A recent conversation

I've been mulling something over the past few weeks. I hadn't been able to identify or begin to clearly articulate it until a recent conversation I had with another motored biker, an average guy though very much capable of thinking for himself. Mike is his name and he said:

I have an intuitive feeling that the largest part of the MAB market is not in larger MABs, with trannies and such but with 33cc and under, simple systems, 4 stroke, that can meet MAB laws, travel no more than 20mph, and come in a kit at low cost. There is a need for a low cost 22-33cc four stroke to make it happen, and right now none exists. I envision low cost motorized bicycles for the masses.

I had a college student tell me he likes the idea of a motorized bicycle only if he can also used it as a bicycle. The thought of using pedals is attractive to many people because it provides exercise. So to widen this market the concept has to be a motorized bicycle. I believe folks who build more powerful machines will always be in the minority. The day will come when low powered motorized bicycles will be sold complete, not as kits, with 4 stroke engines, and then the sport will take off with big retailers joining in. I think one big secret is to find a way to quiet all these motors, including 4 strokes.

This triggered somewhat of a small realization, that it's quite possible and most likely that wider scale acceptance of MABs won't have anything to do with some of the fake motorcycles you see being used that are called MABS, in fact it will be in direct counterpoint to that. I don't mean just in a legal sense either because if there were indeed 'masses' interested, as Mike stated, more widespread mass acceptance would dictate that legal challenges find resolution. Now perhaps this is not all that revelatory. I admit early on I thought that MAB interests were largely represented by what's seen online and what gets posted there. What's dawning on me is the folly in that, especially on the for-profit forums. It would be like asking how much of what's seen posted on a hot rod forum is of interest or applies to an everyday automobile commuter and perhaps best expressed in a saying I used to hear the old timers say when I was a kid:

'you're barking up the wrong tree'

It's quite probable that Mike is right, the fake motorcycles amount to not much more than a handful of boisterous enthusiasts repeating the same lines and only of interest to each other in a small bubble while a far more vast, potential demographic goes on unheard and unrepresented outside that bubble.

The US Bike League estimates there are 60 million people who ride bicycles in the US. That's 60 million who already regularly swing a leg over a bike saddle (compared to motored bikes which I guess to be maybe <1% of that? ). I have two friends that own bicycle shops, they work hard at it, competing with the online stores and such, but theirs is a huge market for bicycles. Also, the bike shop guys thrive on a classier market, customers who are willing to pay the prices for quality, state of the art equipment. Let's face it, most of the current motored bike market buys low end department store bikes, looks to scrimp as much as possible and not spend a lot of dough. I'm not suggesting there will suddenly be a huge migration from the bicycle crowd to MABs but......as the general population continues to age.....as fuel prices stay high and climb higher.....it's not too hard to imagine some curiosity and interest taking shape with a certain percentage of them if it were well presented and fit the bill to them as a means of sensible alternative transportation.

BTW, a shout out to all the new readers I see showing interest in these subjects, I appreciate the interest.