Are we at the end of the era for motorcycling?

**shrub** · 4th January 2011, 10:32

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** · 4th January 2011, 10:41

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

**Gremlin** · 4th January 2011, 11:34

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

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

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** · 4th January 2011, 11:42

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** · 4th January 2011, 11:56

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** · 4th January 2011, 12:05

Originally Posted by shrub

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** · 4th January 2011, 12:08

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** · 4th January 2011, 12:11

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** · 4th January 2011, 12:20

Originally Posted by NONONO

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

Made like this one Building the Triumph Rocket

**EJK** · 4th January 2011, 12:23

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

**Gibbo89** · 4th January 2011, 12:33

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** · 4th January 2011, 13:01

Originally Posted by 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.

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.