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Perhaps in a few locations in the US, but not most of the country. Most places have a riding season that is only half or 3/4ths of each year. And No place other than California that I'm aware of has legal lane splitting, regardless of how bad traffic is.

Where I live the riding season starts in the middle of March during a good year - that's when the first spring rain washes the salt off the roads - and ends in November when it first snows. And that only applies to folks willing to ride in morning temps often in the mid thirties. I don't know a single person around here who even entertains the idea that a motorcycle is a viable means of year round transportation. Trying to market them as such in this locale is never going to happen. I think that is the case in most of the US.

Add to that the vastly increased aggressiveness, inattentiveness,and simple incompetence of automobile drivers even compared to a decade or so ago, and the number of distracting devices actually BUILT INTO modern cars and trucks, trying to market motorcycles as a safe, comfortable means of utilitarian transport is just not going to work IMO.

Motorcycles in this country will always be vehicles for enthusiasts. I ride because it's fun. So does everyone else I know.

I was a teenager when Honda started importing their first small bikes into the US. Honda didn't try to convince folks that they were replacements for the family station wagon. They told folks they were fun.

Somehow today's motorcycle makers, not just Harley, have got to get that message across to youngsters today. And make the bikes that will make it true.

That approach worked on me. I harassed my parents relentlessly until they gave in and allowed me to buy a (used) one of these:

https://www.bike-urious.com/1964-honda-c200/

I can't remember what a new one cost, but mine was a few months old and cost me my life savings at that point. $265 OTD  

Thyere was actually a popular song about Hondas in the sixties, some of the verse went "First gear, lean right, second gear hang on tight" or words to that effect. The song was called "Little Honda" and was sung by the Beach Boys. In a You Tube version a young woman, now a probable granny is seen gyrating in a potentially suggestive manner. Large numbers of Boomers, now potetial grand parents are seen swinging along. According to the song, the Honda climbs hills better than a Matchless.

raydawg wrote on 01/27/19 at 09:00:13:


Absolutely.....if you are willing to look and buy a bargain - you can get absolute deals.   A neighbor of mine had a Suzuki Volusia 800 that he installed cast wheels so he could have tubeless tires and he had nearly new Michelin Commanders installed, a windshield, and he swapped the rear end from a Volusia 1,000 so he had a bit taller gearing.  It only had 6,000 gentle miles on it and was stored inside...he sold it for $2,400 and included the original spoked wheels and 800 rear end!  I was slightly tempted - but then I considered I really don't want to ride a big V-Twin, and if I bought it to resell I would not make any money by the time I paid the taxes on the purchase.

The 3 wheel vehicles are selling to the folks who want the open air fun of a motorcycle - but are not brave or healthy enough to ride a 2 wheeler.  If you go to the resorty areas....you will see more of them than you do out here in rural America.  They are a pricey toy!

jc   i'm pretty sure that was the Hondells, not the Beach Boys

Time for a Miata.

You are both right:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qZOGlgVldAs

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IHmRxpumtB4

I have thought of having a sticker for the rear fender that says.

"Climbs hills like a what?"