this is a relatively recent thing. i remember from my youth, which was only 20 odd years ago that bikers rode bikes, and bikers with a lot of experience rode big bikes. and that was it. it wasnt a fashion statement, ok you might have slung a leg over the seat of your gt500 and thought you were barry sheene or later on fogarty, but the most you ever did to look like him was a heron suzuki paddock jacket over your leather. non bikers didnt turn to two wheels because they wanted to emulate the racers. bikes werent 'statements' either, aside from the statement that you were old enough to be able to afford to insure a gs1000, it wasnt the fashion show it is now. i think that its because the old biking apprenticeship has gone. i never wanted to buy a gsxr as soon as i passed my test, we all (those of us young enough to miss out on the 250cc learner times!!) wanted to do our test and get an lc, perhaps a power valve, possibly even a 400, but that was it, we did our 250s then 400-500cc then possibly a 750 and after a few years on the road you got a big bike because you thought you had earned it. bikes arent any longer practical transport to these people. they are weekend toys, like golf clubs and thai housemaids. there to be ridden for the thrill of it when the wifes gone out occasionally then locked away till the sun next shines. the modern trend seems to be das monday r1 tuesday rip wenesday. so they go out with their mates and spend their disposable incomes and pensions(cos they were the last generation to benefit from final salary schemes it seems) and buy a 200mph missile, and they then potter round on it vertically terrified to lean or twist the throttle except on the longest of straights, and match themselves with colour co-ordinated leathers and helmets, the right gloves, the pristine knee sliders, and drool over each others bolt on silencers and blue tinted headlight bulbs. i find it deeply depressing because it unfortunately kids the people who look at the stats that biking is doing well and that rider numbers are on the up. but as soon as it becomes unfashionable again, they will all be off flying microlights or jet skis. personally ive no time for them, they are a breed apart from what i consider to be proper biking, its like top gear, mildly amusing to watch but in reality, a silly big kids fantasy world completely detached from the real world.
i once saw a fireblade owner at devils bridge turn up with his fairing covered in cling film which he proceeded to peel off as i watched. he told me(i was the only other bike there as it was early sunday and i was on my way back from the lakes and had stopped for a brew) that he did it because he didnt like people to see his bike with squashed flies on the fairing as it 'spoiled the effect' i looked at my ts185 coated with oi, long deadl flies and the mud of a couple of years negelct and wondered what effect i was spoiling.
however there is a bright side, the world is now stuffed full with dirt cheap low miles dealer serviced bikes, occasionally with low speed tumble damage, ready for the vultures amongst us to grab cheap and spray with satin black ready to go out on a sunday hunting for the latest bunch of trendy boys to embarras by passing them on a 5 year old bike, oh the shame the shame!!
