Fazer Owners Club - Unofficial
General => General => Topic started by: slappy on 22 July 2016, 04:05:21 pm
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Every time I go to somewhere that bikers tend to gather at, be it a show or cafe, they all seem to be as old or older than me. Other week at Fridaythorpe with a mate he commented on it then, and today I had an early morning run to the coast and called in again at Fridaythorpe on the way back at about 10.30am. There were about 10 bikes there and all the riders were of a mature age, I know there are younger riders out there but they seem to be few and far between, extinction seems to be looming.
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There are fewer and fewer young bikers now because of two things.
1. The changes to the law making it harder and harder to actually get a bike licence
2. more and more parents who have never ridden a bike that drum into their kids that bikes are dangerous.
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......and then there's Christo
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today I had an early morning run to the coast and called in again at Fridaythorpe on the way back at about 10.30am. There were about 10 bikes there and all the riders were of a mature age,
Er maybe it has something to do with the fact it was 10.30 am on a Friday and all the young-uns are at work earning just enough money to pay for some petrol ;)
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I was at Poole Bike Night last Tuesday and the age range was varied!
at a rough guess 1500 plus bikes & trikes
pillions from about 8 and riders I'd say from 18 up to 80+
admittedly the majority of Power rangers were mid 30's to early 50's but not exclusive to that age range
and the people I was chattin to were mid 20's to late 50's riding cruisers etc
again if you look at the age ranges at rallies that is a good indication of how wide spread it is!
agree at things like Rorkes Drift & OGRI rallies etc the age is in the higher end as a lot of Veterans attend but at Bulldog Bash there a huge age range again.
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Every time I go to somewhere that bikers tend to gather at, be it a show or cafe, they all seem to be as old or older than me.
Consider yourself lucky, when I go out they (nearly) all seem to be younger than me. ;)
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Quite a lot of youngsters room round here on 125s (not scooters). I always make a point of giving them a wave and chatting if I stop
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I think bike price's don't help, 1 k gets you a very wide selection of cars, many bikes at that price will need good money spending on them, tyres, brake disc's, chain and sprockets a full service etc etc. If your on a budget and/or a new motorist, cars make more sense.
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I think the two main point from my POV have been addressed on this thread:
1. Most parents seem to think bikes are dangerous. I've just turned 30 but have had bikes since I was 16 and the amount of times my mates parents made comments about never letting their kids on a death trap was unreal. None of them bikers themselves mind :rolleyes
The other main one for me is the amount of hoops young ones needs to jump through to get into an proper bike these days. Unless you are 25 DAS is out the window and most people younger than that simply don't have the patience to wait 2 years on a smaller bike so it puts them off altogether. In today's instant gratification mindset a 2 year waiting time is no use to most. They should be focussing on teaching proper riding techniques and advanced instruction rather than pushing engine size limits onto people IMO, but that's another thread entirely.
I only know one guy out of my entire circle of friends and workmates that rides, it's grim.
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Most of the younger generation that I know would be too worried about messing up their hair from wearing a helmet, or getting their hipster beards full of flies. And that's just the girls :lol
Bloody limp wristed jessies! :rolleyes
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To be fair, the beardy hipsters are quite into their bikes. Especially if it's some shite courier bike from the 70s/80s that they've modded and restored. CX500 go for silly money amongst the pointy-shoes skinny jeans boys these days - full credit to them for actually caring about bikes and modding them, even though Hipster Central is the bike theft capital of the universe.
Overall I agree that it's the restrictions on getting a licence and the cost, plus constant anti-bike publicity from not just parents but the nanny state they grew up in.
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When I was 16, way back in the dark ages, the moment the clock ticked past midnight and you became 16, you were roaring off your driveway on your 50cc moped (with gears) that you had spent the previous months/weeks drooling over in the garage. - Now, you have to wait for a week or two until your booking at the local CBT place.
When I was 16, your parents could insure the moped for pennies with "any rider" - Now, it costs a fortune and must be named riders.
When I was 16, there was a generation of parents who had ridden bikes themselves as bikes were cheap transport so had no issues with their kids riding bikes - Now, very few parents have ridden so just think bikes are dangerous
When I was 16, all the kids had done their cycling proficiency and knew the rules of the road, and actually cycled places, on the road - Now, they may have done it if their school could be bothered (my sons didn't) but they never cycle on the road so don't understand how traffic flows.
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I couldnt agree more with the above views & opinions.
There is unfortunately a negative image that persists in todays society when, truth be told, motorcycling for many is a lifestyle choice & is not exactly cheap-a far cry from the "bad boy" ton-up rocker " image that the media liked to portray in years past.
Sadly the majority who regard motorcycling as a dangerous pursuit have never experienced actually riding a powered two-wheeler & the sense of freedom & exhilaration involved. Of course, we all know that statistically motorcyclists will always come off worse in an RTA, but we accept the greater risk & at the same time learn to develop a respect for the riding environment & become skilled in anticipation & other areas that enhance our enjoyment of motorcycling.
Unfortunately most car drivers cannot begin to appreciate what we have to learn & put into practice.
I see a whole generation of citizens glued to their electronic devices who appear to inhabit a different reality.
You can either cocoon yourself away or meet life with the attitude that "risk" can be very subjective & in the end no-one leaves here alive anyway so why not enjoy the journey?
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I've been an endangered species ever since the first time I threw my leg over a bike :lol
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When I was 16, way back in the dark ages, the moment the clock ticked past midnight and you became 16, you were roaring off your driveway on your 50cc moped (with gears) that you had spent the previous months/weeks drooling over in the garage. - Now, you have to wait for a week or two until your booking at the local CBT place.
When I was 16, your parents could insure the moped for pennies with "any rider" - Now, it costs a fortune and must be named riders.
When I was 16, there was a generation of parents who had ridden bikes themselves as bikes were cheap transport so had no issues with their kids riding bikes - Now, very few parents have ridden so just think bikes are dangerous
When I was 16, all the kids had done their cycling proficiency and knew the rules of the road, and actually cycled places, on the road - Now, they may have done it if their school could be bothered (my sons didn't) but they never cycle on the road so don't understand how traffic flows.
LOL BBB - my youngest was chomping at the bit for his 16th birthday to come around - he too had a "moped" (OK a 50cc bike with gears - 6 of them - and not restricted to 33mph) - nothing like this even existed in the 60's and 70's for us to ride. Just imagine how cool it would have been to sit on this at a set of traffic lights with your 16 y/o mates on their AP50's, FS1E's, SS50's, or even the exotica that were Puch's and Fantic's 😀
(http://i56.tinypic.com/2vd5vsz.jpg)
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Both of our kids loved being on the bikes when they were younger (they were 14 and 9 in this pic from the Black Forest
(http://i28.tinypic.com/33biv04.jpg)
Youngest is now 21 and he adores his Fazer 600, which he's had since passed his test (a month after his 17th birthday).
He didn't even mind riding around with the 33 bhp restrictors in (for 2 years) - which I totally understand. I can remember loving my Kawasaki 2 stroke triple and even on its best day it never made anything like the power, or torque, that the restricted Faer had.
Personally, I blame the parents these days for not getting kids into biking - the safety nazi's have convinced the majority of them that anything outside and/or fun, is dangerous - FFS, they're even trying to ban tackling in school-rugby cos it's too dangerous! and they're complaining about the dangers of foccing Pokemon Go !
What kind of world do we live in, Eh !!!!
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My eldest is 21 and passed his test when he was 17. it was a couple of months before the rules changed so he too had the 33bhp limit for 2 years during which time he had a restricted ER5. Once the two years was up, he got himself a full fat FZS600.
the youngest turns 16 in November. With the approach of bad weather etc around then, he may get his CBT done in time for Christmas :) and be able to get out on the road. That said, he is not as interested in bikes but still wants one.
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As people say, insurance and price and the hoops you have to jump through. It has always puzzled me how expensive secondhand bikes are compared with cars. It's not easy finding a sub £1k bike that isn't a piece of sh1te, yet you can buy umpteen cars for that price.
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Supply and demand is probably a big factor along with how dangerous a cheap bike can be (and feel) compared to a cheap car. In addition another factor is service items; tyres, suspension and brakes are much more expensive on cheap bikes than on cheap cars and have a significantly larger impact. Buying cheap things for your cheap car just to keep it on the road and get you to the shops isn't a great idea, but it will work. Doing the same on a bike is exponentially increasing the risk of a crash, injury or even death by comparison (opinion)
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Supply and demand is probably a big factor along with how dangerous a cheap bike can be (and feel) compared to a cheap car. In addition another factor is service items; tyres, suspension and brakes are much more expensive on cheap bikes than on cheap cars and have a significantly larger impact. Buying cheap things for your cheap car just to keep it on the road and get you to the shops isn't a great idea, but it will work. Doing the same on a bike is exponentially increasing the risk of a crash, injury or even death by comparison (opinion)
You could argue that cheap parts for most cars are oe standard unlike bikes where cheap parts are just cheap.
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In the news today is the media's demonisation of motorbikes as I have heard it reported a few times about a judo athlete having an horror motorbike accident in Vietnam on further reading it transpires that she was on the back of a motorbike taxi when her dress got caught in its wheel, no mention of helmet. Yet the headlines are motorbike crash.
May I just say good luck and speedy recovery for the girl.
I think we should do what (certain )others have done and hijack "aphobia" and throw it at anyone who says anything remotely disparaging about riding or bike or bikers
What we are seeing in the media is Motorbikeaphobia
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these day,s most of them just steal our,s.
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Kids today are getting.... well, people in general - like idiots.
When I see them all packed in helmets (and sometimes elbow and knee protectors) when riding push bikes... Not being allowed to climb trees, run more outside etc... Motorcycles fall into (and that is true, sadly) more dangerous category.
Add hassle and expense to get and run a motorcycle...
Plus the money my first motorcycle cost is now the money for which kids want to buy a smartphone... must have a smartphone...
Sorry if this is a bit off topic, but how things have changed. Popular music:
Compare this - musicians, lyrics... the whole energy...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9Q7Vr3yQYWQ)
To this, which is nowadays "the music":
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOkQ4T5WO9E (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kOkQ4T5WO9E)
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Think it more us older ones that actually ride them. Spent the last few weeks test riding and the amount of new models and stock levels suggest they are selling bikes to someone. Always fascinates me how many (younger) people come up to admire mine in the work car park and start telling me about their bike. When I ask where it is they assure me it only gets used on sunny weekends and does 200 - 400 miles PER YEAR :eek
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Well just got back from Calne Bike day, and i was surprised at the amount of younger people, teenagers really and a lot of them were girls which is good.
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Think it more us older ones that actually ride them. Spent the last few weeks test riding and the amount of new models and stock levels suggest they are selling bikes to someone. Always fascinates me how many (younger) people come up to admire mine in the work car park and start telling me about their bike. When I ask where it is they assure me it only gets used on sunny weekends and does 200 - 400 miles PER YEAR :eek
Theres a world of difference between those who own a bike & those who ride them regularly regardless of whether its Sunday & the suns out
Risk averse culture?
Wouldnt they like to see us all in one long line of cars even if we werent able to get anywhere....?
Heres a question....How many motorcycle licences held in UK & How many bikes currently taxed,insured, with VED?
i see statistics suggesting there are around 37 million vehicles on our roads with a population of 64 million.
West Midlands is becoming increasingly like South East of country-Have noticed a huge increase in vehicles on road/parked up in last 5 years.
Seems to be everyones goal to own a car @ 17.
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Think it more us older ones that actually ride them. Spent the last few weeks test riding and the amount of new models and stock levels suggest they are selling bikes to someone. Always fascinates me how many (younger) people come up to admire mine in the work car park and start telling me about their bike. When I ask where it is they assure me it only gets used on sunny weekends and does 200 - 400 miles PER YEAR :eek
Theres a world of difference between those who own a bike & those who ride them regularly regardless of whether its Sunday & the suns out
Risk averse culture?
Wouldnt they like to see us all in one long line of cars even if we werent able to get anywhere....?
Heres a question....How many motorcycle licences held in UK & How many bikes currently taxed,insured, with VED?
i see statistics suggesting there are around 37 million vehicles on our roads with a population of 64 million.
West Midlands is becoming increasingly like South East of country-Have noticed a huge increase in vehicles on road/parked up in last 5 years.
Seems to be everyones goal to own a car @ 17.
Been riding bikes 29 years now, got the highest grade in my school for Motor Vehicle Studies, yet still never driven a car! :deal
This is maybe gonna sound strange, although probably not so much to you lot, but i don't feel safe in a car with other people driving,'cos their observational skills seem non existant to me.
I would much rather sit in the back, seatbelt firmly on, than have to endure a drivers tunnel vision with me pressing the floor like i'm trying to slow them down due to blatant dangers ahead.
The difference being, when that dipshit sack of spuds driver kicks open their door to get out, a car will just plough through it without a care in the world, better still it'll be the passenger who has to endure it.
A biker, in comparison, will hit that door and sustain untold damage, hence the reason we avoid such scenarios.....'cos it hurts as well.
If ever i get in my mums car for instance i feel like i need to wear my full bike protective gear 'cos she has this knack of skimming parked motors to the point of seeing your face in wing mirrors, which i find truly terrifying. :eek And it's every time as well, not just the odd occasion.
My dad used to be the opposite, he would always seem like we were about to have a head on smash, the car would always be a third over the centre road line with him.
Only driver i ever had full trust in was my oldest brother who had a CBX1000 waiting at home for him that he paid for himself when he passed his test on his 17th birthday, but in later life was also an HGV driver, so he knew the best of both worlds and had full knowledge of how drivers would think and react. Plus he crashed a Z1300 when he was 18 and knew the consequences of when it all went wrong.
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Some interesting thoughts there, Darrsi !
There have only been 4 car drivers I have been a passenger with when I have felt entirely safe:
1 My Dad who had ridden bikes prewar in the army & was a professional driver most of his working life
2 A boss of company I worked for in the late 60s who was IAM qualified
3 Friend who rode bikes from Honda C90 to 1000cc superbikes from age 16 to 50 when he had to give up bikes due to health condition but was an excellent driver
4 Another friend who was a biker for many years before becoming a car owner/driver.
Everyone else-no thanks-dont trust their "reading of the road", awareness of potential hazardous situations. Tunnel vision? Yes-many just see whats in front of them & dont take in "the big picture" so how can they make informed decisions? So many are "reactive" rather than using their faculties to take in all the available information.
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Some interesting thoughts there, Darrsi !
There have only been 4 car drivers I have been a passenger with when I have felt entirely safe:
1 My Dad who had ridden bikes prewar in the army & was a professional driver most of his working life
2 A boss of company I worked for in the late 60s who was IAM qualified
3 Friend who rode bikes from Honda C90 to 1000cc superbikes from age 16 to 50 when he had to give up bikes due to health condition but was an excellent driver
4 Another friend who was a biker for many years before becoming a car owner/driver.
Everyone else-no thanks-dont trust their "reading of the road", awareness of potential hazardous situations. Tunnel vision? Yes-many just see whats in front of them & dont take in "the big picture" so how can they make informed decisions? So many are "reactive" rather than using their faculties to take in all the available information.
You can also throw into the equation the elements.
I've ridden on snowy days and had cars beeping their horn at me whilst tailgating because i'm taking it easy going around a roundabout with blatant ice on the road.
And now we have the mobile phone brigade......i don't need to explain any more. :grumble
What i see a lot of as well is people driving with their phone in their hands, they literally cannot put the bastard down for a second, it's almost like a comfort blanket?
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Dont get me started on mobile phones! :eek
So called "professional "drivers of LGVs & PCVs, vans, minibuses, and so many car drivers-lets face it-its an unenforceable law-so many brain dead types that cant make the connection between paying attention to the road & the effect that phone use has on their driving-especially when its obvious to anyone following-lane switching, no mirror use, poor or no signalling,erratic use of brakes, rolling forwards/backwards at lights-how do they steer the bloody things-with their knees or stomachs? :eek .Combine this with a sat-nav on dashboard obscuring forward vision, wide "A" pillars on many cars/SUVs-no wonder they dont see us but I suspect the real problem is they just dont care-the selfish t***s. Soon we wont be endangered we will be extinct! :'(
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Got to agree with all the points raised, the last few posts by dave48 and darrsi ring true for me also. I hate being a passenger in any vehicle.
Also the risk averse culture, the amount of airbags, warning signals for lane departure etc mean people pass the driving test without ever being taught how observe.
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If ever i get in my mums car for instance i feel like i need to wear my full bike protective gear
So save up £149 and buy her an Advanced Driving Course (https://www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/skill-for-life-car-voucher) for her birthday/ Xmas because you want her to be safe out there because of all the numpties who might put her life at risk... ;)
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I saw a young biker today....
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160731/046402533157ca7b82fb95444898fe11.jpg)
(http://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20160731/0d7678ffcde5cde7f06e7f3b66b429fc.jpg)
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Disgusting
Shorts, tee shirt, no helmet, and that looks like an illegal undersize numberplate to me
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If ever i get in my mums car for instance i feel like i need to wear my full bike protective gear
So save up £149 and buy her an Advanced Driving Course (https://www.iamroadsmart.com/courses/skill-for-life-car-voucher) for her birthday/ Xmas because you want her to be safe out there because of all the numpties who might put her life at risk... ;)
She's 77 and passed her test in 1975, can't see too much changing now.
Maybe i'll get her a days rallying or gymkhana. :lol
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any piccies pete ?
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any piccies pete ?
I posted 2....can't u see them?
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I can see the pics but not the "young biker".....have you posted the wrong pics ?
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I can see the pics but not the "young biker".....have you posted the wrong pics ?
If you're looking on a phone swipe the picture with your finger.
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I can see the pics but not the "young biker".....have you posted the wrong pics ?
I can see the pics but not the "young biker".....have you posted the wrong pics ?
If you're looking on a phone swipe the picture with your finger.
Imagine it's the wife's bean......you'll get there eventually ;-)
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No, still cant see a "young biker".....all I can see is an old foccer on a shi**y honda............
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I can see it you just need to scroll across, its a big picture.
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Ah ha.......gotcha :lol......your leave those young uns alone exupnut.....remember what happened last time :eek
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Shit.......ur daughter told u ? (Duece) ;-)
That kid had three more parked in his dad's garage a BMW gs ...suzook vstorm thingy and a trail...amazin....the one he was on is a BMW 1000 sport ...had a key that worked and Rev and go....and he could ride his better than you....
(15:30)
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Such a luxury to be able to ride a bike these days......cost me about £800 to get through my test.
I was lucky i got mine when i did & enjoyed a few years of riding before becoming a dad......because bow i just cant get the time to go out........folk are leaving marriage and kids later and later so that they can better their careers........so they cant be a biker for a few years and then in their 30's maybe have to give it up.......so i can see 40'ish as the ideal time for getting the freedom to get out on 2 wheels........but thats only if you already have a bike licence......thise that havent got one by 40's i dont think will ever get one.....its not born again.....its never born.........once all yous oldies are passed it i can see the industry having big problems.
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the small bike at the back looks the fastest.