Decline of Motorcycling

[gizmofixer]

i've been riding 45 years now, well over 100k miles with not one accident or problem.
it's all about expecting the idiots to do idiot things.
i still ride regularly, when the weather permits, even here in the dense northeast.
with 2 collector machines now it just takes even more vigilance.......

[trader220]

Back 25 years ago when PA repealed the helmet law I thought it was great. I road for years in jeans, T shirt and no helmet. These days when I do ride its ATGATT.

I low sided my Ducati a few years ago. Was out in the sticks of central PA with my friends, came in too hot into a 180 degree turn and just a little sand on the road along with starting my turn in before getting off the brake and I slid right down and down the road about 30 yards. When I stopped sliding, I popped right up. My gear was shredded and my bike was toast but I didn't have a mark on me.

That's the thing... I am okay with my own skills its that its become less and less enjoyable with more people and less attentive people on the roads. As recently as two years ago I was still commuting 50 miles each way on my bike in traffic. I don't make that commute anymore and I am losing my luster to ride anymore, after decades and probably around 150k miles on the streets.

[Zeke]

My dad had a motorcycle sales and service business in the late '60's as a side business. He sold Suzuki, Royal Enfield and Gilera during their short stay in the US. I think Sears took over Gilera sales for a short period before they disappeared altogether.

So, I rode back then. I had all 3 in my stable at age 19. Later on after selling the 3 I rode a Honda 90 Scrambler to college until it was stolen out of my driveway. I never rode again except on rare occasions when a bike was available for a couple hours. Found out I didn't enjoy it much on the street and was involved in kart racing so didn't really want to race.

I did race a little bit when the shop was open. A little short track and some scrambles, but nothing of note. I did build out my 125cc Gilera to a neat little cafe racer but scared myself more than once up on the Palos Verdes peninsula twisties. The result of an off there and I might not be writing here today. So, 50 years now, no bike, no regular riding.

But during those short years I was a foolish terror on the streets pulling wheelies in traffic daily. Had a cop catch me doing that one day and he said I was so ridiculous that he wasn't even going to write a ticket. That stuck. Kept the front wheel on the ground pretty much after that.

Doing Euro (long track on grass) speedway style racing out on the golf course at 3am was about as crazy as I have ever been.

And had so much fun. It took enduro kart racing to get to that level of adrenaline again.

[MMARSH]

I Still really enjoy riding a motorcycle. Like i mentioned in a previous thread, I did a long two day street ride on my Ducati last Monday and Tuesday. I hit the trails on Sunday all day on my Dual Sport and this week i need to do a little maintenance on my track bike....Im 52, rode and crashed my first street bike at 16 I and still love riding a motorcycles....

[rfuerst911sc]

I am 61 years old started riding mini bikes and dirt bikes around 13 years old . Did that until 16 and bought my first street bike . Went through several street bikes until son # 1 came along in the late 80's and I decided to stay off the street . Sold my bike . I got the itch again about 6 years ago and bought another street bike . I quickly learned the amount of traffic and the amount of careless drivers = I lost my nerve to ride on the street . I am just as happy now putting the top down on the Boxster and letting her rip through the mountains . My biking days are over , it was a good run and I got out alive and unscathed . I'm good .

[cstreit]

Originally Posted by vash

Dirt biking correctly is very difficult for me. Corners are a B. That foot down dirt roosting corner thing is best learned young, for me.

I didn't start until I was 45... Just sayin. ...you just have to keep within your limitations. I don't do wheelies (cause I don't know how) or take big air. Thats how bones get broken.

[911boost]

I rode dirt a lot, mostly trail riding but a few tracks sprinkled in here and there. My old 2001 CR250R needs a carb rebuilt so I haven't taken it out for a few years. I have a side by side now and it feels much safer. I've gone down hard and done stupid @#$% in the dirt that as I am older now I don't think I could walk away from as easily.

I had an R1150R GS dual sport BMW for 3 years back in 2003. Was a good solid bike, it was very top heavy though and wasn't great on anything except fire roads. When you went down, which I did, the tank was very exposed. I repainted mine once and decided it was enough off road stuff. Eventually I got a dedicated cruiser and haven't really looked back.

As for sport bikes, I am 6-4 and look like a praying mantis sitting on them. If I lived somewhere that it was legal (or necessary) to split lanes, I'd look at something smaller to do that, maybe one of the KTM's.

I responded early this morning and it was just starting to snow, again, so I was cranky Trader. I apologize, out here in CO/WY the traffic is not that bad and I can still easily get out and be on a country 2 lane very quickly. I still very much enjoy riding and am going up to MT this summer to see Beartooth Pass since I have heard really good things about it.

[flipper35]

Originally Posted by cstreit

I've lost all my passion for the street -

..but gained more bike passion around off-roading than I ever had for street riding. Give it a try.

On a side note, my 17 year old daughter wants your bike.

[Tobra]

Originally Posted by Seahawk

I never, ever felt comfortable motorcycling on the street. Weird, that.

No, this is normal survival instinct.

Climbing into a brick with a propeller on top and flying around in it is just wrong though.

[LakeCleElum]

After over 700,000 miles in 55 years, my interest is just starting to wane slightly. Still do 15-17,000 miles/year..... ......Just home from a 5 day ride where we only met 5 cars all day on some outstanding roads...

Dirt riding is no safer around here. Every idiot with a spare $20K in their pocket buys a side-x-side and races around like there are NO RULES.........They take my old single track trails and make a freeway out of them....

[DaveE]

Well, I just bought ANOTHER street bike.

[ZAMIRZ]

I just got into motorcycling last year at the age of 33. My father-in-law has been riding his whole life and it rubbed off on my wife, so we decided to dedicate 2 weeks of our honeymoon to riding around Patagonia on dual sport / adventure bikes. It was a great experience and I'm thoroughly hooked.

Unfortunately, after the recession the power sports industry never fully recovered. The squeeze from the older generation is covered in this thread, basically too much risk due to bad auto drivers. The younger generation is in the virtual world, so they just ride/race on a screen instead of real life. With that said, the areas that have seen growth are dual sport type bikes. Those that ride are very much into sharing their experiences on social media, so getting off the beaten path is a good setting. Sport bike market fell off a cliff, and the Harley riders are all aging out.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by Chocaholic

I ride for pleasure only. Not transportation. The street is fine if you ride country roads and live accordingly. A matter of priorities. Riding is a priority for me. Living in city congestion is not. Works out fine.

That is exactly where I am at, Mike. Oh, I commuted on a motorcycle (or a bicycle) almost daily when I was younger, but by the time I was in my 40's, it was down to purely pleasure riding. I get out of town as quickly as possible, avoiding the freeways, and pretty much stick to the two lane country roads. I really don't feel like the risk has increased on those roads, but I do agree that in traffic, on multi-lane roads, we are now at significantly greater risk. So I just avoid them.

Originally Posted by MMARSH

I Still really enjoy riding a motorcycle. Like i mentioned in a previous thread, I did a long two day street ride on my Ducati last Monday and Tuesday. I hit the trails on Sunday all day on my Dual Sport and this week i need to do a little maintenance on my track bike....Im 52, rode and crashed my first street bike at 16 I and still love riding a motorcycles....

I do to (still really enjoy riding). I cannot imagine my life without riding. It's just such an integral part of who I am.

I have now found, in retirement, that my joy of riding is actually increasing. The biggest factor is the time of day during which I can now ride - when everyone else is working. No more fighting traffic after work to get out of town to the good riding roads. What a difference that has made.

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

After over 700,000 miles in 55 years, my interest is just starting to wane slightly. Still do 15-17,000 miles/year..... ......Just home from a 5 day ride where we only met 5 cars all day on some outstanding roads...

Dirt riding is no safer around here. Every idiot with a spare $20K in their pocket buys a side-x-side and races around like there are NO RULES.........They take my old single track trails and make a freeway out of them....

In my 42 years on the road, I'm now bouncing off of half a million miles in the saddle. It's just what I "do". When others are out golfing, out on their boats, watching football, gardening, or whatever other interests and vocations occupy their leisure time, I'm out riding. Or driving the 911, but I do find myself riding more than driving.

You've met my two boys, Chris and Alex. You won't find two young men more totally into the whole Porsche hobby than these two. Hopeless gearheads. Yet, in keeping with the topic of this thread, neither has any sort of an interest in riding. None at all. This in spite of the fact that Alex and I will be on the Isle of Man for the TT in just about six short weeks...

It's weird. I have, with mixed emotions, kind of tried to encourage them. Just no interest. And their lack of interest has nothing to do with seeing their parents get pretty beat up in a serious motorcycle wreck six years ago. They had no interest before that.

I don't know what's happening. When I was young, in my circle of friends, everyone I knew was chomping at the bit to get a motorcycle. In my sons' broad circle of friends, there is only one guy who owns a bike. I find that both rather odd, and just a little bit sad.

[oldE]

Used to ride for pleasure and to work in almost all weathers. I was always reading traffic and still do.
Eventually, I realized I was going to be hurt badly when my behavior with no traffic around exceeded my luck and skill level. I sold the bike and scratched the itch with sports cars for almost forty years.
I no longer feel the need for stupid speed and at times I think another bike would work for me. Then I drive by the three roadside sites of motorcycle fatalities within ten minutes of my driveway.
Last summer I had two close calls with other drivers pulling into my Miata's lane.
It just isn't worth it for me these days.
Best
Les

[Brando]

I agree that the passion for motorcycle riding is fading out. Similar reports in the industry corroborate this, as do sales. I don't ride just to save gas money; I genuinely enjoy riding 90% of f the time. The remaining 10% is when it's too damn hot, I'm sick, or a couple weeks in June/July when all the "freshly licensed" drivers are on the road

[Tidybuoy]

Had a mini-bike when I was a kid (5hp lawnmower type). Swapped my car for my friends Honda 750 (for a month) when I was in my early 20's. Had a Honda Elite Moped for a couple of years in my early 20's.

Always had the bug!

Bought my first bike in 2016 at the age of 55. BMW R Nine T (1200 cc) and bought a 2nd bike last year - BMW G 310R. The big bike now has 18k miles and the baby is up to 800 miles.

Most of my miles are commuting but I do get an occasional ride up the mountains and I took a trip to Utah a couple of years ago.

I agree it's more dangerous today than it used to be and I keep that in mind everytime I ride. I'm always watching for idiots and assume they don't see me. Riding is a blast, it somewhat reminds me of skiing.

Me on my RNineT and my friend on my G310R:

[LakeCleElum]

Originally Posted by Jeff Higgins

You've met my two boys, Chris and Alex. You won't find two young men more totally into the whole Porsche hobby than these two. Hopeless gearheads. Yet, in keeping with the topic of this thread, neither has any sort of an interest in riding. None at all. This in spite of the fact that Alex and I will be on the Isle of Man for the TT in just about six short weeks...

It's weird. I have, with mixed emotions, kind of tried to encourage them. Just no interest. And their lack of interest has nothing to do with seeing their parents get pretty beat up in a serious motorcycle wreck six years ago. They had no interest before that.

Jeff - Chris and Alex are fine young men. You are blessed they followed you down the Porsche path......

[zakthor]

I commuted by motorbike for 6 years. Loved it, extremely visceral.

This was heavy traffic during rush hour in Seattle and Bellevue. Not once did I have a close call, and I felt it was adequately safe.

Then I had a month where twice I found a car with head check that I didn’t know was there. Both times a grey or silver Japanese sedan. The cars could have sneaked in in the past 5 seconds or so but they weren’t on my radar and were sitting in one of my ‘outs’.

I didn’t trust my attention any more so I quit and sold the bike. I think it’s possible to commute safely but clearly not for me any longer. I don’t blame all the horrible texting drivers - if you’re on a bike you need to own your safety.

[Jeff Higgins]

Originally Posted by LakeCleElum

Jeff - Chris and Alex are fine young men. You are blessed they followed you down the Porsche path......

Thank you Bob. I am indeed blessed. Through no fault of my own...

It is kind of bittersweet not having them as riding buddies. On the one hand, their mother and I both sleep better at night, knowing there is one risk to which they are not subjecting themselves. On the other hand, it sure would be fun to go riding with them. Oh well. We do manage to have a pretty good time chasing one another around in stinky old Porsches. I am eternally grateful for that.

[A930Rocket]

I rode dirt bikes and go karts in my teens.

Got a 4 stroke Yamaha 250 at about 40 years old. Rode for about a year in the national forest north of us. Sand sometimes and wet mud others.

Always rode with all the full gear. Head to toe.

Was hauling butt on a narrow trail with woop de doos and got off track. Hit a 6” pine tree and went head over heels. I was really ****ed up but got up, took my helmet off and drank some water. My back and neck were in bad shape. And I was riding alone (dumb!).

Bent my shifter back 180*, got the bike running and slowly made my way to the truck. Got it all loaded up and drove home.


Wife took me to the ER for x-rays. Damaged my neck and lower back. Time, heat, ice and ibuprofen got me through it.

I’d still like to get another dirt bike but the CFO says no.