Quote:Wow. Bikes are a rare sight indeed down here in the east midlands. When i first started work in 68, i reckon perhaps 20% of the workforce at the old steel works travelled to work by motorcycle, 30% on pushbike (including me) 30% by bus (there were dozens servicing the steel works daily at all times), and the rest either walked or could afford a motor car. When I finished work 3 years ago, my motorcycle was generally the only one in the bike racks, along with half a dozen cycles. No buses came into the site (a major pharma site), and the car parks were rammed such that you had to arrive really early to get a parking spot at all. The Council twigged on and introduced a car park tax
As I remember it, up here, there were shed loads of bike running about in the 70’s. Then through the 80’s and 90’s they just whittled away.
My CBR600F was often the only bike in the car park at work on a nice sunny day mid 90's. Sometimes 2 or 3 others joined it.
I didn’t count how many bikes there were today at work, maybe about 15, not as many as I expected, maybe some left early or numbers are down now the school holidays have kicked in.
Living in a seaside town every sunny weekend it’s like an invasion of bikes. In the 90’s there were a few but now it’s bonkers.
The highlands have always been popular for day rides and folks up from England or abroad touring. But with the promotion of the NC500 it’s gone ballistic. The far North was always popular with the Germans but it’s seen major growth in the last few years.
These are just my impressions, but I feel in central Scotland and around I see a lot more bikes on the road. Of course, it depends on the weather. I’m not too fussy, but some folks won’t head out if there is even so much as a chance of a shower.
Meanwhile a lot of the dealers are seriously worried about B. And I’m thinking maybe I should just get something now – just in case.
Think of an MT10 priced at 14 or 15K. Doesn’t really bear thinking about.
