I certainly see more Grey haired bikers than not, I don’t go to many bike meets but mostly there ain’t so many sub 16-30 year olds. The ability to gain a full unrestricted licence has really done a job on anyone taking up motorcycling in any meaningful way from a fairly young age. My lads just waiting on turning 16 so he can get about independently, I’ll help him along the way but ultimately a full unrestricted licence is so far away I know by 17/18 he’ll be in a car. Bikes are no longer the mode of transport for younger generations. After all running both a car and bike at a young age is prohibitively expensive.
I know car insurance is generally 4 figures for young drivers but had assumed it was not the case on bikes and thus might encourage the yoofs to buzz around the cities more. Not the case? Maybe kids are too busy gaming, swiping right and positing insta selfies from Dxb as a path to meeting the opposite sex, instead of the tried and tested way back in the day. Wheelie pulling! Ehhh not by me unfortunately. Agree re; the grey hairs though, definitely the case up my way/with my riding buddies.
Of my regular group of seven biking mates, the youngest one is 57 and the oldest is 66 One young lad ( 34 yrs ) has just joined us for a few rare rides, but I’m sure he thinks it’s damaging his street cred hanging out with us cos we’re old and smell of wee !! I do think he was genuinely surprised at how much “ progress “ we make on our rides though, after the last good lash we had, we stopped for a coffee on the way back, he took his helmet off and said,…”Ohh, I get it now,…it’s a track day!!” …. I think he enjoyed it !
My lads 50 is £350 fully comp, I’ve already bought him a 125 for when he’s 17 the lad I bought that from was paying £2500 to insure it. Not sure it’s that cheap to insure a bike compared with a car. My daughter paid £350 to insure her Nissan Micra as a learner when she was 18 once she passed her test the price was £850. Although I did see a group of youths on small capacity race reps the other days as I passed Maccies.
And people say insurance companies make no sense!! Why would the price go up 8-fold from a 50-125? And why when you take the L-plates off did it nearly triple for your daughter. Get a black box fitted, better at monitoring young drivers than any parent/suitable adult sitting next to them as they learn.
I’ll guess because there is no one sat next to her after she passed her test, my daughter shopped around she had a quote of £2500 at one stage. Her Black box got fitted within a week, I took it to a garage 2 weeks back and had strict instructions drive very carefully……
Does not surprise me as told me to find another dealer when asking to service my bike as I did not buy from them, even though I recently relocated. Would never entertain visiting them after that not even for a look around. I thought why have a shop if you don’t want customers.
Anyone heard if there`s to be a dealer appointed in the Newcastle area now M+S are not dealing in new Ducatis anymore ? If not has anyone any experience of the next nearest franchises--i.e. Ducati Leeds ,J +L Carlisle or Ducati Glasgow ? Recommendations appreciated ---I`ve had Ducatis from M+S for over 25yrs and not thought of going elsewhere.
I’m not patronising J&L again. If you want more information just PM me, or see my recent posts… Going to have to try Ducati Preston or Glasgow.
I don't know anything but the sooner M&S wind up the business and relinquish their franchises to new outfits the better.. I messaged them recently asking if they've got a new ZX10R demo.. no reply, from what I've heard there's no new stock coming in and they're just clearing out what's left (that may or may not be true). Now if you want a Suzuki or Kawasaki the closest dealer is Stockton-on-tees, which kind of rules out buying a new one for me as I can't be doing with the hassle of travelling that far for service/warranty, same for Ducati, having to travel to J&L Carlisle, or Ducati Leeds/Glasgow.. It's a sorry state of affairs for the Newcastle area now, unless you want a Triumph or Honda..
Maybe Audi will put them in their showrooms like BMW do at Boldon? Noticed more and more Ducati’s marketing says part of the Audi group. It is so sad to see Westgate road now. I was there a couple of weeks ago and M&S looks out of place. Maybe move them all to Tynemouth! At least you can get an ice cream or fish and chips while you get a service!
I understand that Ian M is going to concentrate on the secondhand market, so nothing new. And that different premises have been found, but moving not finalised yet.
I actually spoke to Ducati Uk this week as I wanted to take my bike to M&S for its service but they said if I did I would forfeit my warranty as they are no longer an authorised service centre. Shame as I always take my bikes there. I am going to have to travel to Carlisle or Leeds which is 100-150 miles ‘Apparently’ there is interested parties wanting to take on Ducati and they are not at contract stage yet but there should be a new dealer in place in the next few months. Ducati didn’t seem impressed with how the business was run since covid. Another ‘apparently’ is that M&S are in the current premises until the end of the year then are just going to run from a unit in Cramlington but selling the old shite for some obscure reason. Just up the road from me if they are still going to have clothing etc so that’s good Suzuki by the way are at Motech in byker, the Aprilia dealer.
I visited BMW at the weekend (test ride of the S1000RR), it's a really nice set up there, much nicer place to be buying a bike from than dodging the junkies on westgate road, shame I didn't really enjoy the bike to be honest.
It's not a bad bike.. it's very fast and very capable, but it's completely soulless. Pros - handling, electronics, brakes are good. Cons. No torque, looks bland, zero character, fly by wire throttle is ridiculously light, has no feel at all, feels like riding a computer game. The cruise control is useless as you can't rest your hand on the throttle with it activated or it cuts out with the slightest movement- how can Harley Davidson get this right but BMW can't?. It's very quiet too, even with the £885 akra slip on. Also the primer grey/black/red colour scheme that is a £370 option looks very bland. The all black is marginally better. Getting back on the ducati to ride home was nice, it *feels* faster (I know it's not) due to the massive torque, looks and feels a lot more special too.
The BMW car/bike dealer in Aberdeen doesn’t allow test rides, even on used non BMW stock! Decided to delete my comment re: the “sales team” in ABZ.
I wouldn't expect to be allowed willy-nilly test rides on used bikes, at least not until a provisional deal had been agreed and finance approved (if required), dealer demo bikes is a different thing.
Just chucked 20k at v4s,was allowed to sit on it but not ridethey were right,it is brill but I suppose like buying a house,you expect to be bummed,however doesn’t make it right
Good news for us Ducati chaps in the North East, dealership opening in Sunderland. https://www.ducati.com/gb/en/news/d...ew-store-in-sunderland-with-vertu-motorcycles
