Are we at the end of the era for motorcycling?

[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]

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

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.

[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

[98tls]

Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices

[_Shrek_]

Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices

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

[98tls]

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

On a recent longer than expected trip away on the bikeyea 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]

Jesus H,motorcyclists discussing petrol prices

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 type burnout, just REAL skids btw) including Dunlop Aquajets at $33 each)

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 type burnout, just REAL skids btw) including Dunlop Aquajets at $33 each)

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?