Are we becoming extinct?

This is just a thought I had last night after looking at Suzuki Australia's current list of road bikes. There aren't any Bandits or GSXs anymore . Does this mean we are a dying race of followers of these great bikes? And will the numbers of contributors to this forum decline? What does anyone else think ?

The present line up from most of the UJM makers are a lot different to , what they were . Unfortunately that must reflect what is currently popular , & selling . Tastes change , so who knows what will be the fad in a few years ???? .As for the forum ,who knows , things have a habit of running their course with popularity , but if it moves with the times , it may still be around in some form .......................maybe even as a vintage motorcycle forum .Some members have been on here for a long time ( some have also changed brands ) ,so to  keep it interesting for them , the forum must cater for them as well .

I like your optimistic out look Paul!

Someone very wise once told me we can go through life miserable , and thinking the worse , & then if what we feared happens , be twice as miserable ,................or make the most of an uncertain future for now & deal with the bad news when it happens .............I don't know if I am particularly optimistic , or just prolonging the inevitable   Either way , .................it works for me .

kelpie wrote:This is just a thought I had last night after looking at Suzuki Australia's current list of road bikes. There aren't any Bandits or GSXs anymore . Does this mean we are a dying race of followers of these great bikes? And will the numbers of contributors to this forum decline? What does anyone else think ?

I recently semi-restored a 1979 DT400, and it's phenomenal how many parts are still available new or nos   

No doubt the same will prevail for the Bandits 

I have only done 24000k's on my '12 and I have no doubt that I will always be able to find spares to keep it going 

Yes we are . Our average age is at best "middle aged " .
The JUST BANDITS shop in England now sells gsx1400  parts as well ..
JUST  BANDITS AND GSX1400's   is bad English even to me .
Maybe we should be NSW SUZUKI FORUM to survive .
Oh dear , what have I said .
Then again !

WE have not had a pole fore ages , lets have one, just for fun ,. Kind of like the gay marriage thing . Doesn't matter what you vote  because the end result isn't binding .
At least this one doesn't cost a fortune .

rodent4 wrote:

kelpie wrote:This is just a thought I had last night after looking at Suzuki Australia's current list of road bikes. There aren't any Bandits or GSXs anymore . Does this mean we are a dying race of followers of these great bikes? And will the numbers of contributors to this forum decline? What does anyone else think ?

I recently semi-restored a 1979 DT400, and it's phenomenal how many parts are still available new or nos   

No doubt the same will prevail for the Bandits 

I have only done 24000k's on my '12 and I have no doubt that I will always be able to find spares to keep it going 

Have you got any pictures of the DT400? They were a great bike. My brother and my friend both had one each. They would not die, just kept on ring dinging.

Very cool! I didn't know they came in white. All the ones that I've seen were that burnt orange colour

reddog wrote:Very cool! I didn't know they came in white. All the ones that I've seen were that burnt orange colour

I had an orange one and a gold DT250. Actually wish I still had the 250

We're not becoming extinct. But there's a lot more competition out there from non Jap manufacturers. Reliable bikes are built all over the world now. Thailand builds most Hondas (by volume) and I think the largest volume is out of India. Sure that may not be bikes I'd like to ride but the Japs have to ship and support bikes that keep them in the black. Low volume or specialists bikes at average Joe prices wont keep them in business. Take my brilliant VFR1200 for example. Best bike I've ever owned but poor timing and marketing and pitched too high in price in the early days drove riders away. Its an expensive engine and driveline to build for a single bike line.
I'll probably turn my MV into a S1000R come March or April or I may have the opportunity to go in on a 3 bike buy of a GSX-S1000. I'd be happy with either. In any case competition and usability of engines and/or existing tooling sees the cost of production fall for the key players.

We are being regulated out of riding for those on the fringes so the market is reducing making it even tougher.

Harley keep reinventing 1950 but that's another story.

Nah, not extinct, just off the scene due to work.  During the Winter I have more rides on "over the snow vehicles" than motorbikes. Back now.  

My Bandit is everyday transport "off the hill" when I don't need to carry much.  2007 GSF - I will have it a long time.  

One of my young workmates despaired about lack of riding mates - He rides a Trumpy, and inherited his interest in riding from his father.  He seemed to think that the tedious process of getting all the way through to an unrestricted licence has a lot to answer for.  Not so many riders of his age getting motorcycle licences these days.  

Trends have a lot to do with it as someone suggested.  The cashed up older rider will chase these.  

I don't regard myself as a total brand loyal sort, but generally own bikes a long time, if I find they suit and once I've "made them mine" by doing whatever I do to them, that's it.  Why change a good thing? Purposes change, parts might becomes scarce, or something might happen to make it necessary to change.  I don't need a new bike every few years and have only bought one new bike in my life.  Some have gone decades.  I wish I'd never have sold a couple of them.  

Any forum has its ups and downs.  They even evolve as the membership changes.

I had a DT250, 76(?) model, in my teens. It went like a scalded cat but it had scary as hell tank slapping fits. Only bike I have ever made money on. I bought an Suzy SP370 with the profit. That was a top bike. I still have a scar on my right knee from when trying to start it the motor would back fire and the kick starter would throw your knee into the handlebars.

I had an SP400.  Very practical commuter,  Ok as a light duty trail bike, as road/trail bikes are.  I liked a lot, I must've ridden it 10 or 11 years.  

I think forums right at the mo are quiet generally.  It's usually a seasonal thing, and I don't think the Summer riding scene is happening yet, though I now see the occasional bike on the road.  There don't seem to be many all seasons, all weather riders apparent.  Most seem content with polishing and dreaming mostly, except on weekends, when it is sunny and warm, but not too hot.  

I could stir a bit of a push back on the SP, but it wouldn't do it unless it was a very lazy kick, and one was playing games with the manual decompressor with a warm engine. (and what is the need already; it wasn't that hard to kick except when cold)  What a practical thing then.   The XT550 That followed it was a bit of a monster to kick, but all had a manual decompress lever.  My SRX6 is a small monster with coarse hairs on to start. Neither of these Yammies EVER kicked back.  I think we owe a lot of this to electronic ignition, which just doesn't give one the same effect as an over-advanced spark on the light-up as was so common in bikes owned by enthusiastic riders back in the day when they had points ignition.  Gone the way of the urban myth of loud, exploding home brew bottles, usually at someone's uncle or grandad's place, far removed from the reality of breaking bottles, which I've experienced many times on a hot day, over 38 or 40 degrees when trying to move my stock around. I used to keep a stock of 8 - 12 dozen long necks. Now Ginger beer with tied-on corks to seal, which would get loose and pop under pressure.