what is happening to motorcycle culture???

[BuellyBagger]

Maybe I'm the crazy one, but i just don't understand what has happened in the world of motorcycling... particularly the Harley/cruiser sector. I've been tossing around the idea of a second bike that is quite a bit more, laid back i guess, than my buell. I've always liked Road King Classics for some reason. I guess because in stock form with white walls and all they aren't trying to be something the are not. They handle OK for a big bike and are comfy, but not some slouch down lean back ape having dbag sled. So anyways I decide to search through harley's on the local craigslist and for the most part i find CRAP!!!!!!

I mean look @ this (my apologies if you built this bike or like it, this is just my opinion!)

WTF!!!
I mean heres a 1975 sportster in basically stock form (my first bike was a 75 sportster) IMO pretty good looking bike, so we've gone all these years and got where exeactly????

I just dont get how that blue thing is an improvement over this....

 

[oh9bolt]

I love the big wheel baggers

 

[Mwstevenson]

I feel the same, is it just that we have run out of original ideas so everything just kind of goes to the furthest extreme? That blue bike is almost comical (would be seen in a comic book/animation). Not sure I need a cruiser yet but my father in law has a '93 heritage soft tail that has a few mod's but mostly stock and I think that thing is beautiful.

 

[rchuff]

I'm with you Buelly the blue one is out of place with that BIG front tire does nothing for the bike. Just my 2cents.

 

[Disturbed1]

What has happened to moto-culture???

Moto-culture is doing fine... Matter of taste is all together another issue...

 

[Theycallmecrash]

Its less about a lifestyle these days, and all about the "image" having a motorcycle gives you.

 

[user_deleted]

Moto-culture is doing fine... Matter of taste is all together another issue...

well said.
being 61 and having ridden for 51 years now i can tell you these 3 certainties:
1-bikes in general are better than ever and choices more abundant than at any other time in cycling
2-car/truck/suv drivers worse than ever for a multitude of reasons. it will take a head of state or very important member of congress to ward off future cyclist carnage. that will come about after their son or daughter or wife is killed by one of these C-suckers operating their onboard electronic bullshit....or painting their nails....while driving.
3-generally speaking "custom" bikes handle, suspend, and brake very poorly. the builders' attention is spent on aesthetics, giant motors, huge wheels, and surfboard style paint and graphics. ask 95% of them to explain rake and trail....and rebound/compression damping to you. you'll receive blank stares.

 

[oh9bolt]

Lol

 

[Cooter]

#3 Is so true, and they are honestly referred to as "Bar Hoppers". They are only comfortable enough to make it to the bar. They have massive motors, but are only good for burnouts… $60K for a bike I can only ride 10 miles, and then get drunk? No thanks.

A motorcycle gives you freedom because it's purpose is performance. On-road, off-road, long-distance, whatever. Once you remove that, you have nothing left.

 

[nicholas900]

What has happened to moto-culture???

Moto-culture is doing fine... Matter of taste is all together another issue...

Agree. I'll add that this is nothing new. Motorcycle design goes through extremes and the most extreme designs usually end up looking dated in a few years. Harley still makes the bikes you like. Just walk into a showroom and look around. If you're intent on looking at used bikes on Craigslist, keep in mind the bikes you see there are one persons idea of cool. Might not be yours.

Baggers are the new "in style" bike. They ( companies and individuals ) will take that to the level where they look like a caricatures of itself. Then the bubble will bust and the next "cool" thing will start. Anyone got a 15' long chopper with a 400+ rear tire?

 

[theMelvster6]

Started life as a 1971 Ironhead Sportster...very similar looking as the 1975 Sporty posted above. After wasting the swing arm pivot, I went all out complete chop and re fab of most the frame while still using original frame VIN. I love my Buell but this is my Motorcycle Culture...to each his own I guess, a lot of purists hate what I did, but I wasn't about to let a good frame otherwise go to waste so I turned it into a hard tail, 8 deg over stock rake, 2" drop in down tubes, rolled back bone, 4" drop in seat height...a lot of hours in the chassis.

 

[chief_of_smoke]

Everybody likes something different. But I do agree with lunatic. I'm more towards purest, but some custom jobs are nice. Like the one above. Nice work there. As for Harley, I have never been much into their brand. But the v-rods I do like. I own a 2012 muscle. Its stock. I don't need it flashy or loud. It nice to play on in the curves.that's my $1.28

 

[go cytocis]

I agree that the sport has changed, but I'm reluctant to believe it's been for better, or worse.

On the one hand, bikes, gear, & resources for motorcyclists have never been better, & they will continue to improve! This excites me very much.

On the other-hand, & to your point, there has been an exploding segment of riders more concerned with the aesthetic of motorcycling than the ethic of it. While these folks have helped drive overall popularity & innovation of the sport, I agree that many of them have also brought a decidedly douchey element to motorcycling, because of their lack of skill, courtesy, & taste.

Here's an interesting article that proposes the increase in motorcycle fatalities over the past couple decades relates to the growth in the cruiser market which is driven by middle-aged men, many of whom A) are new to riding, & B) tend to park their bikes in front of bars rather than actually ride them. The argument is that cruisers really aren't suited to actual riding so their owners, lacking the skill to tell the difference, are content just to ride down to the bar on them where they are judged by their buddies on things like chrome accessories, leather fringe, & tacky paint jobs.

 

[s0dhi]

Here's an interesting article that proposes the increase in motorcycle fatalities over the past couple decades relates to the growth in the cruiser market which is driven by middle-aged men, many of whom A) are new to riding, & B) tend to park their bikes in front of bars rather than actually ride them. The argument is that cruisers really aren't suited to actual riding so their owners, lacking the skill to tell the difference, are content just to ride down to the bar on them where they are judged by their buddies on things like chrome accessories, leather fringe, & tacky paint jobs.

This seems to have been the case up here. Definitely a larger proportion of older new riders; most of which have the means to purchase and insure big cruisers, rather than beginning with a 250cc starter bike.

The rest of world uses motorcycles for transportation rather than an accessory. I would speculate the majority of those bikes are sub-250cc.

One of things that attracted me to motorcycling was the minimalism of it.

 

[user_deleted]

themelvster: super cool ride. i like it alot. what the hell is going on in the background? 63 galaxie fastback in one pic...then a 59 ranchero fairlane 500 in another? you in a time warp? [up]

 

[theMelvster6]

GOOD CALL! the Galaxie was the neighbors...59 Ranchero was my dad's he sold it a few months ago. I was raised in the hot rod scene. Choppers and Hot Rods are my thing...however I also wanted a Buell since I was a youngster. My dad had an 2002 S3T and I fell in love. I've never really been into sportbikes until I bought my xb9sx in 2012. But I love the Street Tracker Look, Cafe Racer, Bobbers, Board Trackers, to name a few. Helped my pops build a 50 Chevy custom...chopped, bagged, etc I've also got a 33 Ford truck cab doing a little hot rod out of and a 67 Nova Wagon...pops also has a 48 Ford Panel Delivery and 51 GMC Pick Up...

 

[jimstouching]

TheMelvster6 I'm liking the bike low and mean.

 

[BuellyBagger]

I guess I shouldn't have worded it as"culture" changing. Motorcycle culture at its root is being different. And like I said the big wheel bagger bashing is just my opinion. Just wanted to see if I was missing the boat

 

[williegoat]

I am not a fan of the bigwheel baggers, but many are. They are no more or less silly than the coffin tank, long girder front choppers of the '70s. To each his own.
The motorcycle culture has always been just what you make of it. Everyone rides for different reasons.
For me, I love the machinery first, then the solitude of the open road.
Like many Buell riders, I do not fit the mold of "biker", "sport rider" or any other stereotype. I love my Buells equally as I do my Shovelhead.
For reference, I am 60 years old and have been riding for 45 years.

 

[theMelvster6]

I love that orange williegoat!!