Not sure this is a representative sample, but where are the younger motorcyclists? Often hear talk about the disappearance of younger audiophiles, I fear the future of motorcycling is in greater doubt.
I suspect cultural change brought about by increasing congestion on roads is the sole cause of this endangerment. I'm pretty sure if I was a youth growing up in an urban environment today a motorcycle would be anywhere near top of the list of desires. I did grow up in the city, but back in the day we didn't have anything near the congestion of today in that same city. Add to that increased aggression of drivers in ever larger vehicles. I doubt many parents are ok with their children riding bikes, and even the youth can clearly perceive the danger. Where I live urban areas to east, never ride east, and that from a very experienced rider.
Too bad so many youth will never experience motorcycle culture. I've had some of the best times in my life on motorcycles hanging out with fellow bikers, rolling into backwater towns where you're a novelty and citizen's curiosity makes them open up to you, just experiencing the smells and sights of the parts of America most never even know exist. Finally, I never experience a sense of freedom more than when I'm on my bike, I've always felt riding my iron horse on long tours is as close as I can come to replicating what it must have been like to live on your horse prior to industrial revolution.
I suspect cultural change brought about by increasing congestion on roads is the sole cause of this endangerment. I'm pretty sure if I was a youth growing up in an urban environment today a motorcycle would be anywhere near top of the list of desires. I did grow up in the city, but back in the day we didn't have anything near the congestion of today in that same city. Add to that increased aggression of drivers in ever larger vehicles. I doubt many parents are ok with their children riding bikes, and even the youth can clearly perceive the danger. Where I live urban areas to east, never ride east, and that from a very experienced rider.
Too bad so many youth will never experience motorcycle culture. I've had some of the best times in my life on motorcycles hanging out with fellow bikers, rolling into backwater towns where you're a novelty and citizen's curiosity makes them open up to you, just experiencing the smells and sights of the parts of America most never even know exist. Finally, I never experience a sense of freedom more than when I'm on my bike, I've always felt riding my iron horse on long tours is as close as I can come to replicating what it must have been like to live on your horse prior to industrial revolution.
