I've got a small bike . I'm 65 and bikers are getting older. Money is getting tighter. Big bikes too expensive to insure for younger people. It's an inevitable slide
64 years old, not tall, not fit and have a Triumph Rocket 3R (2500cc, 320Kg). Very cool bike. No problem riding it. Very cheap to insure. Highly recommended for old motorcyclists like me. Just dare give it a try.
Yes, but why? I’m a similar age and have just got a 350 Hunter. It surprised me! I’m putting up with the ‘power’. Always had bigger; and smaller bikes. But having been pushed into early retirement, that is, no commuting etc, 100mpg, normal looking bike, light, comfortable….. it works for me.
I downgraded this year, 650 to 400cc and loving it. Im only mid fifties in comparison but higher cost of living coupled with some ongoing health issues, this has been an excellent move for me. We really dont need huge cc, huge bhp, super powerful motorbikes out on the roads especially in these modern times of huge amounts of traffic 7 days a week, consistent nationmide roadworks and diversions 🤷
@@wendysharpe4568 There’s a little more to my post above. I used to tour abroad, haven’t done for a while. I’m sure the Hunter would be fine, but big trips over hundreds of miles on autoroutes… ! I also do all my own maintenance etc, so smaller makes it easier. My wife has said that we may still go abroad, but thought about the long haul by car and then potter on a bike when we get there. Bike trailer….
To some degree, a lot of motorcycle manufactures are their own worst enemy with ever-increasing tech (a lot of it unnecessary) and bigger capacity bikes that push the prices of bikes way past your average Joe, who has all the other expenses of getting by. Most motorcyclists buy a bike as a hobby/pleasure item, rather than like in the old days, where bikes were often the only means of transport. At the age of 87, I now own a Yamaha MT-03, which has a capacity of just 321 cc, but is still capable of 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, and a top speed of over 100 MPH. So, still great fun, it weighing in at 167kg wet, and being so easy to push around for an old fella. The bike cost me a fraction under £5,000 new when I purchased it in 2021. I've now done 8,050 happy miles on it. Do we really need such large, powerful, very expensive bikes🤔
I also think the price of bikes is too high. 18000 for an US cruiser. 25000 for a fully loaded Bavarian adventure bike. Plus, older riders like me, struggle to get on now with a 300 kilogram bike, preferring these days, to have a smaller capacity, sub 200 kilo motorcycle.
Yep it happened in my country Malaysia, in opposite of the topic of this video. 350s where doing so well, local honda relented and bought in Cb350 because previously they thought locals wouldn't buy a 350 because of the 125-250cc small bike, 250 and abovecc gap
We been begging the big brands to provide us with more cost effective products. Suzuki DRZ400E & S unit a prime example of a bike being taken away but not yet replaced with an updated one. Now back in the 70s and 80s you could easily get a good 250 400 cc bike in any shape no problem.
I suspect by the time today's budget has finished the sales of new motorbikes will fall even further as we are all financially raped to pay for the record number of illegal gimme-grants living here and all of the associated costs they bring..
No point in having a litre bike where I live (London/Surrey) unless you go to the track. So many cameras everywhere, 1000cc sport bike is actually very difficult to ride and not rack up points. No pleasure in staying in 1st and 2nd gear, glued to the speedo. Then there's the cost.
Just like cars - people seem to be opting for smaller engine size - I can vaguely recall hearing that a factory is being built in UK to build small cars - I think it was a partnership between France and China of all countries. I can't recall the vid but I think it may have come from the 'Geoff Buys Cars' chap - as an older ex bike owner and female I keep thinking about getting a small trial bike again - I loved the 250 Suzuki I had which could be slung about, was very reliable and a lot of fun. The biggest bike I had was a 900cc Kwaka but I realised very quickly it was just too powerful and heavy for me, its acceleration certainly pumped the blood. My first bike was a 125cc James Cadet.. then a 350 Trumpet - now I could afford any bike I want I'm probably too old to ride with so many crazies driving cars on roads full of pot-holes.
I've spent the last 3 years, riding about in the smaller lane and minor roads of France. With the usual "Clever Electronics" I know that my average speeds on these little tours are in the region of 25 to 30 miles per hour, ( Not including stops for tea etc,) over a 6 hour riding day. To be fair, you could do these types of roads on a 350 cc bike and have a wonderful weeks riding holiday. Speed limits EVERYWHERE are reducing drastically and the one time "Open Roads" are being altered to make speeding more and more difficult. 200 BHP bikes are less and less relevant in the 2020s. I'm not surprised that smaller bikes are selling better in current times.
its obvious when you see the new bikes being bought recently by members of my motorcycle club, largest was Hornet 500 - the CBF125 is popular too and RE Hunter 350 - the members are getting older and want better running costs and lightweight. oldest riding member is 93 and the CBF125 keeps him on the road. also my car insurance dropped significantly this year, I was shocked
when i was a nippa motorcycles were a cheap form of transport , motorbikes and sidecars were practical alternatives to cars and bike cafes were everwhere, then they became a rich mans toy , cafes became wine bars and nippas could afford a vauxhall corsa with a loud exhaust , where did it all go wrong ?.!
@@ianrichards4907 - I predicted this in the early 1980’s when a biking M8 said it was ‘great’ that motorcycling was becoming a ‘hobby’. My M8 said it was a good thing - more people on bikes. I said , ‘What’s the first thing that gets the heave-Ho when money is tight? A hobby. Plus parts on sale for hobbies are always high prices.
also, something thats missed is the demise of despatch riding, it's almost gone now, replaced by fast food delivery moped/cycle. none of these fast food riders want to be riding, they want cars & have 0 interest in motorbikes...unlike the despatch riders from years ago.
Hi Stuart , A large Ducati dealer and a Kawasaki dealer has closed in Worcester , Worcestershire . The Kawasaki dealer was a multi dealer motor cycle dealer . They were a great dealer . The Ducati dealer was open for about 8 or 9 years only . Shame , that the motorcycle scene is changing so much over that last few years . I loved my motorbikes . Thank you .👍
The climate here isn’t favourable for bikes at all. At least half of riders here are seasonal. You go to Asia and bike business is booming year in year out, it’s the no 1 transport and of course they always have the weather on their side. The U.K. bike scene isn’t anywhere near the vibe like in Asia. You can literally step outside of your hotel and next door hire a Motorcycle with ease, some places you don’t even need a license.
One factor is the cost of servicing and repairs.the present generation mostly are not mechanically inclined .inthe past riders were better educated and capable of using tools!😉😉😉😉
Kids aren't learning because insurance is too high. Our lad's just turning 17, quotes for 125s are coming in at 2-3 grand, and that's living in a village, with a garage. Older guys are downsizing for various reasons. Enfields and Triumph 400s are doing well, the CF Moto 450 is sold out till next march I believe.
I keep wondering what happens to all the stock from these dealerships that have gone under. Where do these bikes "surface" and are they eventually offered for sale at auction. As for the industry in general, they've been trying to sell increasingly expensive bikes and the bubble has finally burst. Any market for very expensive items is usually small and niche, like Ferraris, Bentleys, and Rolex for example. In comes China and India with a cheaper product that still does the job and here we are.
The bulk of new mc sales is experienced riders, newbies don´t buy litre+ bikes. And we get older, and need lighter bikes. The enjoyment is just as great on a sub 500cc bike. One side of the problem is that the dealers have become used to sell big bikes, and have the overheads to prove it. Flashy and expensive showrooms filled with the more expensive lineups look nice but the price tags are too much in this day and economy. If they instead would go for cheaper showrooms, with enough bikes for customers to try out and reasonably priced services they would propably do better, and the chances to actually get more prople into motorcycling would be better. But it is not just the dealers, the manufacturers have done this wrong too. And for a long time by now.
I returned to riding this year. I originally intended to buy a new or nearly new bike. But due to general financial uncertainty I bought a much cheaper 13 year old bike instead. It is 800cc so mid sized but it was cheaper than anything new, even small capacity, and basic enough that even an idiot like myself can service and repair it rather than be reliant on an expensive dealer. I've made cuts in other areas of my life too. Money is tight. People aren't spending, and the new government made it even worse by terrifying people several months before the budget.
I had the gen 3 KTM super duke 1290 GT, what a waste of money on my part... totally useless for the roads, couldn't even use 6th ,much better off with my interceptor, large capacity bikes just a waste of time and money ( imo )our government here in NZ are threatening to put Rego up to nearly 900 Dollars a year 🤬
@@colinmartin2921 I agree with whay you're saying but motorcycles over the past few years have become playthings and why not? I've worked all my life and when I retired I took my lumpsum and as motorcycles being my passion, I decided to treat myself, The difference was I still had my sensible hat on (to a degree!) and purchased a sub 1000cc bike which make me smile. I also purchased a classic 350 which is a great bike for the minor roads especially in the Peak District and North Wales but is lacking for the bigger trips where the use of fast roads or motorways is needed. The Enfield Shotgun and SM are just too heavy, the BSA would be okay.
I know it’s a bit like travelling to Mordor for you, but if you ever head south of ‘t’ new forrest, then visit the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. Amongst the collection of over 500 beautifully restored motorcycles, there are a large number of sub-500cc machines, just to prove your point. These vary from very early models to road race 50cc machines capable of 90mph. Small and light equals fun!
Good morning Stu. Another good video. Thanks for the update. I don’t read motorcycles publications. So don’t see what is happening unless things happen locally. Motorcycling changed when the Government made it harder and a lot more expensive to get a full licence. I still think it strange that they didn’t change the car licence in the same way. As you’ve said in the past, I think smaller capacity bikes is a way of keeping motorcycling alive. We just need the Government to take their blinkers off and realise that motorcycles are an answer to congestion and road damage.
@@williambell12 Just laziness in my opinion, it should be done on a power to weight ratio, like the LAMS bikes are. At this rate, I'm tempted to trade in the 865cc Bonnie for a 660 Trident, which is more HP of course lol.
I went to buy a new bike over the summer and the prices were just too high. With the rising cost of living I would assume this is going to affect the availability of credit which will stop people buying bikes they otherwise would've bought.
I've been riding bikes for 45 years. Last year I got myself a new 750 hornet as a last blast it's light it's a more than powerful enough bike for anyone on the road but I also have a 450 bike that I use for work daily & tbh it's more usable & fun for my daily commute than the honda.
Its only going to get worse unless they make motorcycling attractive again for younger people. It's all about the new generation. Going to motorbike meets shows me the way its heading. Mainly people 40+. In the 90s when I first started riding it was always a mix of all ages. All my mates had rs50s, rs125s, I had a mito. Great times.
64yo 2 bikes, 22 kawa650 and, 84 honda CB900FD, my insurance on the 650 dropped by 60% this year. The 900 has been 87 quid, yes 87 each year for the last 7 years !!
Absolutely spot on, and this is the path I've followed. Not going out ion a 100bhp plus bike using 10-20% of it's available performance is no fun, pinning the throttle on royal Enfield is great fun. And you don't spend two weeks scared of your own letterbox. If you had cfmoto 450mt's to sell people would banging your showroom door to give you money. Triumph got it right too when they made the 400's may have saved many of there dealerships.
I have 4 big bikes in the shed (Tiger, T595, Bonneville, R1100RT) which I'm not using at the moment and haven't used all year. But I do use the Meteor 350. Maybe it's because I'm getting old
I noted the other day, after 2000 miles on my Transalp since picking it up end of August, that I do not miss not buying the NT1100 due to outrageous insurance costs. I genuinely believe that my 750cc 90bhp stallion is more than enough for me. Now I have dropped an obscene amount of money or security, should stop all but bike lifters, I'm sticking to the TA for my all year round fun. I say that, but I keep a wondering eye on 350 ish bikes and scooters to use for nipping in and out of central London, but so much choice is ironically stopping my buy something. Wishing you well.
Me and my friends are in our 30s and have been yelling this for years now. We probably aren't market representative, yet I see exactly what we and you predicted. They keep making bikes bigger, heavier and every year more expensive. No, we don't want these! We want affordable, relatively lightweight units with enough power to go on the highway, that's it. No need for all the bells and whistles. We were so happy when RE arrived with their 350 units (even though kinda heavy for the cc, but still reasonable). Triumph finally understood the trend with their 400 series. Now Kawasaki is bringing their W230. We're all salivating. BMW was first sales with the GS and RT here around, but now all the "old people", who had some money to spare, already bought them at least twice or trice. Brand new or second hand. Youngsters still admire the big bikes, but these are too damn expensive (even second hand) and often too heavy/bulky. I hear fellow younger bikers saying heavy for them are 650 and 900 cc engines. They seem to consider 1000 and 1200 to be cool and powerful but almost "obese". They would buy them or at least test them, but they lack the entire price ticket at the bank. I would say the "golden bike" right now would be: price under 5k€ for small engines and under 10k€ for medium to heavies, weight under 200kg, modern quality, stable and precise chassis inspiring confidence, basic modern features like ABS/ anti-slip etc. (got smartphones for the rest). Sounds simple, but apparently manufacturers prefer big units with big margins...
Motorcycles are for life not just for covid, buy a motorcycle and ditch the car, help reduce congestion and be more fuel efficient at the same time, as over 50% of car journeys in the uk have only one occupant so why choose to sit in a metal box in traffic and then struggle to park when you arrive at your destination,
The British weather might have something to do with it. I commuted on a bike for years, and the only benefit was filtering through traffic. Riding through icy sleet and round wet, diesel strewn roundabouts is a rarely acquired taste if options are available.
I run a local branch of the Moto Guzzi Club GB, here in Leicestershire. We are all old gits, approaching, at or enjoying retirement. A dying breed - quite literally. Not a young Guzzi owner to be seen! Worryingly.
At some point the prices drop to the point where they are attractive to export to where there is demand. Happened to the small capacity 4 strokes as a solution to personal transport. Rare classics will keep going to the USA. Good luck,it's a minefield out there.
High cc is a scam especially in non western countries that struggle economically. In turkey a goldwing costs the same as a house. All liter bikes cost about half as much as a house.
Hi, I thought you might like to know that there’s no need for the chrome cross bar attached to your handlebars. This bar is for mounting the front registration plate, a requirement in India where Royal Enfield is manufactured. The company has had the foresight to make this bar detachable for foreign markets so feel free to remove it.😊 It’ll give a clearer view of your clocks and remove some unnecessary weight. Cheers.
Not so. It is a styling feature that references the original late '60s Interceptor that the RE based the current bike on. Indian market bikes appear to mount their front number plates under the headlight - a number plate mounted on the cross bace would not be easily visible & would obscure the instruments . The clamp brackets on the handlebar will only come off after removing all the handelbar furniture, so not a 2 minuite job to remove the cross brace - I know this as I looked to remove mine & came to the conclusion any benefit was not worth the work involved..
Whenever I'm hanging around at my local large dealer and hear anyone ask about any part exchange they immediately say to sell it on ebay and then come with the money, they say it nicely but they're quite clear that if they do take the part ex, it'll be absolutely minimal as they'll just ebay it themselves via a non trader route
The motorcycle industry has always gone up and down, I've been riding long enough to see more than one of these cycles. You are right, there is an interest in the 500cc and below motorcycles, more practical, less cost, and just as much fun.
Your comments are 110% correct. BUT when you go into any dealership you hear the PROPERGANDA "WERE DOING OK". I wonder how many Motorcycle Purchases are " BOUGHT IN HASTE REPENT AT LEISURE" !!. Look at the volume of LATE PLATE BIKES for sale with very low milage / use. Private sellers are asking silly prices , to clear finance.!!.
I aso see when going in "Dealerships " At the door line of SOLD BIKES / Scooters with Big Display Sheets "SOLD" !!!. Remember J&S Doncaster Monday just inside door " Line 10/12 all sold was total B/ S. Seen similar at Grimsby Dealership So much stock you have to push your way in, but no doubt "Were Doing Ok". Overage stock ...Some been there " 1" year +.
Good news on the small capacity bikes, it would be interesting to know the demgraphic buying them. Surely there's an opening for dealers to act as interlocutors between sellers and buyers? If they kept a register of both the could still make a margin to the benefit of all without servicing a debt. Only the nimble survive at such times.
I bought an RE Hunter 350 this year (which I love) but have also looked at a bigger bike - on insurance costs I could have an early-2000s ZX12R for similar money to the Hunter, but the insurance was 50-odd quid a year cheaper for a bike with ten times the power output, so its no surprise people might not be buying new bikes!
The ZX12 would probably qualify for classic insurance so biking on a budget a good condition older bike might make sense. There is a local dealer to me that specialises in used good quality motorcycles from around 2000
Dealers closing down is nothing new. When I started riding in 1976 there were main dealers in Huddersfield for the 4 Japanese makes + MZ + a couple of small independants. Today there is one delaer who sells new Benelli + S/H. Bradford & Halifax much the same - both had a wide slection of dealers & makes available, now gone. The large "box shifters" DC Cook & Carnells went ages ago also. Reference was made to "sales", but how many liter + bikes are actually sold ? Most seem to be rented through PCP deals, which puts 2 - 3 year old bikes back into the dealerships. PCP deals going bad very nearly caused HD to fail in an earlier financial downturn, with buyers returning the bikes & stopping payments + HD had provided the finance. A glut of nearly new bikes undermined production of new ones & caused closure of at least one HD plant. Various reasons, but the current prevalent reason amongst smaller independants seems to be the age of the proprietors (closure on retiring) or larger dealers being bought up by large chains so loss of choice/competition. And when one of these large, heavily leveraged chains folds (as will almost certainly happen again) large areas will be left dealerless. While I have run litre bikes in the past, there seems little reason to do so now - nowhere to be able to use the performance other than the track if you want to keep your licence, so an excercise in frustration having instant performance that you can't use yet costs a fortune. I took an RE Classic 500 to Germany this year and at times that was too much performance for the speed limits ! Northern Italy & Austria much the same a couple of years ago with an Interceptor 650, so Europe is no better that the UK in that regard. I looked to change to a 500 earlier this year to replace the Interceptor & the Classic, but couldn't find anything that fit my needs - one reason to downsize would be weight & most current "adventure" 500s (which seem to be the majority of 500s on offer) are heavier than the Interceptor. Time to re-commision the MZ !
Twelve years ago I had a BMW R1150GSA it cost me £97 per year to insure with a value of £8000, I now have a 1002 Triumph Trophy 1200 and it costs me £245 down £48 from last year ( full comp insurance on both) and I'm 58 and a clean license, but when I was 24 or 25 I had a new Triumph Trident 750 and that cost me about £1700 to insure. Next year I will sell my 1200 and get something up to 650cc.
We've had a gap in the market in the UK with a lack of options, zero options, between 125cc and 600cc in recent decades. Its been a good thing to see the return of 300-500cc options at least in last few years
New bikes are now too expensive, bikes are toys that are not essential, I’ve had my ‘04 Fazer 1000 for ten yrs and have no desire to change because it costs almost nothing.
Cars are also expensive, we had a shock when we went to buy a new car in how much they have gone up. There was always the augument with my parents, "How much did you pay for that bike?, you could be bought a car for that", Bikes are not essential transport for many people and are a bit of a plaything, but if you can afford it, why not?
Not really mate, untrue. Really does depend where you are in the world. In Asia bikes aren’t toys, they are crucial mode of transport and in many Asian markets they are the no 1 transport especially south east asia. You go to Asia and bike business is booming year in year out. The U.K. bike scene isn’t anywhere near the vibe like in Asia. You can literally step outside of your hotel and next door hire a Motorcycle with ease, some places you don’t even need a license.
@@finesoul677 This is true and I've argued that the UK should encourage the use of scooters and motorcycles as everyday transport. I can drive but I prefer to use my 125cc scooter for my shopping and local errands in all but the worst weather
You are bang on the money I think Stuart. I had a VFR750 a day out would cost me around £40 in fuel my 125 for the same ride out £5 in fuel I get more enjoyment from my 125 hence I sold the 750 why pay for all that fuel plus tires last longer. A rear tire for my VFR was £140 I used two a year the 125 uses one per year and costs £40. the 125 will cruise at 50mph all day obviously its slower but so are we as we get older. so a lot of older riders are down sizing simply to keep on motorcycling its that simple. The 125cc bike is so much less of a burden on the owner for sure.
Insurance is another big factor as well as the fines that come with riding a big bike. Way too fast. Here in Canada. The situation's similar and owning a speed twin 900 at the moment. I'm wondering if I would have been better off buying a smaller capacity bike. I suspect if the 400 was available from Triumph at the time I was purchasing one I would have gone with the 400
Another thing that has happened is sporadic parts supply. You either had to buy a ton of stock in the pandemic , or have no parts for 3-6months for some consumables. I still have a level of pandemic stock
I think there’s an increase in people after the cheapest commute and delivery vehicles possible. There’s a huge rise in couriers and delivery drivers, hence more new riders and 125 sales
Exchanged my RE super meteor 650 for a 450 Guerrilla. Got a real good deal with the part chop. Never looked back. Love the 450.. By me RE sales of 650's are not an issue.
Anyone who has been watching can see manufacturers have been pushing the smaller cc'd bikes, whether this is by public demand or to coerce bikers on to smaller bikes is up for debate. Personally I think any push to keep us at home is something the government is keen to back. Pay per mile and visas to get out of the counrty is also designed to hit those who tour. No doubt we will see what the budget has to bring with regards this too. My insurance on my smaller bikes has come down this year too.
£54 road tax for a 400. Vs £117 for a 650. Fuel costs and insurance mean a smaller bike is much more affordable for people. Insurance on a ducati V4 is £660 vs £90 for a RE350 or £79 for a Rocket3
As a new rider.age 54 just bought a new cb125f. I am amazed by how many people say I will be breaking my neck to get something bigger.I am using it to learn on for now and next year will use it for a 30 mile each way commute in the warmer months.I will only be coaxed into getting something bigger when I can get a modern equivalent of a 250 super dream or something similar and don't need anything bigger than that.
Money is tight, you say. That's what I thought, but our tourist destinations here in the North East are currently rammed with Brits who can't spend their money fast enough. They are literally queuing up, ten deep, to get ripped off as if they just can't help themselves.
After three years with my BMW R1250GS I sold it as too long legged for what I used it for. Now riding a Honda NC750X and BSA Gold Star 650. Far more enjoyable, practical and much easier to live with. No regrets.
I hope you're feeling better, Stuart. KTM are struggling. I was about to try and sell the 390, but the KTM importer has pulled out in Thailand, so secondhand prices have dropped. I'm keeping it. It's too good to sell very cheaply. The relatively cold, wet winter in England must have affected sales. Interesting that the cold summer has been explained away as 'weather' as opposed to 'climate' by some. Nick
Is there also a factor in the median age of motorcyclists going up. Bikes are generally bigger and heavier than ever and older guys struggle moving them around. So given most of us ride between 30 and 70 MOST of the time, who needs a 150hp, 500lb bike to push around when you can have as much manageable fun on a smaller, lighter, cheaper machine.
I'm selling my 1200 and getting a 350. I love the big beast but I don't need the power and don't want the range anxiety as it drinks the tank dry so quickly. I've managed to get a local small independent dealer to agree to sell my bike, but only on a sale-or-return basis. They are promising me more than 3 other places offered part-ex and seem confident but we'll see. Then I tried to find a maroon Bullet... None to be found... Argh. The garage is empty! It seems the motorcycle market is a bit weird, yeah...
It's understandable in a way, but I would have thought that given the UK road tax band for bikes is at 600cc, there should be an increase in sub 600cc bike sales, rather than 500cc, which is somewhat arbitrary in any case.
on a +ve note about big bikes, the GS is the largest seller year on year which as we know is a very expensive bike, the strange outlier and it will be interesting to see where it sits come the end of this year - its closest rival in spring of 2024 was a 125 scooter, weird stat...
Stuart, ive strangely experienced the same drop in insurance cost with my car and so did hubby with his, but not my bike 🤔 will see what happens withh hubbys' bike insurance renewal
I suspect the growth of the lower capacity bikes is predominantly the 125cc. Due to the cost of getting a car license or even a 'big boys' bike license: you're looking at the best part of £1000 (double it and add a couple hundred for a car license!). So, spend £150 odd for a CBT and 2k on a decent bike instead and you've got freedom
It will seem strange to Roy pidcocks to be gone I've been passing the showroom for many years in long eaton, bmw, ducati, and triumph, they have been going for 50 years or so such a shame.
Just part exchanged my 2012 Bonnie for a 650 Kawasaki, dealer was fair, I am happy with my newer smaller bike. Might be a good time to buy a new/newish small 125 for economy and keep/mothball the Kawasaki for later when we get a sensible government?
Very good of you to stop & switch off for the horses Stuart. Reminds me of a friend of mine who came up on a horse, he slowed right down & got a big smile & a wave from the pretty young girl, in reply & gave a couple of blasts on his horn & promptly spooked the horse !
I run a local motorcycle group most of us ride Royal Enfield, we have guys in their 30s upwards to mid 60s but only a couple of ladies, around the lanes of west Sussex my 350 meteor will stay with the bigger Triumph's and Harley's for the 350 ticks all the boxes, our club is doing well but I need to attract some younger riders pre 30 and train them to service their own bike , BaD MCC .
Triumph 400cc bikes look the part and seem a fair price , noted you never mentioned Hardley Movin Sons be interested to know how the sales of Harley's are doing .Up here in the frozen north the main dealer in Aberdeen sells Ktm,Triumph, Honda and Kawasaki all in one massive showroom i think they might be better to get rid of either kawaski or Ktm and get Yamaha instead as the MT range is a massive seller for Yam .
No matter who you are and what bike you ride, motorcycling/motorcyclists will always as a general rule be viewed as a 'Marlon Brando rebel type culture, a charicature, stereotype. I always remember an old newspaper headline from the 80s '"If you drink, smoke or drive, its up yours from the chancellor!" Thats basically the budget each year . Anyway, two is better than no wheels
I've got a small bike . I'm 65 and bikers are getting older. Money is getting tighter. Big bikes too expensive to insure for younger people. It's an inevitable slide
My biking friends and I had exactly that conversation. Grey-beard bikers are in the majority now. Very few new / young bikers any more.
64 years old, not tall, not fit and have a Triumph Rocket 3R (2500cc, 320Kg). Very cool bike. No problem riding it. Very cheap to insure. Highly recommended for old motorcyclists like me. Just dare give it a try.
Yes, but why? I’m a similar age and have just got a 350 Hunter. It surprised me! I’m putting up with the ‘power’. Always had bigger; and smaller bikes. But having been pushed into early retirement, that is, no commuting etc, 100mpg, normal looking bike, light, comfortable….. it works for me.
I downgraded this year, 650 to 400cc and loving it. Im only mid fifties in comparison but higher cost of living coupled with some ongoing health issues, this has been an excellent move for me. We really dont need huge cc, huge bhp, super powerful motorbikes out on the roads especially in these modern times of huge amounts of traffic 7 days a week, consistent nationmide roadworks and diversions 🤷
@@wendysharpe4568 There’s a little more to my post above. I used to tour abroad, haven’t done for a while. I’m sure the Hunter would be fine, but big trips over hundreds of miles on autoroutes… ! I also do all my own maintenance etc, so smaller makes it easier. My wife has said that we may still go abroad, but thought about the long haul by car and then potter on a bike when we get there. Bike trailer….
To some degree, a lot of motorcycle manufactures are their own worst enemy with ever-increasing tech (a lot of it unnecessary) and bigger capacity bikes that push the prices of bikes way past your average Joe, who has all the other expenses of getting by. Most motorcyclists buy a bike as a hobby/pleasure item, rather than like in the old days, where bikes were often the only means of transport. At the age of 87, I now own a Yamaha MT-03, which has a capacity of just 321 cc, but is still capable of 0-60 in 5.1 seconds, and a top speed of over 100 MPH. So, still great fun, it weighing in at 167kg wet, and being so easy to push around for an old fella. The bike cost me a fraction under £5,000 new when I purchased it in 2021. I've now done 8,050 happy miles on it. Do we really need such large, powerful, very expensive bikes🤔
I also think the price of bikes is too high. 18000 for an US cruiser. 25000 for a fully loaded Bavarian adventure bike. Plus, older riders like me, struggle to get on now with a 300 kilogram bike, preferring these days, to have a smaller capacity, sub 200 kilo motorcycle.
How this trend started😂. RE made everyone sensible😅
Exactly 🎉🎉
Yep it happened in my country Malaysia, in opposite of the topic of this video. 350s where doing so well, local honda relented and bought in Cb350 because previously they thought locals wouldn't buy a 350 because of the 125-250cc small bike, 250 and abovecc gap
Good point. They gave everyone options get what they want at a cheaper price. Now everyone is scrambling to do the same.
We been begging the big brands to provide us with more cost effective products. Suzuki DRZ400E & S unit a prime example of a bike being taken away but not yet replaced with an updated one. Now back in the 70s and 80s you could easily get a good 250 400 cc bike in any shape no problem.
I suspect by the time today's budget has finished the sales of new motorbikes will fall even further as we are all financially raped to pay for the record number of illegal gimme-grants living here and all of the associated costs they bring..
You will own nothing and you will be happy.
Yes need to pay for them all so let's fleece the people eat at disposable income
To pay for the Liz Truss budget and other Tory black holes.....you soft lad.
@@barryphillips6845 oh the irony.
Truss wasn’t globalist enough…durr…I believe everything on the telly
No point in having a litre bike where I live (London/Surrey) unless you go to the track. So many cameras everywhere, 1000cc sport bike is actually very difficult to ride and not rack up points. No pleasure in staying in 1st and 2nd gear, glued to the speedo. Then there's the cost.
The last 2 Summers have been dire. That will doubtlessly have impacted motorcycle sales.
Just like cars - people seem to be opting for smaller engine size - I can vaguely recall hearing that a factory is being built in UK to build small cars - I think it was a partnership between France and China of all countries. I can't recall the vid but I think it may have come from the 'Geoff Buys Cars' chap - as an older ex bike owner and female I keep thinking about getting a small trial bike again - I loved the 250 Suzuki I had which could be slung about, was very reliable and a lot of fun. The biggest bike I had was a 900cc Kwaka but I realised very quickly it was just too powerful and heavy for me, its acceleration certainly pumped the blood. My first bike was a 125cc James Cadet.. then a 350 Trumpet - now I could afford any bike I want I'm probably too old to ride with so many crazies driving cars on roads full of pot-holes.
I've spent the last 3 years, riding about in the smaller lane and minor roads of France. With the usual "Clever Electronics" I know that my average speeds on these little tours are in the region of 25 to 30 miles per hour, ( Not including stops for tea etc,) over a 6 hour riding day. To be fair, you could do these types of roads on a 350 cc bike and have a wonderful weeks riding holiday. Speed limits EVERYWHERE are reducing drastically and the one time "Open Roads" are being altered to make speeding more and more difficult. 200 BHP bikes are less and less relevant in the 2020s. I'm not surprised that smaller bikes are selling better in current times.
In a Few Years a 650 will be Regarded
as a Big Bike Again.
Honda Should Bring Their 350 single
To the UK
What’s the point….it can’t compete with RE offerings. No more power, likely China or Malaysia built and a whole lot more expensive!
Massive motorcycle business in Edinburgh closed called Saltire Motorcycles. Sad times
I’m sure labour will make sure we have even less to spend on bikes next year.
its obvious when you see the new bikes being bought recently by members of my motorcycle club, largest was Hornet 500 - the CBF125 is popular too and RE Hunter 350 - the members are getting older and want better running costs and lightweight. oldest riding member is 93 and the CBF125 keeps him on the road. also my car insurance dropped significantly this year, I was shocked
when i was a nippa motorcycles were a cheap form of transport , motorbikes and sidecars were practical alternatives to cars and bike cafes were everwhere, then they became a rich mans toy , cafes became wine bars and nippas could afford a vauxhall corsa with a loud exhaust , where did it all go wrong ?.!
Spot on - those were happy days -
@@ianrichards4907 - I predicted this in the early 1980’s when a biking M8 said it was ‘great’ that motorcycling was becoming a ‘hobby’. My M8 said it was a good thing - more people on bikes. I said , ‘What’s the first thing that gets the heave-Ho when money is tight? A hobby. Plus parts on sale for hobbies are always high prices.
also, something thats missed is the demise of despatch riding, it's almost gone now, replaced by fast food delivery moped/cycle. none of these fast food riders want to be riding, they want cars & have 0 interest in motorbikes...unlike the despatch riders from years ago.
"A fair tax is every bit as absurd as a fair theft".
Hi Stuart , A large Ducati dealer and a Kawasaki dealer has closed in Worcester , Worcestershire . The Kawasaki dealer was a multi dealer motor cycle dealer . They were a great dealer . The Ducati dealer was open for about 8 or 9 years only . Shame , that the motorcycle scene is changing so much over that last few years . I loved my motorbikes . Thank you .👍
The climate here isn’t favourable for bikes at all. At least half of riders here are seasonal.
You go to Asia and bike business is booming year in year out, it’s the no 1 transport and of course they always have the weather on their side. The U.K. bike scene isn’t anywhere near the vibe like in Asia. You can literally step outside of your hotel and next door hire a Motorcycle with ease, some places you don’t even need a license.
Fuel duty increases at this Budget will further increase the appeal of 90mpg+ small bikes.
One factor is the cost of servicing and repairs.the present generation mostly are not mechanically inclined .inthe past riders were better educated and capable of using tools!😉😉😉😉
Kids aren't learning because insurance is too high. Our lad's just turning 17, quotes for 125s are coming in at 2-3 grand, and that's living in a village, with a garage.
Older guys are downsizing for various reasons. Enfields and Triumph 400s are doing well, the CF Moto 450 is sold out till next march I believe.
I keep wondering what happens to all the stock from these dealerships that have gone under. Where do these bikes "surface" and are they eventually offered for sale at auction.
As for the industry in general, they've been trying to sell increasingly expensive bikes and the bubble has finally burst. Any market for very expensive items is usually small and niche, like Ferraris, Bentleys, and Rolex for example. In comes China and India with a cheaper product that still does the job and here we are.
The bulk of new mc sales is experienced riders, newbies don´t buy litre+ bikes. And we get older, and need lighter bikes. The enjoyment is just as great on a sub 500cc bike. One side of the problem is that the dealers have become used to sell big bikes, and have the overheads to prove it. Flashy and expensive showrooms filled with the more expensive lineups look nice but the price tags are too much in this day and economy. If they instead would go for cheaper showrooms, with enough bikes for customers to try out and reasonably priced services they would propably do better, and the chances to actually get more prople into motorcycling would be better. But it is not just the dealers, the manufacturers have done this wrong too. And for a long time by now.
I think that having to pay the highest tax in UK(£117 per year) on bikes over 600cc is also a factor. Meteor 350 is currently £55.
Manufacturers need to make motorcycles 600 cc or less. Let’s hope someone is listening!
You're lucky. In NZ bikes over 750cc will be taxed at $900 or 450 quid per year from 2025
I returned to riding this year. I originally intended to buy a new or nearly new bike. But due to general financial uncertainty I bought a much cheaper 13 year old bike instead. It is 800cc so mid sized but it was cheaper than anything new, even small capacity, and basic enough that even an idiot like myself can service and repair it rather than be reliant on an expensive dealer. I've made cuts in other areas of my life too. Money is tight. People aren't spending, and the new government made it even worse by terrifying people several months before the budget.
I had the gen 3 KTM super duke 1290 GT, what a waste of money on my part... totally useless for the roads, couldn't even use 6th ,much better off with my interceptor, large capacity bikes just a waste of time and money ( imo )our government here in NZ are threatening to put Rego up to nearly 900 Dollars a year 🤬
I recently sold my Ducati 1000, because the roads are simply too congested and speed limits are too low for a large bike to make sense.
@@colinmartin2921 I agree with whay you're saying but motorcycles over the past few years have become playthings and why not? I've worked all my life and when I retired I took my lumpsum and as motorcycles being my passion, I decided to treat myself, The difference was I still had my sensible hat on (to a degree!) and purchased a sub 1000cc bike which make me smile. I also purchased a classic 350 which is a great bike for the minor roads especially in the Peak District and North Wales but is lacking for the bigger trips where the use of fast roads or motorways is needed. The Enfield Shotgun and SM are just too heavy, the BSA would be okay.
Far Far to Expensive Bikes are today, its a MESS !
I know it’s a bit like travelling to Mordor for you, but if you ever head south of ‘t’ new forrest, then visit the Sammy Miller Motorcycle Museum. Amongst the collection of over 500 beautifully restored motorcycles, there are a large number of sub-500cc machines, just to prove your point. These vary from very early models to road race 50cc machines capable of 90mph. Small and light equals fun!
Good Morning Stu , Yeah your 100% right plus my insurance when down this year
Mine went down last year by 50 p then up by £ 65 this time so changed companies and got it for less than the year before
Sales of AFFORDABLE bikes grow as EXPENSIVE bike sales contract.
Good morning Stu. Another good video. Thanks for the update. I don’t read motorcycles publications. So don’t see what is happening unless things happen locally. Motorcycling changed when the Government made it harder and a lot more expensive to get a full licence. I still think it strange that they didn’t change the car licence in the same way. As you’ve said in the past, I think smaller capacity bikes is a way of keeping motorcycling alive. We just need the Government to take their blinkers off and realise that motorcycles are an answer to congestion and road damage.
Here in NZ the government is looking to Reem the owners of 750cc+ bikes, I'd wager we'll see more people moving towards the 500cc range.
The NZ Gov` is looking to Reem motorcyclists in general.🤬
Yep. Saw that on the ACC website. Of course 600cc Supersports are way more powerful than 1100cc Cruisers. I don't get there reasoning.
@@williambell12 Just laziness in my opinion, it should be done on a power to weight ratio, like the LAMS bikes are. At this rate, I'm tempted to trade in the 865cc Bonnie for a 660 Trident, which is more HP of course lol.
The NZ Gov is looking to Reem all motorcyclists period....
A 21hp RE 350 is in the same classification group as a 120hp Yammy R6 😂.
Freakin' Hell!
I went to buy a new bike over the summer and the prices were just too high.
With the rising cost of living I would assume this is going to affect the availability of credit which will stop people buying bikes they otherwise would've bought.
I've been riding bikes for 45 years. Last year I got myself a new 750 hornet as a last blast it's light it's a more than powerful enough bike for anyone on the road but I also have a 450 bike that I use for work daily & tbh it's more usable & fun for my daily commute than the honda.
Its only going to get worse unless they make motorcycling attractive again for younger people. It's all about the new generation.
Going to motorbike meets shows me the way its heading. Mainly people 40+. In the 90s when I first started riding it was always a mix of all ages. All my mates had rs50s, rs125s, I had a mito. Great times.
64yo 2 bikes, 22 kawa650 and, 84 honda CB900FD, my insurance on the 650 dropped by 60% this year. The 900 has been 87 quid, yes 87 each year for the last 7 years !!
Which insurance company do you use.
Would you be kind enough to give us the name of the company?
Absolutely spot on, and this is the path I've followed. Not going out ion a 100bhp plus bike using 10-20% of it's available performance is no fun, pinning the throttle on royal Enfield is great fun. And you don't spend two weeks scared of your own letterbox. If you had cfmoto 450mt's to sell people would banging your showroom door to give you money. Triumph got it right too when they made the 400's may have saved many of there dealerships.
Yup - same situation in Canada Uncle Stu. Prices up / sales down and tons of big bikes on the used market as people age-out.
I have 4 big bikes in the shed (Tiger, T595, Bonneville, R1100RT) which I'm not using at the moment and haven't used all year. But I do use the Meteor 350. Maybe it's because I'm getting old
Excellent! likewise I have a t595 (since 98), R1150GS (since 2000), my daily is an ADV350 scoot.
I noted the other day, after 2000 miles on my Transalp since picking it up end of August, that I do not miss not buying the NT1100 due to outrageous insurance costs.
I genuinely believe that my 750cc 90bhp stallion is more than enough for me.
Now I have dropped an obscene amount of money or security, should stop all but bike lifters, I'm sticking to the TA for my all year round fun.
I say that, but I keep a wondering eye on 350 ish bikes and scooters to use for nipping in and out of central London, but so much choice is ironically stopping my buy something.
Wishing you well.
I have a Vulcan 650 and it's more than enough bike. I been wanting a small dual sport for a while but still haven't pull the trigger.
Nice bike. I was tempted between the TA or the NC750X but fell in love with the DCT. For a daily rider on country and city roads it's an absolute gem.
Me and my friends are in our 30s and have been yelling this for years now. We probably aren't market representative, yet I see exactly what we and you predicted. They keep making bikes bigger, heavier and every year more expensive. No, we don't want these! We want affordable, relatively lightweight units with enough power to go on the highway, that's it. No need for all the bells and whistles. We were so happy when RE arrived with their 350 units (even though kinda heavy for the cc, but still reasonable). Triumph finally understood the trend with their 400 series. Now Kawasaki is bringing their W230. We're all salivating. BMW was first sales with the GS and RT here around, but now all the "old people", who had some money to spare, already bought them at least twice or trice. Brand new or second hand. Youngsters still admire the big bikes, but these are too damn expensive (even second hand) and often too heavy/bulky. I hear fellow younger bikers saying heavy for them are 650 and 900 cc engines. They seem to consider 1000 and 1200 to be cool and powerful but almost "obese". They would buy them or at least test them, but they lack the entire price ticket at the bank.
I would say the "golden bike" right now would be: price under 5k€ for small engines and under 10k€ for medium to heavies, weight under 200kg, modern quality, stable and precise chassis inspiring confidence, basic modern features like ABS/ anti-slip etc. (got smartphones for the rest).
Sounds simple, but apparently manufacturers prefer big units with big margins...
thank you for the respect shown to the horses !
Motorcycles are for life not just for covid, buy a motorcycle and ditch the car, help reduce congestion and be more fuel efficient at the same time, as over 50% of car journeys in the uk have only one occupant so why choose to sit in a metal box in traffic and then struggle to park when you arrive at your destination,
The British weather might have something to do with it. I commuted on a bike for years, and the only benefit was filtering through traffic. Riding through icy sleet and round wet, diesel strewn roundabouts is a rarely acquired taste if options are available.
Motorcycles are completely over priced. I would absolutely love to own one as I was a keen rider for many years but the price of bikes are insane.
It's not just motorcycles, the price of cars has also rocketed.
Well they won’t be now. It’s a buyers market. There are some bargains right now, get buying.
The end of the "Bulldog Bash", was for me, the writing on the wall.
In Asia 350 cc. scooters are everywhere ! They are selling like hot cake.
Great content! Giving motorcycle enthusiasts an all round view of the terrain! Uncle Stu leaving no stone unturned!
I run a local branch of the Moto Guzzi Club GB, here in Leicestershire. We are all old gits, approaching, at or enjoying retirement. A dying breed - quite literally. Not a young Guzzi owner to be seen! Worryingly.
But then look at the line up of the current model range, all large capacity machines. Where are the V35 to V50 's of yesteryear?
@@flickthenick - all gone. I still have a V50. A Monza. A small bike. Ideal for those who have just passed their test. As is the V35.
At some point the prices drop to the point where they are attractive to export to where there is demand.
Happened to the small capacity 4 strokes as a solution to personal transport.
Rare classics will keep going to the USA.
Good luck,it's a minefield out there.
High cc is a scam especially in non western countries that struggle economically.
In turkey a goldwing costs the same as a house.
All liter bikes cost about half as much as a house.
I think the adverts are pre-paid to run in a series so can continue for a while even once a company is in administration or stops trading
Hi, I thought you might like to know that there’s no need for the chrome cross bar attached to your handlebars. This bar is for mounting the front registration plate, a requirement in India where Royal Enfield is manufactured. The company has had the foresight to make this bar detachable for foreign markets so feel free to remove it.😊 It’ll give a clearer view of your clocks and remove some unnecessary weight. Cheers.
Not so. It is a styling feature that references the original late '60s Interceptor that the RE based the current bike on. Indian market bikes appear to mount their front number plates under the headlight - a number plate mounted on the cross bace would not be easily visible & would obscure the instruments . The clamp brackets on the handlebar will only come off after removing all the handelbar furniture, so not a 2 minuite job to remove the cross brace - I know this as I looked to remove mine & came to the conclusion any benefit was not worth the work involved..
Whenever I'm hanging around at my local large dealer and hear anyone ask about any part exchange they immediately say to sell it on ebay and then come with the money, they say it nicely but they're quite clear that if they do take the part ex, it'll be absolutely minimal as they'll just ebay it themselves via a non trader route
The motorcycle industry has always gone up and down, I've been riding long enough to see more than one of these cycles. You are right, there is an interest in the 500cc and below motorcycles, more practical, less cost, and just as much fun.
It's simple cost and less technology and more riding experience wirh sub-500 range plus mileage
Great respect to you for stopping your bike and shutting off the engine when you saw the folks riding horses.
Your comments are 110% correct. BUT when you go into any dealership you hear the PROPERGANDA "WERE DOING OK". I wonder how many Motorcycle Purchases are " BOUGHT IN HASTE REPENT AT LEISURE" !!. Look at the volume of LATE PLATE BIKES for sale with very low milage / use. Private sellers are asking silly prices , to clear finance.!!.
I aso see when going in "Dealerships " At the door line of SOLD BIKES / Scooters with Big Display Sheets "SOLD" !!!. Remember J&S Doncaster Monday just inside door " Line 10/12 all sold was total B/ S. Seen similar at Grimsby Dealership So much stock you have to push your way in, but no doubt "Were Doing Ok". Overage stock ...Some been there " 1" year +.
Good news on the small capacity bikes, it would be interesting to know the demgraphic buying them. Surely there's an opening for dealers to act as interlocutors between sellers and buyers? If they kept a register of both the could still make a margin to the benefit of all without servicing a debt. Only the nimble survive at such times.
The small bike sales increase is probably due to all of the lawyers and doctors moonlighting as fast food couriers on the 125cc scooters
I bought an RE Hunter 350 this year (which I love) but have also looked at a bigger bike - on insurance costs I could have an early-2000s ZX12R for similar money to the Hunter, but the insurance was 50-odd quid a year cheaper for a bike with ten times the power output, so its no surprise people might not be buying new bikes!
The ZX12 would probably qualify for classic insurance so biking on a budget a good condition older bike might make sense. There is a local dealer to me that specialises in used good quality motorcycles from around 2000
Dealers closing down is nothing new.
When I started riding in 1976 there were main dealers in Huddersfield for the 4 Japanese makes + MZ + a couple of small independants. Today there is one delaer who sells new Benelli + S/H. Bradford & Halifax much the same - both had a wide slection of dealers & makes available, now gone. The large "box shifters" DC Cook & Carnells went ages ago also.
Reference was made to "sales", but how many liter + bikes are actually sold ? Most seem to be rented through PCP deals, which puts 2 - 3 year old bikes back into the dealerships. PCP deals going bad very nearly caused HD to fail in an earlier financial downturn, with buyers returning the bikes & stopping payments + HD had provided the finance. A glut of nearly new bikes undermined production of new ones & caused closure of at least one HD plant.
Various reasons, but the current prevalent reason amongst smaller independants seems to be the age of the proprietors (closure on retiring) or larger dealers being bought up by large chains so loss of choice/competition. And when one of these large, heavily leveraged chains folds (as will almost certainly happen again) large areas will be left dealerless.
While I have run litre bikes in the past, there seems little reason to do so now - nowhere to be able to use the performance other than the track if you want to keep your licence, so an excercise in frustration having instant performance that you can't use yet costs a fortune. I took an RE Classic 500 to Germany this year and at times that was too much performance for the speed limits ! Northern Italy & Austria much the same a couple of years ago with an Interceptor 650, so Europe is no better that the UK in that regard.
I looked to change to a 500 earlier this year to replace the Interceptor & the Classic, but couldn't find anything that fit my needs - one reason to downsize would be weight & most current "adventure" 500s (which seem to be the majority of 500s on offer) are heavier than the Interceptor. Time to re-commision the MZ !
I have a Super Meteor 650, and I'm considering the Bear 650 for my next bike. That's as powerful and expensive as I'll go.
Twelve years ago I had a BMW R1150GSA it cost me £97 per year to insure with a value of £8000, I now have a 1002 Triumph Trophy 1200 and it costs me £245 down £48 from last year ( full comp insurance on both) and I'm 58 and a clean license, but when I was 24 or 25 I had a new Triumph Trident 750 and that cost me about £1700 to insure. Next year I will sell my 1200 and get something up to 650cc.
We've had a gap in the market in the UK with a lack of options, zero options, between 125cc and 600cc in recent decades. Its been a good thing to see the return of 300-500cc options at least in last few years
New bikes are now too expensive, bikes are toys that are not essential, I’ve had my ‘04 Fazer 1000 for ten yrs and have no desire to change because it costs almost nothing.
Cars are also expensive, we had a shock when we went to buy a new car in how much they have gone up. There was always the augument with my parents, "How much did you pay for that bike?, you could be bought a car for that", Bikes are not essential transport for many people and are a bit of a plaything, but if you can afford it, why not?
Not really mate, untrue. Really does depend where you are in the world. In Asia bikes aren’t toys, they are crucial mode of transport and in many Asian markets they are the no 1 transport especially south east asia. You go to Asia and bike business is booming year in year out. The U.K. bike scene isn’t anywhere near the vibe like in Asia. You can literally step outside of your hotel and next door hire a Motorcycle with ease, some places you don’t even need a license.
We are talking about the UK where many big bike dealers are going bust.
@@finesoul677 This is true and I've argued that the UK should encourage the use of scooters and motorcycles as everyday transport. I can drive but I prefer to use my 125cc scooter for my shopping and local errands in all but the worst weather
@@gregrsvr3947 then you starting saying their toys😅
You are bang on the money I think Stuart. I had a VFR750 a day out would cost me around £40 in fuel my 125 for the same ride out £5 in fuel I get more enjoyment from my 125 hence I sold the 750 why pay for all that fuel plus tires last longer. A rear tire for my VFR was £140 I used two a year the 125 uses one per year and costs £40. the 125 will cruise at 50mph all day obviously its slower but so are we as we get older. so a lot of older riders are down sizing simply to keep on motorcycling its that simple. The 125cc bike is so much less of a burden on the owner for sure.
Insurance is another big factor as well as the fines that come with riding a big bike. Way too fast. Here in Canada. The situation's similar and owning a speed twin 900 at the moment. I'm wondering if I would have been better off buying a smaller capacity bike. I suspect if the 400 was available from Triumph at the time I was purchasing one I would have gone with the 400
Im an OAPwith full NCB and had a big BMW bike and it was almost impossible to insure without a lock up garage. In London! no longer have it.
On the insurance front. I am 71 and my insurance for the Scram went down this year. Nearly died of shock...
Another thing that has happened is sporadic parts supply. You either had to buy a ton of stock in the pandemic , or have no parts for 3-6months for some consumables. I still have a level of pandemic stock
I bought my new enfield 350 on the 1st of October. Rode it home in torrential rain and its pretty much rained ever since....
I think there’s an increase in people after the cheapest commute and delivery vehicles possible. There’s a huge rise in couriers and delivery drivers, hence more new riders and 125 sales
From Kentucky USA...That ain't the only thing getting smaller as I get older.
BWAAAAHAHAHAHA...
That's new bikes but in used you find that lots of folk still buying larger bikes at a nice discount.
For me 10k is way to much for a bike.
Exchanged my RE super meteor 650 for a 450 Guerrilla. Got a real good deal with the part chop. Never looked back. Love the 450.. By me RE sales of 650's are not an issue.
Anyone who has been watching can see manufacturers have been pushing the smaller cc'd bikes, whether this is by public demand or to coerce bikers on to smaller bikes is up for debate. Personally I think any push to keep us at home is something the government is keen to back. Pay per mile and visas to get out of the counrty is also designed to hit those who tour. No doubt we will see what the budget has to bring with regards this too. My insurance on my smaller bikes has come down this year too.
£54 road tax for a 400. Vs £117 for a 650. Fuel costs and insurance mean a smaller bike is much more affordable for people. Insurance on a ducati V4 is £660 vs £90 for a RE350 or £79 for a Rocket3
As a new rider.age 54 just bought a new cb125f. I am amazed by how many people say I will be breaking my neck to get something bigger.I am using it to learn on for now and next year will use it for a 30 mile each way commute in the warmer months.I will only be coaxed into getting something bigger when I can get a modern equivalent of a 250 super dream or something similar and don't need anything bigger than that.
Money is tight, you say. That's what I thought, but our tourist destinations here in the North East are currently rammed with Brits who can't spend their money fast enough. They are literally queuing up, ten deep, to get ripped off as if they just can't help themselves.
After three years with my BMW R1250GS I sold it as too long legged for what I used it for. Now riding a Honda NC750X and BSA Gold Star 650. Far more enjoyable, practical and much easier to live with. No regrets.
I hope you're feeling better, Stuart.
KTM are struggling. I was about to try and sell the 390, but the KTM importer has pulled out in Thailand, so secondhand prices have dropped. I'm keeping it. It's too good to sell very cheaply.
The relatively cold, wet winter in England must have affected sales. Interesting that the cold summer has been explained away as 'weather' as opposed to 'climate' by some. Nick
im struggling atm to be honest. but thanks for asking. i did think about you when i heard the news.
Is there also a factor in the median age of motorcyclists going up. Bikes are generally bigger and heavier than ever and older guys struggle moving them around. So given most of us ride between 30 and 70 MOST of the time, who needs a 150hp, 500lb bike to push around when you can have as much manageable fun on a smaller, lighter, cheaper machine.
What's not helping at all is the stupid & confusing motorcycle licencing laws
I'm selling my 1200 and getting a 350.
I love the big beast but I don't need the power and don't want the range anxiety as it drinks the tank dry so quickly.
I've managed to get a local small independent dealer to agree to sell my bike, but only on a sale-or-return basis. They are promising me more than 3 other places offered part-ex and seem confident but we'll see.
Then I tried to find a maroon Bullet... None to be found... Argh. The garage is empty!
It seems the motorcycle market is a bit weird, yeah...
pay per mile ...thought they had given up on that ...if not how would that work
It's understandable in a way, but I would have thought that given the UK road tax band for bikes is at 600cc, there should be an increase in sub 600cc bike sales, rather than 500cc, which is somewhat arbitrary in any case.
on a +ve note about big bikes, the GS is the largest seller year on year which as we know is a very expensive bike, the strange outlier and it will be interesting to see where it sits come the end of this year - its closest rival in spring of 2024 was a 125 scooter, weird stat...
I really only think about delivery rider sales when I see this.
Stuart, ive strangely experienced the same drop in insurance cost with my car and so did hubby with his, but not my bike 🤔 will see what happens withh hubbys' bike insurance renewal
Bikes have basically outpriced themselves between 13 to 20k is silly money for anything decent
I suspect the growth of the lower capacity bikes is predominantly the 125cc. Due to the cost of getting a car license or even a 'big boys' bike license: you're looking at the best part of £1000 (double it and add a couple hundred for a car license!). So, spend £150 odd for a CBT and 2k on a decent bike instead and you've got freedom
Excellent presentation, as always Stuart.
Thank you...
Maybe it's a better choice of mid size bikes.
Silly prices and over loaded with tech.
It will seem strange to Roy pidcocks to be gone I've been passing the showroom for many years in long eaton, bmw, ducati, and triumph, they have been going for 50 years or so such a shame.
@@chrisc9376 - very sad. I pass it often during my travels for work. Another bike showroom has closed in Long Eaton as well, some time ago.
there will always be a plentifull supply of oldies!
Bought a Honda from the original Pidcocks in Derby.Roy Pidcock was horrible and surprised they lasted this long.
I’m one of them!
Just part exchanged my 2012 Bonnie for a 650 Kawasaki, dealer was fair, I am happy with my newer smaller bike. Might be a good time to buy a new/newish small 125 for economy and keep/mothball the Kawasaki for later when we get a sensible government?
Very good of you to stop & switch off for the horses Stuart. Reminds me of a friend of mine who came up on a horse, he slowed right down & got a big smile & a wave from the pretty young girl, in reply & gave a couple of blasts on his horn & promptly spooked the horse !
I run a local motorcycle group most of us ride Royal Enfield, we have guys in their 30s upwards to mid 60s but only a couple of ladies, around the lanes of west Sussex my 350 meteor will stay with the bigger Triumph's and Harley's for the 350 ticks all the boxes, our club is doing well but I need to attract some younger riders pre 30 and train them to service their own bike , BaD MCC .
Triumph 400cc bikes look the part and seem a fair price , noted you never mentioned Hardley Movin Sons be interested to know how the sales of Harley's are doing .Up here in the frozen north the main dealer in Aberdeen sells Ktm,Triumph, Honda and Kawasaki all in one massive showroom i think they might be better to get rid of either kawaski or Ktm and get Yamaha instead as the MT range is a massive seller for Yam .
one cycle ends and another begins.its how things work.
Yes small is the ticket got a versys x 300 myself. ❤🎉
No matter who you are and what bike you ride, motorcycling/motorcyclists will always as a general rule be viewed as a 'Marlon Brando rebel type culture, a charicature, stereotype. I always remember an old newspaper headline from the 80s '"If you drink, smoke or drive, its up yours from the chancellor!" Thats basically the budget each year . Anyway, two is better than no wheels