Are we seeing the decline of motorcycling in the UK?
Discussion
Does anyone else have a niggling feeling that motorcycling in the U.K, as we know it, is on a slippery slope towards oblivion?
I not taking about conspiracies for wholesale banning motorbikes from the likes Brake!, but more that a number of external/passive factors are interplaying that are/will lower the number of riders on the road and make motorcycling less attractive and/or less viable for transport or leisure.
Off the top of my head these factor concern me!
While it isn’t all negative, I do think that new technology will be the savior of power two-wheel transport – be it driver-less cars that are better at looking out for bikers than humans or the development of electric motorbikes and E-bike push bikes that will get more people onto two wheels of some form.
Sorry for slight negatively, but I’m genuinely interested to hear where and what BB thinks we’ll be riding in 20 years’ time
I not taking about conspiracies for wholesale banning motorbikes from the likes Brake!, but more that a number of external/passive factors are interplaying that are/will lower the number of riders on the road and make motorcycling less attractive and/or less viable for transport or leisure.
Off the top of my head these factor concern me!
- Decline in the number of riders on the road and it becoming an increasingly old man’s game. At one end of the age spectrum people aren’t training beyond CBTs, while at the other end the generations of riders brought up riding during the golden era (1950s to 1990s?) are getting on a bit/dying off!
- Towns and Cities have, or are looking to, ban or punitively tax older vehicles, including bikes, from entering city centres.
- Blanket 20mph and 50mph speed limits curtail the joy ‘making progress’ and beating congestion.
- Mainstream media seems to consciously ignore motorcycle sport or actively promote motorcycling as a viable transport option. On a related issue, the likes of Sweden’s rather dystopian ‘Vison Zero’ seems to have absolutely no place for motorcycles within a civilized society.
- Sharing the road with inattentive drivers – mainly using phones - is getting farcical!
- Bike theft – especially in London - is beyond farce. I hate that I can’t realistically hope to park on the streets a ‘nice’ bike – be it a Panigale, a Street Triple or a GS - without a serious doubt that it will still be there come home time. I don't want to commute on an old stter!
- Bloody dashcams meaning that even a cheeky wheelie could see you on trial by social media and the Daily Mail.
While it isn’t all negative, I do think that new technology will be the savior of power two-wheel transport – be it driver-less cars that are better at looking out for bikers than humans or the development of electric motorbikes and E-bike push bikes that will get more people onto two wheels of some form.
Sorry for slight negatively, but I’m genuinely interested to hear where and what BB thinks we’ll be riding in 20 years’ time
Edited by Wooderson on Thursday 29th September 12:50
As many people here know I work in a bike clothing shop and I would say that there is an increase. We've had a massive increase in business this year over last. It has felt like everyone has finally got disposable income again and so biking has been possible for people.
As many people say it is very much something older people do. We see a lot of middle aged blokes doing their test then straight out to buy a new GS.
As many people say it is very much something older people do. We see a lot of middle aged blokes doing their test then straight out to buy a new GS.
Indeed, cities are full of commuters on cheap utilitarian 125cc scooters who just do the CBT every 2 years.
The older generation are far more likely to have cash spare for "toys". Much of the rest are still worse off than a decade ago, salaries not keeping up with inflation and higher rents or big mortgages.
Cycling for leisure is booming, I know plenty of ex-bikers amongst people I cycle with who bash out 60+ miles on the road bike or a few hours on a MTB on a Sunday morning for 2-wheeled fun instead of getting the motorbike out. Keeps you fitter too.
The older generation are far more likely to have cash spare for "toys". Much of the rest are still worse off than a decade ago, salaries not keeping up with inflation and higher rents or big mortgages.
Cycling for leisure is booming, I know plenty of ex-bikers amongst people I cycle with who bash out 60+ miles on the road bike or a few hours on a MTB on a Sunday morning for 2-wheeled fun instead of getting the motorbike out. Keeps you fitter too.
As far as I can see motorcycling appears to be getting more popular across all ages and genders, there particularly seems to be a recent increase in female riders passing their tests and getting big bikes.
My wife passed her test last year and at least half the riders on her course were female, all after 600cc+ bikes.
My wife passed her test last year and at least half the riders on her course were female, all after 600cc+ bikes.
av185 said:
Wooderson said:
-
- Sharing the road with inattentive drivers - is getting farcical!
You appear to have excluded the many inattentive and moronic RIDERS from your comprehensive list. - Sharing the road with inattentive drivers - is getting farcical!
Not easy to use your mobile on a motorbike.....
I thought the same thing waiting to board the ferry back from Santander the other day. In a pen of about 100 bikes the average age was easily 60+. I was the youngest person there at 30… there was a serious older-age bias. Naturally it could be because younger bikers don't get the ferry back from Santander (!), or tour… but it made me think that it's an ageing biking population (like the general population I guess).
It seems that way to me as well, I think people have been brainwashed into thinking it's the most dangerous pass time in the world by their parents. Speed and using the roads for enjoyment seem to be completely frowned upon. I'm 34 and my old mans generation were a bit less cautious and less safety aware and the ones before that even less so. People seem a little scared now so I imagine my sons generation will be warned off them even more than we were. I'll do my bit to keep it going
I don't know. I agree that there are older riders out there, I've only just done my DAS, and my wife is just starting out.
Perhaps it falls to the young to be using the scooters and 125cc, permanently on CBT, where as the bigger bikes for the fun of it fall to older people with disposable.
I'd also guess that gradually the fun is being stamped out of the road. Lower limits, worse surface, more congestion etc. All perhaps making people think twice about bothering with a bike.
Perhaps it falls to the young to be using the scooters and 125cc, permanently on CBT, where as the bigger bikes for the fun of it fall to older people with disposable.
I'd also guess that gradually the fun is being stamped out of the road. Lower limits, worse surface, more congestion etc. All perhaps making people think twice about bothering with a bike.
TimmyWimmyWoo said:
I thought the same thing waiting to board the ferry back from Santander the other day. In a pen of about 100 bikes the average age was easily 60+. I was the youngest person there at 30… there was a serious older-age bias. Naturally it could be because younger bikers don't get the ferry back from Santander (!), or tour… but it made me think that it's an ageing biking population (like the general population I guess).
I remember thinking exactly the same thing 30 years ago when I went on my first bike tour in the 80's.....old gits everywhere!I think its a touring thing!
dugsud said:
I remember thinking exactly the same thing 30 years ago when I went on my first bike tour in the 80's.....old gits everywhere!
I think its a touring thing!
It's not just touring, the average age on PH BB northwest rideouts is well into the middle forties and we do anything but tour.I think its a touring thing!
Fleegle said:
Wooderson said:
Does anyone else have a niggling feeling that motorcycling in the U.K, as we know it, is on a slippery slope towards oblivion?
NoAs to the OP's point on home maintenance and modifying, I suspect that will be a dying art, especially in London where people may not have the facilities (e.g. a garage) to work on their bikes. Another factor is of course that bikes have been really very reliable for years now.
I'd say that biking is becoming a better and better option in London for many people, not a worse one, due to the congestion and cost aspect, and the fact that biking is, in my view, seen as more mainstream and socially acceptable than at any time in recent memory. Good times for biking I say.
Bad times for bikers who like to think they are members of some kind of exclusive badass road warrior club, maybe
_Neal_ said:
Fleegle said:
Wooderson said:
Does anyone else have a niggling feeling that motorcycling in the U.K, as we know it, is on a slippery slope towards oblivion?
NoAs to the OP's point on home maintenance and modifying, I suspect that will be a dying art, especially in London where people may not have the facilities (e.g. a garage) to work on their bikes. Another factor is of course that bikes have been really very reliable for years now.
I'd say that biking is becoming a better and better option in London for many people, not a worse one, due to the congestion and cost aspect, and the fact that biking is, in my view, seen as more mainstream and socially acceptable than at any time in recent memory. Good times for biking I say.
Bad times for bikers who like to think they are members of some kind of exclusive badass road warrior club, maybe
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