State of Two wheels

Remember the last time we had this discussion? I changed my DOB from 78 to 98 and got a quote on a 2017 GSX-R1000. It was $10k/yr.

 

The draw to motorcycles isnt and never will be ease of use. People that want that will go buy a Camry instead where they can stay warm and dry.

Motorcycles are anout personality, being at one with the machine and the stimulation of the senses they provide. Funny thing about bikes, when you round the edges too much and make everything work too well they lose their charecter and what makes them attractive to people.

 

Literally how I finally got a new to me bike 11yrs after buying my F4i. Cheap enough to buy with a credit card so I don't need full coverage. Which means I'll never buy new. Not good for manufacturers.

 

Went to the Yamaha Demo day today.....you’d never know there was a slowing of m/c sales.

 

I think that is a very large reason sport ikes are suffering. Those of us that can afford the insurance to buy new will buy something more well rounded instead of a new 600 or thousand.
About a month ago I was in the Market for a new bike for myself. Looked at all the stuff I would be interested in, The Z900rs, the GSXF, the Yamamaha’s. Bikes that the race classes are built around werent even on the radar....
Nothing fit, actually had a seat for the wife to ride along or didnt look like Fido’s ass. Ended up buying back a ZRX I used to own.

 

I've had a 900 streetbike (to be fair it's a naked but listed as a 900cc supersport on my insurance) since I was 22 and I've never paid more than $300 a year for full coverage on it... If you can't afford that then you need to reevaluate your life.

 

What is it?

 

Different generations have different expectations. Very few people would be willing to deal with the "character" of a 1969 BSA anymore.

 

Honda 919. I realize it's not a 600 or a 1000, and bodywork makes a big difference, but manufacturers are making more and more nakeds nowadays and to say "no one under 40 can afford a street bike with a bank note" just isn't true. Unless your definition of street bike is a 600/1000 supersport and then it might be closer to accurate.

 

I am pretty sure that is exactly what Mongo was saying. Under 25, full bodywork, with full coverage can be brutal. A 919 is not considered a sport bike by the insurance companies. It is a standard - no bodywork to tear up. My ZRX, when I had full coverage (latest company wouldn’t quote me comp and collision) was running over $600 a year. That was for an over 40 year old with a good driving record and multi bike discounts.

 

At Daytona... the Indian demo was an unsupervised ride. And they had plenty of bikes so you could have spent all day riding different new motorbikes. I put so many miles on a $40,000 cruiser barge... my chest and shoulders were sore the next day...lol
Yamaha, Harley, and Kawi were tightly supervised and guided. Suzuki was put on by a local dealer and even worse...
I wanted to drive that 3 wheeled thing from Vanderhall... but they were sold out by 10am. I had fun with the slingshot last year...

 

It also hasn't been made in like 15 years. Cost of replacement can't be more than $3500.

 

I live in Commiefornia and am in my mid 30s. I shopped around and got quoted upwards of $6K for one bike.

S1000RR is ~$3,500/year for full coverage.
Street Triple is ~$1,600/year for full coverage.
Yamaha R3 is ~$1,200/year for full coverage.

Shit is bonkers.

 

Minimal insurance for a 1972 ct90 with a historic plate that limits usage in Michigan is 276 a year. Mich insurance rates suck, but damn

 

Full coverage through State Farm on the ZX14 was $360ish a year for me in Tennessee

The 2005 ZRX isnt much cheaper at $318 a year.

 

Is there a MotoAmerica at Road Atlanta thread yet?