Its official! The MCIA confirms MOTORCYCLE Sales have plummeted! Whats going on?
2024 ж. 22 Мам.
15 721 Рет қаралды
MCIA figures show that UK motorcycle sales declined in 2023. The first quarter sales figures for 2024 suggest that the decline is set to continue.
What is causing it? Can we expect it to get worse or improve?
MCN article. www.motorcyclenews.com/news/2...
Bennett's article. www.bennetts.co.uk/bikesocial...
PayPal donations. threelittlefishes@live.co.uk
PATREON. / stuartfillingham
#ukmotorcyclesales #motorcyclesalesfall #motorcyclesalesplummet
Worked all the way through and received no money. Now I'm paying for all the people who sat at home. I'm tired of the struggle.
Me too. Didn't get a single day off. Need a completely new governmental structure in this country before it's too late.
Same here, worked through it. Watched everyone partying while I worked. Now we all have to pay and jobs are very unstable. I could have done with a summer off 🤣
Same here brother.
Gentlemen. I was on furlough. I won't lie, it was awesome. I would like to take the opportunity to thank you from the bottom of my heart. ❤ However .... the rumour that it was a waiting room for redundancy was, in my case, true. So ... swings and roundabouts as the saying goes.
I couldn't work because of I'll health. With COPD, I'd have been hospitalised or worse if I'd have caught it. As a Director of my own company (and only employee) I got £250 a month for me and my disabled Wife to live on. I know some people who were furloughed and took on a second job and used the monet to buy a new bike. Can't blame them but the system is so wrong.
Sold as very expensive toys , too fast to complicated to much non essential electronics , thank you Royal Enfield for an affordable range of bikes.
YES!
Agree
100% this.
I have not had a pay-rise for 5 years. Furthermore my mortgage is set to increase by £300 a month this July. Thus I won't be changing bikes, or indeed buying one, anytime soon...I suspect my situation is mirrored elsewhere...
Exactly….. and the bikes aren’t getting cheaper neither. Nothing is!!! it’s not only bikes. Car dealerships in USA are full of cars nobody wants. I was told by someone who buys repo cars to sell them as 2nd hand that his boss told him not to bring anything for more than 5000 usd coz they won’t manage to sell it.
I count myself lucky. The past 10 years when it was better I paid extra on the mortgage. Not many holidays etc. I knew this was coming as it has before. Money is a lot tighter than it was but could have been a whole lot worse.
Start a youtube channel. You could possibly end up with a nice income, and buy several bikes and even some luxury watches.
Before the flu i did not have time for a motorcycle. During that period of time i bought my enfield 350, i needed a way to get out of the stupidity of what they are putting on us. My motor, my anger management. I now now how much i need to ride and forget about everything and Smile. Not riding for me is slowly dying. I respect every rider on whatever motorcycle there on, our way of life. Thanks again Stu, love from Holland
As a bike mad OAP i'm always up for a new bike, however bike shops unwillinness to part exchange and when they are, their greed when offering you ridiculously low price for your part exchange bike, is the reason that I will be keeping my existing bikes for some time to come.
And, do you know why insurance premiums have risen? Because of an agreement that all insurance companies have signed, called the Net Zero Insurance Alliance, collusion in a plan to force vehicles off the road to save the planet, but the insurance industry will make the same profit from less customers by charging them more. This NZIA has been declared illegal in the USA as it amounts to price fixing.
Absolute proof that the “global warming” scam is just that…
I should have guessed!! I had an incident free year( no claims) yet my premium was increased by around 80% ! I shopped around and got it much cheaper in the end. But premiums are going up no thanks to our government signing up to yet another multinational agreement, without a care in the world it seems for it's hard pressed citizens
Not a good business model force your customers off the road .?
@@GarryShirreffs-cs2gb It is! Because the insurance companies are getting more money from the customers that are left, which means that they employ less staff and can co-operative with each other in price fixing.
Plus, the inability to accurately assess EVs that are damaged - and a totalled - just incase they spontaneous combust weeks or even months later. Luton Airport anyone?
Licensing rules to get your bike test are deliberately designed to put youngsters off. Coupled with a ridiculous price for new bikes as toys rather than a necessity for travel.
Used bikes are for poor and young people to just get around. New bikes are for people that can finally afford a new one
Where I'm concerned a bike is a necessity as i have to deal with depression on a daily basis.A good ride chase's away the depression and gives me a whole different and positive outlook on the day.
Young people aren’t as interested in riding. Nor can the majority afford it. They have to focus on being able to just afford the basics.
We just need to enjoy our bikes while we can, & not worry about the fact that future generations won't experience the enjoyment & freedom biking has given us. It's their loss if they want to sit in an AI driven electric box whilst glued to an iphone. Maybe one day someone will find an old honda 50, which escaped the great compulsory scrappage scheme of 2040, which will start first time after sitting in a barn for 30 years, will run on toxic sludge from the local canal, & hence rediscover a fun new way of life. Circle of life & all that......
Brilliant 👍👍😂
UK motorcycle sales will decline as riders aren't replaced by younger riders. We are falling off our perches and there aren't enough hatchlings. There's no British riders at the top of motoGP and everyone is taxed to financial peril
Well, you keep voting to be taxed into peril. Cut it out
same in Germany
This is spot on, most of the motorcyclist are 60+ me included.
Yes and i noticed that all those trying out the BSA were old pharts,in fact all those at the bike show were older types,same in the hobby world as the last of the RC plane shops closed down in our town recently,owner told me young-ons stay home now playing on there ipads.
And let's face it, there's not a lot for a youngster to get excited about.
Weather: The last decent period of weather ended on June the 28th 2023. It's a miracle we ride bikes in the UK...
Last year was rubbish 😬
I ride all year round down to -10 if the road is dry. Not sure what the problem is.
@@funkycowie Bully for you. In the wet/cold I drive my Rolls Royce Ghost. Way more enjoyable.
@@funkycowiewell, not so much minus 10 ! But absolutely, I get irritated by ‘biking’ season, every season is biking weather as far as I’m concerned, but each to their own.
Try this from 1967 The Environmental Modification Convention, formally the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, is an international treaty prohibiting the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects
As a semi-retired , mortgage free life-long biker im just fed up with the constantly rising bike prices along with the fuel prices . I'm just hanging on to the bikes ive got that do the job really well . When i do replace the bikes its going to be with a smaller , cheaper to run option . The big expensive bikes that ive been suckered into buying in the past are unnecessary with unusable performance. No more !
I loved the passing comment regarding Bennett's video and the lack of mention of the imcrease in insurance costs. It made me chuckle.
Bennets quoted me a ridiculous price this year In fact the quoted increase was more than the amount i ended up paying with a different company! So well worth shoppung around !!
@@pete8222 Too true. I get especially annoyed at the insurance compare sites you say they have bikers' best interests at heart and who are often more expensive than elsewhere.
If we keep having summers like 2023 it will die out forever
Did you know that the first patent for weather manipulation was signed in 1891 buy the US authorities? If you think that is conspiracy theory stuff then check out this from 1976. The Environmental Modification Convention, formally the Convention on the Prohibition of Military or Any Other Hostile Use of Environmental Modification Techniques, is an international treaty prohibiting the military or other hostile use of environmental modification techniques having widespread, long-lasting or severe effects
Think back to 2020 and the first five weeks of lockdown. No planes, and 5 weeks of continuous blue skys
Blame the geo engineering psychopaths for that
Not bought a new bike, or car , in my life. Second hand always and have spent up to 17k for that pleasure. Always worked as a heating engineer but cash always had elsewhere to be spent and never believed in loans, now retired. Have looked in envy at other machines but was brought up to “neither lender or borrower be”, Wait, work hard and appreciate the value of my purchase. Keep up the good work👍
Notice that there are almost no young people looking at those bikes. There's your problem.
Not only has the cost of living soared, but since early 2021 when millions went to the Britney Spears and the Boosters concerts "sudden" deaths and severe illnesses have shot up. My local branches of the Triumph Owners Club and the VMCC has been decimated. Obviously they comprise wrinklies but they've all departed within this 3 year period. Also, motorcycling doesn't attract youngsters simply because of the complicated, long and expensive test system. Couple this with ridiculous insurance quotes and why would a youngster get out of a nice warm dry golf or corsa which is cheaper to run and they can get their licence within a month? Every time I go into a biker cafe it's like a Saga cruise with bald heads and grey hair everywhere.
Agreed. I'm just starting biking - at age 68, but my friend who's late husband was chairman of the local BMW group says exactly the same. The existing numbers are dwindling - often the ppl 'dying suddenly '
@lucylovitt9583 I'm 64 now and joined my local BMW club 18 months ago. Honestly, at least 5 have died in that time and I feel like a kid when I go to the meetings. In fact I'm not renewing my membership as its more like a SAGA diners club and a bit depressing.
Very simple - with high rents and mortgages people have a lot less disposable income. When that happens discretionary spending decreases. For some people a motorcycle is their primary means of transport (usually young people/students) but for a lot of others a motorcycle is basically a discretionary expense for a lot of people.
Housing changes could be another factor. Lots of flats being built around here, some with no parking at all, or town houses with only on-street parking.
Brilliant video as always Stuart and I just got rid of one car and bought a Honda 125 Grom for commuting, it cost £3500 new and its doing 142mpg, costs £6 to fill the tank with premium fuel and cuts through traffic like a hot knife through butter, its ridiculously good fun and always puts a smile on my face and its become my go to bike, even over my Xadv 750 😊👍🏻
No wonder bike sales are falling . Costs a fortune to pass the direct access, Insurance a rip off , bikes are too big and complex “gone are the days changing a spakplug in 10 mins “ . Seems royal Enfield have hit the sweet spot tho . And finally the weather here in the UK , if it’s not raining , it’s 35mph winds . What’s not to like 🤷♂️.
I am currently in hospital. The guy next to me crashed his brandnew motor bike down a huge pothole on the A5 main drag. That may explain some drop in demand.
Boiled down cynical speculation: Untethered greed. Prices have been going up everywhere, while quality declines. A large percentage of people have less money. Same reason. Many governments are getting into the act and taking more (again, while delivering less - and this is something you can't legally avoid - well, unless you're unethical and wealthy). It doesn't help that select governments are making it less enjoyable to own and ride motorcycles.
policing by consent. Withdraw consent. Law vs Legal. I did.
Bad weather, high cost of living, high cost of getting a licence, high fuel costs. The image of biking has changed tremendously over the decades, so young riders aren't really attracted to bikes. They'd usually rather use electric scooters, owned or stolen.
13:40 And that's why I just bought RE Bullet. I am old enough to not care about proving something to anybody.
We've also been having a cold, very wet and protracted rainy season here on the Central Coast of California. When it's not raining or too wet out on the roads, I still do a good 35 miles a day on my Enfield 650. To make it bearable, I have put together an ill assorted riding outfit that makes me look like the Michelin Tire Man wearing a space helmet. When I arrive at my destination, I just start peeling things off until I can move about normally and just throw the stuff over the bike. Works for me.
And the fact they are far too expensive now, so are consumables and parts, now insurance is because of this
Of course motorcycles will vanish, we are being crushed, by all industries, sales insurance tax tax tax, until we get a handle on this corrupt cartel of a government we are screwed, but we can fight this now we see their corruption, hope it changes.
Time to redo the type of ad campaigns like the ones that Honda put us all on motorcycles way back when. Stop pricing bikes out of the market. Get ins companies to stop wringing riders dry.
18:40 😢 I am doing the same thing this Saturday.... Crappy weather and my shiny Bullet.
I'd love a new bike, but inflation has reduced my buying power to near zero. Frankly, even a nice used one isn't possible.
I was a motorcycle between 1995 and 2017. When new & late-model motorcycle sales were slow, we would stock clean, older bikes - most of whichwere too old to be in Glass's & CAP guide books. In fact, sales of older machines - especially on the private market - make up a significant proportion of all sales. It may be my perception vias, but it seems prices for these older machines have firmed up nore than I'd expect and I'm seeing more friends but an older bike as a 2nd bike or even as a main bike. Because lets face it: the real-wirld performance of an older bike is on par with the latest offerings - albeit withiut all the electronic rider aids. What do others think? Are people holding on to their +10YO bikes? Are prices for older bikes more buoyant? Are nore people realising they can buy a truly great machine outright for less noney than they'd lose on a brand new bike's depreciation over the first two years?
In my fifty years of riding, I have never been in a position to afford a brand new motorcycle, but I survived by riding bikes that were a few years old and that has not changed. My current bike is a 1997 Harley Sportster, which I subjected to a ground-up rebuild to my own specs (1” taller shocks on the rear, a 1275 big bore kit, late model (2007) oil pump, better and stronger clutch, and LED headlight) a few years back and have ridden all over Eastern Australia in the last 15 years. It is reliable, powerful enough to do everything I want on the Highways, handles as surefootedly as any Triumph I ever owned, and is very easy to maintain. It doesn’t have any of the new-fangled mods, electronic ignition being the only real ‘tech’ stuff on the bike. I simply don’t want, let alone NEED a new bike. Including the purchase price and cost of said improvements, the bike owes me a paltry 10,500 Australian dollars, which is less that the Royal Enfield Interceptor here. I’m 676 and have a bike that I’m well used to, is set up just how I like it, and is FUN to ride, whether touching the pegs through the twisties, or just chugging along at a leisurely pace. No matter what motorcycle I might purchase, I would still want to change it around to suit me, which just adds to the cost and I’m just not really interested to be honest. I regard my Sporty as a modern classic. Sort of. I certainly get a lot of attention whenever I park it anywhere and that’ll do.
@toolzandnewideas Eastern machines?
Cost of living "crisis" shows no sign of ending and is now really biting. Motorcycles are a luxury and luxuries are the first to go. Added to this consumables like tyres are really expensive compared to car tyres but last a fraction of the mileage.
The government want to make it awkward for the motorcyclist and motorist to carry on with the freedoms we enjoy. I am not sure what will happen to the motorcycle when all cars have to be Ecars ?
Some younger riders are being hit with massive insurance where the monthly is significantly higher than the cost of the bike. 100+ a month for a 125 you keep indoors.
Getting through the bike test is now too expensive.
You're not wrong there. I had an A1 which I did on my own, moved up to an A2 as didn't want to do the theory again, cost over £1000. Bearing in mind, I'm not a new rider having done some 90,000 miles since 2018 over my Vespa and Honda 125. It may cost a new rider more, as may need more lessons.
Maybe people are realising that buying more stuff and bingeing box sets doesn't stave off the despair
I'd guess the fact that manufacturers think they can change a stupid amount of money for what most people have as a "toy" is their biggest problem.... when I bought my gsxr 750 in 06 it was just under 6k GBP and the thou was only about 1.5k more. People could generally afford that as a toy... Now most thousands are 16k plus for the base model.... Most people I know who used to ride can't afford to.. it's that simple.. family and bills come first
Another factor is there is no longer an assumption of progress up the cc ladder. It used to be the case that most riders aspired to a 1 litre+ bike, now people are happy with their 350 or 500 as insurance costs, ULEZ, reduced speed limits and the rest, limit the attraction of larger machines.
great video, well done 👍
with interests rates at 7.95 % Low side. people aren't going to pay a rate like that here in the USA. my last bike rate was 1.99% for a Honda Goldwing
Was on line looking at some new bikes this morning ….much like car prices both new and second hand are now bonkers !
Excellent vid, thanks for sharing.😎
I just read an article that the government are going to push through new laws banning the sale of new motorcycles by the year 2040! They're mad 😂
Beautifully Said Stuart..Love What You do and Share here and you have help me tremendously the last 2+ years with my 1966 BSA A6L and my 2019 RE Interceptor 650! Stay Well!! Most Sincerely,,Sch.
To give a Western Australian perspective, I'm seeing a continual decline in young people riding motorbikes and most of the riders I see are towards the upper part of middle age. Nothing to do with the weather, as although it can get bloody hot, there aren't many days where you could go out and get soaked. See the odd young hoon on an unregistered dirt bike, electric skate boards and similar, but that's about it. Even the weekend ride groups that come into the hills seem to be thinning. New licence conditions, high insurance prices and other financial things may have a little bit to do with it, but at the end of the day (in our social media controlled lives) its all down to fashion.
Most of the riders are 60+ in the UK.
First of all... Love your channel, from the west, and subscribed. Your narration is incredible, and sets the tone in a very pleasing way. Keep up the great work! I got a firm rule that my bike shouldn't exceed the price of my car. So, that alone keeps me away from alot of bikes. I've also learned the hard way that if you just cover your bike and not keep it in a garage, it becomes a nesting place for every creeping crawling thing under the sun. I think alot of motorcycle manufacturers forgot that there's no doors, no roof, no trunk, no AC, no heat, and basically no protection from other vehicles. Not to mention that you can only ride around 6 to 7 months out of the whole year. Yet, they seem to want the same revenue as other vehicles with all those luxuries. NOT... I love being on 2 wheels, and ways of doing that without breaking the bank are becoming more availible (Royal Enfield for instance). And one thing that you didnt mention in your video is that maxi scooters are silently taking over the 2 wheel game. They're cheaper, they're automatic, they have built in storage, and here's the kicker... They ALL have a fuel gauge. Once they make it to the states its gonna put a serious dent in the motorcycle industry. Im current looking for a new bike, but if that Honda Forza 750 or XADV gets here before I find that bike, its history.
It will disappear completely in 2035
NO IT WILL NOT. GUARANTEE YOU.
NO IT WILL NOT. I'LL GUARANTEE YOU THAT✌️
The motorcycle companies killed motorcycling in N. America. Starting about 40 years ago, dealers were forced to locate in light airy purpose built buildings, costing many 100's of thousands, and very costly to heat/cool. There not being enough in motorcycle sales to support such foolishness, they were forced to sell and service camper trailers, boats, and anything else they could lay their hands on to make ends meet. These new dealers (most of the old guys bowed out, or were forced out) were no longer places of knowledge, and motorcycle sales/service ended up taking a back seat. Then we should say a word about overall product quality............ seems as the prices go up the quality is diminishing. And what about product? Is the motorcycle you buy today any better than the motorcycle you bought, say, in 1975? Power is down, in some cases way down (a typical early 70's 350 Honda had 32hp, a 450, 45hp, advertised as a "Triumph killer") and vehicle weight is way up, usually +100-200 lbs. I just bought a new motorcycle, a Kawasaki, and it's junk, I should have saved my money.
The high levels of theft in cities probably curtails sales there more and more, especially as they have better public transport as an alternative. Interestingly my bike insurance went down by ten quid last year and two quid this year. Enough for a fish supper 😊
Falling sales of motorcycles in the U.K. are due to many causes . When I started riding motorcycles back in the late sixties they were a cheap means of transport, you only needed one Licence when you passed your test to ride any motorcycle and insurance was relatively cheap. Owning a motorcycle was seen by young people at least to be a thing to annoy older people make you a bit of a rebel. These day bikes are expensive to buy ,expensive to insure and it takes to time and money to progress through the different stages to a full licence. No wonder young people show little interest in owning motorcycles .
The Truss budget slashed and burnt all discretionary purchases. My sales stopped dead within days of it and it was mirrored in the industry. I don't think l heard mentioned the 70s policy of getting bikes off the road. One thing I have been talking about for a long time is the need for quadricycles , with the sharp rise in car prices, they are coming more financially sensible to own. Also there is a symbiotic relationship in the license rules, so a full moped licence allows the holder to drive a light quadricycle (eg Citroen ami) and it progresses through the licences.
Actually, its done nothing but rain since the first week in July last yr..😉
The 30% increase in price hasn’t helped Hondas price ranges in Grantham are silly and with 9,9% APR ,NOT IN THIS DECADE
Just a quick heads up Stuart. KZhead unsubscribed me from your channel. I've no idea why. Keep up the good work.
Good evening Stu. Yee ha! Like the music. Good video. You didn’t mention the state of our roads. That’ll certainly put new riders off buying a bike.
TRUE ABOUT THE WEATHER! Am now looking into getting my theory test done, so I can get my a bigger bike So trying to take my test in the summer, before it goes, you are talking facts! Awesome info video sir! one more thing, the theft of bikes are part of the reason for also not buying one too, got some worthless dogs attack me ( six low lifes ) and people just watch! stay amazing 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Spot on as usual
Thanks!
thank you!
Another underlying reason, as commented earlier, is we are a dying breed. The average UK rider is now 54 and it gets higher every year. I tried to find the UK trend over the years but struggled, but in the US, which is a comparable market, in 1990 the average rider was 32, in 2009 it was 40, in 2017 it was 47. So this downward trend has been going on for 3 decades. Whether it will level off, once the Boomers have died off, who knows? We won't as we won't be here. Christ, that sounds morbid, sorry.
The average entry level job age keeps going up.
so , dont trust doctors politicians or passenger planes and things will get better .
Not just the weather though is it ? Yes, the weather in "Old blighted" doesn't really favour any kind of outdoor pursuit. But what keeps me on 4 wheels is the state of our roads. POTHOLES can kill and there are far more than ever before. You can sit in a car and mentally plot your course line through a bend or through a junction, as if you're on two wheels and see that 80% of the time the front wheel is going to land in hole big enough to bath a baby in. Being wet and cold isn't as bad as being in hospital or on a marble slab. A pity that our road tax isn't being spent on decent road maintenance.
Agreed on cost of living, license, insurance etc. But bike manufacturers keep making ridiculously expensive (and unnecessarily over-powered) motorcycles that are utterly impractical on UK roads and are festooned with even more expensive and pointless riding modes and gizmos. Look at the rest of Europe and the inexorable rise of practical scooters rule the roost because they are fun and infinitely more practical than most motorcycles, but even they are getting ludicrously expensive, especially the ones that are marketed as "adventure" scooters. Well done Royal Enfield for keeping prices lower and realistic. They seem to be the exception.
On 3 occasions I have had chats with various Sales people at dealerships, that insurance companies are chocking the ability to sell bikes. I can vouch for this. I have my NC750X and there are two bikes I would really like to own for various different reasons. One is the RE Super Meteor 650 and the other is a through back to my 80's MOD days, a Royal Alloy at my Honda dealer. Can I get multi bike insurance ? No, I can get 3 separate polices costing a hefty chuck of my children's inheritance, but a joint one with a discount as I have not mastered riding three bikes at once, nope. So as a customer that can buy 2 other bikes, the lack of insurance means they will have to stay where they are. Not the total answer but maybe a contributory factor.
Agreed, I'm not paying multiple insurances when I can only ride one bike at a time.
Have you tried Bikesure? They do multi bike insurance. I own a Zero SR and a Classic 350.
@@williamhuxley i will take a look and thank you for the heads up
@@davecarrera You're welcome, good luck👍
The world is in decline, our “leaders” only care about themselves, vote them out! meanwhile, enjoy riding our motorcycles while we can….thank you, uncle Stu, God bless!
And vote for who ?…. that’s my dilemma. Which clown in the circus 🤷♂️
God is a biker and when you hear thunder that's him starting his bike to go for a ride.
I reckon you are absolutely bang on the button with this video. Money, bloody weather, and for me not being able to justify buying a new bike that is pretty much the same as what I've got already. Fingers crossed though the weather is on the up. 👍
A nicely philosophical analysis- unnaturally optimistic for a Yorkshireman 😉! Thank you Stuart, let’s hope it turns out nice again!
17:00 I am not sure. See the prices of RE Classic 500 EFI - 5k - 7k+.
Stuart , thought provoking video. Respect to new riders determined to get a licence.👍. Same bike for 22 (74k miles ) years from new zero% finance helped. Tool and toy. Will keep it running for as long as humanely, mechanically and financially possible. Weather... No medal 🥇 issued for riding in The Good, The Bad and The Ugly .ETTO ✌️
Inflation needs to sit just above interest rates now for a decade or more to inflate away the debts. A slow default if you like. Pensioners then need to be encouraged to spend their money so that it trickles back down. Then the mega rich need to be taxed on assets. Perhaps anything over 2 million in assets so that it has no effect on the average person. Money raised in this way needs to be ring-fenced into helping young people earn more. Then at the same time we need whole term fixed rate mortgages capped at base rate plus 2 or 3 %. This will make housing expensive out of the gate and cheaper over time which will encourage families. And if I’m getting my wish list we need Christianity / Christian values taught in every school, with the Union flag hanging everywhere and respected… Then with one culture, and helping the next generation, we might pull the nation back together….
Beefy for PM!
Germany had 3 years of rain. Hard to sellnew motorcycles in the rain 🌧️. NSU was bought out by VW . Adler was bought out as well.Motorcycles are not something you buy every year. There are lots of bikes on the 2nd hand market. If you don't have the money you don't buy anything.
We’re generally an aging group as bikers… most places you go where there’s a large group of riders you will simply be one of the many ‘grey haired’ bikers. The UK is not a growing market, it’s a ‘premium’ market for expensive bikes sold to those that have the money to buy them. The mass market is Asia and Africa where small cheap bikes are the transport for the masses…
Lack of spare / fun money. I’d have a bike tomorrow if I could afford one. Also they are damn expensive nowadays!
Get a Honda Grom - 60 quid a month, 142mpg and a right hoot 😊👍🏻
Bikes have far to much technology in them now to make them affordable, and i for one, after sixty years of riding , the average person doesn't have the knowledge to know how to use it as intended.
.Money.. motorcycles are expensive toys. When you can buy a more practical car and newer. I remember years ago a BMW ad. "as cheap as a family car!" says it all, with other dealers following suit.
They are to expensive. Prices up 20 percent of so.
I’m pleased you mentioned the weather. For me that’s the number one reason why my bikes are staying in the garage. Another important factor is bike theft. Or the fear of bike theft. I will not use any of my bikes if it means leaving them unattended for any time whatsoever. The complete lack of any police presence on our roads today and their total ambivalence to bike theft is a national disgrace. Then there’s the state of our roads……one now needs an adventure bike just to pop down to the shops which your not going to do because, by the time one has bought the loaf of bread, you bike will have been nicked!
I personally find the older i get most of my riding is done in the winter months as the summer weather here in Tamworth, NSW is just to bloody hot.At sixty seven years of age i've earned the right to pick and choose.
Back in 1978 I bought a brand new Suzuki GT 250 X7 for £695.00 on the road, that was eight weeks wages, try buying a new 350 today on those numbers. A freind went to Stafford show recently, as he rode into the carpark his was the only old bike there on the day, all the rest were middle aged riders on brand new machines. You failed to mention PCP which is the new disposable avenue to a new or nearly new motorbike.
Hi Stu you are right, the declining economy and insurance costs could bring the motor cycle industry to its knees. I tried to insure with my current insurer a second hand triumph Street twin and because it was valued over £6000 they would not insure it because it wasn't in a locked garage. Even though I have two disc locks, a chain lock and it's hidden away in a side garden it wasn't good enough. I did however get insurance through MCN compared. What will they do next? Keep those articles coming they're great.
I am subscriber, I left the like, but I prefer ride videos, especially that weather turns s__t now and will stay like this for the best part of the summer.
For me it is the state of the roads and pot holes. Keeps me off the road. Desperate to get back on two wheels but I am not suicidal. Hence when I do buy another bike it will be an adventure type with loads of suspension travel.
It doesnt help when the dealer who you have been paying to service it offers you 50% less than you bought it for 2 years ago.
The peak of motorcycle sales was a direct result of government grants given out. So people splashed out ,buying bikes that previously they could not afford. The word grant was missleading, because as it turned out ,it was realy a loan. In my experience every penny of the grant was paid back via the TAX SYSTEM. In the worst case, deposits were placed on bikes,toped up by finance agreements. Hence taxation took the grant money back, leaving us ultamately with full cost plus interest. Moto of the story, given in one hand,and taken from the other!.
Thanks for that Stu. I think also in MHO, the poor condition of the roads, the increase in number of cars on the road and sadly the increased arrogance of road users generally has had an effect on me!! It has damaged my confidence a bit!! 😔 Once again a great video Stu. Thanks.
I blame driving schools for the arrogance on the road. They are teaching kids to a test pass standard and NOT how to be a conscientious, safe, and thoughtful driver.
Wait until the manufacturers have EV quotas like the car industry then watch sales fall faster than a lift with it's cable cut!
Luxury items with rising prices as well as rising operating costs; at the same time the average person is poorer. But not quite bad enough yet for the motorcycle to replace the car for most…
One contributing factor Motorcycle sales are in decline, could also be due to the fact it's rained every day for the last 6 Months. My bikes have been in the garage most of that time. Prices are high, and new riders have to jump through hoops. My first Commando was £340, and the test consisted of riding around the test centre followed by an emergency stop.
Insurance ! My cars, m/c's and home have jumped.... I asked my agent.. and got their cost have risen... You would think a long term customer (years !) would get a break. Also, your zip code and credit rating factors into how they gig your wallet. An example of location is gas prices.... $3.45 near me... I drive 15 miles to a different .. zip code area... and it's $2.95 ,,, I can't confirm it but I been told young riders on certain machines'.. crotch rockets... have an insurance premium equal to the cost of the bike with an insane deductible... 😎
Unfortunately I think people are worried about the upcoming Election and don't want to be caught out with loans and money worries etc!
Do we say "Rubber side down" or "Shinny side up" or any variants if these?
We go into a global recession, and sales of luxury items like large-displacement motorcycles fall off of a cliff. That is just reality.
hmm... except the sales statistics say the opposite!
Ten pence worth, wow inflation, it used to be tupence worth lol. Two pence.
Had my first good ride out yesterday Thursday 10th May, make a note of that day, the sun shone
9th of May ;)
23rd of April. Sunny, but cold.
I wander if someone can tell me how many bikes are road registered right now compared to previous years. Go to any popular bike meet and they are growing in size. In fact one major bike show locally is being cancelled because it’s so massive and too expense to manage and insure. We are also importing classic bikes by the truck load from abroad. So bike sales might be slowing but is ownership increasing?
I always enjoy your clear, concise and calm manner of discussing this topic. Hmmm, man made crisis creates lack of economic growth, with increased cost of living, and nobody can afford the increased purchase price of motorcycles because they choose to eat and heat their homes.
Since covid, my old fireblade had been locked away in the shed and my car got sold and replaced with a Honda 125 scooter to do my daily commute to work...
For most Riders a Motorcycle is an expensive part time toy they can no longer afford to keep or purchase, due to the current economy.
The lack of disposable income, at the end of the day the people who commute by motorcycle is very small and in urban areas motorcycle and moped theft is through the roof which leads to higher insurance premiums which are rediculous at this point so motorcycles are an expensive "toy" licenses, insurance, training, and then the cost of the motorcycle and equipment which probably means taking out a loan at high interests rates that equates to thousands of pounds even if you can afford a used motorcycle. To put it simply the vast majority of people haven't got two hapennies to rub together, it's pay your bills rent or mortgage or get a motorcycle. I think the days of people having spare cash for luxury items is well and truly over.
@toolzandnewideas your not wrong it's sad.
Having to jump through hoops to get a licence doesn't help - something not seen when trying to pass your car test. Powered 2 wheelers are a solution for congestion, but isn't encouraged......
Not surprised at the fall in bike sales. Apart from Gov Legislation making bikes more difficult to obtain, re licences etc. Theres an economic crisis on and living costs are rising, wages aren't. i'm shocked at the price of a decent touring bike. Going back to the 1950's loads of folk ran bikes. As time goes on those folk are now in cars. Insurance costs are a factor. I have bought only two new bikes in my life - 1974 my first bike Honda CB250 in Germany at 19, as a soldier. My second bike,1975 still in the Army, a Honda CB750F1. Who had extra money through Covid??? All I saw were folk struggling.
I wanted to add the downsizes. So I have a Harley 883 Iron 883 2017 last of the Evolution and like a lot of people I have spoken to downsizing to a 400 cc more multi tasking until. So I plan to get a Triumph x400 Scrambler end of the year. Reduced expenses in rego insurance and running costs. The ability to still have fun and not paying for a portion of the engine I never use considering the speed limit and speed cameras are everywhere now.