Motorcycling Macho Millennials

A Youtube channel I occasional watch is Max Wrist. The name says it all. He is a motorcyclist who likes to twist the throttle to the red line. Max Wrist is an excellent rider but he takes some dangerous risks. So it was inevitable that his recent video has been posted. He's lucky though, while his leg is smashed up the other riders involved in the accident have fared much worse, one with dangerous brain swelling that will most probably result in brain damage. 

While I enjoy watching some of his videos Max Wrist's continual wheelies irritated me. Wheelies are one of the most common causes of accidents. Another aspect of his risk taking behavior is that he often rode with others. I never understood the desire to ride with others but then true to my strongly introvert character riding a motorcycle was about the experience of solitary riding not being in the company of others. 

I haven't ridden a motorcycle for 20 years but am thinking of picking up another motorcycle to see me through to the end of days. I'm looking at the 600-650cc range but not the sports bikes. Modern 600cc sports bikes can have up to 115 bhp, a quarter mile of near 10 seconds, and a top speed approaching 150 mph. The "bhp" and "mph" reveal my age so for Millennials the figures are: 115 brake horse power is 87 kilowatt, 150 miles per hour is 240 kilometres per hour. Compare those values to the first genuine superbike, the Kawasaki 900: 82 brake horsepower, a quarter mile at 12 seconds, and a much heavier bike than modern 600cc motorcycles. 

The sports bike category is dying because Millennials don't like motorcycles let alone motorcycles that are set up for the race track and are impractical for the road. The power is all in the top end, the riding position becomes very uncomfortable on extended rides, and it isn't possible to use all that power on the road without taking dangerous risks and having the licence cancelled for excessive speeding. The Big Four of motorcycling have released more street friendly versions in the 600-650cc category because they've seen the blood on the roads. Unlike my generation Millennials are much more intelligent and prudent in their riding habits. 

Many conservatives bemoan the death of the machoism so prevalent in my generation. They argue that Millennial males are weak and effeminate. Those conservatives are harking back to the John Wayne image of being macho. Bar room brawls, being fearless, ignoring safety precautions, and failing to assess risk. 

Motorcycling Millennials are much more risk adverse than the motorcyclists of my generation. With good reason, a recent Canadian study found that the risk of death for a motorcyclist is 13 times greater than a car driver. There are some important variables in that risk assessment. For example, an Australian study found that those who ride sports bikes are 4 times more likely to die than those who ride more sedate motorcycles. Obviously there is a self selection issue involved there because if a person chooses to ride a sports  motorcycle their intention is to go fast. 

Compare and Contrast

Motorcycling Millennials wear safety gear, attend safety riding courses(now mandatory in many jurisdictions), and importantly they are not daily riders, their motorcycle is for weekend rides not commuting. That is important is because so many bad motorcycle accidents involve hitting cars. There is a golden rule for riding a motorcycle: ride as if you are invisible. 

In my day there weren't any safety riding courses, safety consisted of a cheap motorcycle helmet, a set of unpadded leathers, and if you were serious you might buy some boots designed for motorcycle riding. Today helmets are much better, leathers can be purchased with protective padding, and boots are designed to reinforce the lower legs, a region of the body often damaged in motorcycle accidents. 

At the extreme there are Harley Fags. They think wearing a helmet is for whimps, ride around in casual clothing that offers no protection, and are typically disparaging towards riders who are safety conscious and don't ride Harleys. So I imagine Harley Fags vote conservative. 

In Australia Harley Davidson is the top seller. However it is typically men over 40 buying Harleys and they are safety conscious. They don't want to go fast, they don't enjoy the twisties(which is impossible on a Harley because they don't turn, don't accelerate, and don't brake), and enjoy cruising along then boulevard rather than burning through the mountains. Good luck to them but not my idea of a motorcycle. I love the twisties, I like the pegs scraping, and I want to be able to stop on a dime. 

Modern Machismo

Millennials have redefined machismo. Modern Machismo is more demanding than the machismo of my generation. It requires discipline, hard work, realistic risk assessment, and delayed gratification. They work hard, drink less, use less illicit drugs, smoke much less than my generation, are much more health conscious, and look more towards the future than those of my generation. As a demographic people over 50 are the ones demonstrating too much illicit drug use, excessive drinking, smoking, and being less health conscious.

Conservatives should be celebrating the way Millennials have redefined machoism. Nonetheless there are some troubling issues with Millennials. They appear to have higher rates of depression and anxiety but it is important to remember that in my youth those conditions were largely ignored if not masked by booze and drugs. There has also been a considerable diagnostic expansion depression and anxiety. Another issue is that Millennials have to confront a much more challenging world than my generation. 

Contrary to what some conservatives may think Millennials are taking risks but risks of a different category. They will hit the streets to fight for a more tolerant society, take a stand against racism, discrimination against LBTQi individuals, and fight for environmental issues. Whereas the old style machismo was risking personal injury and dissolution Millennials take risk to improve the world and create a better future. In doing so they risk being arrested, losing their jobs, and being maligned by conservatives who still haven't recognised that for a better tomorrow the modern world requires new behaviors and attitudes. Millennials are leading the way so get out of their way.