Is It Time to Leave the Sport? Honestly… I’m Starting to Wonder.

T

Trackday

Well-known member
Forum Sponsor
I never thought I’d say this, but here we are: is it even worth staying in this sport anymore?
One by one, GTA bike shops are shutting their doors. The ones that survive? Half of them act like they’re doing you a favour just by unlocking the door.

Try buying a new bike—good luck. Inventory is thin, prices are insane, and every model you want is “coming soon” or “allocated” or “maybe next season.” And servicing? Don’t even get me started. Every shop has its horror stories: sky-high labour rates, techs rushing jobs or cutting corners, and bikes coming back worse than they went in. Yet somehow the bill is always eye-watering.

But the real kicker? The greed baked into the system.
Distributors mark parts up like they’re made of gold. They want maximum margins, luxury lifestyles, and bigger bonuses, and that cost rolls downhill straight onto riders. Dealers then tack on their own markup, charge stupid prices for basic service, and shrug like this is just “how the industry is.”

Meanwhile, riders get squeezed from every direction. Can’t buy local because pricing is ridiculous. Can’t buy online because you get lectured about “supporting your shop.” Can’t get service because you either get gouged, ignored, or treated like an inconvenience.

It feels like the whole ecosystem—distributors, dealers, the lot of them—decided the sport is a cash grab instead of a community.

And honestly? That’s how you kill a sport.
Not with noise complaints.
Not with land closures.
Not with regulations.
You kill it by making it so expensive, so frustrating, and so inaccessible that normal people just walk away.

I love motorcycles. But the industry around them? It’s making it harder every year to stay in the game.

Anyone else feeling the same?
 
Trackday said:
You kill it by making it so expensive, so frustrating, and so inaccessible that normal people just walk away.

I love motorcycles. But the industry around them? It’s making it harder every year to stay in the game.

Anyone else feeling the same?
Click to expand...
Agreed, but my beef isn't with the businesses. It's with government regulation, police enforcement, road conditions and insurance costs.
 
Sounds like you are equating motorcycling as an activity with the businesses that sell supporting products.

Once you have your bike and your gear, do you really need to deal with these businesses again, other than service, if you cannot perform it yourself? You can even find an independent mechanic or shop that's less "greedy" or learn to do basic maintenance yourself. I have lots of friends who are willing to help me with something on my bike and it's a fun garage project that can be shared over a few beers.

To me, these two things - motorcycles and the supporting businesses - are two very separate things.

Just because there are problems with the industry of making and selling motorcycles and gear, for me, this only accounts for 2% of the ownership experience. It doesn't really affect my enjoyment of the motorcycling itself once I'm on the bike and braaaaping away to my heart's content the other 98% of the time.

As for being criticized about buying cheaper items online? Who cares? Just because you get some people with strong opinions, why do you let it get to you personally? It's your money and you have to pay for other things like food and rent. Buy cheap and buy often, and the hell with people who want to tell you how you should spend your own money. This is not just related to motorcycles. People have lots of strong opinions about how you should raise your kids, who you should vote for, which car you should drive, which churches to attend... are you also going to let these opinions get you down?

My advice is to ignore all the noise and just enjoy your bike and don't go to any motorcycle stores any more. This is not really a necessary part of the motorcycle experience once you're already equipped and it sounds like that's the part that is really stressing you out.

I don't mean to overstep, but maybe there's something else in your life besides motorcycling that's got you down?
 
I'll say I'm pretty much done.
No racing or track days, just you're typical rider.
Used to ride every single chance I could, now things sit and gather dust.
My lifestyle was the first big change, then the changes in drivers and road conditions snuck into my thought process, I just could not justify the time.

Now things have changed for the better, have a short but nice commute to work, so time to dust things off for summer 2026. Hope I can still find neutral.. lol
 
There's business and there's sport.
Hockey is a sport, but you have to buy all the gear (try outfitting a house league goalie), pay to join a league, and somewhere, somehow there's an arena to keep open. That's the business side. Play pond hockey if you like.
The same rules apply for motorcycling. It costs a lot of money to keep a brick-and-mortar store open. There are good ones and not-so-good ones, and you get to pick. The marketplace decides who stays and who doesn't.
Sometimes people just get tired of fighting the fight. See: Sandy and the good folks at Pro6.
Online shopping has changed the experience, especially since Covid - no one expects to go back to the way it was.
Independent repair shops have filled a void, expect to see more of them in the future. The good ones, honest ones will thrive and the curbsiders will disappear. Such is the way it always has been.
"Same as it ever was, same as it ever was..."
 
Everything in the original post is not only true in the motorcycle industry but in pretty much every industry. I blame unbridled corporate greed for much of this. Ever since Covid corporations have had consumers by the b@ll$ with limited supply, they’ve gotten use to these crazy profit margins while consumer’s incomes have remained stagnant. A nice little recession will hopefully correct that as happened in the early 90’s. Don’t give up on motorcycling! My advice is to get an older, simpler motorcycle and learn how to wrench on it. Working on my bike was always a big part of the hobby for me.i enjoy it just as much as riding. I’ve been doing my own tire changes, valve adjustments and carb syncs since the late 70’s. It’s not rocket surgery as Bubbles would say and with the internet there’s a wealth of information on how to do this stuff.
 
Last edited:
Trackday said:
I never thought I’d say this, but here we are: is it even worth staying in this sport anymore?
One by one, GTA bike shops are shutting their doors. The ones that survive? Half of them act like they’re doing you a favour just by unlocking the door.

Try buying a new bike—good luck. Inventory is thin, prices are insane, and every model you want is “coming soon” or “allocated” or “maybe next season.” And servicing? Don’t even get me started. Every shop has its horror stories: sky-high labour rates, techs rushing jobs or cutting corners, and bikes coming back worse than they went in. Yet somehow the bill is always eye-watering.

But the real kicker? The greed baked into the system.
Distributors mark parts up like they’re made of gold. They want maximum margins, luxury lifestyles, and bigger bonuses, and that cost rolls downhill straight onto riders. Dealers then tack on their own markup, charge stupid prices for basic service, and shrug like this is just “how the industry is.”

Meanwhile, riders get squeezed from every direction. Can’t buy local because pricing is ridiculous. Can’t buy online because you get lectured about “supporting your shop.” Can’t get service because you either get gouged, ignored, or treated like an inconvenience.

It feels like the whole ecosystem—distributors, dealers, the lot of them—decided the sport is a cash grab instead of a community.

And honestly? That’s how you kill a sport.
Not with noise complaints.
Not with land closures.
Not with regulations.
You kill it by making it so expensive, so frustrating, and so inaccessible that normal people just walk away.

I love motorcycles. But the industry around them? It’s making it harder every year to stay in the game.

Anyone else feeling the same?
Click to expand...
its never going to be a vast thriving ecosystem like asia/europe/latam or even the USA, but its not so bad, when I was a baller I looked at top shelf models. Now? Im looking at suzukis 🤷‍♂️ It is what it is
 
It is expensive and I don’t looo forward to buying a new helmet….but each and every time I still get pulled back into it.

Hell even last night I was at a party and was thinking of what rides I want to do next year.

Then I realize I have 3 kids, the drivers suck, and it gets more and more dangerous every single year.

But I also buy all my gear used (not helmets…unless from someone I know won’t lie to me about dropping if), and it affordable again.

As other said, outside or maintenance…does one really need a retail place to keep things going? Plenty of good mechanics and resources to help fix most things.
 
bigpoppa said:
its never going to be a vast thriving ecosystem like asia/europe/latam or even the USA, but its not so bad, when I was a baller I looked at top shelf models. Now? Im looking at suzukis 🤷‍♂️ It is what it is
Click to expand...
Wait what….when did baller status change!?

You’re like one of the original OG ballers of GTAM.
 
Evoex said:
Agreed, but my beef isn't with the businesses. It's with government regulation, police enforcement, road conditions and insurance costs.
Click to expand...
My problem is with dangerously stupid drivers and zero accountability for maiming or killing motorcyclists, while they F about with some electronic gadget. David Booth wrote a piece in Mojo about riding in Italy, where drivers go fast but with a fair skill level....because at some point they`ve all piloted a moped, scooter or motorcycle and possess awareness of riders, big difference in incidents. And insurance companies that run rampant on profiteering,...F them. If drivers were actually taught to be skilled and proficient replacing the Lucky driving school from Scarborough, which is here all the time in Kawartha Lakes, that would be a good start. Now let`s discuss Brampton trucking schools and operators. :mad::mad:
 
Trackday said:
I never thought I’d say this, but here we are: is it even worth staying in this sport anymore?
One by one, GTA bike shops are shutting their doors. The ones that survive? Half of them act like they’re doing you a favour just by unlocking the door.

Try buying a new bike—good luck. Inventory is thin, prices are insane, and every model you want is “coming soon” or “allocated” or “maybe next season.” And servicing? Don’t even get me started. Every shop has its horror stories: sky-high labour rates, techs rushing jobs or cutting corners, and bikes coming back worse than they went in. Yet somehow the bill is always eye-watering.

But the real kicker? The greed baked into the system.
Distributors mark parts up like they’re made of gold. They want maximum margins, luxury lifestyles, and bigger bonuses, and that cost rolls downhill straight onto riders. Dealers then tack on their own markup, charge stupid prices for basic service, and shrug like this is just “how the industry is.”

Meanwhile, riders get squeezed from every direction. Can’t buy local because pricing is ridiculous. Can’t buy online because you get lectured about “supporting your shop.” Can’t get service because you either get gouged, ignored, or treated like an inconvenience.

It feels like the whole ecosystem—distributors, dealers, the lot of them—decided the sport is a cash grab instead of a community.

And honestly? That’s how you kill a sport.
Not with noise complaints.
Not with land closures.
Not with regulations.
You kill it by making it so expensive, so frustrating, and so inaccessible that normal people just walk away.

I love motorcycles. But the industry around them? It’s making it harder every year to stay in the game.

Anyone else feeling the same?
Click to expand...
For anyone down on the dealership experience I`ll say give Lindsay Cycle and HB Cycle a go. Solid customer treatment and service is what I`ve found. They cover Honda, Kawasaki, Yamaha, Suzuki, KTM, Can-Am and Polaris. No affiliation, just a customer.
 
The real problem is the massive separation between the business and the sport. Riders care about keeping bikes running. The industry cares about squeezing every possible dollar out of the process. Those two worlds used to overlap—now they barely touch.

We need dealers, whether we like it or not. There are parts the aftermarket simply can’t provide, or won’t provide, and eventually every independent shop hits a wall. Some modern bikes rely on specialized tools, proprietary diagnostics, ECU interfaces, brand-locked software… stuff only the dealer has. Even the best independents end up hitting the wall at some point because they just don’t have access to the equipment the manufacturers intentionally keep behind locked doors.

And don’t forget documentation. Some manufacturers sell their service manuals openly. Others lock them down so tight you’d think they were classified military files. If you’re not an authorized dealer, good luck getting access to half the procedures you need to work on your own bike.

In the end, everything funnels you back into the dealership system—expensive parts, restricted tools, limited documentation—and that’s exactly why riders feel trapped. The sport and the business used to support each other. Now it feels like the business is actively pushing the sport away.
 
Trackday said:
In the end, everything funnels you back into the dealership system—expensive parts, restricted tools, limited documentation—and that’s exactly why riders feel trapped. The sport and the business used to support each other. Now it feels like the business is actively pushing the sport away.
Click to expand...
You've been sold ABS, IMU multiple axis traction control, uplink automatic systems, diagnostic updates and programmable ECUs - all kinds of electronic gizmos and gadgets. Even things like heated seats and grips, quick shifters - all this technology comes at a cost. There is a thing called 'right to repair' and without that the independent auto garages would be DOA. Sadly, the powersports business has no such protections.
'I do all my own work' - until you can't.
I see a lot of DIY stuff being done on 70s, 80s and 90s bikes, why ? Because they're simple enough to work on at home with a rock and an axe. Sometimes the results leave a lot to be desired but so what, someone is having fun.
 
Trackday said:
I never thought I’d say this, but here we are: is it even worth staying in this sport anymore?
One by one, GTA bike shops are shutting their doors. The ones that survive? Half of them act like they’re doing you a favour just by unlocking the door.

Try buying a new bike—good luck. Inventory is thin, prices are insane, and every model you want is “coming soon” or “allocated” or “maybe next season.” And servicing? Don’t even get me started. Every shop has its horror stories: sky-high labour rates, techs rushing jobs or cutting corners, and bikes coming back worse than they went in. Yet somehow the bill is always eye-watering.

But the real kicker? The greed baked into the system.
Distributors mark parts up like they’re made of gold. They want maximum margins, luxury lifestyles, and bigger bonuses, and that cost rolls downhill straight onto riders. Dealers then tack on their own markup, charge stupid prices for basic service, and shrug like this is just “how the industry is.”

Meanwhile, riders get squeezed from every direction. Can’t buy local because pricing is ridiculous. Can’t buy online because you get lectured about “supporting your shop.” Can’t get service because you either get gouged, ignored, or treated like an inconvenience.

It feels like the whole ecosystem—distributors, dealers, the lot of them—decided the sport is a cash grab instead of a community.

And honestly? That’s how you kill a sport.
Not with noise complaints.
Not with land closures.
Not with regulations.
You kill it by making it so expensive, so frustrating, and so inaccessible that normal people just walk away.

I love motorcycles. But the industry around them? It’s making it harder every year to stay in the game.

Anyone else feeling the same?
Click to expand...
Trackday, I'm afraid you have a case of Oldguyitis, and I think it's acute. Unfortunately the disease is incurable, but we can treat the symptoms.

Like you, I find the price of new motorcycles to be so high as to be almost offensive. The proliferation of (for me) unnecessary and very much unwanted technology repels me. I don't want it, so I'm not gonna pay for it/buy it. I can honestly say, there isn't a new 2025/2026 street bike on the floor at GP Bikes that I would spend even half of the suggested retail price on, even if I was using someone else's money. OK,I'd MAYBE DEFINITELY buy some of the Triumphs.

The first salve to be applied for the above symptom is the accepting that YOU OR ME ARE NOT THE MOST IMPORTANT CUSTOMERS ANYMORE. With a showroom floor crammed with motorcycles with sale prices exceeding $30k, and 6" deep pile of sales agreements sitting on the corner of the finance managers desk, the "frugal" old-timers just don't carry much sway anymore.

But rejoice! The used bike market is alive and very well. With the quality of motorcycles built in the last 30 or so years you can pick up a good, reliable, low mileage, still competent machine for not much more than a few flirtatious looks (converted to dollars). The insurance is even cheaper on them compared to new bikes.

In the dirt thread you lamented EFI and electric start on new dirt bikes. I'm less against that than you, but to my point above an early 2000's KTM 300EXC can still haul ass in the woods in all it's kickstarted and carb'd glory. Plus it's only gonna cost a couple grand.

As my osteoarthritic knees moved from just generally stiff to near constant pain, meaning that replacement is on the not distant enough horizon, I realized that my single track off road days have ended and I sold my dirt bike. Turning my critical eye to my KTM1090 Adv. R, and bearing in mind that I purchased a 1982 BMW R100RS in the spring I allowed myself to accept that I didn't need 2 1000cc street bikes. I have found the towering seat height and top heaviness of the 1090 occasionally annoying but now it's causing me some unease as a poorly placed foot can cause pretty severe and lasting pain.

So I marched into GP Bikes, got a surprisingly good trade value on the 1090 and picked up the last 2024 GasGas 700ES dual sport (a VERY red KTM690), which was discounted by $3500 from list to $11,500. I can swing a leg over it with my foot on the ground unlike the 1090, and it's comparatively light as a feather. It's also fun as hell to ride.

While I was buying the GasGas GP was busy selling those $30k+ plus beemers during their open house and sold a few while I was there. I still received good, efficient service as I have always received from them and this is the 3rd bike I've bought from them. I was in yesterday, and when I went to the counter the girl told me I had a $27 credit on my account. I was puzzled, and she told me that when they licensed my GasGas it was $27 less than billed because I put my old plate on. I appreciate the honesty, and that just builds on the general good service I always receive. Others may have experienced my truth differently.

I ride motorcycles because IT'S FUN. I own those motorcycles to facilitate that fun, but I also derive enjoyment and satisfaction from working on them in whatever ways my skill level allows. I have a '74 Norton commando, an almost-done mechanically restored/upgraded R100RS and my new 700. All purchased COMBINED for much less than the cheapest BMW 1300GS at GP Bikes.

So I understand where you're coming from, but no I don't feel the same. I think there's still plenty of value and fun available, depending on how you define it and where you look.
 
The best bike is imo, the one you make the most memories on, the second best bike is the one you currently own.
 
I would suggest looking at joining the CVMG (cvmg.ca) if older (and less costly) motorcycles (and motorcycling) are beginning to look more attractive than the "latest bikes, costs and things in motorcycling". And often, I gather, that new motorcycles and the dealerships that sell and service them seem to be "beginning to pale" - or are becoming too expensive for many riders.
I have been motorcycling in Ontario since 1958, starting on a second-hand Ariel "Colt". Never owned a new motorcycle in the couple of dozen of various makes and conditions that I have owned )bought as projects, dismantled basket cases, non-runners for decades, second-hand bikes that other riders wanted to sell so as to get a new bike, etc., etc.,)
The '57 199cc Ariel "Colt" was used to commute to high school and worked out cheaper - and much quicker -than travelling by the TTC buses and streetcars. TTC tickets were 2 for 25 cents, but gasoline was 9 cents a litre (40 cents a gallon) and the little Ariel got 100 miles to the gallon. Basic insurance was $32/a year. Sold the "Colt" for $50 less than what it cost me to buy.
AFJ
Forum Sponsor
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom