More motorcycles on the road now?

I have seen a lot more on the road here in Albuquerque, is this happening elsewhere?

Is this a good thing or bad?

I think a lot of motorists will become more aware of our little vehicles and become safer to drive around. Am I wrong?

Thanks for the input.

 

gas prices.

 

I think it may have to do with gas prices. Or it could be that I didn’t really take noticed in the past since at the time I hadn’t discovered the joys of motorcycling. Just into my second year into motorcycle ownership. But if there is one thing I see a lot more of these days is scooters. No longer laughed at but looked at as a way to combat high gas prices. A few weeks ago I took my brothers Honda elite 80 scooter out for a spin and filled her up for under $4. What made me snicker was the price that the Hummer H2 had paid before at the same pump. Around $80.

 

All the new guys on big dog's, and all the custom cruisers.. (20K+ ) are here to pickup chicks, mid life crisis etc.. /cough posers..


The higher number riding scooters, enduro's and older bikes.. Gas probly on a number of them..

I just picked up an 82 sec 750, i used to have a honda 500, and have wanted another bike.. (but with 3 kids extra $$ isnt growing on the tree in the back yard)

Figured if I ride it 2/3 or the time it easily pays for the insurance/gas etc..

So it's a self supporting toy..

 

I don't know about now vs then, but I can't believe how many more bikes I see on the road down here in Louisiana than where I used to live in California. There's no comparison.

As far as the gas thing goes, I know several people (and a couple) who recently got bikes with that as their primary justification. Er...I mean "reason".

 

Besides the gas prices, there are more and more of us (like me) middle-aged / old farts having mid-life crises.... There seem to be many more motorcycles here in KC too, with the majority of riders NOT "youngsters"!

I an back to riding now after a 20 year leave of absence. Gas prices made a good excuse to do what I wanted to do anyway. I'd almost forgotten how much I enjoyed it besides the practical aspects. I suspect this pattern is shared by many others.

 

I can vouvh for seeing more bikes on the road now.

Its crazy! I keep hearing them from like 8 in the morning until Im asleep. Its like they are all over!

Gas prices as mentioned and here we have been having decent weather until yesterday

 

I'm in the saddle again because of gas prices and a burning urge to enjoy what mobility I have left. Won't be able to do this too much longer.

 

I've been riding for about 6 years now, I have also noticed allot more bikes on the road. I think some of it is due to gas prices, but I also think most of it has to do with the TV shows about choppers and such. Any way, I hope the cars and trucks and semi trucks look alittle more for us on our bikes.


Chris
NE PA

 

More motorcycles up here in the NW too. A lot of it has to do with gas prices, some has to do with mid-life crisis, some has to do with kids wanting to look cool and some of it has to do with all the darned Harley shops going in. My buddy Sammowry went on a vacation from here to Albequerque (sp? LOL) and said he said Harley dealer after Harley dealer on the way down. The are really pushing their over-priced machines!

 

You can say that again. You know, I could see the scenario playing out where Harleys are pretty much scorned as nothing but a midlife crisis baby boomer bike soon. Or are we already there?

 

All I know is I realy enjoy my rice burner.

 

Dunno about more bikes on the road but I started riding over 40 years ago and there's alot more cars on the road now....

problem here in Philly is that there's alot more unlicensed drivers on the road too....

with more experienced car drivers....they have a certain eye for bikes and kinda know how to watch out but younger drivers don't have the experience to be carefull or RESPECTFUL of bikers.....

I moved down in size to my Harley 1200 Sportster for that very reason...easier to handle in traffic and then I have the Seca 550...it's a much safer bike in traffic......

so, to answer the question...well..theres more bikes in my garage at the moment....

don

 

When I took my motorcycle driving license in April, the tester said she'd never had so many people taking the test than this year.

 

Being a fairly new rider myself, I've heard lots of comments about there bing more riders. The wait to get into a saftey course is months here in NJ. I think gas prices may have something to do with the increase in riders, but I believe that there are simply more people interested in riding than there used to be.

I think it has more to do with what this riding image has become. There are obvioulsy tons of people on Harleys and most of them are people who wouldn't have even considered one in the past. Not that the gangs aren't still out there, but I don't think there's any question that the average guy kind of rider now outnumbers them.

Bikes have become more accepted as reliable as well. Even though we mostly agree that our XJs are tremendously reliable, I don't think most people knew that 10 years ago.

The internet community has helped as well. If it weren't for sites like this one and similar sites for my other bikes, I would have to rely on support from dealers which basically doesn't exist. I can't imagine where I would find parts for my decades old bikes without eBay and forums.

I do hope that more motorcycles on the ride makes car drivers safer to be amongst. At the very least, some of them are now likely to be fellow riders and should be safer. I still see my share of craziness on the road, but to be honest, I see as much of it from fellow riders as I do car drivers. Almost every time I travel I-95 through Philly, I get passed by some knucklehead on a crotch rocket wearing a t-shirt and flip flops doing a wheelie at 80 mph and weaving in and out of traffic. What kills me is they usually have a helmet bungied to their seat. Just don't get that.

They usually pass me and act as if I should be embarrased that they're passing me. As if my 25 year old Seca or Wing is supposed to be able to perform like their bike or that I would ride it that way even if it could.

And if it's not a guy on a sport bike, it's a Harley that's so loud it hurts my ears inside a helmet. There seem to be a lot of riders who are doing nothing to make us more accepted among those on four wheels.

Hopefully, there will be some changes on both sides. More considerate riders and more aware auto drivers would make this a better, safer world for us all. Hopefully the increase in riders will bring this, but only the future can thell.

Greg

 

Geebake, I agree with a lot of what you said. I almost want to start taking pictures of all the folks with lids strapped to the back seat and not to their heads. At least that spot of the seat will be protected in the event of a lay-down.

In my neck of the woods (Chicagoish), there are certainly more bikes on the road then when I started riding in '95. Used to be you waved to any other rider. Now it seems there's a Cruiser wave, the Harley nod, the crotch-rocket two-finger downard point wave (not to be confused with the hand signal for braking). Each kind of keeping to their own because there are so many more of their own out there. Occasionally I encounter another rider like myself who gives a full wave to any other set of 2-3 wheels because s/he's just so damn happy to be riding. But yeah, I coudl see that getting tiring after a short ride.

This is not scientific at all, but I think the massive growth in the number of cruisers avialiable for the last 10 years has had a big impact. Back in the day (generalizing my own impressions) sport bikes were intimidating and expensive to insure. Harelys were expensive, leaky, and loud. Goldwings were expensive and BIG. There was the occasional Nighthawk, Maxim, etc. to catch the middle-of-the-road weekend warrior, but the cruiser seems like a much better fit for a wider range of folks. You can get them big or small. They're low-slung for better flat-footing and low-speed handling by shorter folk and women. You can get them cheap or expensive. Dress 'em up or leave 'em plain. Throw on saddle bags and load it down with gear. Put on a tombstone or catch bugs in your teeth. And you can get them from just about any manufacturer these days. That can't be hurting our numbers.

Just my two cents.

 

I see that more and more now myself... I think that whats happening is that before the people on bikes were in love with the sport - we just had to ride and wanted to ride since the moment we first saw a bike. Anyone on the road understood that and was a brother. As a result you waved in mutual respect to any and all riders.

Now it's changed.
(STEREOTYPES MODE ON)
You've got older people jumping into the cruiser/harley scene. They are bike snobs. If it isn't a Harley then it isn't a bike - to a lesser extent the metric snobs).

You've got the young kids on the sportbikes. They don't have a clue about riding culture and meet up for wheelie/stoppie fun after their highway blasts... They don't wave to anyone - they are gods and you should wave to them if they permit you to.

Then you've got us. We just want to ride. We have old bikes and either don't have the money for a new one or don't see the point - this old one works just fine. We wave because we're having fun and think you should be too.

(STEREOTYPE Mode OFF)

Seriously - riding culture is really changing. Sure we still talk about stopping for a stranded comrade on two but how many of us actually do now? Back in the day you'd give the guy your spare part so he could limp home, a week later it would return in the mail with a thank you... I don't know if that happens anymore.

It seems to be changing in that some people have more disposible incomes, riding is more 'main stream'... everyone has a bike or knows a close friend that does. I just worry that this influx will lead to a knee jerk reaction by our best-interest goverments that screws this all up. This influx of non-rider non-Riders (capital R for the people that get the culture) getting in over their heads and Darwining themselves enmass.

 

Hang on Woot, I'm an older person and I would'nt touch a Harley with a barge pole. Had 3 mate's back in England rode hogs, that is they rode theirhogs when they were not repairing them. One daft bugger dropped his of the sidestand and had to get help from two passersby to get it upright again.

Faighaigh.

 

That's the problem with stereotypes... there certainly are young people who ride harleys and older people who don't.

What I was more interested in was the division forming in the riding world.

 

I actually disagree Woot. I think, for the most part, riders of different sorts are pretty tolerant of one another. The crotch rocket crowd seem to be th least tolerant to me. I've been around the local Harley crowd quite a bit. When I've ridden with them, usually on my Goldwing, they go out of their way to let me know that they're nto bothered by my not having a Harley.

Greg

 

Then I think you've found a group of Riders - the best kind of people. I think I'd have been better not to have mentioned the stereotypes at all and focus more on the difference between riders and Riders.

There are good and bad in all crowds. I don't think riders are bad - I just think in the past the proportion of riders to Riders was different - more Riders on the street... now with the changes in the biking world I'm starting to think Riders are the minority.

Some of the bastions of Riders have been forums like this - where it is mostly about helping others and meeting new people. This isn't the bragging and showboat type forum where it a group of people pounding their chests.

I suppose to generalize again, and most of these don't work, it's the difference between an Us type group and a Me type group.

Dunno... I'm ranting/rambling...

 

To me - a Riders would say 'It's not what you ride, it's that you ride'

A rider might say - 'meh - that's a slow old bike'.

 

And finally - on topic - - There certainly are lots of bikes out this year... haven't seen as many large groups before... nor groups as large.

 

I couldn't agree with you more here. In fact, the first time I rode with the Harley guys, I felt kind of out of place and several of them came up to me and said, "as long as it gets you riding, it's a good bike." That is the kind of sentiment that I appreciate.

You're right about groups like this too. I suspect that before there were communities like this, there were an awful lot of bikes -- of all types -- sitting in garages because their owners just needed the input of others to get it running. I love reading the annecdotes here of guys, like me, who are by no means mechanics, but with a little help can generally get the job done.

Greg

 

I had a simular problem with my riding gear - and when I was riding my old zx600r. The cruiser/standard crowd I was riding with (no one here, nor from the local xj crowd here) didn't like my bike. To them it was a crotch rocket. My gear was a space suit and that the bike would get me killed.

Often it was silly things like when getting gas one or two of them would scoot ahead and steal the next pump available... other times it was the last chair for a table. I rode my xj with them with no problems. I didn't hang out there for very long as a result.

I had the same problem with the sportbike crowd. My suit wasn't leather and my bike was as much as 10 years their senior. It was slow and I couldn't do any wheelies... this was a lesser problem as it wasn't an active exclusion but a lets talk about this instead.

So - I became a mostly solo rider... and I'm having more fun now anyhow. Two nights ago I had one of those moments. Back road, no traffic 60mph loping along in a 50mph zone (converted from metric approx)... fresh lupins and not a care in the world. Absolutely glorious. A single truck came up from behind and I moved aside and waved him through. I wasn't in a hurry I was appreciating that very moment.

Sounds like you've found yourself a good group... and that is a very rewarding thing. Stopping after a few hours on the road for a lunch with the other Riders - and then grabbing some more road together... fantastic.

woot.

 

I have been very lucky. I've actually found several groups of really excellent people. I also enjoy the solo thing. Long rides alone can be very meditative for me. I guess variety is truly the spice of life.

I just wish I could get together with some fellow XJers for a ride!!!!!!!!!!

Greg

 

People in my area seem to be pretty freindly, regardless of type. I'll admit the crotch rocket crowd seems to be the most reserved towards my ol' beast, but I think that's just an age thing. One thing about youth, you'll always outgrow it...

 

I live in Richmond VA...
Last summer if I took a drive around the city I might have seen 2 or three motorcycles around.
This summer when I take a drive around the city city, I see on average 20-30 motorcycles and scooters. (Scooters are more prevalent than motorcycles here)
While last summer there were 2 people that owned and rode scooters regularly, or at least it was the same 2 people that I saw on the roads regularly.

I have no doubt that this scooter craze is due to Gas prices and broke collage students.

As for how people on motorcycles act this year VS last, I have been waved at twice but mostly ignored. We have a few crotch rocket gangs around here I try to avoid them as much as possible… those idiots are like mini missiles just waiting to take something out.


Anyway on a more personal note, I bought my XJ to ride and save some money. As it turns out I like working on it more than I like riding it. Which works out well since to keep it running its seems I have to work on it a lot

 

Aschullhoff, I know what you mean. I never thought I'd enjoy mechanical work, but I do, and the pride of accomplishment is beyond belief!

 

I agree about the mechanical work. It's certainly good for the ego!

I really don't think gas prices are that responsible for more riders. The expense of getting into riding is so high, even if you buy an older, less expensive bike, that I think it would discourage most. Bike, insurrance, hopefully a safety course. It may push some people that were already starting to think of getting into riding though.

One thing I've noticed is that I don't really see more old bikes on the road than I used to. I see more new or newer bikes which are expensive. Perhaps a college student that has a choice between a used car and a bike could be persuaded to go with a bike, but I think that's unique. I can't imagine a bike as my only transportation and I think most are that way. Anyone here have a bike and no car? Maybe if you live in a more temperate climate, but it wouldn't make much sense in the great NorthEast.

Anyway, enough of my yakking!

Greg

 

That's me; my other half has a car, but I just have a bike.

 

i'd vote gas prices. that is why I just got this 85 maxim x for my dad and got it road worthy for him. also, has anyone seen the prices of xjs??? my god, they are getting pricey, again, I think due to gas prices.

 

When I went to the Registry of Motor Vehicles to get my motorcycle permit, the clerk commented that she had never seen so many people getting permits/licenses for motorcycles. I think that for most people that make up the increase, its the price of gas. As Geebake says, a motorcycle is not necessarily cheaper, but for me the appeal is that it uses less gas; the insurance and safety course is money into the local economy, and buying less gas means less of my money going to O.P.E.C. and ExxonMobile.

 

Not anymore, but for about a year and a half while I was in college that was the case. My car blew up the day I got my Seca. Grocery-getting with a Seca in a Chicago winter - it can be done, but it's not always plesant. That said, I didn't need a vehicle to actually get to school or my job and could walk for food if I had too, so it was a different situation than your average daily commuter's or the odd boonie denizen's.

BTW, I tried doing some light googling for DMV reports of motorcycle registrations to see if an upward trend/spike was obvious. I came up pretty empty. The closest I got was a report from Arizona that was pretty detailed about vehicle registration trends. Unfortunately, it lumped motorcycles in the 'other' category with a buch of non-commercial non-automobile stuff (like RVs). If anyone wants to try digging deeper into this, it'd be cool to see some actual numbers.

 

No way around it , there are more bikes on the road. Back in the late 70's and all through the 80's there was no club like Southern Cruisers. None. Now they are big enough to be the 4th largest contributer to St. Jude's Children Research Hospital. I was talking to a bike vendor at the NTCC and he informed me that Yamaha has sold all their 2006 V-Star 1100's. They are now making the 2007 models.
Shows like American Chopper and West Coast Choppers are here because demographics show a market for them. Their success bears out the demographics. There are also bike rallys all over the state, (any state) where there were none. I would have to agree that the big jump this year is very much influenced by fuel prices.

 

Man, I'm ticked right now. I thought about this thread all the way home. Well, all the way from where my bike broke down. I just finished walking about two miles in 90 degree (33 or so for you Celsius fans!) in who knows what humidity here in Louisiana. Helmet in hand. Funny, the bikes that passed me didn't wave or anything. In fact, they were purposely staring to the other side of the road as they passed so hard, I'm surprised they didn't end up in the ditch. Thanks, brothers....

Sorry; maybe I expect too much, but if I saw someone in that situation, walking with their helmet, I'd like to think I'd stop. I hope I would.

 

I think I would have stopped for you Jazzmoose..... hmmm, unless you look like your avitar..... :lol:

 

You wouldn't happen to have antlers on your helmet would you?

 

So what happened to the bike?

 

ive had a break from riding for about 3 years now, and ajust recently purchased an older bike which I'm fixing up currently. I have just got to say that this has got to be my sixth or seventh mid life crisis in the last 15 years Ive been riding street bikes!

 

In connection to a recent story about The Steeler's QB who face-planted off his bike (I knwo his name, just not how to spell it ) and the idea of re-examining our state helmet laws (Illinois), the DOT spokesperson mentioned that from 2004 to now, motorcycle sales have doubled. I don't know if that was new bike sales, or all registrations, or what.

He also mentioned that motorcycle fatalaties are up in the state as well, but I don't remember hte percentage increase, so I'm not going to throw a number out here.

 

Finally got it home a few days later, riding it about a third of a mile each day before it stopped again. I apologize for not responding earlier, but I've been so frustrated I was even avoiding this website, considering offers to buy the bike and trying to purchase a piddly new bike like a Rebel that I wouldn't have to work on. Now that I've worked my way through the funk, it's time to get busy trying to fix her again!

 

I most certainly understand that. If there is anything I can do to help I will. Is it the carbs or an electrical problem? NOt trying to push you , just help. If you still need to stay away from the issue I'll shutup. I have been there and know how you can't deal with it until you are ready. These things can take a lot of you out of you.

 

Amen to that Jazzmoose. But eventually you'll get it figured out.

Saturday evening, I was ready to drop a match in the gas tank. I spent all evening looking up used bikes andnew trying to figure out what to buy.

Sunday, I took a fresh look at the bike, didn't assume I knew more than I did (just because the carb levels were OK when I put them back on the bike doesn't mean they're not sticking now), and got her running like a champ. I wish you the same luck.

 

More bikes on the road now than a couple of years ago? I would say yes. Bikes in general have been getting more reliable and practical. Manufacturers are also producing so many different models. Gas prices probably have a bit of an impact, but many bikes don't do that much better than a small car for gas mileage. The fact that its summer makes the biggest difference here in WA. In the winter you will seldom see a motorcycle (its always raining/cold), but now that its sunny they're everywhere.

 

Yeah, I think you've nailed it with this post. I'm not starting on the bike until my next day off (Wednesday), and I'm going to do my best to approach the problem like I've never seen it before. I have a feeling my assumptions are a major roadblock.