Is the future of biking as a hobby in the UK dead?

[D.S.]

Shit summers $%3un
Congested roads :bang:
Traffic Taliban
Rising insurance prices :wank:
Increasing maintenance costs

Sport bike sales are down yet again this year with more and more folk are taking to types of motorcickles that enable you to get off the beaten tracks.

I'm not talking about commuters etc, but hobbiests and Sunday Warriors alike - is it simply only a question of time when road riding for fun in the UK will be a thing of the past?

I'm just glad the Eurotunnell is a 45 minute ride away and ya can get a weekend return for ?26.

 

[Bazz]

You're not far wrong DS, the biggest growth area in sales is the Dual-Sport; Trans-Alps, V-Strom's, Gs's etc., whether new or used.


We're still silly-busy with training, whether new-to-the-road, advanced training or born-agains, but it's quite remarkable how many are on, or aspire to have Dual Sports.

If that's their thing so-be-it, or is it some Chav thing, the lastest fad perhaps? Personally I don't see the point, rather like 30-40yr old mothers having feck-off 4x4 cages that they can't drive, never take off-road, and just do the school run in!

 

[Wolfie]

nah joe, people are just buying different bikes, like yerself, sports bikes never had one (that i can remember ) roads are full, surfaces are crap, so why buy a bike that should be on a track for the road when you can have just as much fun on something more comfortable???

 

[Smoothandquick]

I think it is just one of those fads.....how many people, after having seen the Long Way Round, suddenly get all excited and run out to trade their weekend-only rice rocket for a dual purpose alternative ? BTW, if you've watched the LWR, go and read the book.....gives away so much more !!

 

[Honeymonster]

Ever tried one?

If that's their thing so-be-it, or is it some Chav thing, the lastest fad perhaps? Personally I don't see the pointQUOTE]

Have you actually ridden the type of bike you are putting down?

I own both a Blackbird (since 2000) and a Honda Varadero (purchased July 04). Totally different bikes and both are great fun to ride.

Given the sh*te state of the roads in this country, I have found myself doing more miles on the Vara......brilliant road presence, superb in traffic (V-twin grunt), very comfortable and it still handles well enough to get the pegs down.
They are bloody good all-rounders.....try one you might like it w;;v

IMHO :-:

 

[Smoothandquick]

Yup, tried the 1200GS bimmer, the transalp...great fun in their own right just not my cup of tea...if I didn't have the cage I would have to admit to seriously thinking about one as an all rounder....for my circumstances now tho, the bird just can't be beaten....

 

[Bazz]

Yup! There arn't too many that I haven't ridden over the years, including Valadero, GS's and actually owning a V-strom for a while.
Yes they're good fun, of that there's no dispute,none though do it for me, that's why I said to start with If that's their thing so-be-it!

 

[Jaws]

Interesting that...

Insurance prices have been dropping for three years now ( even I have noticed this ) and I am completely baffled by your reference to the roads being congested !

What on earth has that got to do with bikes ? ( and I know for sure you aint one of those people who sits in traffic jams ! )

Weather.. well I have tried riding in the rain and to be honest I was amazed.. Not one part of me melted, and the bike did not fall over or rot away before I got home ( but then, I ride Honda's so that could explain that ! LOL ! )

And yes, the GS brigade are plotting to take over the world.. hence the very soon to be Beemer section of Jaws !

 

[D.S.]

hey Jaws

I'll treat that post with the contempt it deserves as I wasn't talking from a personal perspective.

 

[russ_fae_fyvie]

Guilty as charged !

As well as having the Blacky, my 03 Tiger is an excellent bike and is used as much for the 60 mile daily commute as the Blacky.

Unfortunatly, having found out I can't afford the new SPeed Triple I've decided to uprate the Tiger to get Aa bit more out of it.
So I've ordered a Blueflame Carbon Twin Port Can and will get the sports can tune programmed in and there are a few other body bits on order. I have also been in discussions with the wonderful Foz at Air Devils (who painted the Blackbird so well) to do another work of art on the Tiger this time with some real fancy paint from the US (http://www.alsacorp.com the piccy is the swatch which will be same pattern but with a black base and silver weave), and some very nice airbrush work, so be prepared for some non Blackbird photos soon !!

c7u8

 

[Jaws]

So Joe, which bit of my post is deserving of contempt ( actually... this is an improvement cos normaly the whole of my posts fall into that catagory )

Insurance on motorcycles has dropped subjectively year on year for the past three years.. add to that info the fact that excess amounts have also been dropping, take into account the rise in the cost of living, and some would say we are getting a bargain ( not me you understand, but some ) Course that has not stopped them finding other ways to make us pay..

Or was there something else I said that is contemptuous ?

 

[marcella]

Shit summers $%3un
Congested roads :bang:
Traffic Taliban
Rising insurance prices :wank:
Increasing maintenance costs

Sport bike sales are down yet again this year with more and more folk are taking to types of motorcickles that enable you to get off the beaten tracks.

I'm not talking about commuters etc, but hobbiests and Sunday Warriors alike - is it simply only a question of time when road riding for fun in the UK will be a thing of the past?

I'm just glad the Eurotunnell is a 45 minute ride away and ya can get a weekend return for ?26.

if biking cost twice as much ds i still do it! cos all me best dead beat mates own a cycle, every f*cker one of them takes the most, but gives twice as much back, they all got funny hairdo's cept me cos im bald! and they're the only c*#ts i can trust if im stuck cos they'rs no pish excuse,,,,,,, long live moderate biking:bow:

 

[nitehawk]

Have you actually ridden the type of bike you are putting down?

I own both a Blackbird (since 2000) and a Honda Varadero (purchased July 04). Totally different bikes and both are great fun to ride.

I agree, I bought my Blackbird new in 2004 after having a CBR1000FX since 99. I also bought a KTM 950 Adventure (before all the LWR hype) because it was hard to justify using the BB for commuting etc.

I use them both equally but I'm going to Spain next week and it wasn't a hard decision to choose the KTM over the bird. The reasons are as follows:

1. Speed wise, there really isn't a great deal in it, the 950 is fcukin fast, make no mistake.

2. The range on the KTM is better (not by a lot though).

3. I will be riding in some more remote areas where the BB may be out of it's depth as the roads are likely to be wrecked.

4. If I did take the BBird, I would be very concerned about pranging it as the Spaniards have some issues with parking, forcing their way through spaces that don't exist - bullying their way through traffic etc. The KTM looks like a tank, feels like a tank and addresses the balance more than adequately and if the boys on the ferry don't secure it properly, there isn't gonna be a two grand repair bill !!

Next time I go to a friendlier part of Europe with lovely smooth toll roads, I'll treat the Blackbird to a blast.

 

[blumeeni]

I've the bird and GS
the birds my first love no question about that but the GS is a lot of fun with a few mods it goes,handles and stops much better than it looks and surprises a lot of other bikers when they get wasted in the twisties
chuck in comfort,luggage,shaft drive,bm's reliability and great fuel economy it's a brilliant all round package I even like the Patrick Moore looks

 

[R2B2]

And even a handy drinks tray on the front too, for when you stop for that well deserved cuppa!















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:neenaw: w;;v