What happened to the sport bike industry?

[stangmx13]

Not enough people have the disposable income to afford expensive bikes - not enough to buy all the literbikes and the middleweights and everything else. So the middleweights have become lower-cost twins instead.

Honda just announced a new 92HP 755cc twin that'll probably end up in many bikes. Could be fun especially for street riding, which is the largest use-case.
[YouTube]nAHmPLpPSwI[/YouTube]

 

[Marcoose]

Just by the replies it's kind of easy to guess the ages of the respondents.

Since we’re both AARP-eligible dudes, chances are you’d relate to this. Sprotbiles suit the young, fit, svelte, nimble, healthy type. Once you start adding ‘conditions’ like a tub, knees, neck, bones, etc, sprotbiles are awful. My own rides are short, with long stops, and loads of Advils.

If the aforementioned cohort isn’t into motorcycling, much less sprotbiles, the makers simply won’t offer much.

Not to mention cost. Motorcycling is expensive.

 

[mackdaddy]

You say this in jest, but let me tell you about an incident that actually happened when my kid was six years old (which would have been in 2005).

He came back from the local library, which was two blocks from our house, followed by an irate woman who stood on our lawn and called us horrible, neglectful parents. She threatened to call child protective services on us because we had let our son ride his bike the two whole blocks to the library and then spend some time checking out a book there BY HIMSELF!

She asked what would have happened if he'd encountered a weirdo there. I told her calmly that I trusted his instincts, and he had just proven me correct in doing so. The moment he felt threatened or in danger, he came right home, as he should do.

It took her a moment, but when she realized that I was suggesting she was the weirdo that my six year old son had been afraid of, she got to yelling even louder. I finally suggested that she should leave before I called the police and reported her for stalking my child.

Sounds like the crazy lady yelling at a dude (Mikey?) to get off of the sidewalk in downtown SF while fire trucks were screaming down the street. Wish I could find that thread. It's one of my favorites. Any master searchers out there? It's worth it!

 

[supaflyryan]

I'm not as old as many here but I think there's always been a poster child of what a "cool" motorcycle is. Like you, I was out of the sport for a good 15 years and am only now coming back.

Last time I rode, sport bikes definitely had the most popular image (remember that early 2000's R6 with the red flames?). I also was right at the cusp of supermoto taking off, and that started to become pretty popular/trendy (but seemed to die out). I missed the naked era, but now I think the first bike that people get attracted to in order to get pulled into the sport is the ADV side of things.

I am super impressed with how far safety has advanced over these years though, considering my last bike had zero help other than skateboard wheels for sliders, and now I can have TC, ABS, wheelie control, slide control, and wear an airbag.

 

[cheez]

You say this in jest, but let me tell you about an incident that actually happened when my kid was six years old (which would have been in 2005).

He came back from the local library, which was two blocks from our house, followed by an irate woman who stood on our lawn and called us horrible, neglectful parents. She threatened to call child protective services on us because we had let our son ride his bike the two whole blocks to the library and then spend some time checking out a book there BY HIMSELF!

She asked what would have happened if he'd encountered a weirdo there. I told her calmly that I trusted his instincts, and he had just proven me correct in doing so. The moment he felt threatened or in danger, he came right home, as he should do.

It took her a moment, but when she realized that I was suggesting she was the weirdo that my six year old son had been afraid of, she got to yelling even louder. I finally suggested that she should leave before I called the police and reported her for stalking my child.

Whoooo doggies.

That sounds like a Karen-model Attack Helicopter Mom, equipped with outrage flares. I'm glad you came out of it unscathed.

 

[stratslingr77]

I think ADV bikes are increasingly popular over sportbikes for the same reason SUVs and trucks are increasingly popular over cars. People (a.) want to get the fuck out of town and watch the sunset on a remote mountain top with a cigar before retreating to their tent or (b.) they want to present themselves as if they were the folks in category (a.). I guess you could add a third category: ADV bikes are just more comfortable and practical.

 

[ob1ventura]

Older than most on here and have no intention of ever letting the ape go. Often my first choice for a ride down hwy 1 to Morro Bay or over the hill to Nv.

 

[greenmonster]

I'll agree that I'm seeing more ADV bikes than any other kind lately.

Personally I still like my sport bike.

I have a 2015 BMW S1000RR with a full Akra exhaust and a Rapid Bike tune that makes 200HP and weighs 450 lbs that's a kick to ride.

Would I want to drive this thing more than 100 miles in a day? Nope.
Is it something I would want to commute on daily? Nope.
Can I ride 2 up? Nope.

Does it have the performance of a Ferrari at the cost of a used Civic? Yep.
Is it a blast to drive, albeit for a short while? Yep.

My answer to the OP's question is no, I don't think the sport bike market is dead. I'm on other sport bike forums where there is brisk activity. It could be a regional thing. There seems to be a lot more interest back East than out here.

 

[Lagwagonlead]

Going fast enough to get me excited is illegal on a sportbike, or I'm dumping several thousands of dollars per year to do it legally on a track. On an adv or dual sport I can go as fast as I want without anyone telling me to slow down and I can do it all on one wheel if I want.

 

[qball]

The meta generation killed it...why go out into the world and live it when the world can come to you and all you need to do is hit the like button. :/

 

[dtrides]

Back when I was old (like 30 years ago) , I was riding Gold Wings..
Now that I am so much younger I ride a gsxr 750 on the track and a 300 two smoke in the woods.
And from what I see on the track and trail , this is the new norm.
Didn't get my knee down/race AFM until I was 60..
Or maybe I just have the Benjamin Button effect going on...
DT

 

[Kurosaki]

The meta generation killed it...why go out into the world and live it when the world can come to you and all you need to do is hit the like button. :/

Well that's an effect, to whatever degree, for all motorcycles not specifically sport bikes. But it applies to all motor vehicles. Kids are getting their licenses later and later and interest in anything but something to move you from A to B is less than previous generations.

My generation (I'm 35) might be one of the last where everyone I knew was taking the DMV test as soon as possible once they were of age. Hit and miss with a car depending on if their parents had a hand-me-down, were willing to buy them a car, or got a job and bought one themselves but at least they were licensed.

 

[NoTraffic]

Just my observation, manufacturers have listened to what the majority of riders want - a street-worthy bike that is comfortable and fun. A little over ten years ago, each of the big 4 had one and/or no standard or adv bike and all they had were primarily sports bikes or large sport touring bikes.

Honda: 599 Hornet or 919
Yamaha: FZ1 / FZ6
Kawasaki: Z1000?
Suzuki: SV650 / SV1000

With the cult following of all the models and the consumer demand, to me it's a no brainer of why the big 4 (and Euro brands) started to transition their R&D to standards, nakeds, and ADV models to respond to consumer demands.

At the cusp of the transformation, the following non-sport bikes have maintained a healthy cult like status:

- Suzuki Vstrom
- Kawasaki Versys
- Yamaha FZ09/MT09, MT03, MT10, Tenere 700, FZ07
- Honda NC700X, Africa Twin

There's probably other models to add to this list I've failed to recollect. The Euro manufacturers were actually doing it much earlier but I think the high price tag and related service costs kept consumer demand at bay.

Sports bikes, while fun temporarily, aren't the most desired for the street and sales figures are the bottom line for manufacturers to sustain and grow. With the elimination of Yamaha's R6 recently, they're still pumping out sports bikes.

 

[NeilInPacifica]

Moto Supply Chain

I don't know about sport bikes, but it seems to me there are fewer of any type of bike for sale new. Period.

I was in EBM a couple weeks back, just to check in and see if they had anything. The manager was telling me he normally has several hundred bikes on the floor, he has about 20-30, with about 3 Hondas. He said his Honda rep visited a few days back and said that the shortage of chips and difficulty shipping through Long Beach was the culprit, but primarily the chips. The rep told him the supply chain issues are going to take another two years to resolve.

What I don't understand is why? TSMC and other chip manufacturers that supply Japanese moto manufacturers are still up and running in Taiwan. Were they getting their chips from China? Is the US restricting country of origin for these chips? It doesn't make sense that this hasn't recovered after this many months. Something else must be interceding? Anyone know?

 

[Blankpage]

Manufacturers may have to switch back to contact points and carburetors

 

[Pushrod]

Manufacturers may have to switch back to contact points and carburetors

Right there you lose the newest generation of riders. Perhaps they will realize, when a carb or distributor needs to be dialed in, that the boomers can be their very best friends.

 

[cg_ops]

It's always interesting when the death/start of some social-generalization is attributed to a given generation's change in attitude/focus/actions.

Wouldn't the prior generation, who raised them and instilled most of their core values as children, be as much to blame/thank as the "targeted" generation? If a generation is lazy, entitled, virtuous, hard working, lazy, etc. isn't that due to their upbringing? Yes, peers play a huge role, but it's not like our biology has changed (nature), so it's got to be a social construct (nurture), no?

By extension, if an entire generation is anti motorcycle or anti sportbike, it's as much due to the indoctrination or propaganda of their parents as it is their own generational interests/desires.

/faux philosophical take on the thread/recent-replies

 

[Kestrel]

It's always interesting when the death/start of some social-generalization is attributed to a given generation's change in attitude/focus/actions.

Wouldn't the prior generation, who raised them and instilled most of their core values as children, be as much to blame/thank as the "targeted" generation? If a generation is lazy, entitled, virtuous, hard working, lazy, etc. isn't that due to their upbringing? Yes, peers play a huge role, but it's not like our biology has changed (nature), so it's got to be a social construct (nurture), no?

By extension, if an entire generation is anti motorcycle or anti sportbike, it's as much due to the indoctrination or propaganda of their parents as it is their own generational interests/desires.

/faux philosophical take on the thread/recent-replies

Boomers *love* to throw millennials under the bus for this sort of shit - as if millennials were the one who created the current social construct - when it was in reality a creation all their own.

I'm a millennial and yes - I play video games and engage in some online spaces. I also happen to fly airplanes/gliders, ride motorcycles, sail, spend a lot of time outside, etc. Just like every generation, we try to do the best with what has been given to us.

Boomers robbed subsequent generations of wealth and infrastructural development in a way that no other generation ever did. Decades of cutting investment in a future generation just to line their own pockets... and then they walk up and blame the youth for what they themselves made? Fuck off

 

[afm199]

Boomers *love* to throw millennials under the bus for this sort of shit - as if millennials were the one who created the current social construct - when it was in reality a creation all their own.

I'm a millennial and yes - I play video games and engage in some online spaces. I also happen to fly airplanes/gliders, ride motorcycles, sail, spend a lot of time outside, etc. Just like every generation, we try to do the best with what has been given to us.

Boomers robbed subsequent generations of wealth and infrastructural development in a way that no other generation ever did. Decades of cutting investment in a future generation just to line their own pockets... and then they walk up and blame the youth for what they themselves made? Fuck off

Wait. Essentially you're saying: Boomers are the bad guys, we're the good guys.

I'm a boomer, an early boomer. I think every generation has a unique set of problems and a unique place in the world. I don't believe in the "greatest generation" or that any generation is any better or worse than any other. We're all people struggling to survive in a situation we did not create, but inherited. That includes boomers and millennials.

If you scapegoat boomers, you're part of the problem.

 

[greenmonster]

To get back to the OP's original post, I think Dual Sports bikes have emerged as a top selling type of motorcycle because they do everything you could ask of a motorcycle. This versatility has made them popular to a larger population of riders.
Cruisers are very popular.
Sport bikes have a more narrow appeal but still have their niche and always will, in my humble opinion that is.
Ferrari for example, will never sell as many cars as Ford or GM, but there is a place in this world for things (boats, cars, bikes, etc) that are stupid fast and impractical, but so sexy.
Some women are like that, flirty, wrong to be with, sexy as hell, gorgeous to look at - fun to play with but not marrying material.