Compelling motorcycle demographics

[Carguy1959_imp]

I too did the 25 year break of not having a bike. I had ridden a few here and there. I bought a 2009 Harley FXDL low rider in 2012. Took a bit of getting use to, but was able to pass my riding test at the dmv, zig zag thru cones and stop and starts with touching the ground. I sold the Harley and bought a 2014 STD new in 2016. After restarting riding on the Harley, the CB was pretty easy getting use to.

[rboe]

The latest Motorcycle Consumer News has an article on accident rates. Based on 2014 data, motorcycles have a 2600% greater fatality rate per 100 million miles than cars. 22.96 vs 0.85. I didn't find a relevant date for the data in the link.

Fatalities and injuries are getting better for cars (well duh, crumple zones, air bags, protective cage etc. while get - zip).

Down right scary! Perhaps not enough to talk me out of riding, but it was a cold slap in the face none the less.

[LongRanger_imp]

I read the MCN article too, and while I need to go back and read it again, generally in a good portion of motorcycle fatalities, the rider is DUI, riding without a helmet, and/or doesn't have an endorsement. That's not to suggest that licensed, ATGATT, sober riders aren't at risk, but those who aren't generally face much more difficult odds and I think the accident statistics bear that out.

[Rocky_imp]

I read the MCN article too, and while I need to go back and read it again, generally in a good portion of motorcycle fatalities, the rider is DUI, riding without a helmet, and/or doesn't have an endorsement. That's not to suggest that licensed, ATGATT, sober riders aren't at risk, but those who aren't generally face much more difficult odds and I think the accident statistics bear that out.

I agree.
We have a lot of crashes here that are caused by the rider simply losing control and have nothing to do with other vehicles - mostly by younger riders.
The saddest perhaps are those middle-aged riders who have either come back to bikes or just bought their first bike - usually a big heavy cruiser type - over-cooked it in a corner and went off the road.
Some survive; some don't. Last year we lost a couple of "older" riders who rode their cruiser like a sport bike and couldn't make it around a corner.
Unfortunately, their wives were lost too. Such needless tragedies!

[Supervillian_imp]

I wonder how companies (HD in particular) will respond to demographic trends...All the millennials I see in the urban areas are riding larger scooters or old small displacement UJMs that they have turned into cafe racers.

Money issue for sure, but also a whole different aesthetic.

[LongRanger_imp]

I have no evidence to back this up, but I think today's young riders (urban millennials) probably view their bikes more as fashion and less as passion. Many of us older riders got our start on minibikes and dirt bikes as kids and developed a lifelong passion (and the skills) at a relatively young age. Somehow I don't think today's 20-something rider had the same opportunity to have those experiences, and therefore probably represent a different type of motorcycling customer.

[EarsOnWheels_imp]

DC has a thriving, passionate set of young riders. Young folks can't spend thousands of dollars on an accessory. It has to be a passion in some way.

[jimgl353_imp]

I wish we had graduated licenses and more training here as in Europe.