Attracting younger people

[Bill_B]

I just joined the forum but as someone that has been in the vintage motorcycle scene for 30 years but is not over the hill yet, I think I have an opinion on this. There are lots of reasons that younger people are disinterested. Many which have already been mentioned. One thing that has been extremely frustrating for me personally is the greed and selfishness of the older generations. I love to ride and restore old motorcycles but I am constantly encountering men older than me (I'm in my late 40s) who refuse to sell anything. Or they'll sell but only if they can get ten times what they paid for the motorcycle.
I know of bikes that are sitting in barns just rotting away because the owner thinks he is "gonna fix it up some day".
Guys...you can't take it with you!
If someone is passionate about a bike you own and you're not gonna ride it or don't really need it.. SELL IT!! Not for a gazillion dollars but for a reasonable price.
and share your stories of the bike. Tell the next owner how to work on it and ride it.
My 2 cents worth.
I've always wanted an old Indian or Harley 30s or 40s. But the prices are ridiculous and old guys don't sell them. I have someone a mile from me that has three Indians (among a bunch of other old bikes)
He won't sell one.

I don't know if I'll ever own one.

[exeric]

And I should add, that is why the AMCA is so valuable, and pertinent to this conversation. I first became aware of the AMCA from a Popular Mechanics magazine that had a small article about the AMCA, (circa mid 1970's). The AMCA opened a whole world of new (old knowledge) to me; and continues to enlighten me today. The AMCA is a staggering wealth of information that is now more accessible, and enormous than it ever was in the past, so I have no doubt it will continue to be an easily discovered epiphany to future young gearheads.

[exeric]

This is a mental problem of people. Nowadays, most people want to have the best, most expensive and best brand everything. Of course, in a very short time.
Without knowing why they have it and this applies to many areas.

I agree, and think that working for what you have is what gives value to material things. I have no problem with a rich guy that worked hard for the money to buy 100 old motorcycles, and a trophy mistress, but I have more respect for the working class guy that only has one bike that he's poured BS&T into, and has one wife that calls him in for diner when he's right in the middle of something. However, when you're young; you should do everything you can to enjoy your youth; so hanging around a bunch of old bastards with motorcycles may not become interesting until later in life.

[Jarek]

This is a mental problem of people. Nowadays, most people want to have the best, most expensive and best brand everything. Of course, in a very short time.
Without knowing why they have it and this applies to many areas.

[JoJo357]

This is Fun, some more~ah, right here on the floor~ah.
You could buy all 10 of these Motorcycles, and with the ca$h spent, you still could not purchase a...'Knucklehead'.
**Also, practically any Shovel under 1988 could be bought for under 15 Grand.

*M.A.D.*


1. 1970 Daytona. $4500.00 *Very close to original, O.P., but someone substituted yellow for silver.
2. 1972 Daytona. $5700.00 obo. O.P. low miles.
3. 1969 TR6R. $5400.00 *Original, O.P. *Handlebar/cables & mufflers~wala~an original motorcycle.
4. 1971 FX 'Boattail'. $6100.00
5. 1973 BMW R750/5. $4000.00 95% Original.
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[JoJo357]

When bikes and parts are priced through the ionosphere how can a young person afford to buy one? Most adult folks can't afford to get into this hobby.

I agree only to disagree Chris. Very legitimate insight into the current state of the Antique Motorcycle. But, like any dilemma, there are alternatives if only the younger or even older would educate themselves, and not succumb to the brainwashing that resides in the industry. There is a whole array of Antique Motorcycles to choose from, that is if you're not stuck on what someone else tells You what is it You should ride & or collect. Here's just a few current examples of decent antique motorcycles that a younger member, or adult, can easily afford & still acquire parts for, and not re~mortgage their home. By the way, these listings are all within the last month. The motorcycles were either listed on Craigs & Facebook Marketplace. I probably have another 20 to 30 motorcycles, that i could easily list here, which doesn't even begin to scratch the surface!!! Does not include many European or Japanese motorcycles that qualify for Antique status. **All of these motorcycles are operating machinery! Also, the price$ are what was listed in the ads, and does not include...Apprenticeships of 'American nut nit Picker or Pawn Star episodes of low balling'.
*M.A.D.*

1. 1970 Bonnie~$5400.00 *O.P *(Needs Handlebars/cables, mufflers & boots to originality).
2. 1967 Daytona~$4500.00 *Restored, but owner preferred his taste of color combinations. *Professional Paint Job.
3. 1970 Bonnie~$6500.00 *O.P.
4. 1967 Daytona~$3000.00 *(Has a Ceriani & Bonnie brake, but it has the original ft. end & fender). *Full Restoration 15-20 years ago, but then sat in a Florida garage.
5. 1973 XLH Sporty~$4200.00 *(Mint, O.P. original, Low miles, one owner. Has the original substituted parts.). Funny~ listed in Lake Orion, Mi., and it still took a month to sell? *I regret NOT buying this~Oh Well.

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[Chris Haynes]

When bikes and parts are priced through the ionosphere how can a young person afford to buy one? Most adult folks can't afford to get into this hobby.

[T. Cotten]

Young blood, Folks,..

Demands to be entertained.

I was facetious when, some time ago, I suggested celebrity judges.

But maybe I was wrong.

....Cotten

[BoschZEV]

Let's just say the parents of a young individual don't give much thought to an internal combustion engine,

That describes at least 90% of the parents over the past 75+ years, so little has changed with that aspect. AMCA members might have hung around with kids who had parents with hot rods and motorcycles and thus have the feeling that was normal, but that was a self-selected subset of all parents at the time, most of whom didn't own hot rods or motorcycles, nor gave much thought to internal combustion engines. For most families, the only internal combustion engines were in the lawnmower and Oldsmobile, and the only use for the latter was to take dad to work, mom to the grocery store, and the family on Sunday drives.

[BigLakeBob]

I'll throw another thought out there. Let's just say the parents of a young individual don't give much thought to an internal combustion engine, just kinda flow with means of transportation without giving much thought. So this young individual has grown up the same. If this person (not using he or she- just trying to do my part to attract the younger generation by staying gender neutral ) pays attention to the direction the US and some countries are going in trying to ban gasoline powered engines by 2035 or 2040. Why in the he!! would the person join an organization that promotes using such? Why spend x amount of $ when in 13 to 17 years all this person will be able to do is look at it or only ride it during allowed times per 'saving the environment' rules? Unless this individual plans on moving to a sane government friendly country, why join something that promotes extinction. Just a different point of view. I'm happy with the club and hope I out live the extinction of our beloved machines being more than a museum piece.

[RichO]

If you are you are. If your not your not. If you do you do. If you don't you don't. Gear heads don't grow on trees. Apples do! Some like organized groups, some run the other way. It's a good time when paths cross though!

[BoschZEV]

On the subject of joining clubs, twenty-eight years after I bought my first Gold Star, and seven years after I bought my third, I finally joined the UK-based Gold Star Owners Club. What actually prompted this was that a few days ago an acquaintance in town loaned me his complete set of 'Goldie' club magazines dating from 2008, giving me several hours of enjoyment flipping through them for interesting and useful information. Despite most of the content being UK-centric (events, reports of section meetings, etc.), there was enough in most issues to make joining worthwhile.

On the subject of aging, a 'Goldie' issue from two years ago had a table of the membership totals for the previous five years, showing a steady growth of ~1.5%/year during that period, although the total today is the same as in 2020 (perhaps a influenced by covid?). However, perhaps an omen of broader consequence, there were 19 ads from businesses in the January 2008 issue, but just six in the December 2022 issue.

[gitguy]

If there seems to be a problem attracting younger folks I can attest to the notion that it is also older dudes. I ride with about 10 or so guys who all have vintage scooters - from a 1926 JD to a 1973 FLH and everything in between. Panheads, knuckles, 45s, VLs, early Indians and assorted shovelheads. They are all mostly original bikes, nothing custom. I am the only one who is an AMCA member. These blokes have a wealth of knowledge and experience spanning many decades that if shared on this forum would be a great resource for all, yet none of them are interested in joining the club. One is a recently retired machinist who rebuilt countless old motorcycle engines and transmissions, another owned a body shop that painted many an old bike or vintage car and this guy has become our resident expert regarding old Indians of which he has at least four - and they are all beautiful. I've encourage and cajoled until blue in the face but they have no desire.

I have three adult sons who grew up around old motorcycles and none of them have ever expressed any interest in this hobby. I come from a family where no one knew how to turn a wrench yet I have been fascinated by internal combustion engines since I was a kid. Go figure.

It's just the nature of things.

[T. Cotten]

What an echo chamber.

.....Cotten

[exeric]

I feel the same way. I think I presented my position in clear terms. To clarify, I do not think it is the privilege, or right for anyone to make others believe as they do. The AMCA can present itself through every form of in-person, virtual, and print communication to make itself known but that is it. Youth can do as they will, and historically, will do just that. Obviously there is a wall of misunderstanding here and that's okay. A forum is where people can debate, and disagree.