Are Young People Afraid of Motorcycles? Millenials and Gen Z Live in Fear

He is right about so many things...media generated fear for instance. But as applied to the sport of motorcycling, I dont think its a big thing with the kids. They dont even want cars....
How many kids even want to know how to adjust a chain and keep it lubed?
You can find all sorts of "facts" about motorcycle safety then and now on the web.

Facts + Statistics: Motorcycle crashes | III

www.iii.org

All I know is I have fewer close calls driving back roads to Reno than going on the slab into overcrowded Spokane and dealing with agressive drivers and distracted drivers. So much so that I have changed my riding techniques. So is motorcycling more dangerous now than 1970? I would say in certain areas of the country...Like Spokane WA where numbers of written tickets have been cut in half and accidents have doubled, yes. We have one trooper, Barry Marcus, who has written 4,000 DWI tickets. I am not gonna asked him how many were plea bargined down cause it would frighten me. But I bet going to Spearfish, and home, I have less close calls per X miles than I have if I were dumb enough to ride around Spokane alot on a bike.
 
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I am not sure fear is the biggest factor in newer bike riders. It is part of it. Also I agree that the interest is not there today as it was in the 70's and the time/skills it takes to maintain a bike safe and ready to ride is mostly not there.
It is probably not logical to even compare the 70's to today's world. Too many things are completely different. Even the bikes are different, how many 2 strokes you see today?

Arknt
 
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Cost of living, inflation, and paychecks that don't scale to match. A lot of Gen Z and Millennials ain't got the scratch to be getting into motorcycles and it certainly isn't a priority. That said, I see plenty of young folks at the local bike get togethers. :shrug2:
 
One factor not mentioned are the costs of actually going on tour...
Two weeks on the road mean fuel, accommodation, food & beverages and an equivalent on service/maintenance (tire wear, etc...)
How's that against a package offer of 2 weeks binge-drinking in an all inclusive resort with 24/7 techno-clubbing...
 
I don't think they are necessarily "afraid of motorcycles" but have much different desires and goals than most of us. I also believe that long-term job stability or the lack of the same is factor today where it wasn't for many of us.
 
Read the NT Rally post. Snow, freezing temps, wind, you have to be nuts to ride a motorcycle.
A person could be so comfy in an air-conditioned SUV or inside playing video games.
This confirms bike riders are nuts.
Maybe good nuts, but still crazy.

Arknt
 
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ARKNT said:
Read the NT Rally post. Snow, freezing temps, wind, you have to be nuts to ride a motorcycle.
A person could be so comfy in an air-conditioned SUV or inside playing video games.
This confirms bike riders are nuts.
Maybe good nuts, but still crazy.

Arknt
Click to expand...
Ok, we're nuts. Now tell us something we don't already know. ;)
 
ST1100Y said:
One factor not mentioned are the costs of actually going on tour...
Two weeks on the road mean fuel, accommodation, food & beverages and an equivalent on service/maintenance (tire wear, etc...)
How's that against a package offer of 2 weeks binge-drinking in an all inclusive resort with 24/7 techno-clubbing...
Click to expand...
15 to 20 years ago; ie early 2000's; when I had a job that allowed me to take a 3-week vacation every Sept.
My coworkers wear jealous when they heard me living on only $400 for those three weeks.
Gas was cheap, camping was just as cheap (in some states, state campgrounds were free in Sept), the "Dollar Menu" at fast food places was really a dollar menu, etc ....
 
ett said:
My coworkers wear jealous when they heard me living on only $400 for those three weeks.
Click to expand...
Motorcycles aren't the poor man's means of transportation anymore...
The gear alone; a halfway decent helmet goes for € 600,-, the BT coms kit for it another € 240,-...
Proper touring jacket € 700,-, pants € 400,-, boots, gloves (several), transtex underwear...
(and then the bleach-blonde at a hotel reception mumbles "...uhm, don't know if our house is within your price range..."; alone the clothes on my body cost more then she earns a month...)
 
Over here there is no such requirement to spend money on common sense safety gear. Many riders of new bikes wear ordinary clothes without helmet, gloves, or boots. Sad but true.
 
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ett said:
I've seen all type of riders doing that.
But I've never seen that same one twice. 🤔
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A certain forum member does it all the tiime using helmet electronics. I now leave my helmet bug at home. I don't like distractions and don't multi task well.
 
Coyote Chris said:
A certain forum member does it all the tiime using helmet electronics. I now leave my helmet bug at home. I don't like distractions and don't multi task well.
Click to expand...
I always first "train" with new toys aboard... on well known roads, running errands, from/to workplace...
Like the wired intercom, the GPS kit, the tunes, the Kenwood radio, now the Blue Tooth thingy...
Phone was only connected once, briefly...
Folks are reckless, you already tell them that you're off duty, on vacation, on a motorcycle, on a busy m/way... but they just keep on yapping, forcing you to pull over and stop... :rolleyes:
No one is worth risking my life, or those of others over... no one...
I'm already busy avoiding my very own possible errors... and anticipate the 100 possible errors of the 10 drivers in proximity... stack your priorities accordingly...
 
I have a comm system in my helmet. I only use it to communicate with my son when we ride together and take a rare phone call. It will receive FM radio and BT music from my phone, but I never use it. The only other use is to hear instructions from the GPS.

Mike
 
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