A motorcycle industry crisis? Your thoughts

[scumdog]

. Plus, you can get a learner bike for a couple of grand these days.

Dunno about elsewhere but here $800 can get you a WOF'd & Reg'd four-door dunger.

You can carry a shitload of RTD lolly-water, K2 and willing slappers in one - and be warm.

Can't do the same with a motorbike - and it would cost way more to buy, rego etc.

[Swoop]

im constantly amazed at how few bikes there are on the motorway in auckland.

I have to agree with you. There has been a diminishing amount on the roads over summer and now winter is approaching, things are getting even bleaker.
Weekends seem to be the opposite, with still a few bikes out and about. A bright sunny day has quite large amounts of bikes out and this is seeming to align with the OP's observations of the industry.

[willytheekid]

Dunno about elsewhere but here $800 can get you a WOF'd & Reg'd four-door dunger.

You can carry a shitload of RTD lolly-water, K2 and willing slappers in one - and be warm.

Can't do the same with a motorbike - and it would cost way more to buy, rego etc.

LOL, all true except for the WOF & REGO bit!...oh, and if its ChCh...its a $300 4x4! (2wd ute!)

I have to agree with you. There has been a diminishing amount on the roads over summer and now winter is approaching, things are getting even bleaker.
Weekends seem to be the opposite, with still a few bikes out and about. A bright sunny day has quite large amounts of bikes out and this is seeming to align with the OP's observations of the industry.

+1

...I get lonely in winter
(I mean common!!!...Like SNOW & ICE! etc is a reason to stop riding for half the fucking year*!...softcocks!)

*In ChCh...winter is damn near six months long lol

[Old Steve]

Just some personal experience. I first rode a bike at 61, so I guess I'm in the baby boomer disposable income market segment. Commuting and weekend riding. Once astride a bike I couldn't believe what fun it was. BUT - resistance from the other half, the bike takes me away from family time and she's not interested in riding herself or being a pillion.

License: When I got my license at 21 or 22 (couldn't even think of getting it and buying a car while at uni, bussed everywhere) I only had to drive a couple of hundred yards down a street, turn into a side street, do a 3 point turn, and return to the Police Station. For that I got my car license and my motorbike license as well. Wasn't until 2002 when I returned to NZ after working in Oz and letting my NZ license lapse that I lost my motorbike license, though it didn't worry me then as I'd never ridden a motorbike. Now, to get my motorbike license when I wanted it in 2009 I had to do the BHS, 6 months on a learner license, then I could have got my full in another 3 months P license (over 25 and do a defensive driving course). I did do 20 months on my 250 learner cruiser before I felt I was ready to move up to my Boulevard M50.

Traffic: My son has finally got his full car license after driving for years on a P license, he's at university in Auckland and could have one of the family cars, but he just doesn't want to drive in Auckland. He lives in the city centre and busses/ferries wherever he wants to go. As a rule of thumb, I think Kiwi motorists are amongst the worst in the world - I've spent time in 43 countries and driven or been driven in all of them - we need a more rigourous car license test procedure, A driving license isn't a right, it's a responsibility!

Cost: Paid $9000 for my M50, a cheap car could be even less - though maybe less reliable. Rego for the M50 costs about the same as my diesel engined 4 door saloon - $500+, much more than my petrol engined shopper SUV - $285?. Motorbiking is an expensive hobby, the under 30s aren't going to pay extra to ride on 2 wheels, in the wet, and not be able to use the bike as a social centre.

The bike industy's future: Best bet is survival fuelled mainly by off-road and farm bikes and quads. There will be a small market segment for road bikes. Look at Tauranga, theres an off-road Honda agency but no on-road Honda shop. Can all the road bike manufacturers afford to stay in a market of 4.5 million people with the road riding population probably shrinking? There's Ducati, HD, Honda, Hyosung (maybe should be in here based on sales of their 250s), Kawasaki, Suzuki, Triumph, Yamaha, KTM, BMW, that's just the big ones. There's so many more in the smaller sales volume, Aprillia, Moto Guzzi, Kymco, etc category. I think we just have too many motorcycle brands here.

[scumdog]

I have to agree with you. There has been a diminishing amount on the roads over summer and now winter is approaching, things are getting even bleaker.
Weekends seem to be the opposite, with still a few bikes out and about. A bright sunny day has quite large amounts of bikes out and this is seeming to align with the OP's observations of the industry.

Motorbikes and blow-flies.

They both appear in abundance when the sun is warm.

[Big Dave]

Invest in old folks leisure industry, retirement and funeral homes.

Co-pilot was a player in aged care. That is as tough a gig as the bike industry in NZ.
The Govt regulates the profit out of it.
The providers that are doing well do so from their real estate developments.

[Big Dave]

Yes but the question is who bought them, if it was a bunch of 60 + riders it doesn't bode well for H-D if your client base is just about to progress to a mobility scooter for there next vehicle. May be this could be a new market sector they already make trikes to cater for there older demographic.

I think part of it is the population is living active longer - and that skews the stats older too.

Even like 10 years ago when granddad's knee gave out he maybe hung up his helmet cause a heavy bike wasn't viable any more. Now he just gets a new knee and rides another 20 years.

[Morcs]

Auckland traffic will never get better. Its going to get gradually worse. More people will be commuting on bikes because of that, and you can just hope they get the bike and do the leisure side of it eventually too.

Plus there will always be a sector of 40+ dudes who have always wanted to get into riding and that will then have the money to do it.

[caspernz]

Biking is about passion, not logic. The way I see it the PC brigade (collectively) quells the passion for up and coming riders by applying the safety gobbledegook, whilst ignoring it's the attitude of the rider (or driver) that is the bit that needs adjusting.

I mean, next someone will come along and say I'm not supposed to enjoy skydiving on account of the safety risk??

Heck, look at some of the pilots aboard scooters...office clothes, no gloves and high heels...skydiving seems safer to me!!

[HenryDorsetCase]

I have been carrying out some industry analysis as part of a paper I am doing with Massey University in business strategy & change, and luckily for me, one of the available industries for analysis is the leisure motorcycle market (The paper coordinator being a rather avid motorcycle fan himself). The first assignment that I undertook was an industry analysis looking at the nature of the competitive forces within the industry, a determination of their corporate strategies and a look at the profitability of the industry as a whole.

One of the things that this analysis has highlighted, is that there is a big 'glut' or bubble moving through the motorcycle industry of older (35-60+), mostly male, individuals. These are blokes who came of age in an era when it was very common for young men to get motorcycle licences and own bikes and who now, having time and money, have got back into motorcycling. They provide a large amount of industry demand. On average, 30 - 35% of men had licenses.

Contrast this with the new generation of under 25's. This group on average only has 7% of people getting motorbike licenses. As a predominantly LEISURE oriented industry, where people generally only buy the larger "leisure" bikes when they have surplus income etc...it really looks like the motorcycle industry is in for a rough time in around 30 years, unless the motorcycle industry can attract younger riders.

So...my question for this forum, is what do YOU think can be done to encourage more people to ride bikes?

Another question - Harley Davidson (whom I'm specifically reviewing as a company at the moment) have a product that is by-in-large aimed the 40+ age group and who have little connection (I think) to the younger markets have a dilemma to deal with...how do they engage with younger riders...what can they do? YOUR THOUGHTS?

I have two words for you Kim:

Roland
Sands
Design

[HenryDorsetCase]

I think part of it is the population is living active longer - and that skews the stats older too.

Even like 10 years ago when granddad's knee gave out he maybe hung up his helmet cause a heavy bike wasn't viable any more. Now he just gets a new knee and rides another 20 years.

I am hopeful that by the time I need it, I will be able to trade this body for a full cyborg upgrade. the only bits I would keep being the brain, ability to taste, and sex organs, provided that my senses of sight, hearing and touch can be upgraded.

then watch out bitches!

[Delerium]

im constantly amazed at how few bikes there are on the motorway in auckland.

i know if had to spend a few months sitting in queues while the (few) bikes merrily rolled by i'd be looking into one pretty seriously.

couldnt live without mine these days.

looking forward to buying sweet bikes once im old and cashed up, hah.

legal standing of lane splitting should be formalised (in favor of, naturally) and traffic busting nature of bikes should be pushed! who needs rail loop / more roads etc.

Part of the reason I want one

[tristania]

! not much in the way of motorcycle gear for women that doesn't make you look like a frumpy fat tart. I've been looking at leathers for summer and all the sweet styles and colours only come in the men's gear. Not every girl wants pink crap!

+1 for this. There seems to be more women than ever riding motorcycles, but there is still a way to go in regards to shops that stock sufficient gear for us and the attitudes of some need adjusting, not only in the shops (still encounter ones that won't look twice at you unless you bring a male in regardless of what bike you own) but also fed up with "did you ride that all by youself?" type patronizing comments.

[HenryDorsetCase]

Co-pilot was a player in aged care. That is as tough a gig as the bike industry in NZ.
The Govt regulates the profit out of it.
The providers that are doing well do so from their real estate developments.

thank you Ryman Healthcare

[milktown]

In other countries where there are swarms of motorcycles, all the factors of rego, running costs, parts and labour are cheaper or cheapest of all the forms of private transportation. New Zealanders may come to the morotcycle as things get more expensive, not just petrol but other costs of living, BUT what really need to change are the costs mentioned and sensible retail prices.

i guess i could be considered a "younger rider" im 27 and have been riding for about 6 years. started on a 50cc

living in amuurica all my life before moving here almost two years ago..
i was used to paying(in illionis) $37 a year for rego, insurance about the same as nz, maybe a bit cheape. and thats its. plus petrol costs half as much.
getting your mc licence is as easy as a paying $25, taking a 10 question test, and weaving around a few cones on any bike bigger than 150cc and BAM, you have ur full bike licence.

you can imagine my reaction when i found out cost of owning a bike here, and how long it takes to get a licence. $500 for rego?! + insurance, and i still HAVE to wear a helmet?! and what the fuck is a WOF? (yeah i know iv herd the acc bull)

with that said there are WAAAYYY more bikes on the road here(percentage wise) than in the ol usa imo.
New Zealand is also a lot more biker friendly. there is designated mc parking, lane splitting is somewhat legal and people in cars actually move over to let you pass. i love it!! not to mention all the beautiful scenery and amazing rides here. you got something very special down here dont take it for granted!!
also i like the variety of bikes better in NZ. in the states its pretty much harleys, hayabusa. not much in they way of 400-750cc range.

just my 2 cents