The modern motorcycle - transport, expensive hobby or fashion accessory?

Question

Such is the way of the world now that pretty much all manufacturers of bikes release new models or updates on a near yearly basis. One only has to pick up a magazine to find that the latest Suzhonkamaha1800 is this weeks bike of the year and last weeks one was crud by comparison. I am not picking on just the Japanese here, it was just easier to make up a name with them but the European, American and other manufacturers do the same - so no one can take a holier than thou high ground on this one :-)

So what do you think has the motorcycle become? Transport, expensive hobby, fashion accessory or something else and on what do you base you opinions? Lets hear what it is for you and also what you think of the broader picture accross the market and globe.

I bet there will be some polarised answers to this but lets not get nasty here at the end of the day a bike is a bike is a bike.

I'll add my thoughts later.

Cheers

Shug

Mikey - you are entitled to your opinion though quite frankly I think you are talking crap. Not sure why you bothered answering the question though, do you think anyone here gives a toss if you like bikes or not?

GW - you were doing so well until you got to point 10 in my opinion. A 50cc motorcycle is no less of a bike than a 60cc one. There are a good number of people in various parts of the world who are only allowed to start their biking career on a 50cc until they get to be 17 or for whatever reason. Even that aside I have a couple of 50cc bikes amongst the many that I own and they are every bit as good fun as any of the others in their own way. So I fundamentally disagree my friend - real bikers don't discrimiante against ANY other motorcycle.

Answer 1

Different riders have different sight on this subject

Me I ride purely for pleasure and yes I ride in the summer and store in the winter. If that makes me a lightweight then I'm OK with that

I ride a Harley and I love to ride for pleasure. If I had to ride for necessity just maybe I would not enjoy it quite so much

I do take your point. In order to "keep up" so to speak you would need to upgrade to the latest machine about every 2 years and with depreciation on the "old" model would probably loose about 40% or more on each deal. Gets a little expensive.

So for the rider who has the need to ride daily come rain or shine my personal choice of bike might not suit but there are some model out there that fit this criterior better and virtually each and every manufacturer has one.

Then you get into the daily rider and pleasure rider all in one what chance does he or she have. A daily ride and a pleasure ride. Now that gets expensive too

It's tough but we all do this biking for many different reasons and it will always remain a personal choice but either way it's all biking

So for me all I ask is thet we ride safe and the motorist thinks about us not as his enemy

Good luck to you all out there and do try to keep it safe

Answer 2

Bikes is bikes Cars is cars Fun even on 1,2,3,4 or18 wheels is FUN!!!
I ride a ( snigger) 50 cc scooter to get me to work
I drive a car all day 5 days of the week ( then get onto the snigger) and relax by going for a spin
At the weekends I get on my vanvan 125 and find the lanes tracks a trails or the TDM 850 with open pipes and black leathers and ride the roads..
So My answer to your question is " it's not what you drive, it's how you drive and why you drive it that way thats important to you"
For holidays I might fix the scooter the bike or tinker with the MG or landy
Hot summer days It could be a toss up between full leathers (bike) or tee shirt and shorts ( MG) and a trip to the beach Landy).
If the phone rings and it's mum calling for help its a 250 mile mercy dash to cornwall on the TDM.
So my bikes are both a luxury and an essential part of my life but so are the cars ...The main problem is if you have £20.00 which tank do you pour the petrol into as you have then committed yourself to that..

Answer 3

Hey Shug

I think there are so many sides to this question it's a dodecahedronic (!) conundrum - P.R. and Marketing seemed to be the driving force behind more companies decisions than the engineers and racers (fashion plays a big part here, as Edgar pointed out, there appeared to be a lot more race replica's on the roads in the past) and nowadays the big boys want to know they have a customer before they've built the bike - look at the B King roll out and all the on line targeting they did for that 'concept bike' It does make one wonder if they think people believe their bollocks and hype?

The flip side of the global question is the proliferation of bikes in developing countries, where they really are vital tools and enrich peoples lives in numerous ways. People may be buying them for reasons of economy and business - but you know that leads to a whole lotta pleasure! Usually followed by an upgrade or two, then a bigger bike.

In my little part of the world (edge of London) we see all parts of the spectrum , the traffic here is so dire that 2 wheeled commuting is incredibly popular - from step through's, to full touring Triumphs & Beemers (my mate with a new MV rides a C90 to work each day!) so every day brings plenty of audio/visual pleasures if you like bikes, then there's the week ends..... wow! that really brings them out in their droves, this is when you get a higher percentage of those in the "fashion accessory" category represented, so whilst they may not be smokin' rubber, you do get to see a load of great bikes that you don't see every day (including some beautiful classics.) so nothing wrong with that I say.

From a personal point of view, one of my bruv's bought himself a speed triple a couple of years ago - which coincided with a point in my life where I had to take my car off the road as I had 30 odd parking ticketts to pay off and 6 points on my licence (What?! I was in town a lot for work!) So it just seemed the right moment for me to think about getting a bike licence (no congestion charge!) Plus, I'd stopped the racing series I'd been competing in for years, so there was a big buzz missing there too. So whilst my head said bike - my heart (and loins) were screaming BIKE!

It might be transport, and an expensive hobby, and the leather/wetlook is ticking all the fashion boxes right now, but knowing my preferences - it'll be a pile of poo held together with gaffer tape and garden wire - but tuned to it's peak and putting a grin on my face (I hope)

Answer 4

Transport first and always. Manufacturers will always be trying to get the public to buy the latest product. They have to, its their business. And there are people out there who are either snobby or stupid enough to do so. They are the type who buy Northern Ireland number plates to hide the fact that their BMW, Audi or what ever is not the latest version. Bikers who use their machines on a daily basis, esp the likes of the dispatch riders, don't care if its the latest model or the 'in' colour. We buy the second-hand machines when the owners buy the latest one because we get a cheap bike with low careful mileage, thats been no more than run-in on dry days.

Answer 5

I think there is a change going on. Ten years ago it was all sports bikes on Sunday (if it was dry) and race replica leathers. People even threw gear away because it was in last years competition colours. Many admitted the machines were hell to be on for more than a couple of hours and spent a lot of time parked in popular tourist areas looking at each others machines. Now I see many more bikes suited to daily and long distance work out in all weathers. They often travel in groups and the riders are frequently dressed in expensive clothing to suit. Lady pillion passengers are not uncommon. What is very noticeable is the comparitively mature and skillful riding behaviour of this type of rider. When an overtaking opportunity offers itself and I keep well in to let one pass, I usually get a friendly wave. I like to see these enthusiasts and wish them well in enjoying their hobby. I would certainly stop and offer help if I saw one broken down.Incidentally I wonder why more people do not see two wheeled transport as cheap and easy to use on crowded roads? I am old, but many younger people seem to be either frightened or unwilling to face the elements.

Answer 6

the answer is all of the above!! + one.The plus one? It's also economical. First off an motor cycle is great transport. a great way 2 C the sites. Lots more fun before the helmet law, but more deadly!! It is a fashion statement because it says look at me! look at me! I have a badass motorcycle and i'm now a badass biker!! That was back in the day when people thought it was cool to be a biker....lol. Its an expensive hobby 2. Parts cost money, bike parts and body parts! So do medical bills & health insurance.!!!

Answer 7

Any of the above. I ride a Honda Pan Euro. I use it for commuting and touring. It's crap for one because those big wide mirrors make filtering a big of a risky business, and great for the other because it's comfy as f*ck and eats miles. I don't need a bang up to date model, I need one that won't screw my back up any more than it already is.

I know people who ride bikes purely for fun and have a car for everyday use. I know others who've only got a bike because it looks good.
But most of the people I know ride bikes because they love them. I'm talking about the kind of people who run a scooter racing team when they're not working in their bike garage. They ride old bikes that they've renovated, and what you see is what you get with them. No pretensions at all.

Bikers, come to the Alford Bike Festival. It's a great day out. Google it for details.

Answer 8

Ok, so i ride my bike all year round to and from work regardless of weather - Transport.
I ride my bike on holidays all over \Europe and UK and going on bike rallies spending money - expensive hobby.
I enjoy having the latest exhaust or tyres on my bike to help me stay upright on the road and for idiot car drivers to hear me coming up their nearside - fashion accessory, i also have sexy leathers.
Ok so here i sum up.

1. bikes are more fun
2. bikes are faster
3. bikes can be expensive
4. bikes ARE dangerous
5. bikes are better in traffic
6. bikes are forever and not just for 6 weeks a year of sun
7. you can commit adultery with a bike and not end up divorced
8. On a bike you don't get kids hurling up on back seat
9. All bikers stick togehter
10. All bikers take the mickey out of 50cc scooters
finally

Yeah if you can afford it change your bike every year if you can't just get 2 bikes, one for summer and the other as a hack. Or be a real man and use 1 all year round like i do,

Answer 9

Everybody has there own reason for owning a bike ,People with small bikes probably do it for Transport to save money on gas ,Some of us like it as a hobby and will change things on our bikes just to make it our own . and then you have the fashion statement people who only buy the most expensive bikes and clothes to go with there look at me life style . I myself could not Imagine owning a 50 thousand dollar bike but could imagine owning five 10 thousand dollar bikes . Here in Florida Scooters are selling like hotcakes, I was at the Bike dealers on wendsday and in one hours time witnessed 3 people come in and buy a scooter .

Answer 10

I suppose the answer to your question would be it depends on the person. As for me and my bro's, I would have to say it is a way of life. I ride a custom Hardtail that I built in my garage. I ride it all year long here in Tennessee. As long as there's no ice on the road, I ride. I can't imagine putting my bike away for a "season". If it is cold, bundle up, if it's hot, ride naked. I couldn't imagine calling it a fashion accessory because i could care less what anyone else thinks of it, and as for a hobby, well if it was a hobby then I guess there would be a "season" for riding. I ride to keep my sanity. On days when there is ice, I feel down and in the dumps. Ride to Live and Live to Ride, much more than just a slogan to some of us.