The Death of a Giant.
If you ask most people what they think of when they hear “motorcycle” , they will describe a giant bagger, aka a Harley. There is a history to it. The nostalgia , the sound, the experience of a motorcycle. A “Harley”. The problem is, current aging demographics and economic strains are not positive for the industry. What I mean is this..
The current generations are getting older and dont want or need a new bike. The younger generations are too cash strapped to jump into it. 20K for a nice new bike isn’t realistic for someone who is juggling rent, student loans, and maybe even starting a family. 
There was a surge in the last 5-10 & even 20 years. It came by way of glamorization of those two wheeled thunder ponies.
It seemed everywhere you looked, there was a motorcycle show on (Harley Harley Harley). And then, as soon as Jax went head first into a semi, so did the motorcycle industry.
Cant Get Enough Harley
After a 5 year break and some well chronicled family drama, Orange County Choppers is back in action. Not as a new show , but as a new season. Season 11! Will this show suck people back into the genre? At its peak, the show had a base of over 3 million average viewers. Not bad for a weekly motorcycle ad.
This fall will also have some traction coming from FX and the mind of Curt Sutter. MAYANS MC! Even if the show performs modestly, it will give a lot of attention to motorcycles. Sons of Anarchy had an average of over 7 million viewers. An hour long Harley advertisement. With millions in attendance.
The Final Edge
Motorcycle racing is popular. It seems like motor cross has firmly established a fan base and secured television contracts to keep their events televised. The problem is ,motocross is not driving street bike sales. MOTO GP , the Formula 1 of two wheels is almost impossible to find on TV . There is a new, but old bike racing event hat seems to be quickly gaining popularity.
FLAT TRACK.
Flat track is a throw back to some of the most primal motorcycle events in history. With its popularity on a rocket like trajectory and strong contract with NBCSN TV, it is likely that over the next few years, we’ll see more and more popularity for motorcycles coming from flat track. Combine this with the fact that NASCAR seems to be on a decline.
It may be optimism, but i see a popularity boost coming . OCC, MAYANS, and FLAT TRACK all represent millions of views. Millions of potential riders, buyers, and enthusiasts being empowered to jump into motorcycles for the first time, or to return to them.
What do you think? Will 2018 be the turning point??