Is the Era of the Motorcycle Over?

[shah269 0]

http://www.nytimes.com/2011/11/06/opinion/sunday/is-the-iphone-replacing-the-motorcycle.html?_r=3&adxnnl=1&adxnnlx=1321891271-Mt96BYfSs92FJP3uw/nFIQ

Jeff Nash, a gentleman and one of the great Ducati racebike tuners in America, and a racer himself, deplores the passivity of the young who would rather be home with their iPads playing computer games than astride the red-meat lightning of an 1198 Superbike blazing down a Texas highway making that unmistakable growling deep Ducati sound.

it is a very sad day....these hipsters need to be killed off....

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[JohnRich 4]

No. http://www.google.com/search?q=motorcycle+sales+by+year

[shah269 0]

Yeah I saw the numers on BMW and HD...
Intersting. But they did not indicate what type of bike they were selling more of?
And who, as in what age, bought these bikes.

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[normiss 895]

That statement tells me you know very little of the motorcycle industry.

[peanut_gallery 0]

I think motorcycle sales are up in part because of gas prices. I can go 250 miles on $16 of fuel.

And unless the youths come money or have a decent job, its easier for them to afford a $500 ipad over a $17k motorcycle. With the way things are now I imagine its harder for the younger generation to get financing for a bike.

For the last 4 years a motorcycle has been the only mode of transportation that I've owned. I recently bought a $300 car just so I can deal with the colorado winters.

[shah269 0]

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That statement tells me you know very little of the motorcycle industry.

Not many kids I know rock the Gold Wing.

But yes as the price of energy goes up bikes will be more of an option for some. But as for the "cool" factor that bikes are.....

I'm not sure if this article is right or wrong? If you ask me bikes are in your blood. My grandfather rode, my uncle rides and so do many other of the guys on my mothers side of the family. And thus, I have to admit it is in my blood to ride. Sure the GPZ is sitting in the garage in need of some major carburetor work but...I have it...and it's close to my heart.

Can you say the same thing about the latest I pad/phone/WTF?

I'm an evolutionist I believe we do what we do subconsciously to get laid. Sure it's amazing sure it's fun sure it's (fill in the blank) but in the end it's about getting your summer sausage invited to the pick nick. As such I'm not so sure about bikes being on the way out?
Yes they are expensive! Yes they are not safe! And yes in many parts of our country they are very impractical.

But we still ride....
Can we say the same about the younger guys?
What gets them more ass? A second hand 500 or the latest I phone?

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[shropshire 0]

Anyone who does not have goose bumps at the sound of a V-twin on song deserves their boring lack-luster life (fuck 'em)

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[shah269 0]

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Anyone who does not have goose bumps at the sound of a V-twin on song deserves their boring lack-luster life (fuck 'em)

Do L twins count?
How about V4's?
With gear driven cams...oh baby...matched up with super trap pipes!

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[PiLFy 3]

What??? That writer is on crack. Bikes are better than ever nowadays. Ducks are a bad example to run with, though. They're too expensive, & have too many problems to warrant the costs. Sure, an 1199 is pure visceral nirvana. Right until the freakin frame cracks by the steering stem @11K miles... Totally unacceptable.

[shah269 0]

ZX-14?

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[PiLFy 3]

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ZX-14?

We need a [PUKE] emoticon here... It's a Kaw (COW). Nough Said.

If a big speedy beast is your thing? Hop on the 'Bus(a), Gus. There are great bikes for every taste.

[Squeak 17]

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Anyone who does not have goose bumps at the sound of a V-twin on song deserves their boring lack-luster life (fuck 'em)

It's DONE son

You are not now, nor will you ever be, good enough to not die in this sport (Sparky)
My Life ROCKS!
How's yours doing?

[shropshire 0]

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Anyone who does not have goose bumps at the sound of a V-twin on song deserves their boring lack-luster life (fuck 'em)

It's DONE son

Nice - have fun loads and loads of fun

Saw a wonderful Guzzi Cafe Racer on Sunday ... Chrome tank - nice pipes ... really clean


Looked something like [url http://www.pipeburn.com/home/2011/7/26/review-2011-moto-guzzi-v7-racer.html]this[/ur]

(.)Y(.)
Chivalry is not dead; it only sleeps for want of work to do. - Jerome K Jerome

[skydiver30960 0]

...given the number of motorcyclists we scrape up off the roadway while at work: not at all.

Elvisio "and no, it's not always the cagers' fault" Rodriguez

[PiLFy 3]

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...given the number of motorcyclists we scrape up off the roadway while at work: not at all.

Elvisio "and no, it's not always the cagers' fault" Rodriguez

Crippled is crippled... Who cares whose fault it was?

PiLFy "that's why I finally gave 'em up" B.A. Newbie.

[shah269 0]

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ZX-14?

We need a [PUKE] emoticon here... It's a Kaw (COW). Nough Said.

If a big speedy beast is your thing? Hop on the 'Bus(a), Gus. There are great bikes for every taste.

Oh come on that's a fracking nice bike!
I rode one the other day and it was like a Cadillac!
Or a leviathan
still not sure...but when you twisted your right wrist things got all star trek like!
I do like the Busa it is a great bike. But the ZX-14 has this look as if it's going to eat small children of wall street bankers and tear their flesh off while it makes their parents watch....it just looks evil! Ever stare at one...it makes your skin crawl!
If Satan rode a bike.....I would have to say it would be a fire breathing ZX-14

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[PiLFy 3]

Sorry Shah,
I've owned two Kawis in my life. One of which I bought brand new. I sold both due to mechanical shortcomings. There's a reason Kawis are usually cheaper. There's a reason they're usually heavier, slower, less better handling, etc... There's also a reason you read of metallurgy failures w/them from time to time. Come on, Shah. You already got burned on the GPZ you've got. Tell me you don't see piss poor engineering in that.

[AggieDave 6]

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Sorry Shah,
I've owned two Kawis in my life. One of which I bought brand new. I sold both due to mechanical shortcomings. There's a reason Kawis are usually cheaper. There's a reason they're usually heavier, slower, less better handling, etc... There's also a reason you read of metallurgy failures w/them from time to time. Come on, Shah. You already got burned on the GPZ you've got. Tell me you don't see piss poor engineering in that.

So that's why there are still KZ1000's in service with police departments all across the country?

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[normiss 895]

I was wondering the same thing.


They've done well with the GPz's and the Concours as well.

[AggieDave 6]

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I was wondering the same thing.


They've done well with the GPz's and the Concours as well.

My Vulcan rocks it. About 20,000 miles on it now and all I've done is change a chain, some tires, a battery and oil changes. It has been a better bike then the BMW 1150RT I put about 10,000 miles on. Actually, its even doing better than the Honda ST1300 I've put over 10,000 miles on last year.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[shah269 0]

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I was wondering the same thing.


They've done well with the GPz's and the Concours as well.

My Z has almost 30k miles and the previous owner was a DICK!
Nice bike not bad.....would probably not have done it again if i had the chance.

Now the ZX-14......well...it's....EVIL! And I kind of like that!

My next bike? Honestly? say a 06 VFR. Loved that bike! But not what it became. If i can't find that maybe a late model Daytona? Also a great bike.

Over all there are some amazing bikes out there. But in this down economy...I have no clue who is buying?
I mean the second hand market is flooded! I just got word today of a VFR with all of 10k miles on her and a Daytona with all of 5k miles on her. Both clean and both going for about $5k!

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[normiss 895]

My current sled is a 05 Harley FLTRI Road Glide.
I paid 16k for it brand new and it's worth at least 14k on the low side.
I have had zero problems with her, she's a great ride.

I gave up crotch rockets years ago, tired of folding myself over them, tired of wrists hurting, tired of the tickets.
I cannot NOT go fast on a road bike. It's where they live, where they come to life.

Slowed down for the most part these days....


I'd love to build a hard tail bobber with a big block S&S shovel head....but I want a camper first....so it might be a few years.

[AggieDave 6]

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I'd love to build a hard tail bobber with a big block S&S shovel head

Me too!

I really want a loud-mean bobber, probably built off of some of Flyrite's offerings. Big hangers and loud pipes.

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[shah269 0]

I may be the only guy on the planet to admit this....but the V rod is a great bike!
If i could find one for a low price I would get it!

Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

[PiLFy 3]

"So that's why there are still KZ1000's in service with police departments all across the country?"

Meh... Cops drive Fords. What do they know. Those old KZ1000s are from a different era. Go to a drag strip. You'll still find Z1-based bikes tearing it up. That's not my point. Shah's bike is sitting in the garage due to poor engineering. His model bike is well-known to have that problem. Kawi sportbikes are what they are. Compared to other brands offerings, they come up short. It is what it is, Dave. My 900 Ninja used to run too hot, & foil plugs regularly. That was from when it was new. ZX-10s had a nasty habit of shattering their center stands in the middle of the winter. I've read of a few where the owners found them bashed up on their sides from that. Doug Chandler (?) got hurt after a foot peg broke while he was at speed on a track. It wasn't the first failure he'd experienced. He & Muzzy got into it big time after that one. He almost walked out on his contract about the equipment. The ZX-14 might have some steam when new. It's still too porky for me. I still wouldn't trust the parts. I also wouldn't trust that it would continue to run to spec after a few years. A Suzuki or a Yamaha will run circles around it in those categories. You are, of course, free to buy what you choose...