I learned to ride on an MZ 125 in 1978. My boyfriend taught me. We are both very tall, so two up, we had to lean forwards when we started off otherwise..🤦♀️ I passed my test in 2015 at the ripe old age of 55. I did it because two of my sons became bikers. If you can't beat them... 😉. Here, in France, it's half the price and the success rate is much higher. Young people are keen to learn. I hope it picks up in the UK. Thank you for a great video.
I agree, we are all from the golden era of the 70's when it was cheap and fun, costs have killed any interest in being motorcyclist. Even going to watch BSB has sky rocketed. On the plus side we're of an age when we have a bit of spare cash to keep the old bikes on the road, double edged sword kinda thing !! I've stayed biking since 16ys now approaching 62 , keep shiny side up
Interesting to watch. I used to live in the UK, in the south east, and frequented a few biker cafes, so good to see the culture is still alive. But I do notice that so many people these days have adventure bikes. I wonder what the ratio of adventure bikes, to all other types is...... Great video, subscribed for more.
Hi also from UK kent luckily enough I have got bikes from my two favourite groups adventure and cruiser both pre loved together don't add up to a 2nd hand Gs or Africa twin Both maintained by me but sadly the days off buy your ride commute to work in the week rides and camping at weekends and holidays seem to be falling by the wayside sadly ride safe
I live in Plymouth and have always enjoyed watching the bikes roll in on the Brittany ferry over the years. But in the last 5+ years I have noticed a big difference. Once there was a varied mix of bikes coming in, old and new. But now, it's always 98% of all bikes that would cost £15K + coming off the ferry. And the cost of the crossing itself has spiraled out of control too during the summer months. It's at least 3x cheaper for me to travel all the way up to the euro tunnel to cross the channel now than use the ferry on my doorstep.
Love your channel Steve. I think I’ve watched literally all of your content. Imagine my surprise watching this when a very good friend of mine held the door open for you when you entered the cafe !. We live in West Oxfordshire so mainly ride around the Cotswolds. Super Sausage is definitely a favourite too. Like you we all cut our teeth mainly on AP50’s very early 80’s. Keep up the great content 👍
Hi Arch, thanks for watching mate, I have an entire tour recorded on the old bike that will be coming out in a few weeks, then I can concentrate on the all the videos I’m making with the new one! I’m away right now and will catch on your vids when I’m back next week! 😊
Great vid Steve a lot of people don’t get into riding until middle age because if married with family there not allowed when young or price of biking maybe only a thought keep up the great vids👍
They have made it too hard to get licence etc ,i couldn't wait to get my ER 50 Suzuki in 1981, it was only way of getting to work, pity more people didn't recognise you and what you have done on two wheels , keep it up Steve
I'm 32, ride an Africa Twin and I've been riding since i was old enough to do the DAS, cant remember when it was.. I think one of the main reasons you aren't seeing more young people on bikes is, myself and everyone I know my age who ride have absolutely no desire to go to these "biker cafes" and just stand around drinking shit coffee looking at other peoples bikes... When I go out on my bike I just ride all day and avoid these kinds of places
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Well I’m nearly 50 and been riding since I turned 16 and I don’t go to these places either, like you I ride all day when I’m out.
Same here out on my bike all day find it a bit weird that people spend 20k on a bike ride it to a cafe get a drink and just look at other peoples bikes seems a bit like a d* ck waving competition 😊
My husband and i are around the same age as you, my husband and his friends did up bantum when they were around 15, i started riding when i was 17 bought 50cc honda for around £20.00 from a neighbour had it for 3months wanted £100.00 spent on it , to get through m.o.t. towards the end of that year i bought brand new CD175 honda, to which i still have. Sadly not working. For us at time cheaper to ride a bike than have a car.
I think the roads are far more intimidating than they used to be. I don’t think I would feel too comfortable with a young relative on a bike until there were in their 20s. I know that is a bit hypocritical as I was on a bike at 16, but I’m sure I’m not alone with that concern. Also I remember buying a bike and a helmet, but no other protective gear so it was a lot cheaper. I’m in favour of protective gear of course, but it all adds up to the cost of entry.
The biggest impediment to young riders is cost, it’s as simple as that. Over a grand for lessons, over 500 for insurance, another 300 on gear and accessories (that’s budget stuff too). And then the bike is 2k+ for something fairly tired and old. It makes more sense for younger people to save for a car.
I passed my test in 1985 and rode bikes until 8 years ago when I stopped (I'm now 57). It was just getting too expensive, I was getting my BMW serviced every 3-4 months, as I was using my bike to commute from Dorset into London on a regular basis. Along with the cost of a service, I was getting a new back tyre at most services and a front every second service. I think at one service around 45,000 miles it cost me nearly two thousand pounds with everything I had done. It's no wonder that there are few younger people coming through, it really is an expensive hobby. New bikes these days have a lot of technology on and that costs - admittedly I'm talking new bikes here. I've been thinking of getting another bike recently as I do miss it but just buying some decent kit, I'm not going to get a lot of change out of £2500 with a decent helmet, jacket and trousers, summer and winter gloves, waterproofs and boots. The insurance for a 900cc bike for me is around £450 - so £3k before I even get my leg over! It's no wonder it's mainly greying men riding bikes, it's the age range with some disposable income.
My take is that the government have been trying to legislate us off the roads for a long time. In 1982, when I passed my test, they brought the 125 law in. Then over the years the route to a full license has got harder and harder, plus the stepped license. Then you add in the cost of not only the bike but all the kit you need, it becomes extremely expensive for someone who may just see it as a hobby
Great vid and insight. I've recently joined a local bike club. There seems to be a theme running through a lot of clubs and in general with us bikers. It's FOOD. We managed to squeeze in a few miles between cafes, pub car parks and restaurants. Just got an NC Honda...........may have to get a bigger bike!!!!!! Ride safe.
When I started riding in the 80s bikes were cheap, accessible transport. These days it costs a fortune! My daughter, her boyfriend and my nephew all under 25, all ride, all have good jobs and have spent an eye watering amount on training, tests, gear and most importantly insurance!!! They live riding but they have had to make a huge effort to get on two wheels. It’s completely different to when I started. Most ‘bikers’ are in it for a fantasy lifestyle these days. How many of these people use their bikes for anything other than a very expensive cafe pose? Nothing wrong with that, but if motorcycling is declining it’s because it’s a hobby for the few not transport for the masses.
Reflecting on what your other commentators have stated. I think the generation of bikers to which you and I belong, those of us who first took to the roads in the 70's and 80's, probably never lost the habit. It became deeply ingrained and part of our identity. Many of my generation stopped riding when they grew up, otherwise known as getting married and starting a family, only to return to biking in their middle years. The so called, Born again Bikers. They have the money and the maturity of years as such, so their insurance premiums are at sane levels. There is very little incentive now for youngsters to buy into biking, especially with role models like the predominantly middle aged or older men that typically form the biker fraternity you encounter at biker meet places like your cafe. I can't see the situation improving anytime soon. Biking has certainly become more of a niche activity in the past twenty years or so. For me, that's part of it's appeal. But I don't think it'll serve the future of biking well. Perhaps EV bikes will spell a resurgence in powered two wheelers on the roads? If people adopt EV biking in numbers then there might be an increase in interest in owning and riding bigger machines?
Always enjoy the channel, but I think you hit the nail on the head,,it's to expensive and the youngsters can't afford it. There's also an element of nanny state about it as well
Hi Steve Ive recently turned 66yoa ,I passed my test on the 3rd attempt (the examiner was a former Motorcycle Officer)in the City of Glasgow in 2003 ,I ride a 21 Harley Heritage ,but thinking of getting a 2nd bike (adventure ) ,I would love to do a European trip ,enjoyed watching your Italian trip ,now will catch up with your other adventures.
I’m mid 50’s. Only recently returned to biking, looking to Europe Trip as already experienced in cars. Biking was great at end of school / first job days as car ownership was huge step up money wise but once achieved most never looked back. My kids grew up with me always putting them off biking using the too dangerous angle. They didn’t even follow me into car scene. It’s just the way the new generation are. However, vids like yours, having the opportunity to ride together is great and a couple of other RUclipsrs doing same. It is still too expensive compared with cars but I think it’s just a lull as long as the ‘silly’ element doesn’t get out of hand and ruin it. Having taken my direct entry route I feel better road user. Keep up the great work.
A2 license might have been a big nail in the coffin but where there’s a will there’s a way, I’ve paid about £1600 in cbt’s, A2 and now unlimited over the past 12 years. I see plenty of 125’s about but you won’t see many lads down a biker cafe at 8am on a Sunday most won’t know there is an 8am 😂
I think one of the biggest issues is the new style scooters that 16y olds get now, When I was 16 (I'm 60 now) the Moped my dad bought me was a Suzuki AP50 and looked and rode like a regular motorbike all be it a lot slower lol But many went on to 125s then 250s and on and on. I'm thinking youngsters now can't wait to get off those little scooters as it doesn't have the same street cred as a moped that looks like a motorbike ! Your thoughts on this ??? Lol right after I posted this you said basically the same thing in your video !
I started riding back in 1996 aged 18, and was lucky to be part of on of the biggest bike meets, if no 'the' biggest weekly bike met in the UK, at the Basset's Pole in Brum and my local one at The Waterman near Warwick. I remember it being always absolutely packed and them always needing several marshals just to get people in and parked at the Waterman on wednesday evenings. It was not uncommon to have 4000 bikes there and the demographic was generally in the 20's to 40s , with smaller groups of over 50s. Now, the bigger biker meets in this area only ever seem to have a couple of hundred bikes at most and the demographic is like you say, middle aged men and rough looking ladies. Also, they seem to have less of a buzz about the meets nowadays, and people always seem a bit staid and quieter than back in the 90s. I watch the few younger bikers coming onto the scene on their youtube channels and they go to these meets and say "wow!! I can't believe how many bikers are here" and I just think to my self 'if only he/she knew how much has been lost'. It's sort of sad, but we're still here at least and hopefully as cars become less and less viable, the bike scene will invigorate again.
Here in France it’s very expensive to get your license and to insure a bike,we do have a fair amount of err elderly bikers but also a healthy amount of young bikers.
im 48 and the odd time i stop at places like devils bridge I'm usually one of the youngest. i see younger bikers but they tend to be riding more for commuting etc and not stopping at these biker meet locations
I’ve just done a DAS in my late 40s (never had any interest in bikes, just fancied a new hobby), and through my lessons and tests, I met about 10 other learners; only one was older than me, and three of them were female. Young people are interested in bikes, but are they interested in hanging out with a load of old men at biker caffs? Probably about as much as non-white riders are when you’ve got three Union Jack-festooned Rocket 3s parked up.
I agree with most of the reasons offered, but think the present economy, struggle to get on the housing market and cost of living all take motorcycling out of the reach of many youngsters. I was 54 and in a good job when I returned to motorcycling. We should all give younger motorcyclists a positive welcome when we meet them 😊
As a 54yr old and only getting my license 10 years ago, I have been fortunate enough (through bloody hard and long hours of work mind you) to be able to afford the Direct Access course and then get myself a new bike and gear. With that, I have taken my kids for pillion rides and they have loved it. My son, now 17, is encouraged enough that he has got his CBT. We have incentivised him with a 125cc bike to push on to get his drivers license for a car (taking lessons) - get on that 'ladder'. However, he needs to pay for the insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc. once received. He is still up for the task thankfully. There is one thing I can share and these words are from his mouth. - 'The process to getting a full bike license in the UK is stupid and costly. Why the CBT, then A1, A2 with all these restrictions as it forces more cost, and multiple motorcycle purchases in a short space of time. Even 125cc bikes are ridiculously expensive.' - I have to say, I agree with him. You cannot compare getting a car with getting a bike! A half decent 125cc with 30k miles can still set you back £1500 or more. Then add helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, waterproof gear, locks, etc. You can buy a small 2nd hand car for that and be in much better comfort! And, you can take your mates with you!! The system is designed to dissuade younger people from motorcycling. As they get older though, more will come to their senses unless the government penalises us bikers to the point where most pack it in.
Can go back to 1962 Triumph Tiger 110. On 06 - 1400 shift ,getting out of house 05-30 .Kick start, off to work. Weekend marshall Cadwell Park. Was my only transport several years. Went to first Dragon Rally. Still have bike Honda vfr 1200 , now78.
I see a lot of these types of videos and I'm in that demographic, but to be fair, until I reached this age I wouldn't be seen dead at a biker cafe/meet/show, I just used to enjoy riding my bike! I need a coffee to keep going now though 👍
I'm 21 and only know a few other people similar age as me with a full bike license. It just costs so much to do with insurance, bike costs and obtaining the actual license.
youngsters are not very well treated by "OGs"... seen them mostly secluded in a corner at bike nights. there should be more engagement, more appetite to engage and teach. suspecting there are many who'd like to be involved in the scene, but are not welcomed as they should be. no disrespect to a certain type of riders, but people on GS, Tigers etc never nodded back to me, they all seem so grumpy and act superior (obviously subjective)
I think that it is, as you say, too expensive for youngsters now as well as being quite involved. I’m of a similar age to you and like you, all my friends and I could think of was getting a 50cc Fizzie etc as soon as we turned 16 which gave us our freedom…. Now youngsters get ferried everywhere by parents and generally are at College etc rather than needing to travel to work at 16. The reality of the bike market now is that it is a fairly expensive hobby/leisure activity so tends to be followed by those that have the time and money, (ie generally an older dynamic) or youngsters who have been introduced to biking by their Fathers. I think while we’re still active it will be fine but there’s not enough youngsters coming through for there to be a long term future?
three words: driving license, insurance. Those keep young people away from bikes. But a lot of youngsters still want to ride - they just do it with balaclavas on...
Hi Steve I think that money is a big part of the problem. You think by the time you pay to pass the test, then there is all the gear to buy, including a helmet. And on top of that you have a bike to buy. Nice to see your old bike.
With all the recent dealers closing I would say also along with dropping sales figures and not many younger people getting into biking the UK bike scene is not in great shape
I can’t imagine a worse place to spend my time. Mindless chit chat, queuing for greasy food etc. Motorcycling in the UK is a leisure activity for the older indigenous generation to relive their youth from a time when you could only afford a moped or an older bike to experience your first sense of freedom and independence. Whereas, motorcycles/scooters are used in European/Asian countries as a primary mode of transport. Smaller capacity two wheeled transport will evolve and probably increase in the UK in the near future, with the onset of net zero. Enjoy what you have, whilst you have it.
Even a modest sized new bike, is getting ridiculously expensive. The cost of insurance just continues to spiral out of control, and the relentless war on speed in this country is killing biking pleasure. Young people are not attracted to bikes like they used to be. Thankfully I have seen a steady increase in young riders taking their test. But it will be a long time before there’s a significant change in the biking demographic. We need cheaper entry level bikes, and a reality check on the insurance companies. Thankfully the Chinese are making affordable bikes available, and the more we older bikers encourage the beginners,things will get better.
I remember when the Super Sausage was a truck stop. Motorcycles are now way to expensive with all the electronics and rider aids for the born again biker, motorcyles used to be a cheap form of transport but are not now and a young person just wants to buy a cheap car and drive, they won't get cold and wet, it will slowly die off!
When I started riding bikes 1980s commute to work was much cheaper than a car.now after 25 year break still commute to work and go on tour with my wife. Two young guys at work are into bikes but one stupidly don’t wear safety gear like just a helmet,suit trousers,office shoes and sometimes no gloves the other chap has off road experience and is definitely more switched on.lived in the uk now live in Australia. I didn’t encourage my 3 boys to take up motorcycles.been to bike meets in Australia lots of young guys on sports bikes.mostly use my bike to commute to work and holidays hope I able to ride well into my eighties. I am 66 my wife is 60 both ride Honda cb500x
It was packed there last time we went to the Super Sausage. My wife rides so I guess she's contributing to the increasing female rider demographic. Mostly it's older people riding. Loads of reasons: The older folks have more money, kids left home perhaps mortgage paid, perhaps inherited some cash. It was much easier to get a motorcycle license back in the 80s Insurance for youngster's is super expensive Kids are more risk averse now-days Two wheels are no longer seen as cheap transport for work Theft risks are right up We recently filmed at the classic bike show and just about everyone was grey-haired or bald! Slightly depressing
Having a mother as an ER Nurse, I wasn’t allowed to have a motorcycle as a child. I was 30 before I got my first motorcycle. Part of it was money but what really drove me to finally buy one was making friends with a guy who rode.
Great video I’ve been a motorcyclist since 1977 and over the last 20 yrs I’ve noticed a decline in motorcycles and I wonder if it’s partly that the generation after ours say from the year 2000 prices were starting to go up because there I think was a higher rate of deaths from our generation we obviously are the lucky one coz we are still here the next generation went for cars coz they were cheaper so todays generation haven’t had parents who were into bikes so they haven’t been around them I was around them from the start of my life with my dad and uncles having bikes and being involved with motocross so it was in my life but todays youngsters of today are not into them I could be wrong but that’s my take on the situation pity really because they are the best invention ever in my mind but correct me if I’m wrong I hope you are enjoying your new gs I couldn’t believe what happened in just 10 minutes of leaving your bike most upsetting let’s hope your future and your sons is a safe and enjoyable pass time take care ride safe mate
Part of the expense is the increase in Insurance costs due to bike theft. I wonder if there’s a stat for the average age of a bike thief ! There may well be a direct correlation between bike thieves and the young who can’t afford the insurance costs. I doubt the stat for thievery will be mid 50’s.
I started riding on my 16th birthday and have been all year around ever since. At 17 it cost me £6 to take my bike test which involved riding around the block 10 times and 5 questions on the Highway Code. You could also ride a 250 on an L license. My son is approaching 21 and would love to take his test and buy his own bike but he simply can’t afford the cost of even taking his test let alone buying a bike. It is unfortunately the same for so many young people. What is the answer I really don’t know but I know lots of young people would be on the road on a bike if it was more affordable.
This was filmed before my bike was stolen! I also have an entire tour that will be aired in a few weeks time on the old bike… New beemer currently making new memories and videos in the pipeline… 😊
That kind of venue only attracts old blokes like us. I don't think it's a decent representation of the state of things as a whole. At the Bike Shed Show last year there were lots of people in their 20s. I think younger riders are more into custom bikes. Cost is an issue, you're right there.
I think the venue selected the demographic you were seeing. I'm a member of a facebook group of about 120 riders who have another hobby in common. We are a very happy and inclusive group of people with representation across the ages and ethnicities which is roughly 50% male and 50% female. It's not as bad as you think out there.
What conversation ? You pretty much covered it already. Insurance costs🤬 Cost of actually getting the licence and the stupid convoluted license levels of attainment .. A1 A2 and whatever else🤷🏼♂ British Roads are a death trap of badly maintained surfaces with potholes to suit all styles of accident.🔥 When was the last time you saw a Police Motorcycle? I don't remember, 10 years ago maybe! 🤷🏼♂ Back in the day, motorcycling was cheap essential transport for the younger generation. That's gone too! We had a two week summer this year. Not much time for riding and enjoying our bitching climate.🏍🌧⛈🌦 Yeah, it is pretty much dead in the water.
Motorcycling has changed, probably did so in the mid 90's with changes in the tests for young riders and the rise of the Born Again Biker, for many its now a hobby for those with spare income, instead of cheap way to independence for teenagers as it was for us who started in the 70's and 80's, I know many people who have got into bikes in their late 30's and 40's, but of all my nieces and nephews and other young people I know, only a very few got bikes in their teens. Probably many reasons for that, cost of entry must be a big reason, there are also other desirable things that young people today can spend their limited budget on that we didn't have, such as all the tech they can have, so a motorbike might not be the coolest thing to show your friends. They can also keep in touch with their friends from their bedroom, we had to go to a common meeting place. However where I live there is bike meet every Tuesday evening from April to September and it can attract up to 1400 bikes (this is in the back end of Norfolk, so no idea where they come from) and there is a crowd of youngsters who turn up on 125's with L plates, hopefully they'll progress. The figures for tests cover the period during Covid, when very few tests were conducted the figures for 2021 to 2022 were 67,355 with 50,171 passes and for 2022 to 2023 it was 58,862 and 43,056 passes. according to the stats from the Government and these seem to be the highest figures in the last 10 years. The percentage of female bikers are increasing, it might not get to 50/50, but is that important? I come from a family that are into riding horses and as a male I was always vastly outnumbered by women, but nobody seems to suggest getting more men into equestrian activities, the main thing is it should be accessible to all and as older and experienced bikers we should help those who want to ride bikes and make them feel welcome, regardless of who they are or what they ride.
The UK economy is declining fast. In some years cars will be too expensive and small motorcycles may be interesting for young people again (if internal combustion engines are still allowed). The UK will be comparing itself to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. Motorcycles are widely used in these countries. If nothing is done about theft in the UK you will all have to rely on trains and busses.
You are so right, male dominated, and middled age (and mainly not very pretty ooops sorry 🤭😂). More and more like minded females like myself are starting to ride bikes but still not enough and so we have to deal with a lack of choice of clothing and sometimes unfavourable attitude from men. However, I do agree, it’s probably to do with costs. We know it’s expensive to get your licence and then the price of bikes, gear, insurance etc. are so much. I also think the accident rates are going up each year, in Scotland alone we’ve had over 30 deaths this year, and the lack of support and legislation (which is in place for cyclists) from various establishments does not help either. Looking forward to your plans for your next trip. My husband and I can’t decide where to go next summer, possibly Portugal but again talking about cost, the ferry to Spain is eye watering expensive!
Hi there, thanks for commenting! I have a tour coming out in a few weeks that I filmed before the theft of my bike and then in February I’m looking into seeking out some sun in Portugal too! I agree re the Spain ferry cost…! I think I will get a ferry to St Malo and then ride through a bit of France, sticking to the coast as I make my way to Spain. Glad to hear you are seeing more female riders coming through too. Safe travels to you both 😊
@TwoWheeledDreamer came 🎉 across your channel by accident...intriguing thoughts too and I have subsequentlysubscribed to your channel.....I am planning to go to the Picos next year ..but at £1500 return to Santander its making my eyes water a lot ! just curious as to what part of Spain you are going to . Keep safe !
In ten years time it will be a matter of cost. What will the cheapest transportation be? Small motorcycles may be popular again if they are cheaper than cars. The cost of getting a license and insurance included of course. The economy will be very different in the UK in ten years time.
@ the future is autonomous vehicles, these won’t be able to cope with motorcycles. The only future for two wheels is an electric bicycle confined to the cycle lanes.
Costs are all major factors not just for youngsters but us oldies as well. I have 2 lovely bikes but it’s just another hobby for me. I’ve always loved bikes since the early 70s but that was then and this is now. I think to many youngsters biking is perceived to be an old man’s thing and to a large extent it is. It’s not considered ‘cool’ enough for many young people my own kids included. Super Sausage, Rykas at Box Hill Ace Cafe and Loomies are all great bike meets but OMG stay away from the food it’s absolute shite in all of them!
When you say the biking scene is healthy I have to disagree. The majority of riders just have a disposable income and suddenly decide, Oh, Oh, lets tick some boxes and become a biker today. Then roll up to a Café and drop their bag of cash in a spot in the car park. Then people come along and say Wow look there isn't biking healthy. Its not the way to look at it, I really don't want to be negative here, but Bikers have knowledge how to maintain their bike, ride them, and understand the lifestyle that all goes with a Biker. The Bikers today are a dying breed, these people are not increasing because of many changes that have happened over the years, the first major thing was the Test change, and if started going down hill from there. The rider today are just 2 wheeled car drivers to be honest, and get their machines like a car on a PDP and swop and change them every few years and know nothing about how to ride them, maintain them(they don't have them long enough or put miles on them) eventually this will stop, and the expense will be a major factor, also the government will take yet more of our freedom away, once the push back from the oldies is little or no more a hindrance, and the plastic bikers will jump on the next fad. I feel the scene is on it's way out, I hope I'm wrong but I've been right so far.
Spot on ,also possibly the reason there are no younger bikers at this meeting place is probably because they are out enjoying the roads and not stood around like alpha male peacocks , personally, these 'biker' cafes are places real bikes tend to avoid !! So boring 😮💨
Magazines and print in general of the 90s and noughties have a lot to answer for in terms of how women are viewed and respected around motorbikes. 44Teeth, as tongue-in-cheek as they'd say they are, could do with not actively normalising such behaviour. I've witnessed firsthand some really dumb behaviour toward a few girl mate bike riders. Most of it passive and ineffective, but still "there".
I'm early 40s, started riding in my late teens or early 20s. I think the exhorbitant cost is an issue now, most people who are coming to the age where they can get their freedom will opt to take the financial hit of having a car rather than a bike, even moreso when you factor in our horrible weather, terrible roads and the general safety these days with how low driving standards have fallen. It's also interesting you mention diversity in the biking community. I don't really see anyone who isn't white at the meets I go to (not that I have any issue whatsoever with that), I guess bikes just aren't appealing to certain communities. I should state I'm mixed race so I do notice stuff like this - not that I've ever been made to feel anything but totally welcome.
I agree with Dave-th2ug below - kids are too soft and spoiled now. They won't put up with freezing cold, getting wet, having to wear proper gear on a motorbike and instead they opt for saving up to buy a comfy car (while in the meantime the parents chauffer them everywhere at all hours - even "kids" in their late 20s!!!). I'm from Dublin and the bike scene is very similar to what you've described Steve- most bikers here in Ireland are 50+ with very few young people getting into bikes. Regulations are making it much harder now for young people to get into bikes.
A lot of us don’t ride in crap weather, can’t see the point and it’s dangerous 😢😢Note how many boring GSs there are, sheep following sheep. Please use your imagination guys! I don’t follow the herd.
Utter rubbish! My two daughters are nails! Eldest rides a bike to her job as a fisheries enforcement officer and goes to sea in all weathers that would make most middle aged men weep. My youngest is a county rugby player and just joined the navy. These sorts of generalisations about young people are a joke.
Anything to do with motorcycles has become very expensive. when i was a lad it was cheap form of transport to get to work and hang with ya mates. having recently got back on a bike I was horrified at the cost of semi decent kit and add what a youngster would pay for insurance .. Im sure this is 95% of the reason.
I once felt young as a biker in my 20s, there were plenty of others in that age group too back then. But now… looking at my RUclips stats my viewers are mostly over 55 and only around 1% female… hmmmm.
If you want to see if the motorcycle scene is healthy come to the Chilly Willy run on the 12th of January in aid of the air ambulance we had over 800 bikes turn up in January 2024 Northampton active bedford road NN4 7AA
We have a bike meetup place where i live in southport lancs, and the demographic is the same, 9 out of ten are older grey haired gentleman (like me), no proper young people at all. im looking to get back into biking after not riding since the late 70s, early 80s, and looking at all the new rules now, the testing regime, the cost of just getting your full licence, the age limitations if you are under 24, i'm not surprised its dying out for young people. When you think back in the 70s, at 17, you could ride anything up to a 200cc with no test, on a provisional, i was bombing about on a honda CB175 for years going to work and stuff, never did a bike test...The Uk laws are definitely Anti biking, which is a shame as its part of our heritage.
IMHO, You could get a nice car for the same money spent on a bike and the insurance risk is higher for a bike than a car. This cuts younger people out as it's expensive. Also, they can't carry their mates around as easily as with a car, therefore older people with more money tend to buy bikes as a hobby to relive their youth.
My opinion. It's not even considered as an alternative transport, or as a means of fun and pleasure. My neighbours boys reacted in complete horror at the thought of a motorbike. Also, you can't game, text or phone like you can as a car passenger! Perhaps too many of the younger generation don't have a sense of adventure, nor indeed is there a need to provide their own transport when the parents,certainly near me in rural Dorset, are prepared to drive 20 miles to pick them up after a night at the cinema. Yes it is expensive to start out with a bike but it's cheaper than a car. Plenty of kids seem to find the funds for car driving, so I don't believe that money is the 'driving' factor. Perhaps they're just too soft? Shame, I enjoyed my motorcycling years when I was younger.
What can be done Revise the licence laws and training up the age to 18 for car drivers and phase car drivers with limited power and no passengers Bikes need to be cheaper and insurance also theUK is not suited to biking in many places to much trafic poor weather
Over priced and over complicated to pass a full bike test and overpriced large bikes . No youngster is going to go beyond CBT then pay the price of a car for 2 wheels that won't be any good for a night out dressed up on the pull with your mates. In the sixties bikes were cheap transport now apart from small run arounds that only need the CBT they are viewed as weekend toys for oldies.
Also bikes are getting to expensive and very few high mileage riders Most seem to ride at weekends to a cafe if the weather is nice or some event or other I'm off to Harrogate tomorrow to watch an FA Cup match a round trip of about 500 miles on my R1300GS I will cover about 25,000 miles this year on this and my F750GS I'm a volunteer blood biker so do a few Mile's running blood and Breast Milk around The only younger bike in my family is one of my son in laws who has 2 bikes and is a 37 year old white male but does very few Mile's on his bike and like me also has a car John stalbansbiker
It’s the young are getting killed with insurance a guy with a Honda cb 500 x on Facebook was saying he was paying £1800 a year ,I couldn’t believe that £200 a month ,madness that
I've just decided to not bother anymore after having my last bike stolen from the safest place I can keep a bike.It was found but some genius had tried to hotwire it and busted the ignition lock .Honda with HISS,it was never going to work but neither could I fix it myself. I'm 66 and my various bikes had been my only form or transport since I was 18,first bike a brand new Honda CB200. I've ridden through every winter and only ice and fog has seen me leave my bike at home. Had some great times and met some great people,ridden in Asia and New Zealand ,also not so great times,2 serious crashes and lost my best mate but always had a blast on whatever I've ridden,big or small. In the last couple of years I stopped enjoying it,I'm still fit and healthy but had a few scares with poor road surfaces nearly having me off a couple of times and driving standards getting worse and worse with far too many near-misses. Servicing and parts costs have got seriously stupid as well. I'd already lost interest when my bike was stolen, another eye-opener was that all anyone involved in the insurance claim seemed to want to do was write it off asap, The only place I have to store another bike is where the last one was stolen from and my insurance will now go through the roof. When I started bikes were a cheap form of transport that most people with a bit of common sense could service and repair themselves,or at least the basics. After my couple of experiences the local traffic police reported that 2 riders had been seriously hurt in crashes purely because of the state of the roads they were riding on with no fault on their part,enough for me ,with that and drivers using phones ,not paying attention etc I felt less and less safe and I'd probably have sold the bike soon anyway.
Unfortunately your video highlights the problem. The bike scene per se is very healthy. But a new bike is way beyond the reach of a younger person who has to fund rent, and everything else just to survive! Insurance without a garage is exorbitant. Biking kit is also very costly. The test is expensive ( and too many stages) and when they can buy a very reasonable car for £3k and it’s weather proof and one pass needed. Notwithstanding our traffic and horrendous road surfaces and the lack of respect for any biker by 4 wheelers, it all adds up. European youngsters have scooters to start often to get them to school then progress to bikes. The car, van and truck drivers were all to a man or woman, scooter or bike riders before. I feel safer riding on the continent than I ever do abroad!!
I wish you did show the people talking to you would have made something of t😂he whole experience .Why would the youngsters want to go there even if they rode bikes which they do they are called mopeds.Do you think they would be welcome? I don’t expect much but hardly buzzing .My IAM instructor took me there for a longer run not much more exciting then.I will give it another go but TBH your video makes me think again 😮
I'm staggered by lots of smashing bikes but no disc locks let alone a chain in sight..., On the demographic front it's not looking good- who knew that we'd have lived through a golden age of biking - and it's demise😢
Just as I expected meet ups are always full of old gray hair men. Thats one of the reasons why industry is in trouble. You have no younger people coming thru. Mod 1 should be scrapped no point in it. The average uk rider age is 54. I ride all year round rain or shine on my 125. There is no fun in being a fair weather rider.
Lots of great bikes it’s so good to see but then there’s the GS’s ffs the most boring un inspiring soulless bike in the world !!! People who buy them are like sheep following the crowd!! Get a grip 🙄🙄
There are more decent bikes out there under £3000 than you can shake a stick at. Youngsters have had their manlyness drummed out of them. They would rather have an electric pushbike these days, and stay in touch with their feminine side.
In 1977 I think the stat is nearly 300,000 motorcycles & mopeds sold, with a much bigger population total bike sales for 2023 was just under 114,000………kind of says it all. I chose 1977 because that was the year I became road legal, and when people my age eventually pack it in it may carry on for a while but will decline rapidly the cost, and legislation, packed roads, with cameras everywhere doesn’t seem worth it for somebody starting out - far easier in the past we had the best of it.
Mate, if you use crude criteria like colour and age to define diversity you miss the nuances. You go to a biker’s cafe in India there will also seem to be a lack of diversity especially with age. Go to a scrambler event, the demographic is different. You are looking at a particular sort of biking, in a particular country. And they are mainly licensed riders on touring, adventure to sports bikes. I saw diversity! Riders who are into vintage motos, small bore motos, adventure tourers, cruiser riders. There is also diversity in background, earning ability etc. And there is diversity in age as there is a hell of a lot of difference between a thirty to forty yo and a 60 to 70 yo. The motorcycle world does face a challenge attracting younger people and females but if you look at RUclipsrs there is a fair representation. Accident statistics are also a problem. I think in my state of Queensland motorcycle riders make up 2 % of road users but 27 % of road fatalities. I also heard that you had a greater chance of surviving as a young officer on the Western Front in WW1 than you do if getting your motorcycle license at 17 and surviving until you are 30!
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I learned to ride on an MZ 125 in 1978. My boyfriend taught me. We are both very tall, so two up, we had to lean forwards when we started off otherwise..🤦♀️
I passed my test in 2015 at the ripe old age of 55. I did it because two of my sons became bikers. If you can't beat them... 😉. Here, in France, it's half the price and the success rate is much higher. Young people are keen to learn. I hope it picks up in the UK. Thank you for a great video.
Hi Jane, thanks for watching 😁
I agree, we are all from the golden era of the 70's when it was cheap and fun, costs have killed any interest in being motorcyclist. Even going to watch BSB has sky rocketed. On the plus side we're of an age when we have a bit of spare cash to keep the old bikes on the road, double edged sword kinda thing !! I've stayed biking since 16ys now approaching 62 , keep shiny side up
Interesting to watch. I used to live in the UK, in the south east, and frequented a few biker cafes, so good to see the culture is still alive.
But I do notice that so many people these days have adventure bikes.
I wonder what the ratio of adventure bikes, to all other types is......
Great video, subscribed for more.
Hi also from UK kent luckily enough I have got bikes from my two favourite groups adventure and cruiser both pre loved together don't add up to a 2nd hand Gs or Africa twin
Both maintained by me but sadly the days off buy your ride commute to work in the week rides and camping at weekends and holidays seem to be falling by the wayside sadly ride safe
@@Leonard-kd7uj I also canoe from Kent. Orpington. But living in Spain. Where nearly everyone rides a moped.
I live in Plymouth and have always enjoyed watching the bikes roll in on the Brittany ferry over the years.
But in the last 5+ years I have noticed a big difference. Once there was a varied mix of bikes coming in, old and new. But now, it's always 98% of all bikes that would cost £15K + coming off the ferry. And the cost of the crossing itself has spiraled out of control too during the summer months. It's at least 3x cheaper for me to travel all the way up to the euro tunnel to cross the channel now than use the ferry on my doorstep.
Love your channel Steve. I think I’ve watched literally all of your content. Imagine my surprise watching this when a very good friend of mine held the door open for you when you entered the cafe !. We live in West Oxfordshire so mainly ride around the Cotswolds. Super Sausage is definitely a favourite too. Like you we all cut our teeth mainly on AP50’s very early 80’s. Keep up the great content 👍
oh, the previous GS...........good on ya to publish it still you made the effort to record it all thanks for the video Steve
Hi Arch, thanks for watching mate, I have an entire tour recorded on the old bike that will be coming out in a few weeks, then I can concentrate on the all the videos I’m making with the new one! I’m away right now and will catch on your vids when I’m back next week! 😊
Great vid Steve a lot of people don’t get into riding until middle age because if married with family there not allowed when young or price of biking maybe only a thought keep up the great vids👍
They have made it too hard to get licence etc ,i couldn't wait to get my ER 50 Suzuki in 1981, it was only way of getting to work, pity more people didn't recognise you and what you have done on two wheels , keep it up Steve
I'm 32, ride an Africa Twin and I've been riding since i was old enough to do the DAS, cant remember when it was..
I think one of the main reasons you aren't seeing more young people on bikes is, myself and everyone I know my age who ride have absolutely no desire to go to these "biker cafes" and just stand around drinking shit coffee looking at other peoples bikes... When I go out on my bike I just ride all day and avoid these kinds of places
Well I’m nearly 50 and been riding since I turned 16 and I don’t go to these places either, like you I ride all day when I’m out.
Same here out on my bike all day find it a bit weird that people spend 20k on a bike ride it to a cafe get a drink and just look at other peoples bikes seems a bit like a d* ck waving competition 😊
My husband and i are around the same age as you, my husband and his friends did up bantum when they were around 15, i started riding when i was 17 bought 50cc honda for around £20.00 from a neighbour had it for 3months wanted £100.00 spent on it , to get through m.o.t. towards the end of that year i bought brand new CD175 honda, to which i still have. Sadly not working. For us at time cheaper to ride a bike than have a car.
I think the roads are far more intimidating than they used to be. I don’t think I would feel too comfortable with a young relative on a bike until there were in their 20s. I know that is a bit hypocritical as I was on a bike at 16, but I’m sure I’m not alone with that concern. Also I remember buying a bike and a helmet, but no other protective gear so it was a lot cheaper. I’m in favour of protective gear of course, but it all adds up to the cost of entry.
The biggest impediment to young riders is cost, it’s as simple as that. Over a grand for lessons, over 500 for insurance, another 300 on gear and accessories (that’s budget stuff too). And then the bike is 2k+ for something fairly tired and old. It makes more sense for younger people to save for a car.
500 for insurance would be a blessing, my cbr500r is 1200 with 2 years no claims
@ blimey!! How old are you?
I passed my test in 1985 and rode bikes until 8 years ago when I stopped (I'm now 57). It was just getting too expensive, I was getting my BMW serviced every 3-4 months, as I was using my bike to commute from Dorset into London on a regular basis. Along with the cost of a service, I was getting a new back tyre at most services and a front every second service. I think at one service around 45,000 miles it cost me nearly two thousand pounds with everything I had done. It's no wonder that there are few younger people coming through, it really is an expensive hobby.
New bikes these days have a lot of technology on and that costs - admittedly I'm talking new bikes here. I've been thinking of getting another bike recently as I do miss it but just buying some decent kit, I'm not going to get a lot of change out of £2500 with a decent helmet, jacket and trousers, summer and winter gloves, waterproofs and boots. The insurance for a 900cc bike for me is around £450 - so £3k before I even get my leg over!
It's no wonder it's mainly greying men riding bikes, it's the age range with some disposable income.
My take is that the government have been trying to legislate us off the roads for a long time. In 1982, when I passed my test, they brought the 125 law in. Then over the years the route to a full license has got harder and harder, plus the stepped license. Then you add in the cost of not only the bike but all the kit you need, it becomes extremely expensive for someone who may just see it as a hobby
Yes…there’s a war on personal transport…it’s made us too ‘free’, and tyrants (globalists) don’t like that
Great vid and insight. I've recently joined a local bike club. There seems to be a theme running through a lot of clubs and in general with us bikers. It's FOOD. We managed to squeeze in a few miles between cafes, pub car parks and restaurants. Just got an NC Honda...........may have to get a bigger bike!!!!!! Ride safe.
I just bought my daughter a Kawasaki 125 after she did her CBT so hopefully she’ll go on to do her full license, she seems to be enjoying it.
When I started riding in the 80s bikes were cheap, accessible transport. These days it costs a fortune! My daughter, her boyfriend and my nephew all under 25, all ride, all have good jobs and have spent an eye watering amount on training, tests, gear and most importantly insurance!!! They live riding but they have had to make a huge effort to get on two wheels. It’s completely different to when I started.
Most ‘bikers’ are in it for a fantasy lifestyle these days. How many of these people use their bikes for anything other than a very expensive cafe pose? Nothing wrong with that, but if motorcycling is declining it’s because it’s a hobby for the few not transport for the masses.
Nice diverse collection of bikes and probably stories to match them! Ride save! 🙏🏼💪🏼
Reflecting on what your other commentators have stated. I think the generation of bikers to which you and I belong, those of us who first took to the roads in the 70's and 80's, probably never lost the habit. It became deeply ingrained and part of our identity. Many of my generation stopped riding when they grew up, otherwise known as getting married and starting a family, only to return to biking in their middle years. The so called, Born again Bikers. They have the money and the maturity of years as such, so their insurance premiums are at sane levels. There is very little incentive now for youngsters to buy into biking, especially with role models like the predominantly middle aged or older men that typically form the biker fraternity you encounter at biker meet places like your cafe. I can't see the situation improving anytime soon. Biking has certainly become more of a niche activity in the past twenty years or so. For me, that's part of it's appeal. But I don't think it'll serve the future of biking well. Perhaps EV bikes will spell a resurgence in powered two wheelers on the roads? If people adopt EV biking in numbers then there might be an increase in interest in owning and riding bigger machines?
no one cares about electric motorcycles
Always enjoy the channel, but I think you hit the nail on the head,,it's to expensive and the youngsters can't afford it.
There's also an element of nanny state about it as well
Hi Steve Ive recently turned 66yoa ,I passed my test on the 3rd attempt (the examiner was a former Motorcycle Officer)in the City of Glasgow in 2003 ,I ride a 21 Harley Heritage ,but thinking of getting a 2nd bike (adventure ) ,I would love to do a European trip ,enjoyed watching your Italian trip ,now will catch up with your other adventures.
I’m mid 50’s. Only recently returned to biking, looking to Europe Trip as already experienced in cars. Biking was great at end of school / first job days as car ownership was huge step up money wise but once achieved most never looked back. My kids grew up with me always putting them off biking using the too dangerous angle. They didn’t even follow me into car scene. It’s just the way the new generation are. However, vids like yours, having the opportunity to ride together is great and a couple of other RUclipsrs doing same. It is still too expensive compared with cars but I think it’s just a lull as long as the ‘silly’ element doesn’t get out of hand and ruin it. Having taken my direct entry route I feel better road user. Keep up the great work.
A2 license might have been a big nail in the coffin but where there’s a will there’s a way, I’ve paid about £1600 in cbt’s, A2 and now unlimited over the past 12 years. I see plenty of 125’s about but you won’t see many lads down a biker cafe at 8am on a Sunday most won’t know there is an 8am 😂
I think one of the biggest issues is the new style scooters that 16y olds get now, When I was 16 (I'm 60 now) the Moped my dad bought me was a Suzuki AP50 and looked and rode like a regular motorbike all be it a lot slower lol
But many went on to 125s then 250s and on and on. I'm thinking youngsters now can't wait to get off those little scooters as it doesn't have the same street cred as a moped that looks like a motorbike ! Your thoughts on this ???
Lol right after I posted this you said basically the same thing in your video !
I started riding back in 1996 aged 18, and was lucky to be part of on of the biggest bike meets, if no 'the' biggest weekly bike met in the UK, at the Basset's Pole in Brum and my local one at The Waterman near Warwick.
I remember it being always absolutely packed and them always needing several marshals just to get people in and parked at the Waterman on wednesday evenings.
It was not uncommon to have 4000 bikes there and the demographic was generally in the 20's to 40s , with smaller groups of over 50s.
Now, the bigger biker meets in this area only ever seem to have a couple of hundred bikes at most and the demographic is like you say, middle aged men and rough looking ladies.
Also, they seem to have less of a buzz about the meets nowadays, and people always seem a bit staid and quieter than back in the 90s.
I watch the few younger bikers coming onto the scene on their youtube channels and they go to these meets and say "wow!! I can't believe how many bikers are here" and I just think to my self 'if only he/she knew how much has been lost'.
It's sort of sad, but we're still here at least and hopefully as cars become less and less viable, the bike scene will invigorate again.
Here in France it’s very expensive to get your license and to insure a bike,we do have a fair amount of err elderly bikers but also a healthy amount of young bikers.
im 48 and the odd time i stop at places like devils bridge I'm usually one of the youngest. i see younger bikers but they tend to be riding more for commuting etc and not stopping at these biker meet locations
I’ve just done a DAS in my late 40s (never had any interest in bikes, just fancied a new hobby), and through my lessons and tests, I met about 10 other learners; only one was older than me, and three of them were female. Young people are interested in bikes, but are they interested in hanging out with a load of old men at biker caffs? Probably about as much as non-white riders are when you’ve got three Union Jack-festooned Rocket 3s parked up.
I agree with most of the reasons offered, but think the present economy, struggle to get on the housing market and cost of living all take motorcycling out of the reach of many youngsters. I was 54 and in a good job when I returned to motorcycling. We should all give younger motorcyclists a positive welcome when we meet them 😊
As a 54yr old and only getting my license 10 years ago, I have been fortunate enough (through bloody hard and long hours of work mind you) to be able to afford the Direct Access course and then get myself a new bike and gear. With that, I have taken my kids for pillion rides and they have loved it. My son, now 17, is encouraged enough that he has got his CBT. We have incentivised him with a 125cc bike to push on to get his drivers license for a car (taking lessons) - get on that 'ladder'. However, he needs to pay for the insurance, maintenance, fuel, etc. once received. He is still up for the task thankfully. There is one thing I can share and these words are from his mouth. - 'The process to getting a full bike license in the UK is stupid and costly. Why the CBT, then A1, A2 with all these restrictions as it forces more cost, and multiple motorcycle purchases in a short space of time. Even 125cc bikes are ridiculously expensive.' - I have to say, I agree with him. You cannot compare getting a car with getting a bike! A half decent 125cc with 30k miles can still set you back £1500 or more. Then add helmet, jacket, trousers, gloves, waterproof gear, locks, etc. You can buy a small 2nd hand car for that and be in much better comfort! And, you can take your mates with you!! The system is designed to dissuade younger people from motorcycling. As they get older though, more will come to their senses unless the government penalises us bikers to the point where most pack it in.
Can go back to 1962 Triumph Tiger 110. On 06 - 1400 shift ,getting out of house 05-30 .Kick start, off to work. Weekend marshall Cadwell Park. Was my only transport several years. Went to first Dragon Rally. Still have bike Honda vfr 1200 , now78.
Very uninspiring load of bikes. But I am older and still love individuality in bikes.Different crew now! 👍
Good Vid mate. I think the younger people are more attracted to scooters due to the ease of use and weather protection
I see a lot of these types of videos and I'm in that demographic, but to be fair, until I reached this age I wouldn't be seen dead at a biker cafe/meet/show, I just used to enjoy riding my bike! I need a coffee to keep going now though 👍
I'm 21 and only know a few other people similar age as me with a full bike license. It just costs so much to do with insurance, bike costs and obtaining the actual license.
youngsters are not very well treated by "OGs"... seen them mostly secluded in a corner at bike nights. there should be more engagement, more appetite to engage and teach. suspecting there are many who'd like to be involved in the scene, but are not welcomed as they should be.
no disrespect to a certain type of riders, but people on GS, Tigers etc never nodded back to me, they all seem so grumpy and act superior (obviously subjective)
I think that it is, as you say, too expensive for youngsters now as well as being quite involved. I’m of a similar age to you and like you, all my friends and I could think of was getting a 50cc Fizzie etc as soon as we turned 16 which gave us our freedom…. Now youngsters get ferried everywhere by parents and generally are at College etc rather than needing to travel to work at 16. The reality of the bike market now is that it is a fairly expensive hobby/leisure activity so tends to be followed by those that have the time and money, (ie generally an older dynamic) or youngsters who have been introduced to biking by their Fathers. I think while we’re still active it will be fine but there’s not enough youngsters coming through for there to be a long term future?
Could you do a quick overview in a video of the set up you were rocking on your helmet, camera, mic etc?
Another excellent video 👏🏻
Hi Chris, I’ll look into doing a video covering my camera set up etc. thanks for watching 😁
68 now still riding most day s , spain .trip next year, poland after, live in cumbria, so ride the road in lakes ,and passis.
Maybe with the increase on VED duty on motor cars from next April, smaller motorcycles might come in to there own.
three words: driving license, insurance. Those keep young people away from bikes. But a lot of youngsters still want to ride - they just do it with balaclavas on...
Hi Steve I think that money is a big part of the problem. You think by the time you pay to pass the test, then there is all the gear to buy, including a helmet. And on top of that you have a bike to buy. Nice to see your old bike.
With all the recent dealers closing I would say also along with dropping sales figures and not many younger people getting into biking the UK bike scene is not in great shape
& despite that some bikes still have silly prices, like 1970s Yamaha XT500 at £13k
I can’t imagine a worse place to spend my time. Mindless chit chat, queuing for greasy food etc.
Motorcycling in the UK is a leisure activity for the older indigenous generation to relive their youth from a time when you could only afford a moped or an older bike to experience your first sense of freedom and independence. Whereas, motorcycles/scooters are used in European/Asian countries as a primary mode of transport.
Smaller capacity two wheeled transport will evolve and probably increase in the UK in the near future, with the onset of net zero.
Enjoy what you have, whilst you have it.
Yes…you realise Netzero is a scam, and a tool don’t you? The NetZero fanatics are already funding a war and a genocide…
Even a modest sized new bike, is getting ridiculously expensive. The cost of insurance just continues to spiral out of control, and the relentless war on speed in this country is killing biking pleasure. Young people are not attracted to bikes like they used to be. Thankfully I have seen a steady increase in young riders taking their test. But it will be a long time before there’s a significant change in the biking demographic. We need cheaper entry level bikes, and a reality check on the insurance companies. Thankfully the Chinese are making affordable bikes available, and the more we older bikers encourage the beginners,things will get better.
There are plenty of younger peeps doing their CBT etc. There is hope.
I remember when the Super Sausage was a truck stop. Motorcycles are now way to expensive with all the electronics and rider aids for the born again biker, motorcyles used to be a cheap form of transport but are not now and a young person just wants to buy a cheap car and drive, they won't get cold and wet, it will slowly die off!
Money !! the lack in people's pockets, and the amount you have to part with to buy a motorcycle.
I am in my late 50 now I been planning to go for my license very soon this year if can,I don’t know I may be too old todo that?
It’s never too late to start… go for it!
When I started riding bikes 1980s commute to work was much cheaper than a car.now after 25 year break still commute to work and go on tour with my wife. Two young guys at work are into bikes but one stupidly don’t wear safety gear like just a helmet,suit trousers,office shoes and sometimes no gloves the other chap has off road experience and is definitely more switched on.lived in the uk now live in Australia. I didn’t encourage my 3 boys to take up motorcycles.been to bike meets in Australia lots of young guys on sports bikes.mostly use my bike to commute to work and holidays hope I able to ride well into my eighties. I am 66 my wife is 60 both ride Honda cb500x
It was packed there last time we went to the Super Sausage. My wife rides so I guess she's contributing to the increasing female rider demographic. Mostly it's older people riding. Loads of reasons:
The older folks have more money, kids left home perhaps mortgage paid, perhaps inherited some cash.
It was much easier to get a motorcycle license back in the 80s
Insurance for youngster's is super expensive
Kids are more risk averse now-days
Two wheels are no longer seen as cheap transport for work
Theft risks are right up
We recently filmed at the classic bike show and just about everyone was grey-haired or bald! Slightly depressing
Having a mother as an ER Nurse, I wasn’t allowed to have a motorcycle as a child. I was 30 before I got my first motorcycle. Part of it was money but what really drove me to finally buy one was making friends with a guy who rode.
The testing system has put people off…too much money involved, and the U.K. is a low pay country!
Great video I’ve been a motorcyclist since 1977 and over the last 20 yrs I’ve noticed a decline in motorcycles and I wonder if it’s partly that the generation after ours say from the year 2000 prices were starting to go up because there I think was a higher rate of deaths from our generation we obviously are the lucky one coz we are still here the next generation went for cars coz they were cheaper so todays generation haven’t had parents who were into bikes so they haven’t been around them I was around them from the start of my life with my dad and uncles having bikes and being involved with motocross so it was in my life but todays youngsters of today are not into them I could be wrong but that’s my take on the situation pity really because they are the best invention ever in my mind but correct me if I’m wrong I hope you are enjoying your new gs I couldn’t believe what happened in just 10 minutes of leaving your bike most upsetting let’s hope your future and your sons is a safe and enjoyable pass time take care ride safe mate
Part of the expense is the increase in Insurance costs due to bike theft. I wonder if there’s a stat for the average age of a bike thief !
There may well be a direct correlation between bike thieves and the young who can’t afford the insurance costs. I doubt the stat for thievery will be mid 50’s.
I started riding on my 16th birthday and have been all year around ever since. At 17 it cost me £6 to take my bike test which involved riding around the block 10 times and 5 questions on the Highway Code. You could also ride a 250 on an L license.
My son is approaching 21 and would love to take his test and buy his own bike but he simply can’t afford the cost of even taking his test let alone buying a bike. It is unfortunately the same for so many young people. What is the answer I really don’t know but I know lots of young people would be on the road on a bike if it was more affordable.
Hold the bus!!! If I am not mistaken the bike you are riding is a pre TFT screen model. What happened to your new beemer???
This was filmed before my bike was stolen! I also have an entire tour that will be aired in a few weeks time on the old bike… New beemer currently making new memories and videos in the pipeline… 😊
That kind of venue only attracts old blokes like us. I don't think it's a decent representation of the state of things as a whole. At the Bike Shed Show last year there were lots of people in their 20s. I think younger riders are more into custom bikes. Cost is an issue, you're right there.
I think the venue selected the demographic you were seeing. I'm a member of a facebook group of about 120 riders who have another hobby in common. We are a very happy and inclusive group of people with representation across the ages and ethnicities which is roughly 50% male and 50% female. It's not as bad as you think out there.
Cost & UK weather.
What conversation ? You pretty much covered it already.
Insurance costs🤬
Cost of actually getting the licence and the stupid convoluted license levels of attainment .. A1 A2 and whatever else🤷🏼♂
British Roads are a death trap of badly maintained surfaces with potholes to suit all styles of accident.🔥
When was the last time you saw a Police Motorcycle? I don't remember, 10 years ago maybe! 🤷🏼♂
Back in the day, motorcycling was cheap essential transport for the younger generation. That's gone too!
We had a two week summer this year. Not much time for riding and enjoying our bitching climate.🏍🌧⛈🌦
Yeah, it is pretty much dead in the water.
6:01 not a sweeping generalisation, it’s absolutely specific to that crowd.
Motorcycling has changed, probably did so in the mid 90's with changes in the tests for young riders and the rise of the Born Again Biker, for many its now a hobby for those with spare income, instead of cheap way to independence for teenagers as it was for us who started in the 70's and 80's,
I know many people who have got into bikes in their late 30's and 40's, but of all my nieces and nephews and other young people I know, only a very few got bikes in their teens.
Probably many reasons for that, cost of entry must be a big reason, there are also other desirable things that young people today can spend their limited budget on that we didn't have, such as all the tech they can have, so a motorbike might not be the coolest thing to show your friends. They can also keep in touch with their friends from their bedroom, we had to go to a common meeting place.
However where I live there is bike meet every Tuesday evening from April to September and it can attract up to 1400 bikes (this is in the back end of Norfolk, so no idea where they come from) and there is a crowd of youngsters who turn up on 125's with L plates, hopefully they'll progress.
The figures for tests cover the period during Covid, when very few tests were conducted the figures for 2021 to 2022 were 67,355 with 50,171 passes and for 2022 to 2023 it was 58,862 and 43,056 passes. according to the stats from the Government and these seem to be the highest figures in the last 10 years.
The percentage of female bikers are increasing, it might not get to 50/50, but is that important? I come from a family that are into riding horses and as a male I was always vastly outnumbered by women, but nobody seems to suggest getting more men into equestrian activities, the main thing is it should be accessible to all and as older and experienced bikers we should help those who want to ride bikes and make them feel welcome, regardless of who they are or what they ride.
The UK economy is declining fast. In some years cars will be too expensive and small motorcycles may be interesting for young people again (if internal combustion engines are still allowed). The UK will be comparing itself to Vietnam, Thailand, Indonesia, Malaysia and Pakistan. Motorcycles are widely used in these countries. If nothing is done about theft in the UK you will all have to rely on trains and busses.
The testing system has put people off…too much money involved, and the U.K. is a low pay country!
@@hectorshouse7348 I would add the insurance cost to that
You are so right, male dominated, and middled age (and mainly not very pretty ooops sorry 🤭😂). More and more like minded females like myself are starting to ride bikes but still not enough and so we have to deal with a lack of choice of clothing and sometimes unfavourable attitude from men. However, I do agree, it’s probably to do with costs. We know it’s expensive to get your licence and then the price of bikes, gear, insurance etc. are so much. I also think the accident rates are going up each year, in Scotland alone we’ve had over 30 deaths this year, and the lack of support and legislation (which is in place for cyclists) from various establishments does not help either. Looking forward to your plans for your next trip. My husband and I can’t decide where to go next summer, possibly Portugal but again talking about cost, the ferry to Spain is eye watering expensive!
Hi there, thanks for commenting! I have a tour coming out in a few weeks that I filmed before the theft of my bike and then in February I’m looking into seeking out some sun in Portugal too! I agree re the Spain ferry cost…! I think I will get a ferry to St Malo and then ride through a bit of France, sticking to the coast as I make my way to Spain. Glad to hear you are seeing more female riders coming through too. Safe travels to you both 😊
@ thank you, and you too 🫶🏼
Scootering scene 90% pensioner’s
@TwoWheeledDreamer came 🎉 across your channel by accident...intriguing thoughts too and I have subsequentlysubscribed to your channel.....I am planning to go to the Picos next year ..but at £1500 return to Santander its making my eyes water a lot ! just curious as to what part of Spain you are going to .
Keep safe !
In ten years time when all those grey beards (me included) reach the end of their mortal coil there will be a glut of motorcycles that nobody wants.
In ten years time it will be a matter of cost. What will the cheapest transportation be? Small motorcycles may be popular again if they are cheaper than cars. The cost of getting a license and insurance included of course. The economy will be very different in the UK in ten years time.
@ the future is autonomous vehicles, these won’t be able to cope with motorcycles. The only future for two wheels is an electric bicycle confined to the cycle lanes.
Costs are all major factors not just for youngsters but us oldies as well. I have 2 lovely bikes but it’s just another hobby for me. I’ve always loved bikes since the early 70s but that was then and this is now. I think to many youngsters biking is perceived to be an old man’s thing and to a large extent it is. It’s not considered ‘cool’ enough for many young people my own kids included.
Super Sausage, Rykas at Box Hill Ace Cafe and Loomies are all great bike meets but OMG stay away from the food it’s absolute shite in all of them!
When you say the biking scene is healthy I have to disagree. The majority of riders just have a disposable income and suddenly decide, Oh, Oh, lets tick some boxes and become a biker today. Then roll up to a Café and drop their bag of cash in a spot in the car park. Then people come along and say Wow look there isn't biking healthy. Its not the way to look at it, I really don't want to be negative here, but Bikers have knowledge how to maintain their bike, ride them, and understand the lifestyle that all goes with a Biker. The Bikers today are a dying breed, these people are not increasing because of many changes that have happened over the years, the first major thing was the Test change, and if started going down hill from there. The rider today are just 2 wheeled car drivers to be honest, and get their machines like a car on a PDP and swop and change them every few years and know nothing about how to ride them, maintain them(they don't have them long enough or put miles on them) eventually this will stop, and the expense will be a major factor, also the government will take yet more of our freedom away, once the push back from the oldies is little or no more a hindrance, and the plastic bikers will jump on the next fad. I feel the scene is on it's way out, I hope I'm wrong but I've been right so far.
Spot on ,also possibly the reason there are no younger bikers at this meeting place is probably because they are out enjoying the roads and not stood around like alpha male peacocks , personally, these 'biker' cafes are places real bikes tend to avoid !! So boring 😮💨
Like your channel. Bikes for younger people are simple too expensive (must haves) and the dress code is antisocial. Different generation !
Magazines and print in general of the 90s and noughties have a lot to answer for in terms of how women are viewed and respected around motorbikes.
44Teeth, as tongue-in-cheek as they'd say they are, could do with not actively normalising such behaviour.
I've witnessed firsthand some really dumb behaviour toward a few girl mate bike riders. Most of it passive and ineffective, but still "there".
Hi if you want all ages try the ABR festival or custom bike shows some great younger builders out there got to look at all sectors of the hobby
I'm early 40s, started riding in my late teens or early 20s. I think the exhorbitant cost is an issue now, most people who are coming to the age where they can get their freedom will opt to take the financial hit of having a car rather than a bike, even moreso when you factor in our horrible weather, terrible roads and the general safety these days with how low driving standards have fallen. It's also interesting you mention diversity in the biking community. I don't really see anyone who isn't white at the meets I go to (not that I have any issue whatsoever with that), I guess bikes just aren't appealing to certain communities. I should state I'm mixed race so I do notice stuff like this - not that I've ever been made to feel anything but totally welcome.
You forgot to mention naked bikes, which there are a fair amount of 😉🤘🏻
I agree with Dave-th2ug below - kids are too soft and spoiled now. They won't put up with freezing cold, getting wet, having to wear proper gear on a motorbike and instead they opt for saving up to buy a comfy car (while in the meantime the parents chauffer them everywhere at all hours - even "kids" in their late 20s!!!). I'm from Dublin and the bike scene is very similar to what you've described Steve- most bikers here in Ireland are 50+ with very few young people getting into bikes. Regulations are making it much harder now for young people to get into bikes.
Not putting up with cold, wet and discomfort sounds like about 99% of the middle aged and older riders who comment on Euro touring FB pages.
A lot of us don’t ride in crap weather, can’t see the point and it’s dangerous 😢😢Note how many boring GSs there are, sheep following sheep. Please use your imagination guys! I don’t follow the herd.
Its now e scooters micro personal powered transport. You have these 1 wheel futuristic electric unicycles too that can go up to 60mph.
@@Achilles22im not a fair weather rider, yes the UK is the worst place for motorcycles but I love the rain, its a nice challenge.
Utter rubbish! My two daughters are nails! Eldest rides a bike to her job as a fisheries enforcement officer and goes to sea in all weathers that would make most middle aged men weep. My youngest is a county rugby player and just joined the navy. These sorts of generalisations about young people are a joke.
Anything to do with motorcycles has become very expensive. when i was a lad it was cheap form of transport to get to work and hang with ya mates. having recently got back on a bike I was horrified at the cost of semi decent kit and add what a youngster would pay for insurance .. Im sure this is 95% of the reason.
Don't forget those figures include approx 6 months of lockdown
I once felt young as a biker in my 20s, there were plenty of others in that age group too back then. But now… looking at my RUclips stats my viewers are mostly over 55 and only around 1% female… hmmmm.
The young kids are all on electric bikes
If you want to see if the motorcycle scene is healthy come to the Chilly Willy run on the 12th of January in aid of the air ambulance we had over 800 bikes turn up in January 2024
Northampton active bedford road NN4 7AA
We have a bike meetup place where i live in southport lancs, and the demographic is the same, 9 out of ten are older grey haired gentleman (like me), no proper young people at all. im looking to get back into biking after not riding since the late 70s, early 80s, and looking at all the new rules now, the testing regime, the cost of just getting your full licence, the age limitations if you are under 24, i'm not surprised its dying out for young people. When you think back in the 70s, at 17, you could ride anything up to a 200cc with no test, on a provisional, i was bombing about on a honda CB175 for years going to work and stuff, never did a bike test...The Uk laws are definitely Anti biking, which is a shame as its part of our heritage.
I'm not white, and I used to go to bike meets and cafes, but after a while they just weren't interesting. Most motorcyclists don't go, probably.
A few decades ago they were amazing....but yes, dull as ditch water now
IMHO, You could get a nice car for the same money spent on a bike and the insurance risk is higher for a bike than a car. This cuts younger people out as it's expensive. Also, they can't carry their mates around as easily as with a car, therefore older people with more money tend to buy bikes as a hobby to relive their youth.
My insurance is only £180 on my 125cc compared to £650 for my car
My opinion. It's not even considered as an alternative transport, or as a means of fun and pleasure. My neighbours boys reacted in complete horror at the thought of a motorbike. Also, you can't game, text or phone like you can as a car passenger! Perhaps too many of the younger generation don't have a sense of adventure, nor indeed is there a need to provide their own transport when the parents,certainly near me in rural Dorset, are prepared to drive 20 miles to pick them up after a night at the cinema. Yes it is expensive to start out with a bike but it's cheaper than a car. Plenty of kids seem to find the funds for car driving, so I don't believe that money is the 'driving' factor. Perhaps they're just too soft? Shame, I enjoyed my motorcycling years when I was younger.
What can be done
Revise the licence laws and training up the age to 18 for car drivers and phase car drivers with limited power and no passengers
Bikes need to be cheaper and insurance also theUK is not suited to biking in many places to much trafic poor weather
Over priced and over complicated to pass a full bike test and overpriced large bikes .
No youngster is going to go beyond CBT then pay the price of a car for 2 wheels that won't be any good for a night out dressed up on the pull with your mates.
In the sixties bikes were cheap transport now apart from small run arounds that only need the CBT they are viewed as weekend toys for oldies.
Also bikes are getting to expensive and very few high mileage riders
Most seem to ride at weekends to a cafe if the weather is nice or some event or other
I'm off to Harrogate tomorrow to watch an FA Cup match a round trip of about 500 miles on my R1300GS I will cover about 25,000 miles this year on this and my F750GS
I'm a volunteer blood biker so do a few Mile's running blood and Breast Milk around
The only younger bike in my family is one of my son in laws who has 2 bikes and is a 37 year old white male but does very few Mile's on his bike and like me also has a car
John
stalbansbiker
It’s the young are getting killed with insurance a guy with a Honda cb 500 x on Facebook was saying he was paying £1800 a year ,I couldn’t believe that £200 a month ,madness that
I've just decided to not bother anymore after having my last bike stolen from the safest place I can keep a bike.It was found but some genius had tried to hotwire it and busted the ignition lock .Honda with HISS,it was never going to work but neither could I fix it myself.
I'm 66 and my various bikes had been my only form or transport since I was 18,first bike a brand new Honda CB200. I've ridden through every winter and only ice and fog has seen me leave my bike at home.
Had some great times and met some great people,ridden in Asia and New Zealand ,also not so great times,2 serious crashes and lost my best mate but always had a blast on whatever I've ridden,big or small.
In the last couple of years I stopped enjoying it,I'm still fit and healthy but had a few scares with poor road surfaces nearly having me off a couple of times and driving standards getting worse and worse with far too many near-misses. Servicing and parts costs have got seriously stupid as well.
I'd already lost interest when my bike was stolen, another eye-opener was that all anyone involved in the insurance claim seemed to want to do was write it off asap,
The only place I have to store another bike is where the last one was stolen from and my insurance will now go through the roof.
When I started bikes were a cheap form of transport that most people with a bit of common sense could service and repair themselves,or at least the basics.
After my couple of experiences the local traffic police reported that 2 riders had been seriously hurt in crashes purely because of the state of the roads they were riding on with no fault on their part,enough for me ,with that and drivers using phones ,not paying attention etc I felt less and less safe and I'd probably have sold the bike soon anyway.
Unfortunately your video highlights the problem. The bike scene per se is very healthy. But a new bike is way beyond the reach of a younger person who has to fund rent, and everything else just to survive! Insurance without a garage is exorbitant. Biking kit is also very costly. The test is expensive ( and too many stages) and when they can buy a very reasonable car for £3k and it’s weather proof and one pass needed. Notwithstanding our traffic and horrendous road surfaces and the lack of respect for any biker by 4 wheelers, it all adds up. European youngsters have scooters to start often to get them to school then progress to bikes. The car, van and truck drivers were all to a man or woman, scooter or bike riders before. I feel safer riding on the continent than I ever do abroad!!
I wish you did show the people talking to you would have made something of t😂he whole experience .Why would the youngsters want to go there even if they rode bikes which they do they are called mopeds.Do you think they would be welcome? I don’t expect much but hardly buzzing .My IAM instructor took me there for a longer run not much more exciting then.I will give it another go but TBH your video makes me think again 😮
No, it's dying fast. Most of us are old and there are very few young guys getting into bikes as was the plan.
I'm staggered by lots of smashing bikes but no disc locks let alone a chain in sight...,
On the demographic front it's not looking good- who knew that we'd have lived through a golden age of biking - and it's demise😢
No need. You'd have to be suicidal to try and nick a bike at a bike meet.
Just as I expected meet ups are always full of old gray hair men. Thats one of the reasons why industry is in trouble. You have no younger people coming thru. Mod 1 should be scrapped no point in it.
The average uk rider age is 54.
I ride all year round rain or shine on my 125. There is no fun in being a fair weather rider.
Lots of great bikes it’s so good to see but then there’s the GS’s ffs the most boring un inspiring soulless bike in the world !!!
People who buy them are like sheep following the crowd!! Get a grip 🙄🙄
There are more decent bikes out there under £3000 than you can shake a stick at. Youngsters have had their manlyness drummed out of them. They would rather have an electric pushbike these days, and stay in touch with their feminine side.
In 1977 I think the stat is nearly 300,000 motorcycles & mopeds sold, with a much bigger population total bike sales for 2023 was just under 114,000………kind of says it all. I chose 1977 because that was the year I became road legal, and when people my age eventually pack it in it may carry on for a while but will decline rapidly the cost, and legislation, packed roads, with cameras everywhere doesn’t seem worth it for somebody starting out - far easier in the past we had the best of it.
Mate, if you use crude criteria like colour and age to define diversity you miss the nuances. You go to a biker’s cafe in India there will also seem to be a lack of diversity especially with age. Go to a scrambler event, the demographic is different. You are looking at a particular sort of biking, in a particular country. And they are mainly licensed riders on touring, adventure to sports bikes. I saw diversity! Riders who are into vintage motos, small bore motos, adventure tourers, cruiser riders. There is also diversity in background, earning ability etc. And there is diversity in age as there is a hell of a lot of difference between a thirty to forty yo and a 60 to 70 yo. The motorcycle world does face a challenge attracting younger people and females but if you look at RUclipsrs there is a fair representation. Accident statistics are also a problem. I think in my state of Queensland motorcycle riders make up 2 % of road users but 27 % of road fatalities. I also heard that you had a greater chance of surviving as a young officer on the Western Front in WW1 than you do if getting your motorcycle license at 17 and surviving until you are 30!