Top 7 Ways Motorcycle Culture is Changing

[@cedricparkinson3635]

Started riding in 1964 and still riding at 86 0n my '21 Ninja 650, the perfect all round bike.

[@Oilerrocker]

That’s awesome!!

[@mikeadams2351]

same engine in my 2012 Versys and I love it. unfortunately for it though I got a 2012 BMW R1200R that I love more (92.5hp at the rear wheel). 76 and still considered a bad ass by riders much younger than myself.

[@alexk7286]

Good, 4 u and enjoy yourself sir!

[@Oilerrocker]

@@mikeadams2351 well you inspire me I’m 58 been riding since I was in my teens,hope I have many more years ahead of me.

[@adriandzoic130]

I was coming to say that my uncle just turned 80 and he still rides his Busa on track days and has his BMWs for daily riders. And I have 0 doubt that he will be riding at 90 as well/

[@rockinrodlittle]

My son was 18 and had a Ninja 1000. He moved to Ontario and his insurance went from $600 to $8,000 a year. He had to sell his bike. He’s 31 now and just bought his first bike since he was 18.

[@JohnShaw26.2]

What does that teach us about moving to Canada?

[@JamesExcell-InterJex]

A crotch rocket is expensive to insure.

[@yackson4804]

@@JohnShaw26.2that’s the disability insurance that causes that

[@ilikelampshades6]

Somebody crashed into my car while it was parked and I'm expecting my car insurance to go up from about £1,000 a year to £5,000 a year ($1,400 and $6,600 respectively). Due to the broken tax system in the UK, I need to earn £10,000 ($13,300) to get £5,000 as the government takes half. $13,300 is how much car insurance costs us in the UK for an average valued car and for a sensible driver. Our salaries in the UK (before the government takes half) are probably half of what you make in the USA. So my car insurance will probably take up about 20% of my income as a senior manager. Rip off Britain

[@Wallodeath2]

It’s silly because more cruisers wreck then sport bikes

[@Hei1Bao4]

I love riding. It's my favorite activity and I refuse to give it up despite being disabled and 48 yo. Almost 49. It's a real struggle, financially as well, living on SSDI. I ride a 34 yo Yamaha FJ1200. I do all the work on it myself, which is also a struggle with chronic pain. But it's the only thing that makes life worth living anymore.

[@orangesnipzy]

Hey, my dad told me the story of someone who was paralyzed in a motorcycle crash. His buddies bought another motorcycle just like his, made a wheelchair accessible sidecar that had all the controls for the bike, and he continued to ride. In a wheelchair, from the sidecar.

[@Fatal_Inertia]

@@orangesnipzy Where there's a will, there's a way!

[@turboboy0]

I'm in the same boat. 53, disabled and love riding my 2019 zx14r when i am physically able. I've been riding since 1991 and have no plans to ever stop.

[@Oilerrocker]

@@Hei1Bao4 Never give up !

[@Robnoxious77]

i’ll stop riding when I cease to be able to sit on one. I’m 47, knees are stuffed due to a crash years ago. I go to the gym religiously, just so i’m fit enough to ride. If I have anything to do with it, i’ll never stop riding.

[@sdot13tube]

0:39 got my first bike at 52 💪🏽

[@WaitAMinute1989]

Me at 49

[@abcarp1302]

52 also

[@jimsauer2453]

Rode many bikes, just bought my own at 55.

[@SahnigReingeloetet]

Amazing 👍 The more the merrier ✌️

[@mikeadams2351]

started riding "again" at 64 after 40 year lay off.

[@bhouse92101]

Guilty as charged Papa Yam! I was watching your channel for months before I took the leap 3 years ago to begin my motorcycling journey (ay age 50)! I still watch your channel and still enjoy it, even though I spend WAY more time riding now! Thank you!!

[@wadeteach]

I started 20 years ago on a Rebel 450, with questionable gear. Sold the bike a few years later. Now, at 55 and divorcing, I am ready to start again. I’m all geared up, and looking to get Suzuki gsx 8R. Time to be happy again.

[@clonecommandermike332]

Heck yeah man

[@bigchief4052]

Wait for the R9 instead

[@joshmoore7300]

I started 8 years ago on a Cleveland heist 250(actually a 229cc honda clone)

[@thebikerrex5010]

I have found that most people my age (early 20's) who I ask how they feel about riding say "I am scared of bikes" which makes me sad. No one wants to ride alongside me and my Daytona 675R 😞

[@clonecommandermike332]

I'm trying to get everyone I know into motorcycles so we can have massive group rides

[@lostpockets2227]

i tell everybody i know to at least try an MSF course, so that they can understand what it takes to do what we do, and how quickly addicting it can be

[@michaelconran5252]

Find a woman that loves riding. Best thing in the world

[@joshmoore7300]

I crashed but im gonna get another bike i miss riding after not being able to for almost 2 months

[@gamingislife3332]

Pretty much. The people around me act like I'm making the worst decision I possible could because of this fear

[@jaceacekalgoorlie]

Most harley riders today are accountants named nigel, and they ride their bikes to the nearest coffee shop every 6 to 8 weeks

[@mjordan812]

I, for one, am proudly adding to the aging biker pool. And hope to continue doing so. 79 here and riding since '61. Presently on a Tiger Explorer (I succumbed to the ADV siren 20-ish years ago). Bought a Guzzi V85TT to replace it - which doesn't seem to be happening - and just added a Speed 400 to the stable. NEAT little bike. There's also a Yammie SRX-6 sitting in the back of the garage - which I bought new - and now badly needs attention.

[@adam346]

my little cb300r costs me a grand total of $208 a month on payments and insurance and I am getting between 70-80miles per gallon. Even with maintenance over the year it might average out to another $40 a month... it's my cheap and cheerful transport.

[@lorencrannell3140]

I just learned how to ride a motorcycle at 57 years of age and through your videos, a MSF course, and other research I felt comfortable getting a bike. Within the first week I got my 2024 Bonneville T120 and the bike has been great but keeping the learning going with your videos. Thank you!

[@comfy_fabian]

22 from Germany, just bought my first bike last month, love my R7

[@skippityblippity8656]

Ouch

[@samuraizach442]

I’m 36 and feel like I see I large diversity of age with all other riders. I also count scooters into this. For anyone who wants to bad mouth scooters I assure you as someone that has owned a multitude of motorcycles and scooters it is the EASIEST way to peak a newbies interest or introduce someone new to the community AND they are outrageously fun

[@igneous85]

The teenagers where I live have taken to the 50cc scooter but seeing more groms, navis, and 150cc scooters. I can't imagine they'd be able to afford more than that for quite a few years so good for them.

[@samuraizach442]

@@igneous85 I bought my last scooter for 500$ and put 11k miles on it commuting. It cost 4$ to fill the tank, 90-100miles to the gallon

[@joshmoore7300]

You don't need to go fast to have fun im perfectly happy at around 60mph

[@DouglasRosser]

Riders are getting older. I'm turning 53 in a couple months. Bought my first motorcycle in August.

[@TheInfantry98]

Lmfaoooo damn your old gramps . I started riding at 22 yrs old and haven’t stopped since then

[@lostpockets2227]

I was 29 when i took my MSF course at Harley Davidson. There about 4 40-50 year olds, a few around my age, and just about 3 younger guys in their early 20s

[@brocksamson8750]

Got my first bike this year at 55.

[@gypsyminstrels8744]

Welcome to the club , youngster !

[@piotrpilinko639]

I'm 46 and till June this year I'd never thought about riding motorcycles. Next Friday I have an exam for A category (a full motorcycles driving license).

[@SimplicityForGood]

Our government do not want us to have any gas driven vehicles at all… they change the city here in Stockholm into Environmental zones for only electric vehicles! Is crazy! If you buy an old motorcycle from early 2000s you can pay 3000 dollar for a bobber bike for example, and is15 dollars a month for insurance, but if you buy an electric moped like Talaria MX4 or XxX they want 6400 dollars for a Moped!!! And then the insurance is 90-190 dollars a month for that electric moped!!! What is going on!?!?! 😮…. I think I get a second hand Husqvarna FE 501 and move out on the countryside!

[@jasonking9401]

And vote wisely, friend!

[@simonb6982]

@@jasonking9401 If voting would change anything, it would be illegal. Will ride my Tuono V4 until I break, it breaks, or it gets banned. Thankfully, insurance is okay (500€/year), and almost no cops in my region

[@SimplicityForGood]

@@jasonking9401 You can’t do that anymore in Sweden... We have 9 parties, and if the socialists lose, they just sneak behind the election process in the following weeks or months and establish a co-government with smaller parties, like the communist party or the environmentalist party, to win the election anyway. The right-wing moderate party does the same with the Christian party or the Hitler party, called the Swedish Democrat Party, which is really just a socialist nationalist party in the end... And the reality is that whether the right or left party wins, they do not care about our nation anymore, as the ministers’ future elitist careers are out among European Union organizations and businesses related to them, like George Soros, Hillary Clinton’s women’s organizations, and so on. Any minister, whether left or right, only follows whatever directives the people in Brussels tell them to install in the respective member states of the EU... So we, as a people, cannot vote to change this anymore-they have kidnapped our right to vote in reality! Joining the European Parliament in 1995/1996 was the most devastating blow to Swedish autonomy! This year, they also banned the yearly veteran car parade that had been going on since the 1950s with big American cars and bikes, cruisers… They say it’s just a bunch of uncivilized, uneducated countryside thugs coming into Stockholm, disrupting the laws, and destroying the environment, so they banned it, and it will never be allowed again... That’s how bad it is! They want you in an electric vehicle so the police can use EMP cannons to immediately shut down your vehicle in the blink of an eye, and install codes in all electric vehicles so drones-which the police already use-can track both your vehicle and your smartphone using a software called Wireshark. They began using this in Sweden during corona when we protested against the corona laws. Any person who protested against making corona part of the laws for the most dangerous and infectious diseases would be tracked by drones that sniff out your IMEI codes from your smartphones... This is why they do not need to arrest people during protests anymore. They let the drone collect all the IMEI codes from the smartphones carried by those who join the protests. As they take your pictures while you protest, the Wireshark software, with the help of a GPS tracker, saves your face and your IMEI code. Once you walk back home from the protests, they locate your home address, get your name, and can drive by and arrest you when you least expect it! This is what the state is literally like here right now! Every bloody night, helicopters fly over my area, lighting up your window, and we’re talking about 1-4 am, waking you up! We never had this before in Sweden! It all came after corona! And now it’s like we have to accept it as normal! I do not want an electric vehicle, ever! I will rebel and have the most gas-thirsty bike you can find, with the most notoriously open exhaust ever known to man, just to piss off their Green Passport! The Green Passport in Europe is starting now, from the end of the year, and it will check how much CO2 you spend each month-not just by your car or bike, but also if you fly or take a train, and even what vaccines you’ve taken. If you exceed the level of CO2 they deem too much, you will not be allowed to drive your vehicle, period! They will also calculate the CO2 levels of your house, and if it is not zero emissions, they will force you to install a chosen system to rebuild your whole house by whatever the government decides. You must pay at least another 50,000 euros for this, increasing your mortgage. If you don’t comply, your bank will force you out and put the house on auction immediately! So, all the old people with bad pensions, who’ve had old farmhouses for hundreds of years, passed down through generations, will now be kicked out of their own homes! All of this started because of EU directives, which have a complete “Acquis Communautaire.” That’s when a member country is forced to align with the laws the EU sets, no matter the will of the people in that nation-or else! This is Supranational Governance right here... So, our wonderful bikes and the freedom to travel and use as much gas as you want will soon be a forgotten time. We live in an age of Cultural Homogenization! They do not want anything masculine left by 2030, for sure. No big, heavy cruisers or superbikes will ever ride again on their feminist, environmentalist, left-wing fascist roads in the near future! So voting the right way-that’s a past historical luxury we won’t see again here in the EU!

[@GreglarB]

@@SimplicityForGoodI moved away from Göteborg to the US cause if the bureaucracy. Not saying US politics are better but there is a freedom here that I’m happy with and endless summers. Sorry it’s bad in Stklm, I do like the Livewire bikes though but taxes are also INSANE in Sweden. PS in Florida bike insurance is optional. I only pay $100 a year. It’s kinda insane how cheap bikes are to ride here.

[@SimplicityForGood]

what? A hundred bucks a year for insurance? Ha! That’s as cheap as it gets, that is about the same insurance cost one would pay for a veteran bike, like a Honda Shadow from 1983 here in Sweden! How did you end up in the USA? If you have the time, I love to hear what you think are the best ways for a Swede to make the move over there permanently, now in 2025... With all the changes coming up, it feels like more people are realizing the mistakes we made by joining the EU and seeing that we cannot change this around, is too late... II’d really like to just hit the road and leave this government in the dust!

[@TylerG7777]

57 yrs old. ER doctor. I have 3 bikes: Ninja ZX-6R, BMW 1200 GS, and BMW Scrambler. I ride all my bikes, every week. Just adding this comment for Yammie’s demographics. And yes, I love my big BMW GS adventure bike. Don’t let Yammie convince you otherwise, the big ADV bikes are fun, comfortable, versatile, and are cool as hell. 😁

[@repetitivemotion]

66 year old attorney. I ride ADV as well. But I also ride dirt and cruisers.

[@FernandoChaves]

58, surgeon. Started riding dirt bikes when I was 14, built my first Harley when I was 19. I have had many bikes of many types over the years, many of which I built myself. In med school I rode a chopper I built. I bent and welded the frame myself. I have never bought a new bike in my life. I have 2 Harleys (one a chopper), a classic Triumph (chopper), 2 Hondas, and a Yamaha. I don't even own a four wheeled vehicle. My daily rider at the moment has 107K on it. Oh, and when I say "chopper" I don't mean one of those designer things you buy. Choppers are built.

[@TylerG7777]

@@FernandoChaves Wow Fernando. Great story! Thanks for sharing that.

[@martinbarrick5440]

Got my first bike, an old Yamaha Enduro that had a welded back together chain & gear cover, as soon as I could afford it as a teenager. Been on a bike since; nearing age 70. Good observations as usual! We can't give it up as we get older and a 3 wheeler 'jus won't do. Finally got off a liter bike for the new Suzuki GSX-8s - you are also right about the delights of a 2 cylinder and ain't nothing wrong with a Quick Shifter. Keep the vids coming Papa Yam!!

[@andyzman4387]

I'm 51 I've always had bikes since I was 10 years old. I still ride but not during rush hour. Because of everybody on their cell phones these days. It's way too dangerous nobody pays attention anymore. God forbid a younger generation is going to ride a motorcycle and not be able to look at their phone

[@amerigo88]

The fading of the "black leather biker" culture in the US is tied to the reduction in the percentage of the population providing military service. Veterans, including combat veterans, were everywhere in the US for decades after 1945. The draft finally ended in 1972 while Boomer veterans of the WW2, Korea, and Vietnam wars kept buying cruisers and wearing leather; inspired by "Born to be Wild" (Steppenwolf) and the movie "Easy Rider." With a long stretch of peacetime from 1975 to 2001, interrupted briefly by the Persian Gulf War of 1990 - 1991, veterans on bikes faded a lot. They surged back some in the wake of the wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, but those veterans are getting older as well. I remember talking about motorcycles with a civilian contractor who went by the name "Fat Jack" while we were living in the same GP medium tent during the Persian Gulf War. Me - "Jack, you could blow a tire on the freeway and die in a flash." Jack - "That's half the goof." Until we accept that death is inevitable and perhaps just a moment away, it is hard to really give this life everything it has to offer. You will get out of it what you put into it. One of my motorcycle license plates is HFGOOF. Thanks, Fat Jack.

[@simonb6982]

What is my take-away from being a former 11B? Embracing risks, as safety is an illusion. Possibly, taking that damn exam is down to my infantry attitude and buying my mad-ass Tuono V4 beforehand.

[@michaelconran5252]

I'm a retired Marine and love riding. I don't do it for a rush, I do it to relax.

[@simonb6982]

@@michaelconran5252 Not going blitzkrieg all of the time. But it is so satisfying to ride the lightning!

[@ckenoshmeg3963]

Your videos and reviews on the Honda Rebel 1100 are the reason I went out and got a 2023 after not riding since I was like 12 years old. After thirty years and a few life changes, I decided I needed a toy. Wish I would have done it 20 years ago, but I was too irresponsible to really appreciate it all. Just, Thank You for the videos.

[@teddybrosevelt-007]

Hey man! I bought a 22 Rebel 1100. It was my first street bike. Started at age 42. Wish I would have started years ago. I ride every day now.

[@gabrieleramazzotti6471]

As an Italian guy with an old dad who drove a Moto Morini 350 when he was eighteen, bought from a dealer in Mugello right by our house in the countryside, hearing Morini presented as a “Chinese-based company” hurts… we really have fucked up.

[@gabrieleramazzotti6471]

Oh and by the way, great video - I agree with all your points!

[@brentcollins9727]

Same with bicycling. It’s mostly older folks on the trails and bike paths. I hardly ever see 20 year olds on bicycles.

[@simonb6982]

Umm... must be an US thing.

[@tamusbaby]

im 51, got my msf at 49... During pandemic lockdowns, i decided to do things i was always wanted to do but never had the means to do them. So i watched your vids, as well as others and went for it. I own 2 bikes, both i built myself. Thank You for sharing your knowledge. I ride every weekend, alone, at night sometimes or very early morning. It has helped me with my anxiety, and its all i need to help me prep for the work week. Live to ride, ride to live -- this is the truth.

[@Virutosah]

I got a dual-sport a few weeks ago, as a 25 y/o I wanted to emotionally connect with my father who can no longer ride a motorbike, plus it's cool as all hell.

[@James74T]

Got my first and second bike this year at 49. My second bike, a Svartpilen was thanks to you and your videos. Love both bikes and svartpilen is such a fun bike. I feel like a better rider when I jump on my Indian scout rogue after riding the Husky.

[@adrianw3985]

It's pretty hard to beat 50+ MPG on my bike compared to the 18 MPG of my truck.

[@RevusX]

73 on my bike vs 36 on my car. It's not as much of a win figuring the cost of the bike, but it's a win because it's a nice hobby.

[@adrianw3985]

@@RevusX hell yeah brother

[@SahnigReingeloetet]

I get 100+mpg. Impossible to beat, plus it‘s easy enough to work on so you also save on mechanic bills

[@daformula6935]

Ruckus guy here.... every tank i save on my ram truck basically pays for the financing, insurance and fuel for the month.

[@mencibenci]

do you guys ride 125s lmao

[@RepairandRideout]

I've had a license since I was 17, happy days of no CBT and multiple discipline tests. Got my wife off my back on on to her own bike a few years ago. Her only gripe is that I didn't get her to do it years ago, she can't believe what she's been missing all this time

[@adamnichol6761]

Between 2005 and 2015 I was a teacher for the 16-19yr age group in the UK, in Essex which is a bit of a mini-Detroit for the UK - big Ford presence lead to a massive car culture there. Over those 10 years I saw more in each year a shift away from the buy-a-car/bike-asap lifestyle that was so prevalent. The kids dropped any aspiration for vehicle ownership in favour of buying a new phone and getting an Uber as needed. Add in the rise of working from home and online gaming, and the kids never experienced a need to take car trips anywhere; and had minimal need to ever actually go anywhere themselves - no heading to your friend's house because you're playing online. The motorcycle licencing journey in the UK is (deliberately) difficult and off-putting, but that only ever fought off those who just wanted the image; the societal shift is where the cull of new blood really hit. Now, having getting a car first didn't make you popular and a step above the losers on the bus. Getting a bike doesn't make you edgy. Unless you're doing some sort of thing on TikTok, no one knows you exist.

[@LeighaThorne]

I'm in my early 40's. I started riding in my early 30's. My dad took me cross country on the back of his Harley and that's what got me hooked. Currently riding a 16 Indian Chief Classic.

[@KensWorldRestorations]

Been riding since I was 15 and just turned 59. I definitely see a gap of riders - either older or younger but fewer riders in their 30's - 40's. I have both a cruiser and a sport bike that are both 40 years old and it's still the same rush every time I get on one and ride. I don't ever see myself stopping anytime soon.

[@leanit5756]

We are aging because it used to be every kid got a dirt bike, and developed their love, skill, and confidence with motorcycles as children. Now few kids have that experience. Their parents are failing them, and there is simply less habitat for kids to ride. A part of that being all the numbskulls that have put load pipes on their bikes over the years and got areas shut down, as well as the manufactures and industry not insisting on maintaining street legal sound levels for dirt bikes. Another part, in my region, being derelict drug addicted assholes dumping their garbage in the forests. Just general break down of society in general.

[@NightCat900]

Watched yam for over a year before I decided to pull the trigger and bought a drz for my first bike a few years ago, I’m 26 now on a z900rs and I will never give it up, if you’re young and wanting to get into and have the means, do it, just do it, you will not regret it

[@ilikelampshades6]

When houses cost 135x more today than in the 1960s, it's not surprising young people don't ride, they can't afford to!

[@GrippeeTV]

I think distracted driving is a big part of it. Drivers are more distracted now than ever and it really adds a lot more risk. My brother refuses to get a bike despite my efforts to convince him because he knows how many people text and drive and it only takes one person not paying attention to end it all lol

[@misterk4580]

Riding since 1968, never tried to convince anyone to start riding. Either ya got it or ya don't. Enjoy your ride.

[@clonecommandermike332]

We all die one day. Might as well live on your terms.

[@teemuheinonen1223]

My friend bought a GSX 1400 and after I saw it, I knew I had to get a bike. Started watching your channel mid june, got my A-license three weeks ago and bought my first bike two days after that, I'm 44.

[@ganuvien]

I grew up riding dirtbikes, quads, atcs and didn't even manage to get my first streetbike until 27 years old due to finances. I finally moved up to a decent job and worked a ton of OT the first few years which helped me get out of financial debt and save up to get one. Totally worth it as motorcycle riding has always been my church and stress relief. Unfortunately a lot of newer riders are also facing the same struggle of finances, or maybe the extremely high death risk with drivers paying less attention now scaring them away. There's almost a motorcycle death every day here in Houston it feels like. For example trackdays which would be the safest way to learn to become a better and safer rider are also $250+ a day out here in Texas..... For us poors we can't afford that and stick to the street risk.

[@Wsmith247]

59 here and been riding since i was 5 my Dad was a big motorcycle guy thank god, started out on mini bikes and Go Carts.

[@512Chaos]

Thanks to channels like this and Fortnine i felt a lot more comfortable coming back to riding after 20+ years. I have a Helite vest, Helite jacket, SMX gloves & boots, and a couple ECE rated Scorpion helmets.... I became more safety conscious with age of course but i wouldn't have known just how drastic a couple small pieces of gear can do to change the odds of not being spoonfed for the rest of my life without this type of content. I'm riding every chance I can now and I have to give a bit of credit to a couple bike dudes I'll never meet.

[@d-squaredoutdoors5670]

I am a 56 year old who can still tie my own shoes. I am a new rider (2 months now) who decided to start with a bike roughly the same age as myself. I actually enjoy the simplicity of it as well as doing the maintenance and upkeep myself. I think I should be able to handle everything short of splitting the case.

[@rickconstant6106]

I'm nearly 70, and have been riding in the UK for 54 years, and still ride nearly every day as my daily transport. It's not our fault that the average age is going up, all we are doing is not dying. It's up to the younger generations to up their game. I have a friend in her early 40s, who has just started out on her bike journey, and is still on a 125 (the starting point under our licensing system here). I have been doing everything I can to encourage her and lead her down the right path, so hopefully, she will become part of the next generation of bikers. Sadly she seems to be the exception these days. Amongst my biker friends' families, none of their younger generations has shown any interest in taking it up.

[@mikedominick]

lol! Bought my first sport bike (ZX6R) two years ago at 54. Just got bumped to intermediate class at my track in June!

[@jodycantello7124]

I’m 46 and my wife is 52. We just started riding in March. We started on 2022 and 2023 Vespa Primavera 150s and in June I added a 2024 Goldwing Tour to the collection. Together we didn’t do too much to help bring the average down.

[@duck4water]

I'm 35 and I just got my license this year and bought a Royal Enfield Himalayan bike as my first and love it, I wish I could've started riding when I was younger, I still kick myself over it.

[@christinez6871]

We’ve been riding 12 and 20 years - both of us are almost 50. Started on the Harley big cruisers along with the lifestyle and now on triumph scramblers and into the off road world. They guys we rode with were 50s now 70s. Now we ride with a bunch of 30-50s.

[@kolliinn]

You make videos like this but fail to mention the booming Harley Stunt culture, I’d argue it’s one of the biggest in the community right now.

[@eternalvigil8416]

Started at 17 with a Suzuki Katana, then lucked my way into a Yamaha R1 - now at 36, I’m still riding and plan to long into the future

[@roadkill8161]

in ireland there are more riders every year, The cost of cars are almost unachievable for a lot of people so a lot rely more on motorcycles as they are cheaper, Easier to maintain and cheaper to insure (for the most part depending where you live) I love riding along the coast and seeing the hundreds if not thousands of riders and bikes on a good day just out riding

[@luckylanno]

I've been thinking about this. I think a big part of it is how much scary content there is on the internet, like the crash compilations. I've even heard of people being afraid to drive. There's also a big problem with self-confidence, probably due to social media. Everyone kid is comparing themselves to the kid that got lucky with crypto and has a lambo, instead of the kid in the seat next to them. Without confidence, they'll never believe they can ride safely. That also lines up with how we're taught that cars are safe due to all the tech that supposedly takes over the responsibility for driving safely. Motorcycling is important to me, because it broke me out of a shell of anxiety. It really changed my life. I would rather get in a wreck than go back to who I was before... not that I ride recklessly (on the street anyway). I guess it's a variation of the freedom and self-sufficiency idea.

[@garrisonboyd1701]

I’m 21 and rode dirt bikes all growing up but only got into motorcycles a year ago. Got a crf250L and then moved to a Vstrom 1000. Got the bike for 3550 and put a few hundred in it to fix some things but all in pretty affordable. As expensive as new bikes are, you can get a really great bike for 3-4k.

[@e010222476]

Ease up on us old men, I’m 58 an I ride a VFR800! Although I do have bad knees from my younger dirt bike days.

[@chrisrutledge9330]

Are there any statistics on how often the big and fancy "adventure bikes" actually get taken off normal roads an on to adventure bike terrain? Where all the gleaming fairings and paint might get scratched up? This bike sector reminds me of boaters - where fussing over modifications and expensive add-ons becomes as important as using the boat. (Nothing against these bikes - comfortable and great road bikes. But will you really repeatedly drop your gleaming BMW into the rocky ditch?)

[@gasdive]

I don't really care about the statistics. I can no longer fold myself up onto a sport bike. The V-Strom does everything I want, and copes with the rough patched tar roads around here and it's as happy to take me down little gravel roads as it is to crack out 800 km of highway in a day. I'm pretty happy they exist and the 19/17 tyre sizes are the same as what sports bikes wore when I started (though they're vastly vastly better now).

[@BobSmith-eq9vs]

I got my license at 15 years old and am now 70. I’ve owned many motorcycles over the years and currently own a 2007 Harley Street Glide which I don’t ride much and went a tad lighter with a 2016 Harley FatBoy also ridden seldom. I also own a 2023 Kawasaki Z650 and a 2023 Royal Enfield 650 Intercepter. I bought the Kawasaki because of it’s performance and handling in a small package and the RE because it is just plain fun. I alternate between the two 650’s and ride them both as my main source of transportation . I really enjoy the lighter bikes after all it’s supposed to be fun.

[@eddiek2497]

11:50 oh my gosh that color is so beautiful

[@brucekasnik3866]

58 year old former metric cruiser and goldwing rider here. Now my two boys in their 20s and I ride adventure bikes on road, gravel, and dirt.

[@mickstafford456]

Moved to the Philippines, from the UK, a little over 2 years ago. Massive biking culture here, as it's by far the most economic means of transport for most people. Small bikes, 100cc-175cc are the norm, with anything over 250cc being considered a big bike. I have to travel 50 miles, to the next city, to even find a bike showroom that has anything bigger than a 250 in stock.

[@daveyator]

I just turned 60. Been riding in the street since 16. I don't like the new culture of rev bombs, loud pipes in place of your horn, and mirror whacking.

[@williamduckworth305]

63, started on a Hodaka super rat in 1973. Been riding off and on ever since. Mostly 70s vintage brit twins . I got my eye on a trident 660.

[@yammienoob]

Make sure you check out the RS457 giveaway at yammienoob.co !

[@littleshopofelectrons4014]

I still can't get used to the idea of a 500 pound bike being called an "adventure bike". It gives a whole new meaning to "adventure".

[@daddystu7046]

I'm staying away from them - they look pretty but even getting them off their sidestands must be an effort.

[@DR-pu5hm]

You should try riding one. My tiger 1200 is 550lb-ish but feels MUCH lighter. Honestly it feels closer to 400 than even 500. They do a great job of balancing the weight and making sure as much of the weight is unsprung as possible. On the track I beat out pretty much all 600 supersports in the turns (and the straights- but that's a given), and off pavement it's incredibly easy to balance it out even when you kick out the rear.

[@sketchman01]

I love my tiger 900 rally pro. It is harder to ride off-road than a dirt bike but that challenge makes it fun

[@eddaugherty335]

I started riding ADV bikes after seeing the Long Way Around. I didn't start riding them BECAUSE of the movie. I just didn't know they existed. It introduced me to a form of riding that suites my needs and desires. I grew up on dirt bikes and when I moved to the city (Dallas) I didn't have anywhere to store or ride a dirt bike. I got a street bike but they can be a bit boring compared to the dirt. Still better than a car but... Then I saw a series about street bikes that can go on the dirt...Mind blown! Try doing the Alpine Loop on a Harley...or even a gravel road!

[@PipoBk]

Just got my license, I’m 37 😅😅 does it count as me lowering or increasing the average 😅

[@davebarrowcliffe1289]

Lowering!

[@RevusX]

Got mine at 31. Welcome to the club

[@PipoBk]

@@RevusX 30s squid !

[@samoksner]

Got my license last week at 34! Let's goooo

[@flyingmerkel6]

Started riding on a Briggs and Stratton minibike in 1971. Never looked back. I'm between bikes now. Adventure bikes are the new standard bike. My lat bike was a Z750. It was a great bike, but it felt like wearing a shoe a half size too small. Rode my buddy's KLR 650. That's probably going to be my next bike.

[@EdieRoxUrSox15]

This is so true! As a woman, I was motivated to get a bike from watching women influencer YellowCBR and DoodleOnAMotorcycle. And I was very cost conscious and did lots of research including watching your videos. In June of this year, bought a 2023 Ninja 400 ABS with 248 miles for $4500. I wanted the best bang for the buck. And I did want to be as safe as possible with getting the Ninja 400 and all the gear! Love my Pando Moto UH 03 unisex leggings!

[@budmatto9205]

Adding to the higher average age - 67 here..... While I don't ride like others, having a little TW200 to run around town on. I do enjoy the current culture watching Yammie Noob and others as well as reading about all of the fun locations for adventurous rides.

[@broc2727]

When I was in high school we had so many kids riding motorcycles that we got a motorcycle only parking area close to the building. Top 3 grades had 350 boys with around 60 of us riding motorcycles.

[@irm613]

The way i see it, there are 3 major hurdles. 1. Need to pass separate licence exam. Learn manual gears. Many people drive automatic cars and don't even know how to drive manual. 2. A place to keep the bike, can't keep it in public parking lot like a car. 3. It's a luxury expense, since you will still need a car for bad and cold weather or sometimes transporting bagage.

[@markbentley1544]

I found the original receipt for my 2003 R1 last year when I sold her, £6999 OTR. Absolute bargain. £24.5K for a new R1M in the UK, WOW.

[@g00fysmiley]

As a 40 year old biker who has had many different bikes over the year... the kids are doin alright with their choices. At this point I am just a supermoto old man and accept that. lightweight fun hooligan bikes with a comfortable riding position are just what I like the most (YZ450f conversion)

[@bassplayer7693]

Did my cbt at 16, been riding ever since, no car license. It's just so much cheaper in the UK to ride than to drive. I don't get hit with congestion charges if I happen to go to a city with ulez, it costs me maybe £16 for 200ish miles of sensible riding on my tracer 700, had a cbr125, 1987 cbr400, 05 gs500f, 2000 sv650s and now my tracer. Sure, my insurance doubled going from a 24 year old suzuki to a 7 year old yamaha, but my insurance with all the cover anyone could want is still cheaper than my older brothers car insurance on a ford fiesta (and he doesn't even have breakdown coverage lol)

[@ChadHargis]

As a 52yo "geezer", I am still a very aggressive rider and ride a naked bike, not a cruiser or touring bike.

[@MCTeck]

I am still riding@ 71. Triumph 800 Tiger ,and Victory Cross Country 8 Ball. Got first license in 1969.

[@chriss3913]

Yep, been dropping out of your channel since I got my license. Thanks for all the info!

[@Schenevey2]

I'm 55, have a Tuono 1000r, and just bought my first Supermoto (KTM 690 SMR)! Millennials will be in good shape in about 10 years when most of Gen X sell their collections.

[@darkphotographer]

want to know why ,, they make it so difficult to get bike , , no one want to ride bike ,, most gen x like me start riding with a 50cc at 14yo ,and getting biger bike when turn 18 and in italy you don t iven need a licence or licence plate for 50cc , and getting licence for big bike was much easier and cheaper , and you could get a cheap bike from 80is or 90is and fix it your self ,, now day good luck fixing a bike from mid 2000 or 2010 without special tools and engineer degree , and one more problem is cops stoping bikes all time for no reason , so young kid will ride eclectic scooter or bicycle till they are 18 and get a car ,

[@wayneknutson8690]

Lol, just rode for the first time 2 months ago and am 49. I bought a brand new 2023 Ninja 400 for $4500. For now, getting comfortable. We’ll see what the upgrade bike will be eventually.

[@symply_Sym]

As a new rider (literally passed my practical exam today :D) this was quite an insightful little overview into bike culture! I certainly fall into the younger, risk averse, fully geared up archetype. XD In my defense, I'm not as scared as my family who'd prefer for me to not ride at all.

[@DanHeldt]

I ride a 2002 Honda vtx1800c, I love this big muscle cruiser. I bought it at 40 years old. I had a 96 yamaha virago 750 before that at 38 years old. I bought both for affordability, virago ($545.00), VTX $2,000.00.

[@joshhillberg2312]

I think it’s super interesting that you say younger riders are wearing more safety gear overall. I see a large amount of younger riders during commute hours in a major metropolitan area. I do not see many at all wearing riding jackets nor boots. Curious if you based this on your own experiences in the Texas area or on some kind of data collected? Gear is expensive and kids will talk themselves out of it more often than not (in my experience).

[@qthebikeahaulic]

I'm 62, retired and started on a minibike at 4 years old on a farm. Got a helmet that fit and gloves with it. Dad said if he ever caught me not wearing them, he would have me push it to the burn pit and light it on fire. To this day I can't turn the motor on without them, including sticking a bike on a trailer. Another lesson was when driving, if you're going to turn the wheel, turn on your directional first and look, especially in a parking lot. Thanks Dad.

[@belzoni1]

Young people has so many entretaiment options around and many ways to meet people.Boomers like me found bikes as a great scape and a way to find friends and good plans, there werent much competition of things to do with so much fun. And when young... we loved risk! I thanks everyday I'm phisicaly ok after so many stupid things done...

[@vxe6vxe6]

Awesome video that hits the mark. I am on old dude (mid 60's) who's got the money to buy the toys I have always lusted over in my youth. 23 ZX10, 24 ZX400RR, 23 890 Adventure, 24 KTM 300 XCW. My biggest issue is that I have to wear a backpack to store my cane. LOL! I work with young military people who lust over my ZX10, but can't afford the insurance. I think that's why so many of them are riding 300's - 500's. The main thing is that they are having fun!

[@matthewknobel6954]

I work in DC, what I can say that in the last few years there has been a huge increase in mopeds and scooters.

[@vladimircheezdogksi5546]

I’m almost 40 and trying to get into this world. Justifying the cost is what kept me away. I’m spending my last $10 to try to win the RS457 you’re giving away. Let go and let God.

[@muscletev4662]

Bruh what 😭

[@Themarriedbachelor]

I am a 58 year old racer. I started racing motorcycles in the 70s. I’m looking for a motorcycle set up for flat track racing. I can’t bend over to tie my shoes but I can go really fast around a motorcycle track 😜

[@TikeFe]

Hey! Laces are hard, stop judging us.

[@r12rtpilot]

I’m 73 and love riding, and your channel. 350K miles so far without ticket , crash or flat tire, LOL

[@mistergions]

I was born in the 82 in South Italy, In Italy you can ride a 50cc bike at the age of 14. That was our goal, get a motorbike after 14, most of us had a motorbike back then, I had an Aprilia Scarabeo 50cc. You could see lots of teens riding a motorbike, riding in groups and going around the town. Changing part of the engine to make the run faster like, changing the exhaust, 80cc bore etc... At 16 you could ride 125cc bikes, at 18 up to 400-500cc bikes and at 21 you could ride any bike. Kids were waiting for these milestones to get their favourite bike. No training, no youtube. Get on the bike and ride. Nowdays, teens are not interested in motorbikes, it's not just for the lack of money, because parents buy 800-1000 euros smartphone. You could buy a second hand 50cc bike for 400 euros. They want different things and if they choose a motorbike, it's for the features, electronics etc... I had: 50 cc Aprilia Scarabeo 150cc Piaggio Vespa 620cc Ducati Monster 900cc Triumph Scambler and now an 850cc Moto Guzzi 850-T from 1974. New bikes do not make a good noise and their engines are too smooth. ABS, traction control and all the electronics killed all the fun. I still ride in open helmet, cargo short in the summer (I got a burnt from the exhaust last summer, but, it happens). When I ride my motorbike, I feel free, I want to feel the engine, the sound, no mistakes admitted, wind in the face. It's a stress release. More protection = less stress release.

[@skierboy85]

I worry that the rise of automatic transmissions will bring on the death of manual transmissions in motorcycles. It's happening to cars and I just don't want it to happen to motorcycles. The idea of a cvt in a motorcycle just hurts to think about.

[@7EPLO]

Funny enough, I got a WR250 and Ducati Scrambler Desert Sled because of your channel. Look at me now eyeing an ADV bike 😆

[@costasgeorgiou5015]

Good job yami! I'm 59 and just got back into it from many yeaaaaaars! But I always been on a super bike my guy! 😊 2:10

[@Blown4banger]

I bought a bike because I've wanted a bike for 15 years, but the fact that it gets 55-60 mpg on my commute to work, was just a big bonus that came with it. I would say I save money on gas, but I ride like 2000 miles a month, so I actually spend more on gas now, than before I got a bike lol

[@man78924]

Im 26 i have a college education and work full time. I drive a 28 year old truck and do all my own mechanic work. My monthly expenses are relatively low compared to most and I still cant afford a payment for even the cheapest of bikes not to mention gear and what not. Cost of living is completely out of control in the United States.

[@jjk9999]

My interest in motorcycles came out of electric scooters. I kept upgrading for speed and range, but it got to a point where they'd have to be so heavy, I'd have to park them instead of carrying them inside. Also, no matter how good a scooter you have, you can't put a date on the back of it.

[@richardcooper7047]

Been riding since 1977. Now in my last year of the 50's age 60, I ride my Roadmaster all over and enjoy cross country rides.. My GF is in her mid 50's and like to ride also. Rode to Sturgis 3x. If you never have been? You need to go at least 1x!!!

[@stephenx2857]

I got into riding watching Itchy boots tool around the world on a pokey lil RE himalayan. was my first bike to learn to ride on the streets of nyc, mainly purchased to save on the innordinate amt of money was spending on cabs dating harlem-to-williamsburg. Covid caused me to finally leave the city. but now in the burbs, my adv bike lets me go camping, ride fire roads. (i'm to tall and too fat for KLIM gear, but... i def have too many pockets on my riding jacket)

[@Crslawncare13]

First motorcycle is a 09 Harley Road Glide it’s been a couple of years 👍🏻 THEE NOOB is awesome 😎

[@leprechaun3677]

Well I definitely fit the demographic for 2:00 - 3:25 . I was able to buy a BMW F650GS for $2,500. It gets 70mpg, I can ride it everywhere, and it’s comfortable. I’d love to get me a Panigale, but let’s face it, it’s just not practical. I don’t have 30k to spend on a bike, and if I did I’d rather do something else with that money.

[@benbig8906]

Im 31. Just finishing the B196 licence in Germany ( only till 125cc) . In a small town in the middle of nowhere, this thing coats me around 1k. And a decent bike will be around 3-4k. Average wage here is around 1,5-1,8k , with a minimum flat price around 700-900 per month. And i will be unemployed from December. Because of this i put my bike acquisition on hold. I dunno how it was back in the 80s. But nowadays it’s tough to put some money away, for a decent bike. Just look at those starter prices. Fantic cabarello, cb125r , yamaha mt and so on. All over 4,5k. How should a 16-18 yo afford that, if i , with 31 habe to consider 2x before buying something.

[@srichard8181]

Great perspective! I would also add ebikes -perhaps more for the future - I see tons of kids riding ebikes to school now and I hope some of them will get a motorcycle (or emotos) instead of a car when they grow up.

[@Madarame-fc3uk]

Now is the best time to get into motorcycles with everything costing so much. Haven't been riding for 10yrs. Looking to get back into riding. Been riding since I was 17yrs old. All crotch rockets. Now that I'm nearing 50 I"m looking at cruisers.

[@costasgeorgiou5015]

I don't think there goin to tell you about the "bad" things my guy! Great video! You know I'm just busting ya ball! 🤣