes, or minor tweaks?

My argument is that the latest and greatest of 2011 are little different (for real-world road riders) than the greatest from 2000 and that there have been no quantum leaps since the Gixxer1100.

[Scuba_Steve]

There was a decline in motorcycling in NZ in the late 80s. This was brought about by the advent of cheap Jap import cars. Like all things motorcycling will rise and fall in popularity. Maybe we're heading back to "rebel" image you see in 50s movies (part of me kind of likes that idea).


ahh 80's I was 1 decade out

[shrub]

Get yourself a Rocket 111 Roadster and see it all out on a high mate:yes:

probably my next bike. having had the pleasure of a few thousand kms on Rocket 3s in a previous life as a triumph salesman I know how bloody addictive the things are.

[mike n]

really nice to read an article and not have a big arguement over it... Quite different here in the States.. Seems like nothing being posted has been spared from ridicule or just plain name calling... So once again nice to read different opinions being shared... Way to go folks...

Biker Mike

[Kickaha]

When I had my GSX1100 I knew full well the frame flexed


Most so called "frame flex" on those earlier bikes was cured by decent swingarm bearings/bushes and decent rear suspension

I'd still rather have an early GSX1100 over a late GSXR1000 any day of the week

[Spearfish]

and it was Ken McIntosh in the early 80s who told me that the Japanese engines were fine but needed to be liquid cooled to get any real power and that Japanese frames were stuck in the 1950s technologically and were basically the same design as a Norton Featherbed.

Consider the improvements from the revolutionary and state of the art 1969 Honda 750 four to the 1973 kwakka 900 to the 1980 GSX1100 then the 1984 GPZ900. Every 4 - 6 years there was a quantam leap in technology and performance and the GPz900 is as big a jump on the GSX1100 (I've owned both) as the Kwakka 900 was from the CB750 (I've owned several CB750s but sadly never a Kwakka 9).


Now compare the first generation R1 and Gixxer 1000s to the latest crop. In 10 years the power has increased from far too much for 99% of (road) riders to far too much for 99.9% of riders and handling and braking have improved incrementally (for road riders). The only significant improvement for most road riders is the ability to change your fuel mapping.

I remember when I had my first CB750. Even then I knew the handling and braking were crap and the power was only slightly better than the 71 Bonnie I had before it, so i fitted aftermarket shocks, an extra disc, big bore kit, hot cam, high comp pistons etc etc, and while it was now faster than my mate's GS1000s, Z1000s etc, it still handled like crap and had no brakes.

When I had my GSX1100 I knew full well the frame flexed, the brakes were wooden etc, even though it was still a pretty crash hot bike for the day. What changes would you have to make to a 5 year old Gixxer 1000 to make it a half way rideable bike? Major changes, or minor tweaks?

My argument is that the latest and greatest of 2011 are little different (for real-world road riders) than the greatest from 2000 and that there have been no quantum leaps since the Gixxer1100.

Its interesting reading.
Would it be fair to say any improvements now on could go down the path of making the average rider more able to use more of the bikes potential artificially?
Like traction control, abs, managed power delivery etc etc

[Gibbo89]

Have you been living in a cave lately? Go around the central city in the weekends at night and you'll see more taxis than 'boy racers'. Cruising around in cars causing trouble has gone out of fashion in Christchurch.

There is less, but I don't believe they have all been sold to other parts of the country etc.

Last week down blenheim road a skyline and a gt legacy were dragging each other, the skyline almost lost control too... Wish it had...

If Chch ever loses it's boy racers, it will be a fuckin' miracle and whoever stopped them should receive a medal.

[SMOKEU]

There is less, but I don't believe they have all been sold to other parts of the country etc.

Last week down blenheim road a skyline and a gt legacy were dragging each other, the skyline almost lost control too... Wish it had...

If Chch ever loses it's boy racers, it will be a fuckin' miracle and whoever stopped them should receive a medal.

What you have to realise is that an out of control bike can kill an innocent bystander just as quickly as a car. It's a lot easier to bin a bike than it is to crash a cage, and I've seen many bikers (usually the ones on sports bikes) riding like complete muppets at well over double the speed limit. If you're on one of those group rides and someone tries to show off by popping a big wheelie and crashes into you then what do you think is going to happen?

Too many people on KB say "I hate boy racers, but my GSXR1000 does close to 300kmh". There's not much difference in the attitude of many people who ride bikes and those who drive performance cars. You might have more in common than you think.

I've been on KB rides before with some of the litre bike boys, and it often turns into a "Race you to the finish, loser has to shout a round of beer at the pub" kind of situation.

[awa355]

[QUOTE=SMOKEU;1129946 and it often turns into a "Race you to the finish, loser has to shout a round of beer at the pub" kind of situation.[/QUOTE]

Nothing has changed in the last 40 years.

[SMOKEU]

Nothing has changed in the last 40 years.

NZ law does not differentiate going 150kmh in a cage to going 150kmh on a bike. In other words, you're just as much of a criminal for speeding on a bike as you are for speeding in a cage.

Just because someone prefers riding a bike fast compared to someone to likes to drive fast does not make them a better person, contrary to popular belief.

[schrodingers cat]

227850
https://zone.artizans.com/images/previews/GRA392.pvw.jpg


End of an era?

[shrub]

Most so called "frame flex" on those earlier bikes was cured by decent swingarm bearings/bushes and decent rear suspension

I'd still rather have an early GSX1100 over a late GSXR1000 any day of the week

So Mr Hiscock was right then? The GSX1100 was the pinnacle of motorcycle engineering. Personally I'd rather have modern brakes and suspension over what we endured in the 80s, but I'm sure you have a good reason for preferring the old technology.

[baptist]

Pinnacle of technology? Don't think I agree. Stuff like ABS, traction control and electronic suspension adjustment are somewhat in their infancy. Does it add or subtract from riding? That's a personal thing, but more technology will keep coming.

I think you are right, but only as long as there are enough people buying the machines, no profit = no investment.


Where is going is up to us, I believe we are the masters of our own destiny...
Then there are the thousands of riders who commute all year round and see their bikes as a relevant alternative to public transport...
Its a long way from dead but we are writing the script of our own relevance.

To true, I use my little bike to commute and go everywhere and while I would like a bigger one one day, the price of petrol and my fuel ecconomy keep hauling me back to reality ... which is keep the little one


Made like this one Building the Triumph Rocket (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HKEuzxC4eGc) Now that is a great clip A+:yes:

[Voltaire]

Must be how horse riders felt when cars and motorcycles started taking over....

" I hope my kids will still ride a horse and not one of those noisy petrol powered things"

" internal combustion powered vehicles are just a fad....'

:innocent:

[shrub]

Must be how horse riders felt when cars and motorcycles started taking over....

" I hope my kids will still ride a horse and not one of those noisy petrol powered things"

" internal combustion powered vehicles are just a fad....'

:innocent:

probably not far from the truth there. I doubt that motorcycles will exist outside of museums and private collections inside 50 years.

Most motorcyclists are aged over 40, so in 20 years time how many will still be riding? It's easy to say "I'll ride till the day I die", but what happens if your body starts to crap out? Motorcycle riding is a reasonably physical activity and i know guys who can't ride any more because their backs, hips, knees, eyesight, wrists, hands etc have crapped out.

My guess is in 20 years less than 50% of the current motorcyclists will still be riding because they just aren't able to. Add to that our beloved leaders with their passion for protecting us from ourselves, and within 10 years we will see some pretty onerous rules attached to riding bikes, much more intense policing of speed restrictions as well as much higher ACC levies/rego costs. Plus fuel will be significantly more expensive, so a day ride will cost a couple of hundy or so.

The answer? Ride every chance you get now while we're in the golden days.

[Voltaire]

I was in Shanghai on business last year and our 'guide" said motorcycles were not allowed on the motorway and the Govt gave financial incentive to swap the plate to a car. Motorcycles are seen as a transition from bicycles to the ultimate status symbol...the car.
Did I not read that the Indian company who makes Vespa type scooters were stopping making them due to lack of demand..?

I won't be encouraging my boys to take up motorcycling, they probably see it as an old mans thing...like Lion Red and Bowls...:innocent:

[Big Dave]

I doubt that motorcycles will exist outside of museums and private collections inside 50 years.

I don't. The fuel source might change, but as urban congestion becomes more and more problematic a solution will be smaller, non polluting personal transport.

Yamaha plans to build 10 million electric vehicles in the next few years - other manufacturers are following suit.

[swbarnett]

I was in Shanghai on business last year and our 'guide" said motorcycles were not allowed on the motorway and the Govt gave financial incentive to swap the plate to a car. Motorcycles are seen as a transition from bicycles to the ultimate status symbol...the car.
How to create traffic congestion. I saw a documentery that talked about places like Bangkok where traffic flowed quite well when not many people could afford a car (most were on motorcycles, not bicycles). As soon as the economy improved the traffic ground to a halt.


I won't be encouraging my boys to take up motorcycling,
Why not?

[bogan]

I reckon late 80s and early 90s was the golden age of motorcycling anyway, well combustion engine bikes anyway. Next era will be electrics, in about 10-20 years will be the golden age of electrics, followed by another period of incremental and unnecessary improvements.

So no, not end of the era of motorcycling, but certainly winding down the era of the ICE bikes.

[SMOKEU]

Petrol engined bikes are not going to go the way of the moa anytime soon.

[phill-k]

When we did the plastic boat in Perth in the 80's and the Americans called foul, no one would have believed that the next cup would be raced in multihulls with wing sails, still sailing but the pinnacle keeps shifting.
Will be the same with bikes.:yes:

[Big Dave]

I reckon late 80s and early 90s was the golden age of motorcycling anyway, well combustion engine bikes anyway. Next era will be electrics, in about 10-20 years will be the golden age of electrics, followed by another period of incremental and unnecessary improvements.

So no, not end of the era of motorcycling, but certainly winding down the era of the ICE bikes.

You talk to 70 year olds and they tell you the 50's were the Golden Age. 60 year olds guarantee it was the 60's. Ask me I'd say it was the pre-radar and $2 a gallon 70's.

The older I get - the better I was.

[bogan]

You talk to 70 year olds and they tell you the 50's were the Golden Age. 60 year olds guarantee it was the 60's. Ask me I'd say it was the pre-radar and $2 a gallon 70's.

The older I get - the better I was.

very true, though I was thinking more the bikes themselves rather than the cost and environment, though people will still have different ideas about that. I suppose there are two certainties, motorcycling will always be changing, and I'll always be riding :D So get a bike from your favorite era (or a few from here and there) and go hard I reckon.

And if some are worried about others forcing us off the roads, there are plenty of opportunities to make them reconsider.

[_Shrek_]

three out of four of our boys ride bikes & horse's two out of seven daughters rode bikes before they got married etc.. & five of them still ride horse's I don't think its the end of an area just yet, but we can start beleiving it, if we let them brain wash us/our kids through TV, headlines, schools, pc brigade etc...

[_Shrek_]

You talk to 70 year olds and they tell you the 50's were the Golden Age. 60 year olds guarantee it was the 60's. Ask me I'd say it was the pre-radar and $2 a gallon 70's.

The older I get - the better I was.

:shit: Dave I still remember paying 30cents a ltr in the 70's :laugh:

[Big Dave]

:shit: Dave I still remember paying 30cents a ltr in the 70's :laugh:

Wasn't riding in flares a pain.

[Gremlin]

Was thinking... While I have no intentions of stopping riding, all you need is a group to stop, high levies etc, and the shops won't survive. Can't look at, browse and buy bikes if there is no shop supplying them :eek:

[BiK3RChiK]

Both my son and my daughter bought their first road bikes when they were 15. They enjoyed getting out on the road. The great thing about being on a bike for them was at their age, their mates who had cars couldn´t go anywhere without mum or dad in the passenger seat, whereas our kids could jump on the bike and they were off.

Both my kids have extensively now travelled the North Island on their bikes while their mates have hardly left town...

I know some other younger people around who ride, so hopefully motorcycling will be around for a while yet :yes:

[swbarnett]

Was thinking... While I have no intentions of stopping riding, all you need is a group to stop, high levies etc, and the shops won't survive. Can't look at, browse and buy bikes if there is no shop supplying them :eek:
Certainly it will be tough times for the bike shops. When the cheap import cars started coming in in the late 80s a number of them went under. It was very hard to get good gear but the selection of bikes didn't suffer much, just fewer places supplying the same selection. Of course, buying from oversees back then involved a plane trip to physically visit the store - no online shopping until the mid 90s.

[240]

I'm not sure that young guys arn't riding.My step son rides as does a lot of his mates,I can't see much difference between now and twenty years ago personally.
Moto cross riders often end up as road bike riders as well and there are plenty of those guys around.
As for electric??? bollocks! I can't see people riding around on a large electro magnetic field motors which pump large amounts of radiation into your ball sack which is sitting about 6 inches above!!!
Fuck that! the thought of an electric bike is gay enough without being made sterile and radioactive as well!:doctor:
I believe that like cars engines will become smaller,more powerful and more fuel efficient and possibly even high pressure diesel.

[Grasshopperus]

What you have to realise is that an out of control bike can kill an innocent bystander just as quickly as a car. It's a lot easier to bin a bike than it is to crash a cage, and I've seen many bikers (usually the ones on sports bikes) riding like complete muppets at well over double the speed limit. If you're on one of those group rides and someone tries to show off by popping a big wheelie and crashes into you then what do you think is going to happen?

Too many people on KB say "I hate boy racers, but my GSXR1000 does close to 300kmh". There's not much difference in the attitude of many people who ride bikes and those who drive performance cars. You might have more in common than you think.

I've been on KB rides before with some of the litre bike boys, and it often turns into a "Race you to the finish, loser has to shout a round of beer at the pub" kind of situation.

Who the hell are you and what have you done with smokeu?

[pritch]

There have been a few changes since I started riding. The dealer I bought my first bike from was a one man band. He was the salesman, the parts guy, the receptionist, and the mechanic. His turnover in any department was probably modest.

Even in the 70s one of the dealers here consisted of the owner/salesman/mechanic and a parts guy/receptionist/back up salesman.

Probably most people did their own maintenance back then so much less was put through the dealers' workshops.

Some of the dealers now seem to have a large staff and a drop in sales will hurt them relatively quickly. I suspect that it's the workshop business that is keeping some afloat.

If sales fall away too much the big dealers may eventually be replaced by smaller operations.

As for the "golden age" I believe this is it. There has never been such a selection of incredible machinery available to so many people. When the Brough Superior was produced in the nineteen twenties only a very few people could afford it. Currently there is some wonderful machinery available to someone on the average wage. OK, other priorities may intrude, but if someone wants it enough they can do it.

Make the most of it, it may not last.

[bogan]

As for electric??? bollocks! I can't see people riding around on a large electro magnetic field motors which pump large amounts of radiation into your ball sack which is sitting about 6 inches above!!!

:rolleyes: and how do you think the spark is generated for you ICE bike?

also, we are at a 20 year high for number of registered bikes, I don't think that signals the end of biking at all.

[Voltaire]

As for the "golden age" I believe this is it. There has never been such a selection of incredible machinery available to so many people. When the Brough Superior was produced in the nineteen twenties only a very few people could afford it. Currently there is some wonderful machinery available to someone on the average wage. OK, other priorities may intrude, but if someone wants it enough they can do it.

Make the most of it, it may not last.

I remember when I was looking at a Ducati Darmah and the only one was in the window in a bike shop up Ponsonby Road...Auckland Motorcycles...? it was 6K, 8 years old and it was 1985.
I bought a better one that I still have in Sydney for about 3k AU, and Frazers had several for around 3500K.
Now there are 200 Ducatis on TM, so yes this is probably the golden age.
I wonder what 3K in 1986 money is worth in todays...I was on $10 an hour at the time....as an Electrician.....what do they get now...$25-30?

[SMOKEU]

Who the hell are you and what have you done with smokeu?

He's around here somewhere....

[Buyasta]

Who the hell are you and what have you done with smokeu?

Initially I thought he was worried that some unfortunate racially pure aryan sort of fellow might be mown down by a rabid minority type, but on further consideration it seems more likely that his concern (and rightly so), is that mowing down minorities on a motorbike lacks the grand sense of tradition inherent in judiciously applied Zyklon B. :p

[SMOKEU]

Initially I thought he was worried that some unfortunate racially pure aryan sort of fellow might be mown down by a rabid minority type, but on further consideration it seems more likely that his concern (and rightly so), is that mowing down minorities on a motorbike lacks the grand sense of tradition inherent in judiciously applied Zyklon B. :p

Nicely said.

[240]

:rolleyes: and how do you think the spark is generated for you ICE bike?

also, we are at a 20 year high for number of registered bikes, I don't think that signals the end of biking at all.

True, but the spark is generated by a small pulse from a cdi with no magnetic leakage, not a massive constant electric field frying the testes and organs, you may as well strap a microwave to your arse! (allthough it may be good in winter :) )

[Swoop]

Q: Are we at the end of the era for motorcycling?

A: No.

Absolutely not.

[dangerous]

What you have to realise is that an out of control bike can kill an innocent bystander just as quickly as a car. It's a lot easier to bin a bike than it is to crash a cage, and I've seen many bikers (usually the ones on sports bikes) riding like complete muppets at well over double the speed limit. If you're on one of those group rides and someone tries to show off by popping a big wheelie and crashes into you then what do you think is going to happen?

Too many people on KB say "I hate boy racers, but my GSXR1000 does close to 300kmh". There's not much difference in the attitude of many people who ride bikes and those who drive performance cars. You might have more in common than you think.

I've been on KB rides before with some of the litre bike boys, and it often turns into a "Race you to the finish, loser has to shout a round of beer at the pub" kind of situation.FUCK... you are so full of shit :facepalm:



I sometimes wonder what the future holds for motorcycling, and I suspect that it's not rosy.
1...
2...
3...
4...
hehe... less thinking, more riding, and ya post is full of it aswell LOL, (differance being you are a good fulla shit guy) disagree I could counter question all 4 of your issues... its what we make it.

[bogan]

True, but the spark is generated by a small pulse from a cdi with no magnetic leakage, not a massive constant electric field frying the testes and organs, you may as well strap a microwave to your arse! (allthough it may be good in winter :) )

:facepalm: I suppose the ignorant shunning technology they do not understand will leave more electricities for me! Unless of course you have studies to back up your claims?

read this (http://www.icnirp.de/documents/FactSheetStatic.pdf)

[SMOKEU]

FUCK... you are so full of shit :facepalm:




I couldn't be even half as full of shit as you are even if I tried. I've always wondered, do you actually try and act like a complete fuckwit, or is it just something that you can't help?

[_Shrek_]

Wasn't riding in flares a pain.

:o :facepalm:

[_Shrek_]

I couldn't be even half as full of shit as you are even if I tried. I've always wondered, do you actually try and act like a complete fuckwit, or is it just something that you can't help?

He's a ginga whats your excuse :blink:

[sondela]

I was in Shanghai on business last year and our 'guide" said motorcycles were not allowed on the motorway and the Govt gave financial incentive to swap the plate to a car. Motorcycles are seen as a transition from bicycles to the ultimate status symbol...the car.
Did I not read that the Indian company who makes Vespa type scooters were stopping making them due to lack of demand..?

I won't be encouraging my boys to take up motorcycling, they probably see it as an old mans thing...like Lion Red and Bowls...:innocent:

Both my boys ride bikes and love the freedom of it, and their kids will probably be doing the same after them.. biking isn't going to disappear anytime soon

[SMOKEU]

He's a ginga whats your excuse :blink:

That still only explains half of it.

[dangerous]

I couldn't be even half as full of shit as you are even if I tried. I've always wondered, do you actually try and act like a complete fuckwit, or is it just something that you can't help?hahaha... man thats almost worth green rep... but no rep today.
I am curious tho as to how a pimple faced hairy arsed spud that has no real intersst in bikes rather the homo drifting boy racer mentality possably thinks he knows more than a old bloodnut c@#t with hundreds of thousands of kilometers under his belt both on the road and track... it bewelds me :facepalm:

[SMOKEU]

hahaha... man thats almost worth green rep... but no rep today.
I am curious tho as to how a pimple faced hairy arsed spud that has no real intersst in bikes rather the homo drifting boy racer mentality possably thinks he knows more than a old bloodnut c@#t with hundreds of thousands of kilometers under his belt both on the road and track... it bewelds me :facepalm:

You obviously don't know me as well as you think you do. There is really no reason for you to act like such an asshole, but you clearly do so just to make yourself feel better about your own pathetic, worthless existence. Peace.

[240]

:facepalm: I suppose the ignorant shunning technology they do not understand will leave more electricities for me! Unless of course you have studies to back up your claims?

read this (http://www.icnirp.de/documents/FactSheetStatic.pdf)

I'm not trying to start a shit fight mate. I have been involved with emf output from power stations, and electric motors by their nature do put out large amounts of electro magnetic fields as that's how they work.
Petrol has its problems so does electricity.
Its even an issue with hybrid cars with electric motors,google the subject.Some state that pregnant women should not ride in a hybrid car (maybe over the top who knows but it highlights the issue).
Personally i don't give a fuck if people want to ride an electric bike but I won't.

[shrub]

The biggest threats to motorcycling's future are the lack of new riders and the perceived safety issues, and both are ultimately in the hands of motorcyclists.

Sure there are a few new riders - Sondela's two lads and my son are all passionate about bikes, but they're the minority. My son is in the army and has one mate among his peers who is into bikes, the rest are into cars and think Sean is a little odd. I compare that to my air force days and among my group of mates there were 7 motorcyclists and 5 car drivers. When I worked in the shop I could just about count the under 25s on one hand and under 20s didn't exist yet I can remember when hanging around bike shops was a major part of Friday night and Saturday morning activities for my mates.

If we want motorcycling to prosper and thrive we need to get more people riding, and especially young people. We all know how bloody addictive bikes are, so it all comes down to getting kids on bikes which means motorcycling needs to become attractive and easy. I would like to see the motorcycle companies putting more effort into learner bikes that are cool (like the Ninja 250s) and marketing motorcycling to younger people. I also think we (motorcyclists) need to find ways to get kids on bikes. Hawk has set up a programme at Burnside High School to teach kids how to ride. if we can get kids riding bikes, not scooters, as their primary form of transport then the bug will bite. Hell, I got hooked by an RD200 and immediately dropped my passion for cars, and I had owned a 62 Chev Impala with a 396 and a very quick Mk3 Zephyr before I got into bikes, so a sporty and easy to ride 250 would make a poxy Corolla seem very pedestrian.

As for safety, that's a subject that gets slaughtered on these threads so I won't discuss it beyond saying we need to take it seriously and we need to get TPTB to look beyond speed.

[SMOKEU]

The cost of bikes is also what puts a lot of young people off. To get a decent learner bike you're looking at spending at least $3000, and then add another $1000 onto that cost for riding gear. You can get a reasonable car for half that price.

[shrub]

The cost of bikes is also what puts a lot of young people off. To get a decent learner bike you're looking at spending at least $3000, and then add another $1000 onto that cost for riding gear. You can get a reasonable car for half that price.

That's probably a big part of it. When I was young bikes were cheap transport and certainly cheap power compared to cars. My Chev cost me nearly $4000 to build in 1980, and that was me doing the work whereas my best mate had an RD400 that walked all over my chev for a fraction of the money. Mind you, the Chev pulled birds like nothing else...

[bogan]

I'm not trying to start a shit fight mate. I have been involved with emf output from power stations, and electric motors by their nature do put out large amounts of electro magnetic fields as that's how they work.
Petrol has its problems so does electricity.
Its even an issue with hybrid cars with electric motors,google the subject.Some state that pregnant women should not ride in a hybrid car (maybe over the top who knows but it highlights the issue).
Personally i don't give a fuck if people want to ride an electric bike but I won't.

I did google it, all I'm seeing is fear but with few facts (sounds familiar?), the underlying concept shown in all that is that because EVs put out a more intense feild (in some frequencies) they must be more harmful. Which would be fair enough if the measurements were above harm causing levels, but I haven't seen any studies conclude that they are. And I'm suspect there are unscrupulous researchers trying to show they are harmful, to get more budget (global warming is almost in the bin so gotta find new sources of income!).

[scumdog]

I couldn't be even half as full of shit as you are even if I tried. I've always wondered, do you actually try and act like a complete fuckwit, or is it just something that you can't help?

Hey, MAYBE his tact and diplomacy skill MIGHT need a little bit of a polish-up and SOMETIMES he could be a tad more subtle with the odd comment or two..:shutup:

But I've actually met him - and ya know, he doesn't seem anything like you have described.

And he's as helpful-as with a wealth of knowledge and motor-bike know-how.:yes:

[240]

I did google it, all I'm seeing is fear but with few facts (sounds familiar?), the underlying concept shown in all that is that because EVs put out a more intense feild (in some frequencies) they must be more harmful. Which would be fair enough if the measurements were above harm causing levels, but I haven't seen any studies conclude that they are. And I'm suspect there are unscrupulous researchers trying to show they are harmful, to get more budget (global warming is almost in the bin so gotta find new sources of income!).

Yeah fair call i guess we will have to see what develops,as I don't know if i like the idea of diesel either;)

[Scuba_Steve]

hell I got my 1st car for 300$ wif 6mth reg/wof (8yrs ago) my 1st cage (van) was free just had to pay for re-reg. aint much bikes that can compete with thos sort of prices.
But I did have a bike as soon as I was allowed (legally) too. but like below it was round 4k all up (tho all brand new).
So alot of people (especially young) do look at that regardless of the possibility of higher ongoing costs as its all about the now not the then.


The cost of bikes is also what puts a lot of young people off. To get a decent learner bike you're looking at spending at least $3000, and then add another $1000 onto that cost for riding gear. You can get a reasonable car for half that price.

[dangerous]

Hey, MAYBE his tact and diplomacy skill MIGHT need a little bit of a polish-up and SOMETIMES he could be a tad more subtle with the odd comment or two..:shutup:
Ohhh fuk off, thats a bit rough man :drinkup:


But I've actually met him - and ya know, he doesn't seem anything like you have described. well I do put a effort infrount of you, cos I resepct the police.


And he's as helpful-as with a wealth of knowledge and motor-bike know-how.:yes: OHHH, now your plain simpily fulla shit SD :facepalm:

Anyways its my opion thast theres nothing different today as there was in your day DT, Im glad that every tom dick and harry dont ride nowdays, sure it keeps costs up a little for us, but as I see it theres enough twats on two wheels as it is having said that there is also some of the worlds best fukers on em aswell.
Screw ya electric bikes, if I cant have an internal combustion under my arse Ill have a jet turbine like the Y2K :woohoo:

[_Shrek_]

Hey, MAYBE his tact and diplomacy skill MIGHT need a little bit of a polish-up and SOMETIMES he could be a tad more subtle with the odd comment or two..:shutup:

& heres me thinking he had tact :facepalm:

But I've actually met him - and ya know, he doesn't seem anything like you have described.

+1 :yes:

And he's as helpful-as with a wealth of knowledge and motor-bike know-how.:yes:

:woohoo: aye

you know T it's a pitty all :Police: don't have life skills :corn:

[terbang]

35 years ago they called us "Temporary New Zealanders", H2 750's and RD 350's were at their pinnacle and we couldn't imagine going faster. I was always broke because of my passion for motorcycles.

Nope, we're not at the end of an era.

[vifferman]

:shit: Dave I still remember paying 30cents a ltr in the 70's :laugh:
You need to adjust your memory. It was 40c/gallon (about 9 cents per litre) before the Oil Crisis started to bite, when it shot up to a whopping 80 cents/gallon. Used to cost me 85 cents to fill my CB175 up, which would do me 85 miles of thrashing it around the countryside.

The big difference in the '70s was that cars were relatively hard to get hold of, and so the best a youngun could hope for was some crappy 5-owner Brit car from the '50s. Bikes were relatively cheap and there were no BoiRacR cars, so they offered a more exciting option. Even so, of the guys in my class at school, only about 6 or 7 owned bikes, and the school carpark had about 5 times as many cars as bikes (granted many cars may have been their parents).

My Dad had a bike, and his Dad before him. However, I've got three sons, and despite many 'thrilling rides' <_< on the back of my bikes, none of the three are interested in bikes. One was for a while, when he worked part-time at a bike shop, but he now calls them "murdercycles".

After 37 years of riding, bikes still give me a thrill, but it's diminished. I suspect too much communtering and not enough joy-riding has taken the gloss off it. Either that, or I need to ride some other bikes (had the VFR for 7 years now).

[BMWST?]

You need to adjust your memory. It was 40c/gallon (about 9 cents per litre) before the Oil Crisis started to bite, when it shot up to a whopping 80 cents/gallon. Used to cost me 85 cents to fill my CB175 up, which would do me 85 miles of thrashing it around the countryside.

The big difference in the '70s was that cars were relatively hard to get hold of, and so the best a youngun could hope for was some crappy 5-owner Brit car from the '50s. Bikes were relatively cheap and there were no BoiRacR cars, so they offered a more exciting option. Even so, of the guys in my class at school, only about 6 or 7 owned bikes, and the school carpark had about 5 times as many cars as bikes (granted many cars may have been their parents).

My Dad had a bike, and his Dad before him. However, I've got three sons, and despite many 'thrilling rides' <_< on the back of my bikes, none of the three are interested in bikes. One was for a while, when he worked part-time at a bike shop, but he now calls them "murdercycles".

After 37 years of riding, bikes still give me a thrill, but it's diminished. I suspect too much communtering and not enough joy-riding has taken the gloss off it. Either that, or I need to ride some other bikes (had the VFR for 7 years now).

ot but this......650 bought me a virtually brand new CL175 or some peice of shit like a 50s ford prefect.If i put more than two dollars into my cl175 or dt3 something was wrong..
it is nearly the end of the era for the ICE

[Scootbubba]

We need a new movie to promote and update biker chic using eco fuel, where's Jackson hanging? Sets to work on solar scooter:sunny:.

[Big Dave]

So the end of the ICE is or isn't cool, solar is hot and electric may be shocking, while golden may also be a bit tinny.

[_Shrek_]

You need to adjust your memory. It was 40c/gallon .

aye 30c/gallon is what I was paying in 72 did not relise I had put ltr & i had da Mrk 1

[_Shrek_]

35 years ago they called us "Temporary New Zealanders", H2 750's and RD 350's Nope, we're not at the end of an era.

there's an RD350 just a bit sth of me was thinking be fun on the track, still goes like a scolded cat :laugh:

[98tls]

:facepalm:Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices:violin::woohoo:

[_Shrek_]

:facepalm:Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices:violin::woohoo:

& the bitching will go on but.... they still go to the servo & fill up (& some even take their helmets off) :corn:

[98tls]

& the bitching will go on but.... they still go to the servo & fill up (& some even take their helmets off) :corn:

On a recent longer than expected trip away on the bike:facepalm:yea that one... i filled the TL up in Westport,being the busy season there was inside the gas station a queue to which i joined directly behind "mr boardshorts" who had filled up his people mover in front of me all the time suffering his gobby Mrs commenting on the price of gas whilst he did so,friendly fella and whilst we were queued he started yapping,i polietly said to him "i admire you fella,if i had to listen to that bitch day in day out i would have shoved the nozzle through the window and walked away"

[Motu]

Sounds cheap,but it was expensive at the time.On tuesday nights on the way home from night school (apprentices) my mate and I used to pool our loose change for a hamburger each - and then walk a few side streets with a 4 gallon tin and a hose to get fuel to last to thursday.I had a 1957 International AS110 pick up,and it did 4 mpg.

It was my bike hauler,and one weekend took a mate trail riding - we stopped at a gas staion and I put $10 of petrol into it,and didn't fill it up.My mate was gobsmacked - he used to work on the pumps at a gas station,and he'd never put 10 bucks into a car,ever.

[Voltaire]

Sounds cheap,but it was expensive at the time.On tuesday nights on the way home from night school (apprentices) my mate and I used to pool our loose change for a hamburger each - and then walk a few side streets with a 4 gallon tin and a hose to get fuel to last to thursday.I had a 1957 International AS110 pick up,and it did 4 mpg.

It was my bike hauler,and one weekend took a mate trail riding - we stopped at a gas staion and I put $10 of petrol into it,and didn't fill it up.My mate was gobsmacked - he used to work on the pumps at a gas station,and he'd never put 10 bucks into a car,ever.

Luxury....and you tell the youth of today that and they don't believe you....

I was paying 2 euros ( $4) a litre in Holland in 04...in a Kombi doing 23 mpg.....
and it was 75 euro cents in Greece....no wonder they went bust.

[Big Dave]

:facepalm:Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices:violin::woohoo:


It's not about petrol prices - it's about changing times and values.
We'll type slower for you :-)

[scumdog]

You need to adjust your memory. It was 40c/gallon (about 9 cents per litre) before the Oil Crisis started to bite, when it shot up to a whopping 80 cents/gallon. Used to cost me 85 cents to fill my CB175 up, which would do me 85 miles of thrashing it around the countryside.


T'was 36cents a gallon for Regular, in 1974 Super rocketted to a lofty 50cents a gallon.

I remember vividly cruising around in my (then) flash '71 3.3 Victor and using exactly 34 gallons one weekend (just over 154 litres) - $17 worth, a third of my wages for a week at the time - and all withing a 20 miles radius.

Also went through 23 tyres in the 14 months I had the car (and not a single static :tugger: type burnout, just REAL skids btw) including Dunlop Aquajets at $33 each:shit:)

Dumb-as eh!

[dangerous]

I remember vividly cruising around in my (then) flash '71 3.3 Victor
Also went through 23 tyres in the 14 months I had the car (and not a single static :tugger: type burnout, just REAL skids btw) including Dunlop Aquajets at $33 each:shit:)

Dumb-as eh!
SAME, but mine was in the later 80's... had 4x2's under the rear springs, put in by Rangi, I shit you not Rangi from Gisbourn's name was on the papers LOL... and yeah by fuck they had some snot, up you Holden drivers hehe.
And Im stufed if I know what fuel cost so how the hell do you older bastards remember such shit?

[Motu]

I can't remember the price of fuel - but I can remember it was 75 cents for a bottle of port,and $2 a flagon.I only drank other peoples beer,so the price of beer was of no importance.

[scumdog]

I can't remember the price of fuel - but I can remember it was 75 cents for a bottle of port,and $2 a flagon.I only drank other peoples beer,so the price of beer was of no importance.

$1:96 for 1/2doz Bavarian Bitter back then.
Real bottles, not boys stubbies like yoof of today drink from.

BTW: I don't buy stubbies if at all possible, beer gets warm too quick and I get a stitch walking to and from the fridge every five minutes for another one.

[Big Dave]

SAME, but mine was in the later 80's... had 4x2's under the rear springs, put in by Rangi, I shit you not Rangi from Gisbourn's name was on the papers LOL... and yeah by fuck they had some snot, up you Holden drivers hehe.
And Im stufed if I know what fuel cost so how the hell do you older bastards remember such shit?

Seems like yesterday.

The Best Years Of Our Lives - Richard Clapton 1989

Oh! Michael, all the lines are down, it's Australia Day again,
Everytime the wheel slows down, I think of all my friends,
Whatever happened to the days way back (when) the Bondi Lifesaver
was always raging,
I'm standing here in Oxford Street, and the ghosts are howlin'
and geez it's raining --
CHORUS;
I said: "don't waste time. these are the best years of our lives,"
I said: "don't waste time, these are the best years of our lives."
I wish I had been around when the Bondi Icebergs reigned
Sometimes I sit and think of it, and I dream of better days,
Whatever happened to the days way back, in the nineteen thirties
All those endless parties,
I'm still too young to understand, how it was back then
When the party ends
CHORUS;
I said: "don't waste time. these are the best years of our lives,"
I said: "don't waste time, these are the best years of our lives."
They say the circle turns around, there'll be better days,
And I don't mind waiting
I wish time had stopped ten years ago,
But I'm learning slowly, life is always changing.
CHORUS;
I said: "don't waste time. these are the best years of our lives,"
I said: "don't waste time, these are the best years of our lives."
I got a letter from Doctor Pepper, ten thousand words to the page,
He was talking about Gurdjieff, and I dozed off about half way,
Whatever happened to the days way back, when the world was safe
And it seemed worth saving,
We search for leaders on our hands and knees
But don't ask David, 'cos he's still crazy!
CHORUS;
I said: "don't waste time. these are the best years of our lives,"
I said: "don't waste time, these are the best years of our lives."