If you’re seeing fewer motorcycles out on the roads near where you live, you may wonder if motorcycles are decreasing in popularity overall across the country. There may be many reasons for the decline in motorcycle popularity over the last few years. Here are just a few of the most likely ones.
Increased Accident Risk
Riding a motorcycle does mean you need to be alert at all times or risk getting in an accident that can result in injury or even death. Leading causes of motorcycle accidents include distracted driving by the motorcycle driver or another vehicle on the road, being hit while changing lanes due to another vehicle not seeing the motorcycle, head-on collisions, and being T-boned or rear-ended. Without the protection of airbags, seatbelts, and other built-in safety elements, motorcycle riders can be seriously hurt by any collision.
We are living in a time when information is easier to access than ever, allowing people to do research on how dangerous riding a motorcycle can be before making a purchase. This makes the average consumer less susceptible to making an impulse purchase of a motorcycle. Daily, there are 3.5 billion searches performed via Google alone as people try to find out the latest news and more about everything that piques their curiosity.
Limited Season for Use
For those who live in a part of the country that gets colder winter temperatures, your window for using the motorcycle can be very short. While you can ride in the rain or light snow flurries, it’s not always a very pleasant experience, leading most people in winter places to park their bikes when the temperatures drop. You’ll also need heavier, waterproof riding gear to keep you warm on these gray weather days. When you ride in the rain, you can blend into the surroundings and shadows easily, making it harder for other drivers on the road to see you. Some riders invest in a reflective vest or rain gear in a fluorescent color to increase visibility on gray, cloudy days.
Leaving a bike out in the rain can lead to rusting and issues with the body of the motorcycle, and fabric covers are only effective at protecting the bike from the elements for so long. It’s best to store the motorcycle indoors during rainy or cold weather. This will help prolong the life of the motorcycle. In high-cost living areas, this can mean the added expense of paying for a garage, storage space, or parking spot for the bike. Some potential bike owners may not find the expense worth it for the limited riding time they get in return.
Cost and Value Depreciation
The price tag on a brand-new motorcycle with all the extras that make it a pleasure to ride can be as much as a small car. In a post-pandemic world where people are changing jobs and moving across the country at a higher rate than normal, the added expense of a motorcycle might be too much for the average American. Similar to a car, the motorcycle depreciates in value rapidly as you ride it. A motorcycle can also be easily damaged by inclement weather, like hurricanes, tornadoes, thunderstorms, and hailstorms.
Motorcycles are often the most popular with people who live in warm weather areas, however, the possibility of inclement weather can discourage potential buyers from wanting to invest a chunk of money in a bike. Some 40% of the hurricanes that make landfall annually along the east coast of the United States impact Florida, increasing the likelihood of damage to the personal property of Floridians.
So, if you’ve been considering buying a motorcycle, you might want to think again. While these toys can be fun at times, it seems like the general consensus among people is starting to be that they are too dangerous and expensive.
