11 Motorcycle Trends That Are Hurting Riders and the Motorcycle Culture

Motorcycling is not merely a means of transportation between two points, but it is a way of life, a passion, and to most people, a lifetime affair with two wheels. It is the excitement of the open road, the connection between man and machine, and the freedom that we all crave that makes us go back again and again. However, just like any other culture, the world of motorcycles is not exempt from trends, and not all of them are good.

Some tendencies, design decisions, and marketing strategies have infiltrated the scene in recent years that do no good. Some make bikes more difficult to ride. Some make them less safe. Others are taking away the spirit of bike riding.

Being a novice rider, a long-time rider, or even a rider who just considers becoming a part of a community, it would be a good idea to take a closer look at these trends and ask a question: Are they really improving the riding, or are they dragging it behind?

We have figured out 11 motorcycle trends in this article that should be stopped. Continue reading this article to learn about these unnecessary modern motorcycle trends that are of no use. Instead, they are just tactics to generate more profit, hurting riders and the biker culture.

The increasing seat height of certain modern bikes that are too high to be comfortable for most riders is one of the most frustrating trends in modern bikes. Modern adventure bikes are among the top examples of bikes with too high seat heights, making them impractical for most riders.

A tall seat height of 34 inches to 35 inches, or even taller, excludes these bikes for riders who are 5 ft 8 inches or below. It is not only about comfort, but also about control, safety, and confidence.

Low-speed control is more difficult when a rider is unable to put both feet on the ground. Waiting at traffic lights, navigating in the parking lot, or riding along the bumpy roads may seem dangerous. In the case of shorter riders, this may mean that they have to tiptoe at each stop, which may result in a loss of balance. Taller riders may have difficulty while riding with a passenger or heavy baggage because the weight of the bike is easily shifted.

Bike manufacturers tend to design bikes with higher suspension to emulate the appearance of adventure or sport bikes. Adventure bikes or other dirt-capable bikes have high ground clearance for off-road use, yet many of them are not used off-road. Rather, these high-rise designs find their place in the streets and city roads, where height is not really an advantage to most riders.

A high seat may lead to the bike being tipped over by the rider during topping on slopes or uneven surfaces. It may also complicate the mounting and dismounting process, especially when the rider is old or has limited movement. During emergency stops, it is important that one can have the ability to plant their feet fast to either remain upright or fall.

The adjustable seat heights should be provided as standard features by bike makers, rather than as expensive options. It should have a low seat version without forcing comfort and quality suspension. The rider should be able to fit into a bike rather than trying to fit into the bike in a manner that is not safe.

The most affordable entry point to the world of motorcycling was beginner bikes. They were light, simple, and were priced in such a way that nearly anyone could begin riding. However, as of today, these entry-level bikes are now priced the same way as the mid-range bikes were a few years ago.

Some of the issues include the inclusion of features that are not necessarily required by the new rider, sophisticated electronics, high-grade finishes, and expensive parts. Although these features may be pleasant, they drive the price way too high for what a novice anticipates spending. Other factors include global production prices and inflation. However, marketing campaigns that have sold beginner bikes as lifestyle products have not helped things.

The expense causes riders not to start their riding career. A first bike is commonly a stepping stone; riders are supposed to upgrade in the future. Most of them will bypass the initial step because it may be prohibitively expensive. This is not only bad for many riders, but it is also slowing down the development of the riding fraternity.

As new entry-level bikes are costly, used bikes become in demand. This increases the prices of second-hand bikes. Most of the used bikes are so expensive, mainly due to their high demand. It has become difficult to find a suitable, affordable used motorbike. It creates a vicious circle that makes it harder for more people to afford bikes and start riding in the first place.

Bike manufacturers need to focus on ensuring that entry-level bikes are not complicated and costly. A true beginner bike must be lightweight, easy to manage, and affordable to attract new riders into the sport. They should be passionate about bike riding and not only profit margins.

The exhaust pipe installed in a motorbike is an important part for the functioning of the bike engine. It makes the bike sound alive and exciting. However, there is a great distinction between a deep, pleasing growl and an ear-piercing roar that shakes the window and irritates others around.

Some riders believe that loud motorcycle pipes save lives. Due to being louder, it is easier for nearby drivers to notice bike riders with loud pipes. Some riders just prefer the loud noise, or they want to stand out in the crowd with loud pipes. To others, installing loud pipes is a matter of personal expression to make the bike special. There are also some riders who believe that installing an aftermarket exhaust can improve the horsepower and performance of the bike.

Too much noise, especially coming from the traffic and loud motorcycle pipes, causes tension among the general population and road users. It results in noise complaints, tougher legislation, and even bands to ride in some regions with loud pipes. It also tarnishes the reputation of bikers in general, causing all of them to appear inconsiderate, despite having quiet bikes.

The studies indicate that the majority of the loud exhaust pipes have no positive impact on the bikers’ safety. This implies that the vehicles in front of you will not hear you, even if your bike has a loud pipe. The modern cars are so intact and enclosed that they hardly listen to anything from outside the car. Additionally, the music played inside the car can sometimes be so loud that you cannot hear anything going on outside the vehicle.

Only bright riding gear, proper lane positioning, and defensive riding can be much more effective in terms of riding safety.

Choose an exhaust that is not loud, but tuned. Deep, rich sound is not offensive, but can be rewarding. Treating people around you with respect is one way of ensuring that the freedom to ride is not restricted unnecessarily.

One of the best aspects of owning a motorcycle is the customization. It allows riders to show their personality and make a machine that feels personal. However, over the past few years, the number of mods that appear impressive on the internet render the bike unsafe or not very useful in real-life riding. Such mods usually compromise handling, braking, or visibility in favor of style, and that is a very risky compromise.

Most of these tendencies are predetermined by social media, where extreme bike builds receive attention and likes. Riders will view long swingarms, slammed suspensions, or stripped-down frames and desire to emulate the appearance.

Most bikers are in pursuit of performance gains without gaining complete knowledge of the impacts of such changes on the balance and safety of the bike. In other instances, it is merely a matter of being unique even at the expense of being functional.

A long swingarm may appear violent; it reduces the responsiveness of steering. The cornering of the bike also becomes clumsy. Removing the front brakes for a clean appearance decreases the stopping power a great deal. Being too low in the bike kills the ground clearance, and it is easy to scrape crucial bike parts in turns.

Removing side mirrors, lights, or turn signals will reduce visibility and make it difficult to be seen by other road users. The mods have the potential to make the factory-made bike unsafe.

The most desirable custom builds are the ones that enhance functionality and aesthetics. The change should not decrease performance, comfort, or reliability, but improve it. A motorbike that is as good to ride as it is to look at is the real sign of a creative and considerate owner.

The modern bikes are better than ever. ABS, traction control, and ride modes are some of the features that make the ride process safer and more flexible. However, in the quest to look high-tech, most bike makers are putting in electronics that riders do not necessarily require and selling them as a requirement for all riders.

A good selling point in brochures and advertisements to sell a motorbike is its tech package and electronics. They provide a futuristic look to the bike. However, the rider will never utilize most of the functions. Some systems are embedded into the design of the bike such that you cannot purchase a less complicated version. This gives the impression that you need to be a serious rider.

The extra electronics imply more complexity and additional points of failure. Repairs may be costly and need special tools from the dealer, and when something fails, they can be complicated. Some systems are too intrusive, and they kill the natural feel of the throttle or brakes.

They can be frustrating to experienced riders. To a novice, it can be overwhelming, making what could have been an easy learning process a tech-intensive or complicated one.

Electronics must not take over the ride; it should complement it. Riders must be given the option of using simpler and more mechanical versions of a bike if they want. The fun of riding a bike is the bond between the bike and the rider, and that bond should not be overshadowed by the use of irrelevant tech features.

The subscription to certain motorcycle features is one of the most annoying trends that is making its way into the motorcycle world. The car industry already has a low opinion of this practice. However, now, it is being applied to the two-wheel industry. Riders are starting to consider the concept of ownership differently.

A bike with subscription-based features may have an advanced infotainment system, Bluetooth, navigation, smartphone connectivity, or may have special ride modes. The hardware is available and installed. However, those features are locked unless the rider pays a monthly or yearly fee. There are other instances where cancellation of a subscription implies loss of access to something that one has paid for while purchasing the bike.

The subscription-based features in new, modern bikes will make ownership more of a rental agreement. It renders long-term expenses erratic, since riders will be forced to pay hundreds of dollars more each year, simply to continue using features that have been included. Even worse, in case of technical malfunctions of the service or payment system, the rider may lose access during the ride.

Motorcycles are not smartphones. Riders anticipate purchasing a machine and enjoying the benefits of all the features of the machine without incurring any recurrent changes to the basic functions. Such optional services as live traffic updates or cloud-based ride tracking may be reasonable as part of the subscriptions. Yet, other basic functions that are already available as part of the bike must be included in the purchase. Any other will be a betrayal of the trust between the rider and the bike maker.

The past ten years have witnessed the surge of adventure bikes and scramblers. Their rough appearance, elevated posture, top-tier suspension, and knobby tires indicate that they are up to the task of riding on dirt trails nd rocky roads. These bikes are, however, in most instances built in a stylistic manner, rather than a performance-based off-road bike.

Bike Makers usually sell these models using pictures of riders riding through rivers or mountains, steep tracks. The fact of the matter is that most of these bikes are very heavy-framed, street-oriented, and their tires are more of a display than a gripping medium. They may be dealing with a grave road or a smooth dirt road, but they are by no means off-road machines.

A rider who has just purchased one of such bikes, hoping to have the true off-road capability, can be taken aback. They are difficult to handle on loose ground due to their weight. The suspension skids on rocky roads. The tires slip in mud or sand. What was advertised as an adventure bike or scrambler is actually a street bike disguised as an adventure bike.

Nothing is wrong with a bike that is designed to look good and for light touring, provided that it is advertised well. Riders are supposed to know what a bike can and cannot do. Real off-road performance means that it has to have a good suspension travel, heavy-duty parts, and tires that can be used on dirt. 

Freedom, passion, and community are the main pillars of motorcycle riding. However, the concept of brand elitism, which states that certain brands are superior and others are not worthy of being ridden, has been infiltrating the biker culture. This spirit separates riders instead of uniting them.

Some riders may not want to wave at other riders unless they both ride the same brand. There are online forums and social media groups that occasionally ridicule or dismiss riders who ride other makes and models. During events, some parking spots or meet-ups are unofficially brand-only zones, which do not welcome riders using different brands of bikes.

The brand elitism deters new riders from joining the community. It generates unnecessary tension among the groups that are supposed to be united by their shared love of riding bikes. It also does not take into account that all brands have their strong and weak sides, and all riders have various needs and budgets.

The best motorcycle community is the one that accepts all riders regardless of what brand of bike they ride. It must promote all brands of bikes and riders. Whether someone is riding a low-cost commuter bike, an old-school cruiser, or a pricier touring bike model, all bikes must have their place in the riding community. The culture is preserved through respect for all riders.

There is no denying the fact that high performance on a motorbike is exciting. However, bike makers have been pushing street bikes in recent years to power levels that are way beyond the bounds of practicality and safety. These street bikes must be designed and built for use on public roads.

Whereas, nowadays, these street bikes are built with over-powering engines and abilities. Some of the street bikes are also quite frightening and unsafe for everyday riding.

The horsepower figure has become a selling tool in the motorcycle industry. Brands compete with each other every year and strive to make their models faster with high acceleration as much as possible. They want their bikes to achieve higher top speeds with more aggressive bike tuning. As a result, there are street bikes available that can attain unusual top speeds within a few seconds.

On the street and public roads, there is not much space to exercise a massive amount of power safely. If you are a newbie, such high power and top acceleration can be deadly. They are likely to make errors that can prove to be fatal.

Even experienced riders may get into trouble when they fail to estimate throttle input and road conditions. Performance also increases the cost of insurance, and as a result, ownership becomes costly.

Bike makers should work on usable power. The performance should be reliable and safe for real-world riding, rather than pursuing the ultimate horsepower. A good street bike is often made of reliable power and torque. The acceleration must be within decent limits.

There is no point in building street bikes with power figures of track-ready super sports bikes. There are many bikes, often termed as road-legal, that must not be allowed on the road.

The handling must be balanced, and there has to be a good mid-range torque. The ergonomics must also be friendly for street use. Brands should aim at producing fun and safe street bikes that can be used for everyday riding on roads, not on race tracks.

The history of motorcycles is full of legends and brands that produced iconic bikes. Unfortunately, not all of these brands are open today. Many brands shut down decades ago. Over the last few years, there has been a worrying trend in the resurrection of these once-great names, not to do justice to their heritage, but to sell cheaply made, low-end, built bikes under a well-known brand name.

Bike makers are aware that some brand names have an emotional attachment. Riders who have been raised looking at those bikes may also have a connection to the logo the moment they see it again. The issue is that new machines are usually not similar to the original ones. They are built in different facilities. They are not built with a similar top engineering quality. In some cases, they are not given much thought about quality and performance.

When a revived brand introduces bikes of poor quality, it damages the reputation of the original brand. Rather than glorifying its history, it makes the nostalgia and heritage a joke. When a rider purchases these bikes under the notion of the quality workmanship that defined the past, they get disappointed. The disappointment goes around the community in no time.

When an iconic name in motorcycles is to be revived, it must be done respectfully and rightfully. It demands investing in top engineering, design, and quality control that is true to the brand's heritage. A renowned logo, emblem, or badge must mean something and not be an attempt to market cheap goods as a marketing shortcut.

Darksiding is the use of a car tire as a rear wheel of the bike. It is done to give heavy touring bikes, bulky cruiser bikes, and big choppers longer tire life and linear stability. In the custom bike world, it is considered a well-known motorcycle trend. However, it comes with serious safety implications.

One reason behind darksiding, using a car tire in place of the bike’s rear tire, is the cost. In the US, a motorbike tire is more expensive than a car tire. It is also done to provide the bike with a unique look. Riders are also of the opinion that using a car tire also provides a greater contact patch, ensuring better grip. Also, a wider car tire on a motorbike can ensure impressive straight-line performance and better stability.

Bike tires are designed and built with a rounded edge so that they can lean easily around corners. The tires used in cars are flat as they don’t require leaning to turn corners. Installing a car tire on a motorcycle can completely alter the handling of the bike. Though it can make the bike more stable, it will ruin its cornering ability. Emergency maneuvers become more difficult, and braking performance is also compromised. In certain U.S. states, darksiding is also considered unlawful.

Freedom, connection, and pure pleasure are what motorcycling is all about. However, when some of the motorcycle industry trends begin to focus more on style at the expense of safety, profit at the expense of passion, or exclusivity at the expense of community, then it is time to identify these trends.

As we have addressed the 11 motorcycle trends that are hurting riders and the biker culture, we are not against creativity and innovation. This is to remind us that bikes must be built to ride. The sole purpose of designing new bikes is not just to sell them with marketing tactics. Bike makers must embrace new riders instead of pushing them away. They must bring bikers together, not separate them.

When we continue to focus on what is really important, safe, accessible, and fun riding, the motorcycle world will remain vibrant even in the generation to come. Trends will change and disappear, but the love of the ride will never fade.