Are we at the end of the era for motorcycling?

[_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

[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...

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

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

[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

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]

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

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..

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.

[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..

Ohhh fuk off, thats a bit rough man

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.

OHHH, now your plain simpily fulla shit SD

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

[_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..

& heres me thinking he had tact

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

+1

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

aye

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