It's also crazy out there compared to thirty years ago, now ya gotta deal with cel phones ,higher hwy speeds,monster trucks,and just terrible drivers in general! In other words it's a different world we live in now! P.S. I've been riding for over 50 years so I know the difference!
There are numerous reasons, primarily economic. Stagnant wages, debt, cost of living (lets talk about rent and food) make bikes a luxury item. Factor in upkeep on anything newer, and the inherent risks (distracted drivers at all time highs, rider training progs are scarce in all states), and the kids are opting to do other things. As a footnote, ADV bikes seem to be gaining popularity, though I'll take a Goldwing, hands down, for any kind of roadtrip.
I'm thinking that younger pre and adolescent kidd will get interested in electric bicycles and then notice real motorcycles as they get a little older; but still young enough to make an impact.
Actually, the global motorcycle market is not shrinking rapidly. In fact, it has shown growth in recent times. For example, in the first half of 2024, global sales of scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles increased by 5.1%.
It's not just the US. Here in the UK things are so different now. Nothing like the number of bikes as there were 20 or 30 years ago. Much the same reasons.
Im in st pete florida and i see other bikers everyday, but when i evac during the hurricane to ocala, I seen tons of bikes out there. I almost want to move out there just because of it 😂
Did you say the cost of helmet, gloves and jackets... um jackets, how would you know...and those gloves, seriously did you get them from the garden center at Home Depot ?
Bro lmao this video was so off its not even funny. I feel like this guy meant well but trashed the theme. Those ghettoes he showed riding in NYC have been doing that for centuries and everybody hates them. It has nothing to do with seeking a thrill for them,lol, theyre just brainless idiots that cant afford helmets.
This isn't new, in the early 90's the industry was in danger from the recession back but also prices had risen for new bikes compared to the nearly worthless used bikes--you know what people would buy. The majority of the used Japanese bikes ended up getting exported to third world countries as they were worth more there. From 1984 to 1999 I ate, slept and breathed motorcycles. I'd buy them from junkyards, fix them up, and rode until they were too expensive to repair, and buy another. The reason I quit are numerous but the most prominent are: I got tired of being in the elements, and the practicality of a car for everything from groceries to all weather transport can't be beat. Back then you ran into a fair amount of criminals on bikes, today everyone is crazy and the roads are more dangerous than ever. Like any hobby it seems people buying things as investments killed the market for ordinary people wanting, say a classic Z1 or early Harley. Just feeling I'd used up all my luck, and it went from bikes were fun to this is all I can afford. But mostly I associate motorcycles with a time in my life of extreme poverty where nothing seemed to work out and I was falling for one woman after another who wasn't worth it while working awful jobs, and for 5 years of that time living in a bad neighborhood. Every time I've sat on a bike since then all those feelings come rushing back.
The establishment doesn't like it, they make it harder. Tougher restrictions, more serious punishments for breaking them, where I live has just doubled the cost to get your license for motorcycles only.
Don't know about your area, but there are plenty of motorcycles on the road in the Northeast. Younger folks aren't turning their backs on this hobby out of disdain; they're struggling to make ends meet as it is. Everybody knows groceries are expensive, a new bike goes for the price of a car, and good luck finding a decent job to pay for it all, even with degrees and experience. Things aren't what they seem. Sure you can grab a $5k-10k bike off Marketplace, get a few pieces of starter gear and a permit, but if you've got that cash, you're probably also not interested in apartment living anymore and dream about being a homeowner, away from people. No reason to go adventuring when you're fed up with everybody's opinions on social media while you're still on the couch. Motorcycles can be an escape from it all if we sell it that way, but many bikers don't - lots of ego and tribalism in this hobby, same as with cars. It's the same trend as the diminishing number of trade workers: If you treat the next generation poorly and gatekeep the hobby, don't be surprised when folks stop knocking at the door.
The young kids in my family don't have licenses, live in cities, don't own anything with wheels...meh, im 65, just bough a XSR900 and a Honda 300L for the street takeovers...lol..speaking of money it just cost one thousand dollars to colour match the new Arai to the 300L...player mode on!
I might be missing something such as when this video was posted. It says 3 days ago. After the first year of the pandemic people went out and bought motorcycles in droves. Years 2 and 3 of the pandemic were some of the best motorcycle selling years in the last 50 years. Did this guy miss the entire 600cc crotch rocket event? Did he miss all those lime green Kawasakis? Did he miss all those naked upright sport bikes? Did he miss all those Harley-Davidsons powered by the Milwaukee eight engine? Did he miss the revitalization of Triumph and Norton? His own video refutes himself. If you looked at that large crowd of illegal riders riding dirt bikes and ATVs through urban environments, you can see clearly that young people like motorcycles and ATVs. Let's be clear, they are criminals. Admittedly motorcycles, the safety equipment, the insurance, and the maintenance is expensive. Admittedly motorcycle riding is dangerous because of car drivers. Admittedly the baby boomers are now in retirement homes so they're not buying bikes. Admittedly young people today focus more on video games, the Internet, and such. I think this guy either needs a reality check or more nuanced approach to the subject.
Great video, best I've seen on this issue which is just as bad in the UK. You need to spend at least £1k to get licensed here and insurance is thousands per year for a new rider, and that's before you've even got a bike. Bike theft is practically certain if not kept in a building so many just ride from home and back to home and daren't stop anywhere in a city, even for a few minutes. No young person is looking at a typical Harley age rider and aspiring to be that, they have their own journey. In any case, internal combustion bike sales will be banned over here from 2035 so it's all going to just die away anyway. Just like after the dinosaurs, the small mammals of electric scooters and sub 60mph battery bikes will fill a small niche
From what I've been seeing, there's been a recent increase in motorcycle riders. I think social media has glorified it significantly and you have a bunch of young kids getting on 600s and 1000s. Is it the correct answer? no. do i enjoy seeing more people on bikes? yes. I think the emphasis of safe riding has decreased with its glorification on social media which will be detrimental in the long run.
the comment about be online is both false and true. the reason for that isnt that people are stuck online. its that you used to have to travel to meet like minded individuals. and your choice of bike would help you show what you like and who you want to associate with. you don't need that online, and being online is less personal. its less permanent, no commitment needed. cost does have a factor, in this world people like to change and experience new things much more often. i find it in myself, i love my current bike. but i want to experience others. other types of riding, other types of groups. there lies the other issue. people these days want to classify everything by group. with no regard for individual choices. they see someone on a sportbike and think that they just want to be reckless and go fast. or they see a harley and think hes just an interstate warrior jumping from bar to bar. or an ADV rider must be a weekend warrior dentist. most of these groups even feed into this. if you buy a custom cruiser that isn't a harley then your just a wannabe. the other issue we face is every manufacturer seems to want to fill niches. the universal every man bike of the past doesn't exist anymore. the CB, KZ, GS, where have they gone? the small but fun and daily capable 175-400's, easy to learn, cheap to buy, and fun in their own right. my wife learned on a cb200t, i fucking loved that bike. small and fun, yet more than capable of the average daily commute. and that's the other problem. for so much of the of the world motorcycles aren't just a hobbyist toy. and even the heyday in the US, these were transport. in the US the average passenger count in passenger vehicle is 1.4 people. why are we clogging the roads and parking lots with vehicles that take up 48 square feet, when a bike takes up 10? is it because the small comfortable commuter bike is just a thing of the past? why must we pick a single category to enjoy? all of these things i think about all the time when people ask why is x so expensive, or exclusive, or dangerous, or hard to learn. we did this to ourselves. businesses try and adapt to the market, they don't want to take a risk. and the US market has these hard locked isolated segments that don't want to change. sport bikes get tighter and faster, cruisers heavier and more technology laden, ADV and dual sports pushing harder towards street or dirt with little overlap. and where is the entry level? too small, too fast, or too expensive. with very few examples sitting in-between. and gear, oh my the gear. you end up paying way too much for proper protection. and still too much for very little protection. this is getting better with stealth gear. if my riding boots are comfortable and not obnoxious then they can be my shoes for the day, no need to carry spares. riding pants like reinforced jeans or slacks are more common and cheaper these days. good protective helmets don't have to bee 600 bucks. the wife and i both run ece22.06 helmets from LS2 for less than $150 each. there are some features lost, mine is too loud, hers doesn't have great airflow or attachment points for coms. all of these things and more are the reason why younger audiences don't go for motorcycles as much. almost all of it is the fault of the communities that currently ride. prices are set by the scale of the industry, niches set by the communities. and the failings are the fault of the riders.
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It's also crazy out there compared to thirty years ago, now ya gotta deal with cel phones ,higher hwy speeds,monster trucks,and just terrible drivers in general! In other words it's a different world we live in now! P.S. I've been riding for over 50 years so I know the difference!
There are numerous reasons, primarily economic. Stagnant wages, debt, cost of living (lets talk about rent and food) make bikes a luxury item. Factor in upkeep on anything newer, and the inherent risks (distracted drivers at all time highs, rider training progs are scarce in all states), and the kids are opting to do other things.
As a footnote, ADV bikes seem to be gaining popularity, though I'll take a Goldwing, hands down, for any kind of roadtrip.
I'm still riding...
I'm thinking that younger pre and adolescent kidd will get interested in electric bicycles and then notice real motorcycles as they get a little older; but still young enough to make an impact.
Maybe you scared all the youngsters with your yellow gloves :D
😂…they match the yellow bike
Actually, the global motorcycle market is not shrinking rapidly. In fact, it has shown growth in recent times. For example, in the first half of 2024, global sales of scooters, mopeds, and motorcycles increased by 5.1%.
It's not just the US. Here in the UK things are so different now. Nothing like the number of bikes as there were 20 or 30 years ago. Much the same reasons.
It's people playing with their phones and infotainment displays instead of driving that pushed me away.
Im in st pete florida and i see other bikers everyday, but when i evac during the hurricane to ocala, I seen tons of bikes out there. I almost want to move out there just because of it 😂
Down here in south Florida we have a huge bike community… Nice video tho , the narration 👌
Ghostridermotion
More videos like about this topic please!
Its more about the insurance cost and the shit car drivers
You should come to Australia every one is riding we have a big ride culture here in Australia
Did you say the cost of helmet, gloves and jackets... um jackets, how would you know...and those gloves, seriously did you get them from the garden center at Home Depot ?
Bro lmao this video was so off its not even funny. I feel like this guy meant well but trashed the theme. Those ghettoes he showed riding in NYC have been doing that for centuries and everybody hates them. It has nothing to do with seeking a thrill for them,lol, theyre just brainless idiots that cant afford helmets.
This isn't new, in the early 90's the industry was in danger from the recession back but also prices had risen for new bikes compared to the nearly worthless used bikes--you know what people would buy. The majority of the used Japanese bikes ended up getting exported to third world countries as they were worth more there. From 1984 to 1999 I ate, slept and breathed motorcycles. I'd buy them from junkyards, fix them up, and rode until they were too expensive to repair, and buy another. The reason I quit are numerous but the most prominent are:
I got tired of being in the elements, and the practicality of a car for everything from groceries to all weather transport can't be beat.
Back then you ran into a fair amount of criminals on bikes, today everyone is crazy and the roads are more dangerous than ever.
Like any hobby it seems people buying things as investments killed the market for ordinary people wanting, say a classic Z1 or early Harley.
Just feeling I'd used up all my luck, and it went from bikes were fun to this is all I can afford.
But mostly I associate motorcycles with a time in my life of extreme poverty where nothing seemed to work out and I was falling for one woman after another who wasn't worth it while working awful jobs, and for 5 years of that time living in a bad neighborhood. Every time I've sat on a bike since then all those feelings come rushing back.
The establishment doesn't like it, they make it harder. Tougher restrictions, more serious punishments for breaking them, where I live has just doubled the cost to get your license for motorcycles only.
Don't know about your area, but there are plenty of motorcycles on the road in the Northeast.
Younger folks aren't turning their backs on this hobby out of disdain; they're struggling to make ends meet as it is. Everybody knows groceries are expensive, a new bike goes for the price of a car, and good luck finding a decent job to pay for it all, even with degrees and experience. Things aren't what they seem.
Sure you can grab a $5k-10k bike off Marketplace, get a few pieces of starter gear and a permit, but if you've got that cash, you're probably also not interested in apartment living anymore and dream about being a homeowner, away from people. No reason to go adventuring when you're fed up with everybody's opinions on social media while you're still on the couch.
Motorcycles can be an escape from it all if we sell it that way, but many bikers don't - lots of ego and tribalism in this hobby, same as with cars. It's the same trend as the diminishing number of trade workers: If you treat the next generation poorly and gatekeep the hobby, don't be surprised when folks stop knocking at the door.
I dont know what you're on about, but in my town, it's Harley-Fucking-Davidson.
Burocracy and money kills everything.
The young kids in my family don't have licenses, live in cities, don't own anything with wheels...meh, im 65, just bough a XSR900 and a Honda 300L for the street takeovers...lol..speaking of money it just cost one thousand dollars to colour match the new Arai to the 300L...player mode on!
I might be missing something such as when this video was posted. It says 3 days ago. After the first year of the pandemic people went out and bought motorcycles in droves. Years 2 and 3 of the pandemic were some of the best motorcycle selling years in the last 50 years.
Did this guy miss the entire 600cc crotch rocket event? Did he miss all those lime green Kawasakis? Did he miss all those naked upright sport bikes? Did he miss all those Harley-Davidsons powered by the Milwaukee eight engine? Did he miss the revitalization of Triumph and Norton?
His own video refutes himself. If you looked at that large crowd of illegal riders riding dirt bikes and ATVs through urban environments, you can see clearly that young people like motorcycles and ATVs. Let's be clear, they are criminals.
Admittedly motorcycles, the safety equipment, the insurance, and the maintenance is expensive. Admittedly motorcycle riding is dangerous because of car drivers. Admittedly the baby boomers are now in retirement homes so they're not buying bikes. Admittedly young people today focus more on video games, the Internet, and such.
I think this guy either needs a reality check or more nuanced approach to the subject.
Great video, best I've seen on this issue which is just as bad in the UK. You need to spend at least £1k to get licensed here and insurance is thousands per year for a new rider, and that's before you've even got a bike. Bike theft is practically certain if not kept in a building so many just ride from home and back to home and daren't stop anywhere in a city, even for a few minutes. No young person is looking at a typical Harley age rider and aspiring to be that, they have their own journey. In any case, internal combustion bike sales will be banned over here from 2035 so it's all going to just die away anyway. Just like after the dinosaurs, the small mammals of electric scooters and sub 60mph battery bikes will fill a small niche
Western world is dying off, obviously, the bike sales numbers are going down accordingly 🤷
In SEAsian countries the numbers (even HD SALES) are up. 😊
From what I've been seeing, there's been a recent increase in motorcycle riders. I think social media has glorified it significantly and you have a bunch of young kids getting on 600s and 1000s. Is it the correct answer? no. do i enjoy seeing more people on bikes? yes. I think the emphasis of safe riding has decreased with its glorification on social media which will be detrimental in the long run.
the comment about be online is both false and true. the reason for that isnt that people are stuck online. its that you used to have to travel to meet like minded individuals. and your choice of bike would help you show what you like and who you want to associate with. you don't need that online, and being online is less personal. its less permanent, no commitment needed.
cost does have a factor, in this world people like to change and experience new things much more often. i find it in myself, i love my current bike. but i want to experience others. other types of riding, other types of groups.
there lies the other issue. people these days want to classify everything by group. with no regard for individual choices. they see someone on a sportbike and think that they just want to be reckless and go fast. or they see a harley and think hes just an interstate warrior jumping from bar to bar. or an ADV rider must be a weekend warrior dentist. most of these groups even feed into this. if you buy a custom cruiser that isn't a harley then your just a wannabe.
the other issue we face is every manufacturer seems to want to fill niches. the universal every man bike of the past doesn't exist anymore. the CB, KZ, GS, where have they gone? the small but fun and daily capable 175-400's, easy to learn, cheap to buy, and fun in their own right. my wife learned on a cb200t, i fucking loved that bike. small and fun, yet more than capable of the average daily commute.
and that's the other problem. for so much of the of the world motorcycles aren't just a hobbyist toy. and even the heyday in the US, these were transport. in the US the average passenger count in passenger vehicle is 1.4 people. why are we clogging the roads and parking lots with vehicles that take up 48 square feet, when a bike takes up 10? is it because the small comfortable commuter bike is just a thing of the past? why must we pick a single category to enjoy?
all of these things i think about all the time when people ask why is x so expensive, or exclusive, or dangerous, or hard to learn. we did this to ourselves. businesses try and adapt to the market, they don't want to take a risk. and the US market has these hard locked isolated segments that don't want to change. sport bikes get tighter and faster, cruisers heavier and more technology laden, ADV and dual sports pushing harder towards street or dirt with little overlap. and where is the entry level? too small, too fast, or too expensive. with very few examples sitting in-between.
and gear, oh my the gear. you end up paying way too much for proper protection. and still too much for very little protection. this is getting better with stealth gear. if my riding boots are comfortable and not obnoxious then they can be my shoes for the day, no need to carry spares. riding pants like reinforced jeans or slacks are more common and cheaper these days. good protective helmets don't have to bee 600 bucks. the wife and i both run ece22.06 helmets from LS2 for less than $150 each. there are some features lost, mine is too loud, hers doesn't have great airflow or attachment points for coms.
all of these things and more are the reason why younger audiences don't go for motorcycles as much. almost all of it is the fault of the communities that currently ride. prices are set by the scale of the industry, niches set by the communities. and the failings are the fault of the riders.
In the areas where theres less guys riding the rates pf watching online porn, kleenex sales and D&D is all on the rise
Maybe in your country not in mine.
No, not where I live. You're opinions are odd.
BS, get a clue!
It's dramatical nonsense.
good work. If somewhat depressing.
WHAT a stupid title, there are millions of motorcycles out there on the road.