U.s. Motorcycle Riders Aging, And Leaving Market

[DaveM]

I mentioned on the forum some time back that it seems our forum members registering over laterly all seem to be in the older age rang and we seeing a lot of members that are well over 50.

So I was doing a bit of searching on this and found this report it is a bit old but I am sure it holds true even more so today. So it looks like we sure are a dying breed and you wonder what the future will hold.

Then again when a lot of us started riding back then bikes were a cheaper transport than the average car. Now if we look at the prices of bikes you can get a very nice entry level car for the same price and if not cheaper.

So is the motorcycle industry pricing themselves out of existence?

Read the full report here - J.D. Power Study: U.S. Motorcycle Riders Aging, and Leaving Market « MotorcycleDaily.com – Motorcycle News, Editorials, Product Reviews and Bike Reviews

Below is the press release issued by J.D. Power this morning concerning their 2010 U.S. Motorcycle Competitive Information Study. The summary of the study contained in the press release is interesting for a number of reasons, not the least of which is the report that U.S. motorcycle buyers continue to get older, and are not being replaced with a sufficient number of new customers. According to the study the average rider age in the United States has increased from 40 to 49 years since 2001. Think about this for a minute, the average U.S. rider is nearly 50 years old. Additionally, the study concludes that “the percentage of first-time buyers has declined for a second consecutive year.” Here is the press release.

 

[Rocky]

Prices certainly are going up. No doubt about that.
But I don't think we're a dying breed yet.

 

[triumph david]

I agree with you Rocky, and there are still bikes out there that are priced right for all different riders.

 

[DaveM]

I do notice many more scooter owners on the road these days so that seems to also be a contributing factor. When I was young you would not be seen riding a scooter, oh the shame of it

 

[turtleman]

2 wheels are 2 wheels, much better than 4

 

[Rocky]

Lots of scooters here too. All the Japanese bike dealers sell them and we also have a Vespa dealer and a very active scooter club.
A couple of years ago the president of the scooter club came to one of our club meetings and proposed a "Mods and Rockers" ride which we agreed to, but that's the last we heard of it.
And we promised to leave our chains and brass knuckles home and not beat them up

The Distinguished Gentlemen's Ride is coming up on Sunday and I expect to see lots of scooters there.

 

[hemibee]

Another issue around here is the oil & gas lay offs. A lot of folks are getting out of riding due to job loss. No one seems to be able to sell their used bike and dealers have to many previous year(s) bikes that are still on the showroom floor that in many cases are selling for what a lot of folks are asking for their used bikes.

 

[triumph david]

Now is a good time to pick up a good bike for a good price, but of coarse that takes money too!

 

[JSchitt]

Old bikers never die.
They simply smell that way.