re: Why kids don’t ride motorcycles anymore

quote:

---

"Bikes are only dangerous if you do the things that actually make them fun"

---

I’d say this largely depends on the age of the rider and their intention and skills.

quote:

---

it’s almost as if there are 130 million more people (including a significant # of uninsured drivers), more heavily concentrated in 40-60 metro areas, than when you were a kid

---

Well, we didn’t have a TV phone firmly attached to our eyeballs

You keep dodging the point that the United States is materially different than when you were a kid. It’s not just overbearing parents or whatever which is, of course, a factor

ETA - “why don’t kids build forts in the woods anymore?” Because the woods were developed 30 years ago

quote:

---

You keep dodging the point that the United States is materially different than when you were a kid. It’s not just overbearing parents or whatever which is, of course, a factor

ETA - “why don’t kids build forts in the woods anymore?” Because the woods were developed 30 years ago

---

As you apparently dodged the point of the hordes of distracted drivers juggling their TV phone and driving a 1 ton missile down the road without a care in the world.

quote:

---

do you think kids don't ride bikes or skateboards anymore?

my neighbors kid has been riding past my office window trying to stick a kick flip all morning

---

Someone should stop them before they hurt themselves

quote:

---

As you apparently dodged the point of the hordes of distracted drivers juggling their TV phone and driving a 1 ton missile down the road without a care in the world.

---

what? You’re the one discounting these factors.

quote:

---

Someone should stop them before they hurt themselves

---

Is that what you took from that comment?

quote:

---

ETA - “why don’t kids build forts in the woods anymore?” Because the woods were developed 30 years ago

---

I will agree with you on this. It is unfortunate that times do change. I mean, I know people still ride horses, but it's just not practical for most people. Would I? I guess if I could afford it and had the land.

But that's a whole different issue.

We are definitely evolving into a much more safety conscious society on one hand, and much more aggressively stupid on the other.

quote:

---

I still have about 10 of my kids mx bikes

---

You have any old RM85's you want to get rid of?

This would make my father sad. He traded a horse for an Indian motorcycle in 1949. This was the DAY he graduated from Robeline High School in Natchitoches Parish, at 17. His parents wouldn't allow him to own an MC while he was in HS.

He went on to be the All Japan flattrack / scrambles champion in 1953 when he was there serving in the Air Force. He rode Matchless or Norton's back then, single cylinder thumpers.

Young men back then adored motorcycles. He always had one, rode it to work sometimes.

I did too, raced dirtbikes back in the 70's, still have a Kaw 1200ZRX that I only ride on the curvy, hilly backroads near my farm in Hanover, Va. I rarely ride into town, but if I do it's on back roads. Cars are the enemy and these days there are too many of them.

I also own multiple ATV's / side-by-sides. My boys liked to ride when they were younger, but always with a helmet. Now they are older and don't have time with work and school. They never rode MC's.

As for myself though, one of my favorite activities in my life is riding my 29" carbon full suspension ebike. It's pedal assisted bliss, hauling as through the woods. That will never change for me. I'm 64.

I feel sorry for the rest of you men that haven't experienced the thrill of motorized two wheels otherwise you would choose to do it as often as you could.

If you don't ride MC's you just won't and can't understand those of us that do.