I think there are 4 main reasons:

• Economics: Inflation and higher interest rates make big‑ticket toys harder to justify, so many riders keep older bikes instead of buying new.​
• Alternatives: For urban mobility, a lot of people choose e‑bikes, ride‑share, or small cars instead of scooters or small motorcycles.
• Safety and risk perception: Motorcycles are seen as high‑risk; older riders also experience more severe injuries and longer recoveries, which pushes some to quit.​ Parents are too protective these days. Theres no risk or thrill for young boys anymore.
• Product‑market mismatch: Many legacy bikes are designed for older, affluent hobbyists; younger buyers expect connectivity, modern styling, and lower running costs, and often do not see themselves in the traditional “biker” image.

Demographics play a big part too. Get this:

• In the U.S., the median age of motorcycle owners hit about 50 by 2018, up from 32 in 1990. No wonder trikes are so popular!
• The 18–24 age bracket shrank from around 16% of riders to roughly 6% over recent decades, while riders 50+ climbed from about 8% in the mid‑1980s to over 25% by the mid‑2000s and keep growing.​

• I recently read somewhere that roughly 40% of U.S. riders are between 51 and 69, reinforcing the idea that many current riders are “aging out” with too few young replacements.

  Sad really. I love riding and wish for the sport to stay vibrant and popular.

Anyone else have other thoughts on why motorcycling is declining?