Where will we be in 20 years?

SteveW65 said:
Should trying to recruit youngsters to join the club be a priority if youngsters are not buying Harleys ? A post above states people buy Harleys later in life with retirement lump sums, or they slow down their sportsbike aspirations for a gentler life or if younger they use PCP/HP. So it would seem some of these youngsters will revert to Harley later in life so keeping a healthy membership number as we currently have, assuming Harleys build bikes to attract them. Maybe people see bike clubs as a "one fits all" meaning they lump MC, Owners Club, Riders Club etc all in one basket and think with the rules and expectations and some negativpress of MC clubs that club membership is not for them. Those that have been there know this not to be the case. Getting our name out there with flyers, business cards left on bike seats whenever you see a parked Harley, leaving flyers, cards at weekly/monthly meets so getting our name out there infront of HOG. A tough ask being as dealerships push HOG. Personally whenever I visit a dealership I wear some visible HDRCGB insignia, hoody, sweatshirt, waistcoat etc. and people have asked about the club. Many don't see past HOG. Just my 2p's worth for what it's worth.
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Region 14 cards, which have just had a bit of a refresh to put the emphasis on our social meets and joining the club.

The QR code is for the main club membership joining page.

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Trip out is near me in Euston estate
and many that are going stop off in my local village pub which I also frequent , they are all Hipster types with full sleeve tats checky shirts
and lumberjack beards with rabbit ear handlebar trendy designer built by someone else 70,s style chops
all very nice but not what Ive seen at our rallies over the last twenty years. cant see them ever joining us, and no loss in my opinion
one of my village neighbours a thoroughly nice chap, owns and runs a nearby motorbike training school ( Camrider)
and he tells me he is always fully booked for all courses by many youngsters, so bikers are coming through but like us not buying Harleys until
in their more mature years . like many I went through the Jap bike route from Fizzie to ZZR with a smattering of europeans in between
they will grow into Harleys just as we did, that is of course if Harleys are still around then , anybody for a Livewire ?
 
Spice said:
Trip out is near me in Euston estate
and many that are going stop off in my local village pub which I also frequent , they are all Hipster types with full sleeve tats checky shirts
and lumberjack beards with rabbit ear handlebar trendy designer built by someone else 70,s style chops
all very nice but not what Ive seen at our rallies over the last twenty years. cant see them ever joining us, and no loss in my opinion
one of my village neighbours a thoroughly nice chap, owns and runs a nearby motorbike training school ( Camrider)
and he tells me he is always fully booked for all courses by many youngsters, so bikers are coming through but like us not buying Harleys until
in their more mature years . like many I went through the Jap bike route from Fizzie to ZZR with a smattering of europeans in between
they will grow into Harleys just as we did, that is of course if Harleys are still around then , anybody for a Livewire ?
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Exactly the young of today will become us in later years and keep things going, that is untill the zero nut jobs ban ICE's.
 
SteveW65 said:
Exactly the young of today will become us in later years and keep things going, that is untill the zero nut jobs ban ICE's.
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Possibly… 👍

It will be interesting to see the results of the FB survey, because it will give us an insight into how many youngsters are interested in thst oart of our club.. 👍

But the point you make is defo relevant, they will join later in their lives perhaps. Time will tell.
 
Last night was the first Barnstaple bike night ... more under aged 50 than above ,and not a big turn out
cant remember when i so so many young riders ,
obviously not on Harleys
 
If the rally scene (which I enjoy) is anything to go by, most of us in 20 years time I suspect will be long gone, bar DJ, I can see him riding well into his 90s!

I think the club will still be around - but the life we know now will have virtually disappeared, along with the combustible engine for private / pleasure use. If the global elite get their way, freedom and travel will be heavily restricted, the allure of clubs like ours will be dramatically effected. Beyond 20 years - say another 20 years we will be gone.

Nothing lasts forever, whilst we should strive to recruit and appeal to a younger demographic, it's more important to me that the existing membership get on with life and live it to the full. Don't look back with regret, don't worry about the future, make the most of your riding life NOW - get the bike you've always wanted and LIVE!
 
Rick said:
make the most of your riding life NOW - get the bike you've always wanted and LIVE!
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That may explain the growing numbers in our club, the 60 somethings buying Harleys with their retirement fund.

But there is an view that the now young will discover us in the future.
 
Never have been much of a Rally goer. Gathering around a Tea van is about my acceptable limit. Always shunned group rides too, had some bad experiences on early MAG runs in the seventies. Two lanes of M4 taken up by bikes three miles long and charging through red lights wasn't healthy.

We (missus & I) were the same on the boats. Loved 'going' to the rallies - couldn't wait to leave though. It was like riding - love the experience, the mooring/parking up not so much. I prefer socialising on a one to one basis. Probably why I like the keyboard so much.
 
michael_dinwiddy said:
We are a RIDERS Club 😂😂😂

Only joking.. occasional solitary rides are within our number 🤗
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i very rarly do ride outs ,,,,,99% all my riding is solitary
why you ask ,,,,,been involved with ROSPA for 20 odd years its not easy to ride with others as you find theres a lot tobe desired on the way some ride ,
i dont say anything unless a ride asked what i thought of his riding ,,,
also i tend to get on the road early and on long distance tend to splash and dash for petrol ,,, so not for everyone ,,,
 
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michael_dinwiddy said:
Our club is has more members now than at any time in the past. Well over 2000 I believe.
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There used to be a thread on the Forum that reported annual membership and from memory, it seemed to consistently hover between 2,000 and 2,400, maybe peaking Circa 2,600, so I think the membership has been pretty steady with new members replacing those that have not renewed, whether to pursue other things, it's not for them or unfortunately pass.
 
Yep 👍 lone riding is always good.. do what you want ride how you like and stop when and where you choose.

I remember seeing back patches with “Loner” or “No Club” in the past.. 😊
 
Dazzlin said:
There used to be a thread on the Forum that reported annual membership and from memory, it seemed to consistently hover between 2,000 and 2,400, maybe peaking Circa 2,600, so I think the membership has been pretty steady with new members replacing those that have not renewed, whether to pursue other things, it's not for them or unfortunately pass.
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one reason is now HARLEYS are plentiful think back 40-50 years it was a very rare to see one
 
devon.john said:
one reason is now HARLEYS are plentiful think back 40-50 years it was a very rare to see one
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Bit before my time :ROFLMAO:

I genuinely believe Harleys are now just another mainstream luxury brand of Motorcycle rather than something just 1% clubs and similar ride and the Revolution engine will attract the younger fraternity who now see it as a choice between Honda (Yes, I'm afraid so), Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Triumph etc....and no longer see it as a jump of culture/lifestyle and only for Grey Beards.

The Pan America has bridged this gap successfully into a market that has never been on the HD radar in the past as it was saturated by BMW, KTM, Triumph, Royal Enfield etc....and will continue to offer a great alternative to the Travel/Adventure market.

The only issue I see with this changing approach by HD and their new bikes is the HDRCGB will either have to adapt to suit, or become similar to the Vintage Motorcycle Club for die hard for purists only as the attraction of the new breed of Harley Owners won't be there.
 
After 44 years of riding Harleys and having owned well over a dozen different ones my days of buying new bikes are over.
The price of the new current year models is getting to be frankly ridiculous! 😏

Fortunately for any youngsters wishing to get into the scene the 2nd hand market is very healthy with loads of relatively low mileage bargains in great condition around in all engine variants for between 5- 10 K and some even cheaper!
 
Had a long think about Mike's question. I am yet to be convinced that electric vehicles will succeed but even if they do I really cannot see an enthusiastic loyalty building up for electric Harleys (IF they manage to stay in such a market), that type of rider I doubt would ever think of being in a social group for their vehicle. I can imagine, if fuel however dear is still available, that the club could continue with less than a thousand members (maybe even only a few hundred?) as a specialist vehicle group similar to the traction engine people or a VMCC type of following? In such a group I believe there could be maybe a quarter who are actually young (not just "younger") and a large part of the groups activities could be being a display at festivals etc. As for myself a lot would depend more on mental state than health, if I am borderline infirm I could possibly still "ride" an electric start Servi-Car or similar but if I am ga-ga I wouldn't be allowed near the road, even as a pedestrian. (I visit someone in a dementia home and I come away thinking "I hope my kids have the guts to give me an overdose")
 
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