revtothelimit - motorbike forum

Summer-ish is here and normally my commute is cluttered up with FWBs, but for the last couple of years the number have decreased dramatically. I hardly see any other bikes on my commute now and having just been out for a walk, I noticed many bike bays are empty now where you'd normally struggle to get parked? Weather, or just fallen out of fashion?

Maybe just got old and the young aren't interested?

It's too hot to ride here. I'm more of a winter rider

Skub wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 1:58 pm Maybe just got old and the young aren't interested?

Is i think the gist of it mate. Biking was a 'freedom' thing for many when younger, now they don't seem to care about the freedom side of things nearly as much. I think they've had their time and are a dying breed.

I'm seeing a lot more younger riders around here. Plenty of noisy 125s, some dirt bikes, even a few 2 strokes.
A lot less sports bikes and power rangers though

Calls for some theory creation.

1. Bikers are more likely to be in 'can work from home' jobs.
2. It's 'that London', they've all been stolen.
3. (Unlikely) It's no longer advantageous cf car/public transport.
4. The weather's crap.
5. Being bikers they're all obvs brilliant, have got minted, retired at 36.

I never ever was a 'biker', always a motorcyclist.

Insurance for new riders, even TP only, is beyond extortion.

My daughter and SIL were paying huge amounts for the pleasure of being on two wheels and living in London.

It's an expensive mode of transport under the circumstances.

Horse wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:16 pm I never ever was a 'biker', always a motorcyclist.

Meh,semantics.

Skub wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 3:41 pm

Horse wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:16 pm I never ever was a 'biker', always a motorcyclist.

Meh,semantics.

Don't they fix broken motorcycles?

KungFooBob wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 3:44 pm

Skub wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 3:41 pm

Horse wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:16 pm I never ever was a 'biker', always a motorcyclist.

Meh,semantics.

Don't they fix broken motorcycles?

Going by the dealer scams, thems some antics

Count Steer wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:06 pm 4. The weather's crap.

...and it's the last week of school term-time holiday prices.

Also - I was out today & saw plenty, albeit not during rush hour either side.

fair weather rider here.
the weathers so lousy down south, ive hardly been out on my bike this year.
just use the car.

Had major abdominal surgery earlier this year and can’t put my leathers on for next few months so this years out for me

r1flyguy wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 7:16 pm Had major abdominal surgery earlier this year and can’t put my leathers on for next few months so this years out for me

GWS man,maybe it'll be a mild Winter

If you're talking specifically London commuting, I'd guess:
- user-unfriendly environment: parking charges, thefts, 20 limits, wide cycle lanes
- WFH
- cycling & e-cycles better provided for (see above).

If motorcycling generally, all the points already made, plus cost of getting a licence (if that hasn't been said).

I'm only in the office once a week now and when I do go in I do 7-3. At those times, especially the morning I drive straight in with no traffic (Hertford to Harrow). I still used to take the bike occasionally, but especially recently I just don't enjoy the ride now. The back roads are typically poorly surfaced and the main roads a bit dull. Then on the way home whilst not a lot of traffic, enough for me to get frustrated doing 40 in a 60 in most places due to the 40 whether it's a national or a village brigade.

I decided to stop being a whinge bore and ride in the other week. And got a puncture.

So yeah, typically I keep my bike for weekend fun now.

Numbers at the mag gigs are well down these last few years

Buckaroo wrote: Thu Jul 25, 2024 2:57 pm Insurance for new riders, even TP only, is beyond extortion.

My daughter and SIL were paying huge amounts for the pleasure of being on two wheels and living in London.

It's an expensive mode of transport under the circumstances.

Not just new riders. You don't want to know how much I'm paying now, because I don't have a brick garage (a Sold Secure bike shed doesn't count as 'secure' for the purposes of locking a motorcycle away at night.

The Spin Doctor wrote: Mon Jul 29, 2024 9:19 pm You don't want to know how much I'm paying now, because I don't have a brick garage (a Sold Secure bike shed doesn't count as 'secure' for the purposes of locking a motorcycle away at night.

Yeahbutt,don't forget after age 80 insurance costs rise.