Is Interest in Motorcycles Waning?

[SVsick50]

I am way out of the motorcycle in-scene by choice, and kinda stick to nasty roads less ridden, so I don't frequent motorcycle hangouts very much.

For Mother's Day, I took my family for a drive up the coast and ventured to Alice's. There were some Crazy Rich Asians in exotic sport cars and fast bikes (looked like they were doing it for the 'gram because everybody had cameras and mounts), and a handful of Harley peeps. Not a single bike was at the general store (I know it's closed, but it's still a good stopping point).

I don't go up there much anymore, and the last couple of times I went up there, I was so surprised to see how many bikes there were compared to the late 90's early 00's. When I frequented those roads back in the day, there were SO many riders. Now, I know it's COVID19 crowds, but even the last time I went up there, there really weren't that many people.

Are younger people just not into it like they used to be? Is it a finance thing, or a cultural thing? I just feel like I saw waaaay more bikes on the road among young people than I do now. I may be way off on this, but I thought I read somewhere that motorcycle sales are down among millennials and younger. Millennials are now in the becoming-parents age, so I'd assume it'd be even more of a decline.

Were the baby-boomer parents of these millennials successful in their "it's-not-a-motorcycle-it's-a-murdercycle" campaign? For my fellow Gen-X'ers, the latch-key kids, it was a bit different. Thoughts?

Financially, it may be a struggle, as well, for younger folks. Or maybe priorities.

Curious about your thoughts on this...

 

[89hawk]

I was in Gardnerville NV last weekend working on a house near highway 395. I must have seen over a 100 motorcycles on the highway. Groups from 1 to 10 on Harleys. Went into town for lunch. Motorcycles parked all around eating in parking lots.

 

[gixxerjeff]

We are a dying breed. Have been for a while.
The high water mark was the late 90's right up to the 2007-2008 recession.

 

[SVsick50]

Just found this article:

https://motorcyclesdata.com/2020/04/28/united-states-motorcycles-market/

Looks like sales have been on a steady decline. The older market is still buying new bikes, but that may be a financial aspect. I'm more curious about the cultural aspect of younger buyers.

People criticize these stats because it doesn't include the used bike market, but I figure for every used bike sold, there's a new bike purchased, give or take.

 

[budman]

The average age of a motorcyclist has been going up for years. FACT

Younger people are not getting into it like my generation did. FACT

Suppositions:
1. Younger people are more risk averse than my generation.

2. Parents are more tuned in to being a responsible parent and thinking things through and if they did not ride more likely to not support their child in riding.

3. Parents from other countries where scooters and small moto's are a way of life are less so. (Dealer told me most teens he had buying moto's with parental support were Indian, Vietnamese etc.

4. Marketing from the Moto manufacturers are not really geared towards young adults. Some, but not like the old days. Since the moto industry hit the skids in '08 it has not been able to regain its glory.

5. Most bikes just are not affordable to younger folks who consider them a luxury item.

:2cents

 

[Gary856]

During my ride last Saturday in the peninsula hills, there were way more cars than bikes, including at Alice's (4-5 bikes compared to dozens of cars).

I think higher degree of urbanization (lack of open space, traffic, higher cost of living) contributes to the decline of dirt bikes for young adults, and reduces the source of new riders.

I feel avid bicycle riders who love to be on two-wheels are natural candidates for motos as they get older, but somehow the moto industry fails to take advantage of the opportunity to convert them.

 

[DataDan]

In 1998, California motorcycle registrations were at their lowest point since 1969--around 400,000. Then the sport took off, registrations rising sharply at first, then slowing after the recession and reaching an all-time high of 842,000 in 2017, but dropping off by 20,000 in 2018 (no data for 2019 yet).

Declining sales do not mean a decline in popularity. Declining sales mean a decline in rate of growth.

 

[banshee01]

From what I have read

Road bikes sales are declining

Offroad only vehicles sales are increasing

Dualsport/adv bikes sales are increasing

These were from 2011 to 2019 sales figures. I know 2011 was still recession recovery but it was increasing

 

[Maddevill]

When I do my breakfast loop, there are often several young guys posing with their McClarrens and Ferraris at Alices. First off, I'm stunned by how much these people are apparently making. Secondly, what fun can it be to have your Hyper car and sit in traffic in the Bay Area ? The last time I actually saw a Lambo on 84, it was upside down....and a rental.

Mad

 

[Map8]

A look at mountain biking, skateboarding, mma fighting and extreme sports scene seems to argue against the idea that this generation is more risk averse. I think there are just too many other activities competing with motorcycling compared to the recent past. Just a guess on my part.

 

[MikeL]

A look at mountain biking, skateboarding, mma fighting and extreme sports scene seems to argue against the idea that this generation is more risk averse. I think there are just too many other activities competing with motorcycling compared to the recent past. Just a guess on my part.

Especially when a lot of activities can be fairly expensive. Couple that with younger people not having a ton of discretionary spending - they pick one or maybe two hobbies to get into.

I can't imagine how much it would cost to get into shooting, overlanding, motorcycling, MMA (gym membership), mountain biking, etc etc.

All that stuff is not cheap on its own, imagine trying to keep up with all of it.

 

[OaklandF4i]

In 1998, California motorcycle registrations were at their lowest point since 1969--around 400,000. Then the sport took off, registrations rising sharply at first, then slowing after the recession and reaching an all-time high of 842,000 in 2017, but dropping off by 20,000 in 2018 (no data for 2019 yet).

Declining sales do not mean a decline in popularity. Declining sales mean a decline in rate of growth.

Is there any data on individual owners? I.e. how many individual unique owners register a bike or multiple bikes? Think it might be kinda interesting to see what that figure is and how it may or may not have changed/trending.

I suspect that are a lot of us mature riders with many bikes.

But really think the biggest impact is the cost of bikes for younger people and the lack of buying power for the demographics who historically bought motorcycles. Its usually not the kids playing soccer in high school and going on to Ivy League schools who become bankers. :laughing

 

[mrzuzzo]

When I do my breakfast loop, there are often several young guys posing with their McClarrens and Ferraris at Alices. First off, I'm stunned by how much these people are apparently making. Secondly, what fun can it be to have your Hyper car and sit in traffic in the Bay Area ? The last time I actually saw a Lambo on 84, it was upside down....and a rental.

Mad

How is this different from any Ducati rider ever?

And what about those BMW GS riders with full luggage whose bikes are so clean you can eat off them? Same thing.

A motorcycle is mostly a lifestyle product, otherwise we'd all be riding scooters, Ninja 250s, and KLRs

I'm curious if exotic cars would follow the same graph as motorcycle sales. I'm guessing they would be close.

 

[gixxerjeff]

Couple that with younger people not having a ton of discretionary spending -

Not sure about this part.
My son could buy and sell me. He proportionately makes way more than I did at his age and I had kids, a mortgage while racing cars and motorcycles.
From what I see, the money is there but the interest isn't.
Just look at how long kids procrastinate getting their drivers licence. I had my permit and license as fast as I possibly could. Different times/different priorities.

 

[NoobCorpse]

In 1998, California motorcycle registrations were at their lowest point since 1969--around 400,000. Then the sport took off, registrations rising sharply at first, then slowing after the recession and reaching an all-time high of 842,000 in 2017, but dropping off by 20,000 in 2018 (no data for 2019 yet).

Declining sales do not mean a decline in popularity. Declining sales mean a decline in rate of growth.

This data supports my understanding of the state of the market today, which is admittedly next to nothing. I'm buying new bikes (1 this year, 3 in 2017) and other established moto riders are, too. Re: growth: a lot of family / friends I know / coworkers who are early/mid 20s have next to no interest in OHV / motorsport / car / moto activities. I know a few early 30somethings who regard cars like a washing machine or a lawnmower. Motos are what your dad / crazy uncle / cousin are doing. Might skip this generation and you'll see kids in the next 10-15 years pick the hobby up.

 

[kxmike]

It's not dead in MY area! I live in Lake County and I saw at least 25 sport bikes last Saturday near Middletown. I also saw several truckloads of dirt bikes as well as a few dual sports on the road. I see Touring bikes and Harleys every day. 5 of the guys I work with purchased bikes in the last year (although two of them were my old bikes:teeth). My grandkids have dirt bikes too...thats how it starts:cool.

 

[bpw]

A look at mountain biking, skateboarding, mma fighting and extreme sports scene seems to argue against the idea that this generation is more risk averse. I think there are just too many other activities competing with motorcycling compared to the recent past. Just a guess on my part.

I think this is a big part, just so much awesome stuff to do these days. A lot of my climber/paraglider/surfer/mountain bike friends don't ride motorcycles because they think its boring, not because they are scared. They kinda have a point too, no speed limits or sitting in traffic on a downhill mountain bike trail. I have been riding less and flying my paraglider a lot these days, gave up dirt biking since its so much easier to load up the mountain bike and the trails are closer.

Still have 8 bikes in the garage between me and my girlfriend though.....

 

[Lowerside]

I'll also chime in and say that although MMA/combat sports in general are brutal, they are also incredibly safe especially with today's gym culture. The amount of gyms that promote gym wars as the only way to train have shrank a lot since the old days. This doesn't even take into account that the majority of paying folks are there more for the "boxercise" and community aspect more than wanting to go pro or even serious ammy.

 

[twinturba]

Motorcycle interest is definitely not waining, but is evolving. The 1 Moto show sold out an arena in the middle of winter showing that the motorcycle "lifestyle" is growing. I regularly help people navigate their entry into motorcycling which most often involves buying a solid used bike as opposed to a new one. Apparel has swung way towards motorcycle style over rider protection. Big money buyers are stashing away nice examples of rare bikes any time one hits the market rather than buying a Harley or Ducati and riding around on it.

It's up to us if we want new riders in Motorcycle life. I promote it to anyone I run into. I help friends get into it affordably. I train my son how to ride.

 

[dittoalex]

Young people today have less buying power than their parents did at the same age. Nativist policies such as Proposition 13 and rent control have resulted in poor value for the newcomer. The Crazy Rich Asians are one of the fun demographics that are silly enough to buy into the Bay Area today since they are not concerned with value.