The latest forecast calls for clouds with occasional heavy rain. Although the motorcycle boom lasted a lot longer than anyone expected, the downturn in the economy is significantly affecting the industry as a whole. Times are a bit tough for everyone, from heavyweights such as Harley-Davidson down to the smallest player in choppertown. Many big-name companies have folded completely, others taken over by corporate conglomerates, while most have scaled back production to deal with dwindling demand.
It's not that the desire to buy an off the rack custom has disappeared, but the means to get it are tougher to come by. In the wake of the world's economic storm, many of the support suppliers to the custom industry, such as motor and parts manufacturers, are trying to cope with the slow down. Think about all the engine, tranny, wheel, and frame makers that had it good for so many years. There was a steady and unprecedented growth driven in large part by easy credit and disposable income. Everyone wanted to be like Wyatt and Billy and without many checks and balances in place, they got what they wanted-big motors, long forks, fat tires, and flashy paint. In many cases, it seemed a lot better on paper than after they got their dream machines. Aside from the hardships I find many of my biking friends experiencing, I'm kind of glad the chopper craze, fueled in large part by television, has waned. I don't see choppers as a commodity, like say a toaster, that can be bought from the local chopper mart. To some degree, a pack of vultures descended upon the masses to capitalize on a fad that exploited our fashion, culture, and lifestyle. Thankfully, most of the opportunists have been run off or found some other niche to exploit. Likewise, many of the boomers trying to rekindle their youth realized that rigids and long, fat bikes aren't the most comfortable. Making things worse yet were the reliability issues of many cookie-cutter 'customs'.
So, that still leaves you and me, along with the guys who were there all along. Most of them aren't planning on going anywhere.
Let's get back to the roots of it all; riding and wrenching. Hanging out in the garage with our buddies, helping each other out to get on the road. Man, I miss a lot of those times. Get the old bike in your garage running however it needs to happen. If you can't do it alone, support your local independent bike shop and pay them for their expertise. You gladly pay the dentist to fix your teeth, so don't cheap out and expect anything different from a skilled mechanic. While you're at it this winter send some good will and cash to the talented guys sweating it out in the bike industry. Take a look through these pages for inspiration on your current/next scoot. Call the guys with the cool parts that you know you want, even just one small part at a time.
Let's just not forget how and why we all got started riding. It wasn't about the uniform we wore, what your neighbor thought, or even the name on the gastank. It was about the feeling we got when we hit the open road. Just get out and ride, it's good for the soul. SC