Why are there never ads for motorcycles on tv?

Did you smash it

As per the title why don’t Kawasaki or Yamaha etc ever advertise?

Atlantic Dawn

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence. I currently don't personally know a single person who owns one.

I'd love to get one but the hassle around obtaining a licence puts me off, pretty much a 5 year commitment.

knucklehead6

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence. I currently don't personally know a single person who owns one.

I'd love to get one but the hassle around obtaining a licence puts me off, pretty much a 5 year commitment.

5 years?

Atlantic Dawn

knucklehead6 wrote: »

5 years?

If you want to be able to buy a max performance bike that's what I was lead to believe was possibly realistic, could be longer if you had a few failures. With a car licence you can drive a 4 litre if you want, no restrictions, cost of insurance may be Lotto money though

Insurance on the most powerful bike in this country should be €500, a bike is not likely to cause personal injury claims when it hits a car in error.

Peregrinus

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence.

Mmm. They don't advertise motorbikes on TV in the UK either. Or in Australia, where I live. I don't think this is just down to Irish insurance premiums and licensing requirements.

I think the answer is that TV advertising is a massively expensive way of reaching a very wide mass market, and therefore it's not an attractive way of selling products with a very niche market. It would cost the same to make and broadcast an ad for a bike as it would for an ad for a car, but the potential sales of a motorbike are - what? 3%? 5% of the potential sales of the car? And the potential sale revenue is smaller again. So TV advertising for motorbikes doesn't make sense.

For motorbikes you want targeted marketing, which nowadays is easier and cheaper than ever to arrange. I haven't seen motorbike ads in any medium, that I recall. The likely explanation for this is not that there are no motorbike ads of any kind, but that I am not part of the target market, so the manufacturers don't waste their time and money showing me the ads.

Did you smash it

The test, lessons and license cost 2500 zl in Poland. That’s about 700 euro. What is it in Ireland.

Peregrinus

Did you smash it wrote: »

The test, lessons and license cost 2500 zl in Poland. That’s about 700 euro. What is it in Ireland.

I'm sure it's much more, but that's not the point. Motorbike sales are a niche market in most or all developed economies, not because motorbikes and associated costs are excessive but because people prefer the advantages of cars - greater passenger and goods carrying capacity, better weather protection, superior safety, etc. Motorbike sales are less than 5% of car sales in Ireland, and the same is true in the UK and the US. (I don't have figures for Poland. Are motorbikes advertised on TV in Poland?)

I think it might be different in counties with a strong motor scooter culture - France, Italy, Spain. (Those countries tend to have Mediterranean climates, which I think is not a coincidence.) Whether motor scooters are advertised on TV in those countries, I cannot say, but I have certainly seen billboard advertising of motor scooters there.

I think we can probably divide the world into countries where people who have motorbikes mostly buy one instead of a car (can't afford or don't want a car, use motorbike for commuting/getting about) and those where they mostly buy one as well as a car or truck (use bike mainly for pleasure/recreation). In both cases it's a somewhat niche market, but different niches. Different advertising strategies will be followed in those two groups of countries.

knucklehead6

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

If you want to be able to buy a max performance bike that's what I was lead to believe was possibly realistic,

Well you’re wrong.

I bought my first bike during the summer. Once I pass my test I’ll be able to drive any bike I want to buy.

I did my theory test one week, got my licence a week later.
Then I did my IBT, 18 hours mandatory training.
I’ll be applying for my driving test early in the new year.


There IS an age limitation when you are young but I think once you are over 25 (a dim and distant memory for me) you can go for whatever bike you want

CJhaughey

There are a lot of Ads , depending on the platform, Eurosport have a lot of Ads for bikes primarily because they show racing.
BT sport also show ads again because they have racing.
If you use Youtube again MC content shows up on MC channels.

Insurance isn't really that onerous, neither is the licensing if you go about it in a reasonable way and you are over 24.
I do see the need for good training and a graduated license, bikes have way more performance than cars and even a 10 year old 1000cc machine makes modern performance cars look like your grannies Micra.

MrCostington

Interesting question. The factors listed so far are true, small sales etc.

I think you have to separate bikes into two categories, "real" motorcycles that are ridden by enthusiasts who choose to ride a bike, and the scooters etc for people just looking for cheap transport.

When I was an enthusiast biker many moons ago, we would all buy mags or papers ('Bike' and 'Motor Cycle News' being my choice) so that was the place manufactures would advertise. Guess it's pretty much the same now but mostly online.

No idea where the commuter stuff is advertised though.

Peregrinus

MrCostington wrote: »

Interesting question. The factors listed so far are true, small sales etc.

I think you have to separate bikes into two categories, "real" motorcycles that are ridden by enthusiasts who choose to ride a bike, and the scooters etc for people just looking for cheap transport.

When I was an enthusiast biker many moons ago, we would all buy mags or papers ('Bike' and 'Motor Cycle News' being my choice) so that was the place manufactures would advertise. Guess it's pretty much the same now but mostly online.

No idea where the commuter stuff is advertised though.

Vespas and so forth would be advertised in newspapers and on billboards in Italy. Ads focus on (a) price and (b) style/lifestyle because, let's face it, performance is not an issue; if you're interested in performance you're not buying a scooter. I never saw TV ads for them, but I haven't watched much Italian TV because it's so unremittingly awful. They might be advertised on programmes or channels that cater to the target market, which is basically young singles who are late teens or early adults.

MrCostington

Actually, I'd more class Vespas / Lambrettas in with the enthusiast in that it's a lifestyle choice. I guess I'm thinking of the mods in the uk and cafe culture as you say in Italy etc with warmer climate.

What I meant by scooters was the things common here that are actually pretty big physically but small engine and feet forward riding position, and lots of plastic bodywork.

whisky_galore

Peregrinus wrote: »

I'm sure it's much more, but that's not the point. Motorbike sales are a niche market in most or all developed economies, not because motorbikes and associated costs are excessive but because people prefer the advantages of cars - greater passenger and goods carrying capacity, better weather protection, superior safety, etc. Motorbike sales are less than 5% of car sales in Ireland, and the same is true in the UK and the US. (I don't have figures for Poland. Are motorbikes advertised on TV in Poland?)

I think it might be different in counties with a strong motor scooter culture - France, Italy, Spain. (Those countries tend to have Mediterranean climates, which I think is not a coincidence.) Whether motor scooters are advertised on TV in those countries, I cannot say, but I have certainly seen billboard advertising of motor scooters there.

I think we can probably divide the world into countries where people who have motorbikes mostly buy one instead of a car (can't afford or don't want a car, use motorbike for commuting/getting about) and those where they mostly buy one as well as a car or truck (use bike mainly for pleasure/recreation). In both cases it's a somewhat niche market, but different niches. Different advertising strategies will be followed in those two groups of countries.

Historically in Ireland, say up to the 70s, many a lad's (and it was by and large men) first motorised transport was a motorbike.
That has seemed to have disappeared almost entirely, probably down to cost and comfort.

Peregrinus

whisky_galore wrote: »

Historically in Ireland, say up to the 70s, many a lad's (and it was by and large men) first motorised transport was a motorbike.
That has seemed to have disappeared almost entirely, probably down to cost and comfort.

It's mainly down to prosperity. Motoring is expensive in Ireland relative to other countries but, nevertheless, because of rising earnings it's much more affordable than it was in the 1970s. And people who can afford cars, for the most part, will choose cars over motorbikes.

rock22

knucklehead6 wrote: »

Well you’re wrong.

I bought my first bike during the summer. Once I pass my test I’ll be able to drive any bike I want to buy.

I did my theory test one week, got my licence a week later.
Then I did my IBT, 18 hours mandatory training.
I’ll be applying for my driving test early in the new year.


There IS an age limitation when you are young but I think once you are over 25 (a dim and distant memory for me) you can go for whatever bike you want

You don't have a licence. What tou have is a learning permit

knucklehead6

rock22 wrote: »

You don't have a licence. What tou have is a learning permit

And I use it every day when driving

But thanks for pointing out the thread pedant.

LLewellen Farquarson

The OP did pose a good question. I'd say the answers are right, the market is too small to justify the expense of putting on ads for them.

A portion of purchasers of new bikes would be young people buying scooters/mopeds. They don't watch terrestrial TV (I assume, I'm an old fart).

And in places where the market is big enough to warrant it, e.g. France, Spain, and Italy, there are TV ads for motorbikes.

Also, there are many other things that don't advertise on TV, and would have a large enough market. I was thinking of horses, dogs or cows, but there isn't a comparable large manufacturer of same, like there would be Kawasaki, Yamaha etc. How's about chainsaws, or computers? You don't see Dell or HP advertising PCs. Sure, you see them advertising phones or tablets (where the mark-up is I assume bigger), but not desktops. Is that a comparable analogy? Or maybe photocopiers?

ShatterAlan

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence. I currently don't personally know a single person who owns one.

I'd love to get one but the hassle around obtaining a licence puts me off, pretty much a 5 year commitment.

I lived in the US for 7 years and never saw an ad for one there either. My mate had a Kawasaki Ninja 750 and he used to go blasting along the coast roads of Long Island with herds of other bike nutters. We were 24 at the time and I asked him how these guys could afford these gleaming rockets...CBR's, GSXR 1100's, etc and he just shrugged and said "low monthly payments, dude."

Half of them are probably still paying and the other half are either in the grave or a wheelchair.

MetzgerMeister

Slightly off-topic but the first time I ever saw an ad on TV for a supercar was around 2008 and it was for the Audi R8.

The Tetrarch

The reasons you do not see advertisements on TV for motorcycles are:

• an advertisement could not describe the motorcycle specification in a minute
• motorcycles have a great deal of variety: off-road; commuter; sports; touring
• visuals are less important to motorcyclists
• the market is smaller: TV ad cost would be too great

Thelonious Monk

I really don't know why they're not promoted more by the Gov instead of this electric vehicle nonsense. They don't cause congestion, use barely any fuel, and get you wherever you want to go in no time. I was insured on one before but for me I didn't really need it as I can get to work by bicycle but they are great machines.

MetzgerMeister

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I really don't know why they're not promoted more by the Gov instead of this electric vehicle nonsense. They don't cause congestion, use barely any fuel, and get you wherever you want to go in no time. I was insured on one before but for me I didn't really need it as I can get to work by bicycle but they are great machines.

Given that Ireland is quite the nanny state I'd say it's a matter of safety as to why they don't push them.

You're correct with all your points though.

Did you smash it

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I really don't know why they're not promoted more by the Gov instead of this electric vehicle nonsense. They don't cause congestion, use barely any fuel, and get you wherever you want to go in no time. I was insured on one before but for me I didn't really need it as I can get to work by bicycle but they are great machines.

Why do you think EVs are nonsense?

Trigger Happy

I am shopping for an upgraded bike at the moment and my Google ads are nothing but bikes.
Insurance is not that bad. Same as cars, its expensive at the start.
Tax is dirt cheap.
Parking is zero.
MPG is massive.
You can skip to the top of most traffic jams.
Whats not to like.?

MetzgerMeister

Trigger Happy wrote: »

I am shopping for an upgraded bike at the moment and my Google ads are nothing but bikes.
Insurance is not that bad. Same as cars, its expensive at the start.
Tax is dirt cheap.
Parking is zero.
MPG is massive.
You can skip to the top of most traffic jams.
Whats not to like.?

Is it legal to do this?

ElJeffe

Did you smash it wrote: »

As per the title why don’t Kawasaki or Yamaha etc ever advertise?

2% of the market I believe so yeah tiny. Insurance isn't actually that bad here compared to cars tbh. I've two 1000cc bikes and I pay 290 fully comp for the year. If your starting out though its a nightmare.

Trigger Happy

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Is it legal to do this?

Never been stopped and have done it with squad cars in the line.

ElJeffe

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Is it legal to do this?

Not legal but I always do it. Been stopped once in over 30 years because of it and just told to be careful.

Thelonious Monk

Did you smash it wrote: »

Why do you think EVs are nonsense?

I think building societies around private car use leads to sprawl and congestion and all kinds of problems. Whether they run on petrol or not makes no difference really, apart from air quality.

No need to pay for expensive ads either when YouTube is full of bike channels who will gladly advertise your bike with glowing reviews if you give them a demo bike.

elperello

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

Slightly off-topic but the first time I ever saw an ad on TV for a supercar was around 2008 and it was for the Audi R8.

Porsche are currently running ads on Sky News.

They are nicely produced and almost look like part of the programming.

Based on motorsport they are more brand reinforcement than actually trying to sell a specific model.

H3llR4iser

I've never seen a TV ad for a proper motorbike in any country I've ever lived nor visited, it's just that it is a specific market mostly made up of enthusiasts, which will not be swayed by a "lifestyle" ad.

Cars are, in most places and Ireland specifically, a necessity that almost anyone will need to deal with at some point. A TV advert for Ford or Volkswagen will ALWAYS find a target, regardless of the media - there's always going to be a good chunk of the public watching that are in the process of or thinking about getting or replacing a car.

This is further compounded by the fact countries with a more extensive "two-wheels" culture, like Italy or France, also don't have motorbikes TV ads - but there are plenty of ads for mopeds/scooters, even the big "cruiser" ones. The reason is simple - scooters are considered as proper transportation means in these places for a variety of reasons: first, the streets in cities like Rome, Naples or Florence were designed for pedestrians and horses, not cars; the traffic gets absolutely insane during work days and even worse at the week end; The city centres have basically no parking whatsoever (even underground/silo car parks are rare) and finally, people can drive a 50cc scooter at 14 years old.

As a matter of fact, when I was in secondary school I was one of the rare people who didn't have nor ever drove a scooter; And the ads usually reflected these targets - 50cc scooters were portrayed as a "cool choice", showing some fashionable girl on them or some "cool fella", while bigger scooters usually featured "John Business Suit" placing a briefcase in the saddle compartment and so on.

In comparison, a 1100cc Kawasaki or a Harley Davidson are sold to a specific public who already know about them and know what they want. You won't change a biker's mind into going for a roadster if they want a sportsbike and, even in the same category, you can rest assured they'll do all of the research they need.

Pinoy adventure

Are arse less chaps a requirement for riding in this country ?
Ducati sum times have adds as well as the Gixxer crowd

D3V!L

ElJeffe wrote: »

Not legal but I always do it. Been stopped once in over 30 years because of it and just told to be careful.

Yes it is legal. Where did you get it wasn't from ?

Providing you don't over take on a solid white line making progression is completely legal. On top of that it's safer because car drivers can see you.

Did you smash it

I’m thinking of learning to ride and buying a Yamaha Mt-07 and I have a few questions.

I will mainly use it for a short commute and trips around a city.

Maybe I’ll use it for longer trips aswell as I don’t own a car but not that frequently.

- does the lack of storage on a bike get frustrating, for picking up groceries etc.
- how unusable is a bike in the winter? A Polish winter which is more severe than an Irish winter.
- do beginners “drop” their bike once or twice or more usually.
- how often do you get a scare while riding a motorbike?
- do you need to go to mechanic much or is there less maintenance than there is to a car? Is it just checking tire pressure and oil levels?

whisky_galore

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I really don't know why they're not promoted more by the Gov instead of this electric vehicle nonsense. They don't cause congestion, use barely any fuel, and get you wherever you want to go in no time. I was insured on one before but for me I didn't really need it as I can get to work by bicycle but they are great machines.

An Asian city full of chicken chasers is tough going if you have breathing issues. Motorbikes are far worse than cars for air pollution.

tdf7187

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence. I currently don't personally know a single person who owns one.

I'd love to get one but the hassle around obtaining a licence puts me off, pretty much a 5 year commitment.

My initial instinct on reading your post was to suspect you are talking rubbish, but upon a quick Google search - you are right. Motorcycle sales as a % of car sales are miniscule in this country in recent years, and it can only be that it's for the reasons you've outlined, as I'm sure many people would happily choose to bike it rather than be stuck in traffic.

Strange little country, Ireland.

frozenfrozen

Did you smash it wrote: »

I’m thinking of learning to ride and buying a Yamaha Mt-07 and I have a few questions.

I will mainly use it for a short commute and trips around a city.

Maybe I’ll use it for longer trips aswell as I don’t own a car but not that frequently.

- does the lack of storage on a bike get frustrating, for picking up groceries etc.
- how unusable is a bike in the winter? A Polish winter which is more severe than an Irish winter.
- do beginners “drop” their bike once or twice or more usually.
- how often do you get a scare while riding a motorbike?
- do you need to go to mechanic much or is there less maintenance than there is to a car? Is it just checking tire pressure and oil levels?

• - does the lack of storage on a bike get frustrating, for picking up groceries etc. -- get kriega bags
• - how unusable is a bike in the winter? A Polish winter which is more severe than an Irish winter. -- dont rely on it as your only transport and leave it at home whenever you think it's not safe
• - do beginners “drop” their bike once or twice or more usually. -- no except for the ones that do
• - how often do you get a scare while riding a motorbike? -- daily
• - do you need to go to mechanic much or is there less maintenance than there is to a car? Is it just checking tire pressure and oil levels? -- almost completely DIY except for stuff like changing tyres. Essentially nothing you can't do at home especially if you get something like an ABBA stand

tdf7187

Thelonious Monk wrote: »

I really don't know why they're not promoted more by the Gov instead of this electric vehicle nonsense. They don't cause congestion, use barely any fuel, and get you wherever you want to go in no time. I was insured on one before but for me I didn't really need it as I can get to work by bicycle but they are great machines.

Because government in this country for decades has essentially been run - regardless of whatever political party is currently occupying the roost, that is largely irrelevant - by a collection of effete politically correct champagne socialists. Imagine the backlash from the likes of the Irish Times (oh won't somebody please think of the childers!) if a government minister had the audacity to promote motorbikes.

listermint

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Sales are tiny, insurance is insane in this country as is the training to actually get a licence. I currently don't personally know a single person who owns one.

I'd love to get one but the hassle around obtaining a licence puts me off, pretty much a 5 year commitment.

Bike insurance in Ireland is the opposite to insane it's actually really good. I started biking and it was 660 per year it's now 280 .

Name a car driver that can do that. My van is twice the price.

Anyone that wants to get into biking it's very accessible. I started 6 years ago.

Some level of waffleology in your post.

weldoninhio

knucklehead6 wrote: »

Well you’re wrong.

I bought my first bike during the summer. Once I pass my test I’ll be able to drive any bike I want to buy.

I did my theory test one week, got my licence a week later.
Then I did my IBT, 18 hours mandatory training.
I’ll be applying for my driving test early in the new year.


There IS an age limitation when you are young but I think once you are over 25 (a dim and distant memory for me) you can go for whatever bike you want

What are the insurance costs like? I’d be in the same boat as you, am looking at getting started in the new year. Work is close enough to ride to in 15/20 mins so a bike makes sense to me. I’m pushing 40, so 25 is long in the past for me too.

frozenfrozen

weldoninhio wrote: »

What are the insurance costs like? I’d be in the same boat as you, am looking at getting started in the new year. Work is close enough to ride to in 15/20 mins so a bike makes sense to me. I’m pushing 40, so 25 is long in the past for me too.

cheap, not worth worrying about

rock22

knucklehead6 wrote: »

And I use it every day when driving

But thanks for pointing out the thread pedant.

Don't really want to get into a discussion about this as it is irrelevent to the op but i am not being a pedant. You called out Atlantic Dawn as being wrong when he suggesting that it could take up to 5 years to get a full licence. here is what you said


"Well you’re wrong.

I bought my first bike during the summer. Once I pass my test I’ll be able to drive any bike I want to buy.

I did my theory test one week, got my licence a week later."

I was simply pointing out that the original post was about getting a licence not getting a learner permit . You were the one calling that information "wrong" when it is in fact correct for many people.

listermint

rock22 wrote: »

Don't really want to get into a discussion about this as it is irrelevent to the op but i am not being a pedant. You called out Atlantic Dawn as being wrong when he suggesting that it could take up to 5 years to get a full licence. here is what you said


"Well you’re wrong.

I bought my first bike during the summer. Once I pass my test I’ll be able to drive any bike I want to buy.

I did my theory test one week, got my licence a week later."

I was simply pointing out that the original post was about getting a licence not getting a learner permit . You were the one calling that information "wrong" when it is in fact correct for many people.

Hyperbolic would be more accurate.

frozenfrozen

just to put everyone straight you can go through direct access to the A license after 24 years of age

or you can use Progressive Access to upgrade an A2 license to an A license by holding a full A2 license for 2 years and completing further training

I got my A2 at 21 and my A at 23 through direct access

if you get the A2 at 18 you can have an A at 20

ElJeffe

D3V!L wrote: »

Yes it is legal. Where did you get it wasn't from ?

Providing you don't over take on a solid white line making progression is completely legal. On top of that it's safer because car drivers can see you.

Show me the law where it is officially legal to use a motorbike in a bus lane.

frozenfrozen

ElJeffe wrote: »

Show me the law where it is officially legal to use a motorbike in a bus lane.

Show me where in the thread someone mentioned bus lane.

knucklehead6

weldoninhio wrote: »

What are the insurance costs like? I’d be in the same boat as you, am looking at getting started in the new year. Work is close enough to ride to in 15/20 mins so a bike makes sense to me. I’m pushing 40, so 25 is long in the past for me too.

€300 on a 700cc 2007 bike. I'm slightly older than you, but not enough to make it much of a difference

Road tax/Motor Tax /whatever variant Rock22 wants to call it is €88

All told, between buying the bike, paying for the training, getting all the gear etc, insurance, tax and so on it cost me less than 4k to be on the road

Fair enough, there were a few frosty days earlier on this month where i took the car rather than the bike, and yes, every day is a school day in terms of little things to learn.

I'm probably not saving much time on the commute at the moment due to lack of traffic, but it is enjoyable.

Dial Hard

ElJeffe wrote: »

Show me the law where it is officially legal to use a motorbike in a bus lane.

Most bikers overtake on the outside, in my experience. Not sure where you got the bus lane thing from.

listermint

Dial Hard wrote: »

Most bikers overtake on the outside, in my experience. Not sure where you got the bus lane thing from.

He assumed just because he lashes up the bus lane. All other bikers do that. Rather than the accepted practice of lane filtering safely.


He's the only one mentioned bus lanes..

Gregor Samsa

It's pretty clear from this thread that the main reason that bikes aren't advertised on TV is because people prefer to talk about insurance and licence requirements and the legalities of filtering than motorbike adverts on a thread about motorbike advertising.

Here's a couple of old ads:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F4dQ0RchtJw

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a6Jpcy2GZ1Q