A motorcycle industry crisis? Your thoughts

[Big Dave]

thank you Ryman Healthcare

Bingo! - 'scuse the pun.

[Big Dave]

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!

Not work safe:

[Voltaire]

They were saying the same thing in 1901.....

Automobiles had to compete with the powerful horse industry and market research was important if cars were to be a viable alternative.

To give you an example of this competition, here is what the President of the Michigan Savings Bank said in 1901, "The horse is here to stay but the automobile is only a novelty, a fad."

[Brett]

They were saying the same thing in 1901.....

Yes, but there has been a whole lot of water under the bridge in the last 112 years...the world has most certainly changed...a lot.

[Road kill]

These people are mostly dead or already own plenty of bikes. They're not going to contribute to the economy in any significant way.

Still rockin; an still spending shit loads thanks.

[McFatty1000]

These people are mostly dead or already own plenty of bikes. They're not going to contribute to the economy in any significant way.

Not so sure - often they'll be parents of those wanting to get into bikes, and will help out in certain things - my parents have bought me a number of bits and pieces of gear etc that I wouldn't have afforded by myself. So its not a hard push to see a number of bikes being bought by Mum and Dad for their kids.

Its a cash flow thing; this group tend to have paid off their mortgage, have less expenses etc.

[fridayflash]

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

and yet the wellington motorway always has loads of bikes threading in and out, regardless of weather

[MIXONE]

and yet the wellington motorway always has loads of bikes threading in and out, regardless of weather

Yep they breed them tuff here in Welly...

[Richard Mc F]

Haha, I aint no seamstress.

Terry Pratchett fan huh

[AndyR1]

Coming from Germany I can tell you that most people driving Panigale, HP4, RSV4 or Triumphs are older guys having not only the money but also loving to have a European product rather than a so called "rice cooker". And made in Europe is even still pricier than made in Asia.

Despite the fact that since I bought my own 1999 Yamaha R1 in 1999 up to ~2007 bikes were exciting, fast and every one or two years the Japanese manufacturer throwing new, better and more advanced bikes on the market. But this development just stopped long time ago already. Then the European bikes come up and now they are leaving the Japanese bikes behind which are just boring, nothing new...changing the decals or putting in 200bhp is just average nowadays. Having the newest technical gadgets will sell...but even in this segment the air gets thinner. MotoGP must become more affordable because there is not so much money left as well...

Bike prices are increasing, income differences between rich and poor gets much bigger, even in Germany the middle income class becomes less and less, so poorer people can't afford a bike just for hobby reasons and the rich guys are buying $100,000 custom bikes to show what they have. So not much left for the manufacturers to sell to. On the other side few friends of mine having businesses with bike spare parts - there is the same development: Ordinary spare parts or OEM is not required, expensive fancy exclusive stuff sells much much better. And the margins are much higher as

We are living in a much faster moving world where we are supposed to buy every year a new smart phone, a new smart TV, a tablet and other gadgets. No more money left for a noisy, dirty and fast bike, which don't handles so good with a fat, Fastfood eaitng, lazy dude on top, who can't impress with loud music, sitting cool on his bike and having air suspension at his bike as well. This kind of people is seen mostly in US with 20" wheel extensions, NOS and 360 rear tire....

So laziness, convenience, way of life (and eat) making us more to car drivers, especially it can hold a 10" tablet better and you can eat your burger and drinking your coke better as well

That's the trend...that's the future for our next gen, they will probably drive electric bikes, incl. all technical gadgets you can think of. Race bikes with combustion engines are for Mad Max guys like us now....

What Auckland needs is a biker place like we have in Berlin our "Spinnerbrücke" (= bridge for crazy people), where at weekends hundreds of bikes are coming for a drink, a nice grilled steak, a chat or some other events...sometimes there are more than a thousand bikes: from scooter to superbike to HD...doesn't matter.

[boman]

Yep they breed them tuff here in Welly...

Maybe the drivers are better. The few times I have ridden or driven the Motorways in Auckland, it appeared the drivers were all wearing blinkers.

only concerned with what's going on their world. No look lane changes, wandering. Stopping for no reason. etc.

It certainly does not inspire to commute on two wheels.

[Dangsta]

Motorbikes is cool.......

When I sees the motorbikes I get cited......

Motorbikes does not have much of the borings...

If the people's not liking my bikes or the funs they can ......

[Ocean1]

The age issue that you speak of is a larger issue than most people realise as the 60 + riders are the people with the last of the disposable income, the 30 to 50 age group still usually have mortgages and out standing debits that the older group didn't have when they where the same age.

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

Right. So, apart from spyders and HD trikes what might take the fancy of the old timers when they can't get their leg over?

And what isn't available now that should do well in that market?

Should I start work on a range of 200hp mobility scooters, complete with chain guns and mini-bar?

[Dangsta]

Right. So, apart from spyders and HD trikes what might take the fancy of the old timers when they can't get their leg over?

And what isn't available now that should do well in that market?

Should I start work on a range of 200hp mobility scooters, complete with chain guns and mini-bar?

Mother of God YES!!!!!!!!!

[Swoop]

$500 for rego?!

That's the easy one. Rego on hold and don't pay it.