Does the influx of new riders worry you?

[Dave]

Originally Posted by nhgunnut

There is a nice bit of irony here. I remember in about 1967 or 68 my dad and one of his friends (cruiser guys both one Indian one Harley) were talking about how putting electric starters on bikes was going to result in a bunh of people who should never be on a motorcyles getting one and how it would ruin riding for everyone.
I think stasticly 10% of the new riders will be idiots some of those will learn from their mistakes others will leave riding or become subjects of the Darwinian process. (here in New Hampshire we don't have helmet laws, and we print "Live free or die" on our liscense plates. So we will clrealy assist you with either)
I think in the long run more riders mean a larger collective voice and more diverse and competitve marketplace so in the long run better for all of us. In the short run I will be emabarrassed by stupid people doing stupid things in a sport I have a passion for.

one of the things i love about bikes is its damn difficult to engineer in all of the bs people rely on to veg out in cars. you actually have to be awake and thinking to operate it. im kinda hoping that most of the new riders will wake up and translate that new awareness to the rest of their driving. doubt it but i can always hope

[Katherine]

I think the ratio is going to stay the same. It's the same every year. Squids buy bikes. Some grow out of it. Some don't. Like Dave, I hope it spreads motorcycle awareness. I doubt it, but still hope anyway.