Gaoler
Well-known member
No, that's a guy who didn't have time to shorten his side stand after lowering his bike... AND had to go bad.. lol
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There's Just One Thing Moto Manufacturers Should Do To Get More Riders on Bikes
- Thread starter GTAM
- Start date
Do people actually want that though? Under $3000, sure, but I'm not sure that's realistic anymore. 150cc? It's not a useful amount of power for a lot of things, it'll do nothing particularly well aside from shenanigans, which is why a lot of them become hooligan bikes, but nothing serious. Look at the Grom for example, cool little bike, 150cc, but there's a reason you don't really see them on the open road, because ~10hp doesn't go very far. You can buy them for $3k all day long if you don't mind one a few years old, which in reality, is basically almost showroom new for lots of these things still as they don't rack big miles.
Cheap motorcycles are a dime a dozen in a variety of styles. People just don't want them for various reasons - power, abilities, peer pressure/embarrassment to be seen on a small bike, amongst a few.
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Grom is 125 actually!
See them all the time (in the city), which is where they belong. You can ride them on the highway but it's not a great experience.
I don't know a ton about them, so there ya go lol. I have ridden one. Fun, but I wouldn't even ride it up to Port Perry (a 25 minute ride for me) as I just don't think it would really be something I'd want to ride in 90kph traffic honestly, and I don't think many others would either.
So, urban downtown environments, awesome - nimble, light, fun to throw around, easy to park, and can go as fast as needed realistically. But outside that environment where, reality is most new riders want to be able to go, not so much.
I taught close to 1,000 students last year, 1/3 added me to social media. Want to guess where almost all their videos and pics are? Here's a hint, it's not PA, the Gaspe or the 518!
Grom could easily bomb those local back roads, but you don't get cool points when you roll up with one, vs a 600cc race bike which pretty much hates your guts the entire ride across the city in traffic!
Inseam is only one factor of many to get more riders. I’d say there are more choices of machines today than anytime in the last 30+ years. If you engineered every platform for 5’ through to 6’6” rider, I’d think you’d find many of the machines would compromise their intended overall design to the point most wouldn’t find them fun at all.
It may put off the casual tire kicker but, those with passion and determination always find a way to manage shorter inseam.
The challenge I see for getting new or more riders is the overall expense. At least in Canada/Ontario for a short season of riding that can be still have scorching hot in the summer and cold/rainy days in the fall/spring, to ride to school or work, it’s just easier to have a cage of some sort.
Younger folks may out grow their gear and need to replace from one season to the next. Road congestion and urban sprawl makes it a longer ride to find interesting places to ride/go. While it doesn’t need to be stated, insurance and shopping for it can be discouraging as well.
My kids have interest to ride but, their limit disposal income narrows their priorities. Living expenses, operating a cage and having social circles that have them doing other things, riding just doesn’t appeal enough to jump into it.
It may put off the casual tire kicker but, those with passion and determination always find a way to manage shorter inseam.
The challenge I see for getting new or more riders is the overall expense. At least in Canada/Ontario for a short season of riding that can be still have scorching hot in the summer and cold/rainy days in the fall/spring, to ride to school or work, it’s just easier to have a cage of some sort.
Younger folks may out grow their gear and need to replace from one season to the next. Road congestion and urban sprawl makes it a longer ride to find interesting places to ride/go. While it doesn’t need to be stated, insurance and shopping for it can be discouraging as well.
My kids have interest to ride but, their limit disposal income narrows their priorities. Living expenses, operating a cage and having social circles that have them doing other things, riding just doesn’t appeal enough to jump into it.
Scudworth
Member
Lower insurance and give everyday normal people incentive to ride. Cheaper new bikes, maybe even throw in a weekend riders course if you buy new, and change laws to allow filtering/splitting and better motorcycle designated parking. Along with gas savings, that might convince more people to take motorcycles to the office during the warmer months.
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