Attracting younger people

[T. Cotten]

Young people, Folks,...

Are immune to nostalgia.

....Cotten

[Lyle Manheimer]

I grew up in the '60's and '70's and I, as many of my riding buddies, could not afford a Harley. First bike was a Honda CB-77, next was a Yamaha XS-1B which sadly I turned into a "chopper", I quickly realized I had destroyed the motorcycle and traded it in on a 1972 Norton 750 Combat Commando, WOW. I then went through a series of the worst motorcycles Yamaha ever built, a couple of TX-750's and 2 shaft drive triples. I then decided I should have been a test rider for Yamaha as I could break anything they built.
I also watch Fee-Bay and Mecum, just for fun. Motorcycling to me is now just for fun as it always was.
Some Japanese motorcycles have attained collector status, due to their rarity, but most are just fun to ride, if they survived. They certainly should not be overlooked as they are now antiques and affordable for younger enthusiasts and we should be welcoming these guys and gals to the AMCA.
Let us all rejoice for affordability and rideability and yes I am the proud owner of a Norton Combat Commando as well as a Yamaha CT1-C.

[DEEBS47Chief1991]

I am an eBay motorcycle nut. Which is to say I monitor trends and pricing as far as this huge electronic data base market is concerned on a daily if not hourly basis. The selling prices on classic/antique motorcycles, parts, and memorabilia is just plain ridiculously astronomical. In most cases young people today can't even pay their rent or car insurance never mind get into a high dollar American antique motorcycle with all the maintenance and expense that comes with it. The price of this lifestyle would scare the crap out of anybody. So what is available to young people? Lower price range classic/antique bikes - The Japanese machines from the 60's and 70's (as an example). I think (always have since the 80's) that these bikes are the new wave of Antique Motorcycle ownership and participation because the price range & availability of resources is much more approachable for younger people who want to get into this club and have a great bike to do it with. I think our club (on the surface) looks like it is more geared toward high end Antique motorcycles (which is great for me personally). This is possibly intimidating for younger people who have their heads in a cell phone most of the time.

[Coolbreeze]

Here's something for the cold, non-riding months: Have a "movie night" at a regular club meeting. The movie, of course, should be about motorcycling. Don't forget the popcorn!
Whatever you can do to make the club and its meetings fun, will attract new members and keep the ones you have.

[D.A.Bagin]

We are a smaller Club, The Bear Mountain Chapter, located in southern N.Y. on the Jersey line on the western side of the Hudson. We have found that ACTIVITY attracts people. Whether it is rides, that we have every couple weeks, or meetings, formal or social, that we have every few weeks, people want activity. We don't care if the bike is new, old, street, off road, American, foreign, or anything in between. We just had our first picnic this past weekend, and more than 30 bikes were on the ride, and 88 members and family were there. Young, old and everything in-between. To me, I believe the fact that we are very active, even over the colder non-riding times, was key to keeping people interested and attending events. Social media, such as frequent e-mailing members and our face-book page is also a big help in getting the younger people involved. For members that don't actively use social media or computers, I personally call and let them know of any upcoming events. People REALLY like the personal contact. Check out our face-book page, Bear Mountain antique motorcycle club and see.