1976–2016: Fifty Years on Two Wheels — And We’re Still Arguing About the Same Things
Fifty years of modern motorcycling tells a reassuring story.
Not a neat one. Not a sensible one. But a deeply familiar one.
From the grit and uncertainty of 1976 to the self-awareness of 2016, motorcycling hasn’t followed a straight line. It’s zig-zagged. It’s contradicted itself. It’s loudly declared one thing, then quietly gone and done another.
And through all of it, riders have complained — enthusiastically — while continuing to ride anyway.
Which, when you think about it, might be the most consistent tradition of all.
A Journey, Not a Progress Bar
Looking back across the decades, it’s tempting to frame motorcycling as “progress”.
But that implies agreement.
And riders don’t agree on anything.
1976 taught us resilience — bikes were dangerous, industries collapsed, and riders stayed anyway.
1986 reminded us that excess is fun — lighter, faster, louder, shinier, and completely unnecessary.
1996 nailed balance — the moment when bikes were better than ever without being smarter than us.
2006 pushed the limits — technology arrived because something had to keep up with the horsepower.
2016 stepped back — and asked whether speed was ever really the point.
That isn’t a straight line forward.
It’s a conversation — one that keeps looping back on itself.
The Same Debates, Just Louder (and Online)
Over fifty years, the arguments haven’t changed much. Only the platforms have.
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“Bikes are too fast now.”
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“Riders don’t have real skills anymore.”
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“Electronics ruin everything.”
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“Old bikes were better.”
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“New bikes are safer.”
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“The government is out to get us.”
In 1976, those conversations happened in pubs and paddocks.
In 1996, they happened in magazines and bike nights.
By 2016, they were happening at full volume on social media.
Different decades. Same noise.
And yet — riding continued. The culture adapted. New riders arrived. Old riders returned. The sky stubbornly refused to fall.
The One Constant: Why People Ride
Strip away the technology, the fashion cycles, the politics and the marketing — and the reason people ride hasn’t changed since before any of these years.
People ride because:
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It feels different from everything else
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It gives them space
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It sharpens their senses
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It makes ordinary journeys memorable
Whether it’s a battered commuter, a race replica, an adventure bike or a custom build, the emotional payoff remains the same.
Motorcycling survives not because it’s practical — but because it’s personal.
So… What Happens Next? Welcome to 2026
Which brings us neatly to the dangerous business of prediction.
Based on the last fifty years, here are some entirely reasonable, completely unscientific guesses about where motorcycling might be heading by 2026:
1. Bikes Will Be Quieter — Riders Will Be Louder
Electric and hybrid machines will gain ground, and riders will argue passionately about sound while still secretly enjoying the torque.
Expect phrases like:
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“It’s not real riding if you can hear birds.”
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“Yeah but it’s quicker than your old one.”
Both sides will be correct. Both sides will refuse to admit it.
2. Everyone Will Hate New Technology… Until It Saves Them
New rider aids will be criticised on launch, dismissed as unnecessary, and then quietly appreciated after they prevent one embarrassing moment in the rain.
No one will publicly thank the tech.
They will simply stop mentioning the incident.
3. The ‘Proper Biker’ Will Finally Go Extinct
By 2026, the idea that there’s only one correct way to ride will be universally mocked — except by a handful of people who still insist their way is correct.
They will be easy to spot.
They will be very vocal.
They will still ride, which means they’re welcome anyway.
4. The Isle of Man TT Will Still Be Argued About
Some will call it essential heritage.
Some will call it outdated.
All will stop scrolling to watch the highlights.
Because some things don’t need justification — they just need understanding.
5. Motorcycling Will Carry On, Slightly Annoyed
There will be more rules, more technology, more opinions, and more choice than ever before.
And riders will adapt. As they always have.
They’ll complain.
They’ll customise.
They’ll meet up anyway.
The Real Lesson of the Last 50 Years
Motorcycling doesn’t move forward by consensus.
It moves forward by refusing to disappear, even when it’s unfashionable, inconvenient, or misunderstood.
Every decade predicts its end.
Every decade gets it wrong.
Because motorcycling isn’t a trend.
It’s a habit — a stubborn, joyful, occasionally irrational one.
And if the last fifty years tell us anything, it’s this:
No matter what 2026 brings, riders will still be riding.
Still arguing.
Still smiling inside their helmets.
Exactly as it should be.