Old Bikers Just keep Rolling
Twenty years ago when a motorcycle flashed past, it was probably ridden by a young man. Now it's
likely to be a greying biker on a machine worth more than your car.
Peter Palmer is in his mid-50s and has two garages because his four motorcycles need one of their
own. The biggest is a Honda 1100cc V4 Pan European road bike for long-distance touring. It's
perfect for chewing up hundreds of kilometres on windy roads. A new one costs $16,000.
Beside it, is a Honda 600cc V-twin TransAlp bike. It's like a comfy trail bike and is used for adventure
riding events, where groups trek over farmland and riders have to map-read to follow the course.
The next bike is his KTM off-road racer, for doing just that. Then there's another small bike for track
racing.
The most unusual thing about all these bikes is that it isn't unusual. Many of his motorcycling friends
indulge themselves in their midlife hobby.
Mr Palmer's the secretary-treasurer of a Motorcycle Club. The club is for over-40s and has 120
members.
The Co-ordinator of the Motorcycle club said potential members can't wait to turn 40 and it had younger
riders who tag along because they like the club's ideals and ways of doing things.
And it's not just for men, there are women members also and more are welcome.
It's one clear sign of motorcycling's new look. There might be a few more wrinkles but there's also a lot
of buying power.
The country is experiencing the phenomenon of the ageing biker population as fewer people,
especially young people, buy motorcycles.
Latest travel survey figures show in the decade to 1998, the number of people buying motorcycles
dropped by 40 percent. The total distance ridden by bikers fell nearly as much.
The biggest change came in the 15-to-24 age range. These youngsters rode 120 million kilometres in
1989 but covered fewer than 30 million kilometres in 1998.
What's happened is young people on small budgets are choosing imported Japanese cars instead of
motorcycles. Once these cars became available after the car industry was deregulated, motorcycle
sales started dropping.
A Motorcycle Company salesman remembers working at the old Honda shop in the mid 1980s, when
they'd think nothing of selling 100 bikes a month. He says a fraction of that number is more usual
these days.
He says mature riders have many reasons for taking up motorbiking. His own isn't typical –– it was
only when he was in his mid 30s he discovered the fun they were. But he says most mature riders are
going back to bikes because they remember the fun and freedom of their youth. Most rode old Harleys,
Indians or Norton’s.
"I hear the tales of how those bikes were with the oil leaks and wrapping the fuses in silver paper to
keep them going. "It's much different now. Big road bikes can easily cover hundreds of thousands of
kilometres and the engines will last as long as car engines. "There's a rider who has just joined our
club who hadn't ridden a motorcycle in 20 years. That's not untypical of what's happening in
motorcycling. He immediately went and bought a 1200cc motorcycle."
When riders come back to bikes they find comfort, performance and safety have all improved. There's
no longer any need to hang on while being buffeted in a gale. Many modern road bikes have front
fairings to deflect the wind. They work so well that a new problem has appeared: Riders are getting too
hot. So vents have been put in to direct air on to the riders.
Modern clothing also means there's no reason for riders to get wet in any weather –– as long as they
can afford the right gear.
Leather outfits are still probably the best to protect the skin if a rider comes off on to the road but most
opt for new suits with protective shields. He has one and it cost about $1000 but you can pay twice that.
Motorcycling has changed because the motorcycle role has changed.
Once they were cheap transportation. Now, 10-year-old Japanese cars meet that need.
Young people face all the extra licensing costs and restrictions learner motorcycle riders meet and it's
easy to not bother.
"Bikes have become more specialised, effectively toys. They are a leisure item that competes with jet
skis and boats and so on".
Non-bikers struggle to understand how $20,000 to $30,000 can be spent on a motorcycle when the
same money will buy a wonderful car.
But comparing bike costs to car costs misses the point of what riding bikes is about.
"They don't relate to the enjoyment, excitement, freedom and exhilaration you get from using the
things." He says midlife buyers look back to the rosy days of 18, when life was carefree and easy, and
they had a motorcycle. They want to recapture it and the motorcycle seems the key.
"There's also the company of like-minded people. They have the time, the disposable income and the
inclination to get out there to do it. And all power to them, really." He says the feeling of freedom is
genuine. "If there's a truck holding up 15 cars, you can tootle past the cars and tootle past the truck and
carry on without getting in anyone's road." For some, the ultimate toy, escape machine, or whatever
you like to call it, is Honda's new megabike, the Goldwing 1800.
The engine is a six-cylinder 1800cc beast and to drive it away costs $25,000. It comes with
sophisticated linked brake and abs systems and an adjustable suspension package.
You could pay thousands more if you decide not having the optional six-stack CD player and CB radio
is roughing it too much.
The national dealer he's sold 12 in the past few months. All buyers are riders who are updating old
Goldwings. He says Goldwing buyers are a special breed, as are the buyers of big Harley-Davidsons.
He says 90 percent of Harley buyers are professionals, such as business executives, doctors and
lawyers, who are buying a recreational item.
Motorcycling is 18 times more dangerous than car driving he says.
Insurance companies are much happier covering mature riders than younger riders. He believes
mature riders don't contribute much to the accident figures.
"But it's true you've got to be on your toes, and you can't ride along and look at the countryside." He also
believes accident reports are distorted. If a motorcycle is involved in an accident, it's called a
motorcycle accident. And the most common accident occurs when car drivers make U-turns in front of
bikes. And even though cars are at fault, the motorcycle rider will come off worse.
He says one of the most dangerous times is when the big bikes are being wheeled around by hand.
"They are heavy and if they fall on you, they'll do a lot of damage." That's, of course, unless you have the
$25,000 Goldwing –– it comes with an electric reverse gear.
All in all - get out there- feel the freedom and relive your youth. There are many wonderful options out
there when it comes to Motorcycles.
