Why are Millennials afraid to ride motorcycles

[BillyIndiana]

Most of us grew up in a different time for sure. I grew up in rural Indiana with dirt roads and fields. I got my first bike in 1974 and road it all over the place with no license and no plates. I worked on a number of farms as a kid and I bought that 1967 Bridgestone 175 for $200.00 I made bucking bails. I could ride all week on a dollars worth of gas. It was a cheap practical form of transportation. The local cops were pretty cool with us. There were no undocumented workers back then to do the work we did.

I think the video was right on about size. My first new bike was a 1977 Honda CJ360. Road the h@ll out of that bike all over the place. By this time I had plates and a license. (Indiana did not have a motorcycle endorsement until the early 80's).

I think there are many reasons people don't ride, but one is the fact that there are not many low entry bikes on the market. Why does no one make the 350s or 500s of yesterday.

The Rocket is the first bike in my life I have owned that is over 1000cc. I love it, but I kept my America and it still sees a lot of road time.

I think if there were bikes in the $4000 to $6000 range there would be many more riders.

 

[barbagris]

Why don’t millennials have money?

Some of them very much do. My niece works for Shell in Holland - she's a Chemical Engineer.
No student loans and she achieved scholarships even for her post graduate work.
She spends pretty much all her spare cash on travelling the world. With 8 weeks leave a year - who wouldn't.
No Car - uses Bicycle and tram to commute.

In an ever more congested city environment any large bike is just a PITA. Those of us who wish to live surrounded by bears and wolves are fewer and fewer far between.

 

[barbagris]

I think there are many reasons people don't ride, but one is the fact that there are not many low entry bikes on the market. Why does no one make the 350s or 500s of yesterday.

Well the thing is they do - and they sell. Motorcycles - Mash Motors Royal Enfield USA – Official Website

 

[atlsrt44]

Most of us grew up in a different time for sure. I grew up in rural Indiana with dirt roads and fields. I got my first bike in 1974 and road it all over the place with no license and no plates. I worked on a number of farms as a kid and I bought that 1967 Bridgestone 175 for $200.00 I made bucking bails. I could ride all week on a dollars worth of gas. It was a cheap practical form of transportation. The local cops were pretty cool with us. There were no undocumented workers back then to do the work we did.

I think the video was right on about size. My first new bike was a 1977 Honda CJ360. Road the h@ll out of that bike all over the place. By this time I had plates and a license. (Indiana did not have a motorcycle endorsement until the early 80's).

I think there are many reasons people don't ride, but one is the fact that there are not many low entry bikes on the market. Why does no one make the 350s or 500s of yesterday.

The Rocket is the first bike in my life I have owned that is over 1000cc. I love it, but I kept my America and it still sees a lot of road time.

I think if there were bikes in the $4000 to $6000 range there would be many more riders.

You can find Honda rebels or shadows for 1500-4000 all day long. My shadow was a 750cc 2005 with like 6000 miles on it and I bought it for 2500

 

[Nat67]

It's a good video, self-transportation as a service has the potential of becoming a mainstream solution in the coming years. It became reality in the city I reside; Fayetteville, Arkansas. One can use a mobile app to seek and pick up the closest bicycle available, go ride it to your destination, put the kick-stand down, and leave it at a parking spot for the next rider.

The service will soon carry a $17.00 monthly fee, but it is a no-brainer for many Fayetteville residents.

So if a UofA student, or even a resident with limited transportation needs, wants to do something fun on the weekends or holidays I could see the potential for many new businesses coming up to cater to this new opportunity:

• Car Rentals offering weekend deals on convertibles
• Airlines providing great deals to Buckhead (Atlanta), Deep Ellum (Dallas), or Miami Beach
• Motorcycle Rentals
• one of many experience-focused destinations, like Disney World or Concert Venues
• winter-season transportation, or the rise of leasing on hybrid vehicles
• and eventually, self-driving cars, based on the belief that today's kids won't be owning any type of vehicle in the near future.

I heard a rumor that a major manufacturer was developing a tiny-car that will be sold through an auto parts/accessory retail store, instead of a typical dealership.

I think Motorcycle Ownership will have a longer run than vehicle ownership. Time will tell what kind of motorcycles survive the transition.

Great idea , but I'm certain if they tried that here , most would end up in the river along with the supermarket trolleys !

 

[Nat67]

I think part of it (as mentioned in the video) is that a lot of kids don't have dirtbikes anymore. Growing up in Michigan when I was young, all state land was open to dirtbikes. Later, sometime in the eighties I believe, it was ALL closed to dirtbikes. No private land, no place to ride, sucks to be you. They had a couple "designated trails" in my area. Because of the crowding, they became like pro-motocross tracks in a short period of time. Just one mogul after the other. Head on collisions were very common. That's when I gave it up. I guess now they have opened up some more land. Not sure I'm in good enough shape to "do it in the dirt" anymore. Besides, for me, half the fun was beating the piss out of non-mufflered Honda twins, that could be bought for next to nothing. This here was one of my favorites. 1975 Honda CL360. Got it basically for free. Over the years added nicer parts that I acquired, usually for free. The exhaust is made out of artillery shell casings I found at the local junk yard. I beat that bike for years and couldn't kill it.

What ? No gaybrows !

 

[barbagris]

Great idea , but I'm certain if they tried that here , most would end up in the river along with the supermarket trolleys !

I cannot remember where - but I recall supermarket trolleys with brakes and alarms should one venture outside the carpark.

 

[mr hunt]

All is lost...my 24yr old pseudo son-in-law just bought a 48...there's no saving this generation

 

[Grumpy Ole Codger]

I cannot remember where - but I recall supermarket trolleys with brakes and alarms should one venture outside the carpark.

M&S Dahling..

 

[Jag]

Their all a bunch of pu$$ies if u ask me!
I can’t do this I can’t that!! Our apprentice make good money and they all think their better than they are!!
Just shut the _uck up and do what I tell you!! To many feelings!!