I think there are much less motorcycles and I think there are many fewer exhibitors on rte 3 than previous years. My buddies all have bikes, and have been going to bike week since the 70s.
One of them said a few years ago, that the current climate makes it difficult for kids to get into bikes. Years ago, there were loads of used bikes available for cheap money. Bikes that were reliable enough to take you hundreds of miles. My sense is that bikes that fit that bill are much more expensive now, relatively speaking. Putting bikes out of reach to these younger people who are starting out.
The next thing he mentioned was the massive police presence. Especially in the past 10 years, is discouraging the younger kids to come. If you are few miles over the limit, you are pretty much guaranteed to get pulled over and at a minimum walk away with a few hundred dollars in tickets. Not worth the aggravation.
Of course, on the other hand, the knuckleheads cause the need for some of the police presence. So, there's that.
The median age of the crowds now is too high IMO. If something doesn't change, this motorcycle rally may become a thing of the past in the next 20 or so years.
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