What motorcycles do young people want?

[Roper_imp]

Three of my sons are between the ages of 17 and 30. When we talk motorcycles (other than dirt bikes), here's what they say:

- Absolutely don't want a cruiser.
- Don't want a touring or ADV bike.
- Sports bikes are great for one person. Girls (wife in one case) don't like riding perched up high over the back wheel on a seat the size of a maxi pad.
- Standard style motorcycles with flat seats are great, and girls think they look cool and want to ride on back.

Well, that leaves a pretty small selection:

- Kawasaki Z900, W800
- Honda CB1100 (discontinued but available if you look)
- Triumph Bonneville
- Guzzi V7, V9
- BMW R nineT

So, a couple of questions:

- Are my sons' expectations typical of people in their 20s who are interested in motorcycles?
- Are there other motorcycles which would fit those expectations?

So, what you're saying is that kids want the bikes their dads want? Are they mature for their age? Or are we just young at heart?

Seriously, I think the biggest sellers, in urban areas at least, are the small/mid-size sport bikes like Yamaha R3 and R6, Honda CB300F/CBR300R, CB500F/CBR500R, Ninja 400, GSXR600, etc.

I think that image is the biggest factor. They buy small cruisers only if size is an issue.
I can see how they think ADV bikes and cruisers are for older people who they don't need or want to go fast.

Well, that might be part of it

Don't get me wrong, they love the idea of riding a fast and flickable bike, but they love the idea of a girl on the back even more. And, according to my 17 year-old, "No girl is gonna ride with me if she thinks she'll fall off. And the only girls who like Harleys are old, fat, and drink a lot of beer."