Don't get me wrong, I loved my rdlc 125 but just look at what you can get today. This KTM looks awesome KTM RC 390 2015 - Highlights Then if you want a 125 how about this Aprilia? Looks straight off the WSBK grid (check the silver one out in the offer sliding window) Aprilia RS4 125 Replica Its a great way to get new riders out there, whether racing or road as it gives them something that looks like a race bike. If only Darcey was a bit older, alas at only 16 months old I don't think the mrs would let me get her one
I think they have it rather worse than I did, we all had AP50's, Fs1E's, Garellis that all attempted to do more than 50, followed 365 days later by RD250's & X7s. Ok some muppets had super dreams
They may have better bikes but the costs are not easy, the insurance is tough, the license is complicated enough to put people off and bikes are not considered cool the way they were when I was young (and all this was fields). Most teenagers would rather aspire to a Citroen Saxo and I doubt many would even know what KTM or Aprilia make, let alone desire one. Face it, biking is dying out amongst the younger generation and when I die, you may as well close the forum and knock biking on the head for everyone.
I'm not sure I agree with that @Count yes it is more complicated to get a licence now, but its not that complicated. There was a report published recently showing a big upturn in younger riders driven by the fact that small bikes are much cheaper to run and insure than a small car. Plus there are loads of small capacity fun bikes being released. maybe its not as popular as it once was but biking is picking up imo.
Count is right. Theres so few yoofs on bikes thesedays. It makes me sad. I was a scooterboy and was forever covered in oil and had oily fingernails. It was great fun and great camaraderie. Plus good fun hostilities, in hindsight, with the fizzy boys. We could learn from the French here.
Both my son's were involved in the scooter craze when they were younger and both had Gilera 50 2 stroke bikes, since they have grown older and are now in their mid twenties I have noticed there are a lot less youngsters locally on bikes I see the odd youngster on a scooter or maybe a CG125 type of bike but very few in my area seem to buy motorcycles but go straight on to look for a car. My local motorcycle shop seems to just about tick over on selling commuter bikes mostly to older people, they seem to be clinging on by their fingernails whenever I speak to them.
I have been surprised in recent years just how many people join our RoSPA group who are in their 30s/40s & 50s and have very recently taken up biking, done the DAS and now want advanced riding skills. What is missing is the numbers of new youngsters who start riding bikes at 16 and continue on through, partly because parents don't want them too. My nephew is paying a ridiculous amount to insure his ten year old crappy unreliable small Peugeot car, he could be riding a nice reliable medium sized motorbike for a lot less. I don't expect it ever crossed his mind.
I had an FS1E, my mate who was about 10 months older had a kh 250, his brother had a kh 500 and his mate had a z900 ........and at 16 I had ridden all of them. I admit though that I was shitting myself and it was only in a straight line....about 200 yards on each.
It has another knock on effect too. How many of us learnt mechanics and engineering blowing up 2 strokes and fixing up our bikes as kids.
oh yes learnt a lot from 2 stroke reliability also made good money doing a bit of 2 stroke tuning and fixing at 19 years old god i so want a 350 lc .......................:Banghead:
I had a 250LC at 17 and then passed my test @ 17 & 3 months old riding round the block looking for man with clipboard in hand, then he made it easy and jumped out on me! A week later I had a Z1000. At 18 I'd turbocharged it. Don't think the equivalent is allowed now :Wideyed:
The engines are expensive these days. A 2 stroke was easy to work with And maintain. The bikes look stunning, but in the old days, change piston and rings didn't put your parents on the street.
