It's very interesting to note some of the shifts in motorcycle ownership over the years. They show how the demographics are changing and help to illustrate what types of riders you can expect to see on the road.
There are many risks to motorcycle drivers and passengers on the road, and all of them can be mitigated although none can be fully eliminated. Multi-lane roads, such as high-traffic state highways and limited-access roads such as interstates, pose the danger of a bike getting swiped or hit from the side during a lane change. Darkness, dawn and dusk almost make bikes harder to see. For instance, the number of female riders has been trending up. It is still true that men ride much more than women, with a split of 81% to 19%, but women are getting more involved every day. The CEO of the Motorcycle Industry Council said that these types of changes are very encouraging.
At the same time, riders are growing older. In 2012, the median age of a motorcycle rider was 45 years old. By 2014, when they next did the study, the age had jumped to 47 years old. By last year, in 2018, it had risen to 50 years old.
There is some concern here from those in the community. It shows that younger riders are just not getting involved at a high rate. Will that eventually cause a decline in ownership? Or is there more to it? For instance, are people simply more likely to buy a bike in their 40s and 50s, rather than their 20s, because they have always wanted to do it and just did not have the disposable income to do so when they were younger? There are many questions to ask.
Maybe you're part of these changing demographics. You're excited about what the future holds. You should be, but you also need to understand the risks and to know what legal steps to take if you get injured in an accident.