Very good point and I fully agree. To put some of your worries at bay; I'm 25 and my only mode of transport to my mon-fri commute, is and has been for the past 3 years, motorcycles. I've gone from a 2001 cg125 to a 1986 vt250f, after getting hit off that I went through both crf300l and cb500f hire bikes, and am now the proud owner of a 1989 xbr500. I have to agree that there's not a lot of us... but we're out there!
All of my friends, everyone of them gave up their bikes in the 80s for various reasons. I always ran at least one bike even during my leanest time. Theres always been 5 or 6 since the 90s to the present day. A right mixture from 1930s to current. Friends that pop round invariably gravitate to the garage with a cuppa and the sad looks in their eyes is haunting. I say, " come on, the kids are grown, you've got plenty in the bank", and the like but SOMETHING is holding them back. Damned if I know what it is though. I get comments like, " its alright for you, you're lucky", but it's not luck, it's dogged determination to do the one thing for ME that gives me something back and keeps me happy and young. There is hope my neighbours lad is learning. He's already had his vintage GS125 round to me for surgery and a teaching session or two. But I get your point, there are no gangs of young lads on scruffy barely running bangers any more.
Good video, we have noticed the same with a lack of younger people at bike events, its not helped by the huge cost of training to get your licence, unfortunately I think we are starting to see the end of motorcycling which could be completely gone in 20 - 30 years
I think over the years the motorcycle test has got increasingly harder & harder which has put a lot of people off, I haven't had a bike myself for quite a number of years although I do still hanker after one so maybe I'll get another one in the near future soon.
Me and my buddies chat about this subject on and off and apart from the ageing biker demographic the roads are becoming more and more crammed with traffic and poor driving (bikers too) the roads are also badly maintained and speed and other restrictions all add up to a less appealing prospect to ride a petrol powered bike especially with the zero carbon whatnot looming🤷🏼♂️ Our age group and slightly older enjoyed the best years and now hope for another half a dozen years freedom…..’ish rideouts🤔
Totally agree but must say i find that even in my 60s i go to meets/clubs and it’s very rare that someone starts a conversation makes me feel welcome. Might be time to pack up, sell my 9or10😢
@@MotorcycleReclamation Same here - I go out of my way to start conversations about anything and everything. You soon know if someone's not interested and you just move on. Not a lot I can do about being in my 70's though. That's a bit of a fixture unfortunately.
Im sure I remember the saying "The lost generation ", young guys who would never experience the fun of riding/owning a bike, probably because they were put off by the fact that the bike test has got more difficult and costly.............
i'm a lacks biker, last time i had a bike was in the late 70s, never past my test but i could ride a 125cc, and if memory serves, which it normally doesnt, you could go up to 150cc, 175cc, anything under 250cc you could ride without passing a test... i recently had the thought of getting myself a bike again, and the rules now are just stupid, cant even have a bike without taking the CBT, which only last two years, and you need two modules to pass to get anything over 125cc..... even then you have to have learner plates for a while... it just puts you off, it did me anyway, seems purposely anti biking that, this is why most of the bikers now are my age, they past a simple test back in the day, and it still stands today, where new riders have to jump through hoops
Coming from a 25 year old, most of them/us have just been scared into thinking they'll die, that or they haven't had any form of introduction to it so it's alien. It's not that they wouldn't enjoy it if those things were addressed more.
Very good point and I fully agree. To put some of your worries at bay; I'm 25 and my only mode of transport to my mon-fri commute, is and has been for the past 3 years, motorcycles. I've gone from a 2001 cg125 to a 1986 vt250f, after getting hit off that I went through both crf300l and cb500f hire bikes, and am now the proud owner of a 1989 xbr500. I have to agree that there's not a lot of us... but we're out there!
Love an XBR got 4x here and GB400TT had my 1st new in 86
All of my friends, everyone of them gave up their bikes in the 80s for various reasons. I always ran at least one bike even during my leanest time. Theres always been 5 or 6 since the 90s to the present day. A right mixture from 1930s to current. Friends that pop round invariably gravitate to the garage with a cuppa and the sad looks in their eyes is haunting. I say, " come on, the kids are grown, you've got plenty in the bank", and the like but SOMETHING is holding them back. Damned if I know what it is though. I get comments like, " its alright for you, you're lucky", but it's not luck, it's dogged determination to do the one thing for ME that gives me something back and keeps me happy and young. There is hope my neighbours lad is learning. He's already had his vintage GS125 round to me for surgery and a teaching session or two. But I get your point, there are no gangs of young lads on scruffy barely running bangers any more.
Good video, we have noticed the same with a lack of younger people at bike events, its not helped by the huge cost of training to get your licence, unfortunately I think we are starting to see the end of motorcycling which could be completely gone in 20 - 30 years
@JOOLZNED That's a sad thought i wouldn't want you live in that world.... which is probably what the government has planned
I think over the years the motorcycle test has got increasingly harder & harder which has put a lot of people off, I haven't had a bike myself for quite a number of years although I do still hanker after one so maybe I'll get another one in the near future soon.
@tichwykes That's the spirit. I avoid rush hours which helps my sanity. Did motorways to bike show on Saturday 2 up, not such fun
Me and my buddies chat about this subject on and off and apart from the ageing biker demographic the roads are becoming more and more crammed with traffic and poor driving (bikers too) the roads are also badly maintained and speed and other restrictions all add up to a less appealing prospect to ride a petrol powered bike especially with the zero carbon whatnot looming🤷🏼♂️
Our age group and slightly older enjoyed the best years and now hope for another half a dozen years freedom…..’ish rideouts🤔
@scenegenie2235 yes there is alot against bikers, such a shame in 80s we had a great time learning and riding all the time
Totally agree but must say i find that even in my 60s i go to meets/clubs and it’s very rare that someone starts a conversation makes me feel welcome. Might be time to pack up, sell my 9or10😢
That's odd. I talk to everyone, possibly too much, but always interesting what you get to talking about
@@MotorcycleReclamation Same here - I go out of my way to start conversations about anything and everything. You soon know if someone's not interested and you just move on. Not a lot I can do about being in my 70's though. That's a bit of a fixture unfortunately.
As someone taking my test, I will tell you. It’s a nightmare.
@jendrizzyy yes seems so, hope you get through it with not too much pain as it is worth it
Im sure I remember the saying "The lost generation ", young guys who would never experience the fun of riding/owning a bike, probably because they were put off by the fact that the bike test has got more difficult and costly.............
i'm a lacks biker, last time i had a bike was in the late 70s, never past my test but i could ride a 125cc, and if memory serves, which it normally doesnt, you could go up to 150cc, 175cc, anything under 250cc you could ride without passing a test... i recently had the thought of getting myself a bike again, and the rules now are just stupid, cant even have a bike without taking the CBT, which only last two years, and you need two modules to pass to get anything over 125cc..... even then you have to have learner plates for a while... it just puts you off, it did me anyway, seems purposely anti biking that, this is why most of the bikers now are my age, they past a simple test back in the day, and it still stands today, where new riders have to jump through hoops
@@simtime7591 you can ride 125cc but can do the easy access course to full size bikes
It's not for you to 'do' anything. They don't like what you like.
Coming from a 25 year old, most of them/us have just been scared into thinking they'll die, that or they haven't had any form of introduction to it so it's alien. It's not that they wouldn't enjoy it if those things were addressed more.
Get rid of these electric scooters.
@BatterseaBill Would help, dangerous little gits, no manners, no lights... no police interested in doing anything though