GWRRA going away

[trikervet]

It was announced today at the GWRRA Wing Ding in Shreveport that GWRRA will be dissolved at the end of the year. One more issue of Wing World will be published. Lot of questions remain. There is supposed to be an question and answer session coming up. Stay tuned.

 

[trike lady]

At the website sponsors have pretty much dropped off.

 

[cScjhb]

I received the formal announcement this afternoon in a video from GWRRA. Membership has slipped from a high of over 80,000 members to just about 8,000 today. Prepaid dues will automatically be prorated and rebated to members. They stressed that this is not a bankruptcy of GWRRA but instead, just a closing due to a changing industry and interests. I have been a member for many years and ride with the local chapter weekly during riding season. Sad to see this happen but, things change..... Jim

 

[cycle7447]

While I currently ride a Harley, I have been a GWRRA member since 1982 - so, I am one of those original Life Members. I agree, sad to see this go. I will be looking or some of those question/answers. As an example, I am also a Rescue Plus member - good until 2025 - will that continue? I have the family plan as a Life member - will that change, etc.

Couple this with an earlier post whereby someone said that they ae going to discontinue the GoldWing. The GoldWing trike has been a very sort after product. So, now let's began to imagine the ramifications that may have on the many trike manufacturers. In my opinion, trikes are mostly built for GoldWings, Harley's and Indians. I realize there ae some others - but for the most part, these three.

Will CSC and others turn their attention to the other two bikes - no longer upgrading kits for the GoldWing?

 

[brianl]

Does anyone know how the current version of goldwings are selling? I bought a trike In 2019 and opted for a 2017 model. The newer models are more like a sports bike to me and not as comfortable as. Gen 2 model. I don’t see many of the newer models around in Massachusetts. I also read a lot of complaints at the time about electronic issues with converting to the new models. I’m sure they fixed most of those problems. By the time I need to replace mine probably only EV models will be available. If they make a model that will go 200 miles on a single charge, that’s fine with me.

 

[1dn5up]

That reminds me to renew my Gold Membership.

 

[CrystalPistol]

I have been a life member for years, my Wife and I have made likely near 100 new friends since joining in '97, I'm no longer a rider, but when I think of all we got from it, just sad that others will not get that. Chapter meets, Chapter staff positions, Chapter Director for 6 years alone, District officer then ... and each brought new challenges and new friends. Book closed.

 

[2K1200LTS]

It seen like lately a lot of rider's groups have bring going to the wayside.

 

[rhino 2]

In my opinion…In less than five years motorcycling as we know it will be gone…. ..

 

[cycle7447]

In 1982, I purchased my first Wing - a 1981 GL1100. If I recall, I paid $3700 for it. In 2004, we moved to Harley - got a 2004 Harley Ultra with all of the bells and whistles for $14,500.

My last Harley has a MSRP of $34K. The CB was not included, only one key fob, no heel shifter, front and rear fender lights were no longer included. Some of us older folks have retired and have some disposable income - so, we want the comfort.

I can't imagine my 35-year-old son paying this kind of money to go bike riding. So, I sort of agree - there are going to be some changes. Plus, as I look back at a lot of my GWRRA friends - we are mostly riding trikes now.

 

[cScjhb]

Evolution

In 1977 when Paul Hildebrand and Shirley Stevens-Garcia founded GWRRA they were 36 and 34 years old. Today they are 81 & 79. Motorcycle touring grew and aged right along with Paul and Shirley. I started motorcycle touring in the 1980s. When I retired in 2005, I began riding with a group here in Arizona. At that time, we were almost all on 2 wheels. One by one the riding group moved to trikes as age caught up with us. The move to 3 seemed to happen at about age 70. Now that group no longer exists. Most have passed on. Some are not capable of riding anything but a rocking chair.

The point of my long diatribe is that motorcycle touring may have been a generational thing and GWRRA grew and aged right along with us. I don't suspect there are many 30-something year old's interested in motorcycle touring. I was happy to be a part of it.....

 

[trike lady]

Everything has a cycle in business and the same in life. Any business experiences the following: birth, maturity and then the drop off and closure. I remember this from a business class that I had taken at the local community college in Florida. At one time there was Trike Riders International a 'Sister' group to GWRRA and that folded and was absorbed into GWRRA. Like the old saying goes, "All good things come to an end". It's a shame the younger generation seems to have no interest. They'll one day look back at photos of the parents and grandparents and see the fun activities they participated in.

 

[CrystalPistol]

Oh, I had two MCs and a trike. Once we bought the trike in 2004, was harder to get Wife on a motorcycle. We loved the trike for all that we got from a motorcycle ... plus we got so much more. When I started riding motorcycles on a Nortn 750, one rarely ever saw a trike, and it was a VW or old HD Servicar likely.

Anyway, it was fun.

 

[Pegasus1300]

another one who started on a Norton 750

 

[cScjhb]

I think a lot of the younger people are into Adventure Bikes. Riding roads, off roads, camping and exploring. I think if I were 50 years younger, that's what I would be doing..... Jim

 

[BILLIJAK]

Also a long time member of GWRRA...since 1984. Our first Wing Ding was Knoxville, TN in '85? Lifetime member, got the last magazine after WingDing 43 and found out about the closing in the editorial. Our last GoldWing was an '88...first year for reverse, and 1500 engine...had a Motovation II sidecar on our '84 Wing, and thought the new bike was perfect for sidcar use, swapped it to the new bike...and it was! Only the first 500-600 miles for engine break in were as a solo bike...the rest were all hack miles. That outfit had been to Washington, DC and Wing Ding in Santa Clara, CA (San Francisco). We sold it a few years ago, and I asked my wife 'another sidecar or a trike'? To my surprise she said trike....and here we are!

Not happy about the closure of the group, but understandable with current demographics and numbers.

Bill

 

[cycle7447]

Also a long time member of GWRRA...since 1984. Our first Wing Ding was Knoxville, TN in '85? Lifetime member, got the last magazine after WingDing 43 and found out about the closing in the editorial. Our last GoldWing was an '88...first year for reverse, and 1500 engine...had a Motovation II sidecar on our '84 Wing, and thought the new bike was perfect for sidcar use, swapped it to the new bike...and it was! Only the first 500-600 miles for engine break in were as a solo bike...the rest were all hack miles. That outfit had been to Washington, DC and Wing Ding in Santa Clara, CA (San Francisco). We sold it a few years ago, and I asked my wife 'another sidecar or a trike'? To my surprise she said trike....and here we are!

Not happy about the closure of the group, but understandable with current demographics and numbers.

Bill

Hey - you remember me - I was at the 85 WD in Knoxville (lol).

Wife and I had matching 89 Wings - she had a 2-seaer Motivation sidecar and I had two wheels. Later, she converted her Wing - added a MotorTrike kit. We really enjoyed on time on our bikes.

Still riding and in Jan 2021, she purchased a new Harley Untra for my birthday - that became a trike in May of 2022.

 

[FRR]

I've done a lot of riding in the past 52 yrs. Had a few smaller Honda models 9 goldwings and 7 Harley ultras. Went to trikes 10 yrs ago. Ride a 2019 DCT Wing now. Probably be my last one. The demographic that went to Trikes are aging and dying off. Young folks simply don't ride. Sales are down on all bikes. I, like many of you have been all over the country on bikes and loved every minute of it. Battery technology has come a long way in a short time, but it will need to come a much longer way before motorcycles can operated on battery power. The weight alone would prohibit many aspects of bikes. I'm afraid we are part of a dying breed.

 

[cycle7447]

I've done a lot of riding in the past 52 yrs. Had a few smaller Honda models 9 goldwings and 7 Harley ultras. Went to trikes 10 yrs ago. Ride a 2019 DCT Wing now. Probably be my last one. The demographic that went to Trikes are aging and dying off. Young folks simply don't ride. Sales are down on all bikes. I, like many of you have been all over the country on bikes and loved every minute of it. Battery technology has come a long way in a short time, but it will need to come a much longer way before motorcycles can operated on battery power. The weight alone would prohibit many aspects of bikes. I'm afraid we are part of a dying breed.

You sound like Shakespear - you begin to die the day you were born (lol)

I still agree with you - as I visit our dealership, more and more bikes are trikes. More and more folks are up there in age. Still, I plan to ride as long as I can. Longer trips - shorter rides for the day since I am retired and can just take my time.

Our trips are usually around 300 miles per day. Still, if the total trip is 400 miles, we will just take two days

 

[cScjhb]

You sound like Shakespear - you begin to die the day you were born (lol)

I still agree with you - as I visit our dealership, more and more bikes are trikes. More and more folks are up there in age. Still, I plan to ride as long as I can. Longer trips - shorter rides for the day since I am retired and can just take my time.

Our trips are usually around 300 miles per day. Still, if the total trip is 400 miles, we will just take two days

I'm right there with you Donald. I toured almost the entire month of August this year. On the days I traveled, my average distance was just a tad under 300 miles per day. Interstates are for people in a hurry. Not my style. I ride by the hour. Five hours = 250 miles, six hours = 300 miles. Motel check in time is 4-4:30PM...... Jim