I know times are bad for some but a true motorcyclist (not biker) is always involved with machines no matter what the conditions are. Get off your duffs and get involved. You have eternity to rest. Let us hear your stories/problems/issues/successes. I usually fix my odd problems myself. I don't post anywhere unless it's a weird problem to me. However, it's nice to find someone that's had the same issue I'm dealing with that I've not seen before. Posting and responding to issues is how we all learn. If this forum is dying, I'd like to know of another forum that's more active. Input? Live to ride and wear 'em out, ride to fix to ride 'em more. Steve

This might not be considered a tech problem but I am always looking for places to ride and thus I am asking everyone in the motorcycle community to post their favorite routes and places to ride on my online map, if you have the time and want to help me out feel free to post at Allstate Insurance Motorcycle Routes or - Allstate Insurance Quote . I am an affiliate of allstate and thus I use their web pages. Thanks everyone. David Lipsky

It ain't dead but it sure has changed. I'm a proffessional mechanic and am disappointed at the number of riders I encounter that have no understanding of their machine. I learned the hard, expensive, dangerous way. These forums offer the easy opportunity for riders to connect globally to share and learn. Unfortunately, some just want a free fix and go on their way. I,m in Ohio USA and we have a long "off season" which, until reliable electrics and durable, low maintainence bikes, was used to go through the whole thing, grips to ground. I love motorcycles and keep in it 24/7/365. Pat Ottobre.

It seems to me the Motorcycle business has been an industry that has always had financial issues. I watched the Spanish bikes, the Brit bikes, various Italian brands go out of business since the late 1970s. It's been hard enough for motorcycle companies to stay in business but when you consider some of the new fickled people riding today it is hard to figure out why there are any motorcycle manufacturers left. Today gameboys, cell phones, xboxes etc. are the things the younger generation find amusing. Most have no interest in even looking at a motorcycle. Possibly much of the problem is the fear of getting hurt. The younger generation has been protected from itself and few are allowed to stray outside of the "safety zone". For me the first sign came when you had a clutch safety switch on your motorcycle or car. Also a neutral safety switch. When we got so stupid and careless that things like this had to be installed it was the beginning of the end for motorcycles. Since there isn't any way to make a motorcycle stand up by itself it may be the end of the road for bikes. I'll ride til I die but I'm afraid I won't have many folks riding with me. I'll continue to encourage motorcycling for what it is worth but I don't think it will do much good. I would dearly love to mentor a young person if he or she appeared to have a real interest. Unfortunately I have never had that opportunity or someone else killed the idea for the interested person.

There is more than one issue in effect here... if we are talking about nortons. The current economics is one biggie.... Norton does not have much of a residual factory support network when it comes to qualified shops/mechanics. Norton people tend to be (used to be) DIY ers by necessity or the bike would get side lined then sold. The INOA and their local chapters help people throughout the USA/Canada who happen to be handy enough to spin a wrench and handle a voltmeter. Then there are those that are just too cheap to join a marque support club and want all kinds of tech support for free from internet forums, the information which may well have come from club resources. Often you get regurgitated popularized information by people who really don't know squat. I for one don't respond all that much if they can't be bothered to use a search engine to get their topic introductory information from forum archives... Is motorcylcling dead? no but the arteries are clogged

Not dead. Evolving. I am still waiting to buy a Norton for retirement. I almost had it then all the money in the USA went down the drain and well... you know the rest of the story. The kids are looking to them as cheap transportation and some are dressing them out. My friends and I were aprt of that in Miami during the 1960's. Teenagers had Nortons, BSAs, Triumphs, Moto Guzzis and yes, Vespas and Hondas. Rode them to school, rode them to the beach, rode them around. I enjoy all vintage transportation machines. British motorcycles from the 1900 to 1980 era are my favorites. If I get to my special place I am in my man building sitting around with and tinklering with my machines. (computers are machines also) Heck, it has only been about 120 years since we have been on motorized wheels. I am having a lot of fun. You can see my shop at JohnsCreekMechanic.com (my son's business is run for it so he has pictures) Happy trails, Steve Cheatham Board Foiunder 1998

NortonGuy Board Founder