October 2008 - Young Riders & Biker Trash - Harley Forum

Buzz Kanter · #1 11-04-2008, 11:03 AM

YOUTH OPTIONS, RESPECT & PREJUIDICE
These days, I’ve been wondering how a young person gets his first bike. I’m not talking about the young, hotshot stockbrokers, lawyers, or lottery winners who can buy a new, top-of-the-line Screamin’ Eagle Road King with cash, but the average student or working stiff trying to get by and still pay for gas. Up until the last year or so, a lot of them could head over to the local dealership and swing some affordable financing, or to the bank or credit union and get a decent loan for a nice, used Harley. But that’s changing fast, making it tougher even for people with decent credit to buy a new or slightly used Harley. So, what are a young person’s options in buying a first bike?

Let’s rewind the clock to the early 1970s, when I first started riding. I couldn’t afford a new motorcycle, and I didn’t have any credit to consider a loan. With no mechanical experience or even the simplest set of tools, I did what a lot of us did in those days. I bought what I thought was the best used bike I could afford, and learned how to fix it up enough to keep it on the road. No instant gratification for me, but a lot of lessons learned the hard way. Whenever I could, I’d fix up and sell my current motorcycle for a profit and use the funds to buy a bigger, better, or newer one. I made mistakes with a few of the bikes I bought, and with some of my mechanical “fixes” for them. On my long trek from motorcycles I could afford to ones I actually wanted, I bought and sold a lot of bikes over the years. And I learned a great deal about motorcycles, myself, and old-fashioned horse trading.

Looking back, I consider these experiences a solid foundation for many areas of my life and my ability to identify and fix a wide range of motorcycle mechanical problems. It also gave me a real appreciation for older motorcycles, and what’s needed to keep them on the road and running. In an odd way, I also feel that I’ve earned the motorcycles I now own. But, in the age of electronic fuel injection and black box electronics, I don’t see the same opportunities for today’s youth. Back in the day, if a carb acted up, we’d pull it apart and fix it. Try that with an EFI system now.

Harley-Davidson is also concerned about how to attract younger riders, and is working on designing motorcycles that will appeal to the younger rider. So I expect we’ll see more of the dark-customs line of machines, and hopefully more entry-level Sportsters and Big Twins. On the other hand, the more prices drop on new and used bikes, the more affordable it is for young riders to buy their first Harleys. I hope so, as it would be a pity if today’s youth couldn’t enjoy what you and I have experienced on the road with our own Harleys.

Who You Calling Biker Trash?
I was at the wonderful Rhinebeck New York Antique Motorcycle Club of America (The Antique Motorcycle Club of America Inc.) meet earlier this year with some friends. We had a great time checking out all the rare and classic bikes at the fairgrounds being ridden on the streets. Rhinebeck is a wonderful old town with quaint stores, restaurants, and farms. Most of the locals we met were friendly and curious about the vintage motorcycles in the area, but not all.

One night, three of us went to one of the better restaurants in town for dinner. My riding buddy Jim Sims, his pal Bill Nugent, and I are each around 50 years old, clean cut, friendly, and polite guys. Jim and Bill are retired after successful careers, and you know what I do for a living. We were all wearing jeans or shorts and motorcycle-related T-shirts when we went into the restaurant and asked how long the wait was for a table for three. The young lady at the counter looked us up and down and curtly recommended we might want to eat “next door, where the food is lighter fare.” I asked her what that meant, and she replied it was “a nice place with smaller food portions that are more affordable.” When I asked her again what she meant, another well-dressed woman came over and repeated what the first said. I then realized that they correctly identified us as motorcycle riders and assumed the worst. This wasn’t the first time, as a biker, I’ve been discriminated against. But I have to say, due to the popularity of motorcycles over the last several years, it’s been a long time, and I was caught by surprise. We remained polite, but firm, with these 20-something hostesses. Eventually, they did seat us and we had a pretty good dinner, although the pretentious waiters seemed uncomfortable serving us. So I guess even today, when motorcycling has been discovered and enjoyed by people of all walks of life, some others still look down at bikers. Go figure!

Ride safe, ride smart, have fun.

Buzz Kanter
Publisher/Editor-In-Chief

Wrightturn · #2 11-04-2008, 12:07 PM

Memory lane:

I started riding on the street with a drivers license in 1965. I was 15. I drove the family car when I was allowed but my motorcycle was my declaration of independence. I was working three jobs and could find a way to buy things. My parents never prevented me from doing anything but they were not about to buy me a car or motorcycle. As long as my grades were B+ or better and what I was doing was legal or supervised by my father it was OK. I got my own car at 16. My 1950 Ford had at total investment of $137.00 including an Earl Scheib paint job and $29.00 seat covers. My motorcyle cost $695.00 new. It was 1yr old and I paid $575.00 to the Honda dealer I was working for. He let me make payments and nobody knew how I got it. The 305 Super Hawk is long gone.
Todays teenage buyer seems to be finding older Japanese bikes to get started on. The next move seems to be an older Sportster and now an Evo as prices come down. The price drop and good supply of Sportsters and Evos may be good news for Harley down the road. If the dealers learn how to treat younger riders the present market conditions may be able to hold on to younger riders until their income and Fico score will allow them to buy newer more expensive motorcycles. We can learn from the US auto industry and the British motor vehicle industry and keep the American motorcycle industry healthy. As credit becomes available sales will increase. It won`t be as easy as it was but it will be back.

shovelmike · #3 11-04-2008, 12:34 PM

I had similar humble beginnings of my motorcycling life. I bought, fixed, rode and sold a few, working my way up with bigger, better bikes.
My second bike was a 305 Superhawk well used and abused but made a wonderful warble from the exhaust at 70 down my favorite river road that was pure road music.
Learned some good lessons on the "care and feeding" of carbs and ignition points....rituals that the young riders of today won't experience. Now of days it comes down to figuring out if one of the black boxes died, many of which cost more than an older Jap bike is worth....puts the kabosh on trial and error trouble shooting for the new guys.

Hammerhead Pat · #4 11-04-2008, 06:49 PM

As far as todays youth goes, my wife who works for Progressive Ins. tells me that most of the kids are buying crotch rockets, DUH!!, and a lot of them are buying them with a credit card and at least in FL., don't have to have proof of insurance for them. I remember as a teenager I wanted a street bike , but my dad was in the insurance business and put an end to that idea. Now as I'm older I'm really glad I waited to get a street bike as I think I've gotten more responsible and aware of what really goes on out the road and what the consequences are. As far as todays youth turning a wrench, yeah, right, that cell phone they have is their towtruck!!! Just out of curiosity, how many of you folks would let your teenager ride a street bike nowadays?

Wrightturn · #5 11-04-2008, 10:15 PM

Hey Pat,

My daughter had zero interest in bikes growing up. She rode with both my wife and I but never got into it. Total yuppie. At the age of 34 she decided to learn at took MSF and bought a 250 Honda used. Traded for a Suzuki 1200 Bandit . When I went to Va for Christmas 3yrs ago she told me she had a surprise for me. Went out to the garage to see her Boss Hoss 350/300 hp.
Rode it for 3yrs for shock value then sold it . Gets her second masters degree next year MBA / University of Va Darden School of Business. I don`t care if she rides or not. I t wouldn`t matter what i said .

Payback is hell.

Tbone · #6 11-05-2008, 10:36 AM

My oldest son wants a bike. He's a senior in Industrial Design, 21 years old. He'll have to be a fifth year senior before he graduates. I am hesitant about getting him a bike. I know he's a responsible young man and hasn't had any trouble with his driving record but it scares the crap out of me that an accident with the crazy drivers around here might end his life. I would have a hard time dealing with the fact that I helped him get a bike and it might be the reason for his pain and suffering or death.
I love to ride. I always have. I should have died more than once when I was 21. I'm really having a hard time dealing with this. On the one hand, I would be very proud to ride with him somewhere on a trip. On the other hand I know how difficult it is to be safe around here. The car people are maniacs. They do everything imagineable that creates dangerous situations for not only bikers but for other cage drivers as well.
I've held off so far and he doesn't bug me about it because he's happy right now with the vehicle I've provided for him to use at college. He is practical enough to realize that he needs the vehicle to carry his projects back and forth from home and classes and seems to be satisfied for now.
All of this applies to the wife also. It scares me to think about her riding, also.
Why do you think I am not scared to ride and have this fear about my loved ones riding? I don't know.

shovelmike · #7 11-05-2008, 07:04 PM

Hey T Bone, my situation is similar..I've been mulling it over myself. My younger son, age 19 is a Sophmore in college and has expressed interest in getting a motorcycle (first time he's shown ANY interest at all).
Yep, it scares the living heck out of me contemplating some brain dead cager hurting or killing my precious son ...yet I, like you, continue to face the risks.....with the benefit of years and years of experience.

MR.MF · #8 02-19-2009, 02:41 PM

you guys sound like #3,s to me and that explains why you have such a hard time with your loved ones riding! Let me explain to you again cause i know it came from a mag some were along the way and you were sure to have read it before #1,s those who are going down, #2,s those who have been down, #3,s those who are going down again, ok I am sure that you know what I am talking about, and yes I have a son allmost 18 now, few more months to go, and he will buy his first bike just like I had to, and I am scared for him, and the others on the road around him, and can only pray that he makes it, see he's got it bad just like I did, my dad took me riding when I was a boy, then made me wait till I left his house before I could buy one, and that is exactly what I did for my son.

AOW · #9 02-19-2009, 05:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hammerhead Pat

As far as todays youth turning a wrench, yeah, right, that cell phone they have is their towtruck!!!

You are obviously so far removed from the crotch rocket youth that I'm surprised you admit they exist. Most of those "kids" do their own wrenching on their bikes, mostly because they customize them to the point where they are the only ones that can ride it. Me on the other hand.... I've worked very hard and long for everything I have, so If it comes down between me giving up half my day to wrench on my bike, or pay someone that does it for a living to wrench, I'm gonna reach for my cell phone and let him do his job so I can do mine.

tommyglide · #10 02-19-2009, 07:15 PM

I am so much with Tbone and Shovelmike on this one, EXCEPT, I am lucky in that my oldest, (late 20s) has absolutely no desire to ride. I offered up profesional training and the use of my well maintained Evo, so that we could do the father and son thing, knowing I would be a nervous wreck the whole time. LUCKY for me, we do other mutually enjoyable things the 3 or 4 times a year we get together and he now drives an old SUV I gave him that he has a fighting chance in if something untoward occurs.
I think parents always feel better when their kids take up less risky activities.
TV anyone?