Every industry has its own trends. Some you can’t afford to follow, and others you can’t afford to miss. And of course, it’s often very hard to determine which is which.

 

Motorcycle riders are used to thinking fast and making split-second decisions. Fortunately, deciding which trends to follow doesn’t require the same kind of quick response. In fact, many of the trends below have been ramping up for a while.

 

E-Bikes

 

Electric motorcycles have been around a lot longer than most people realize. Early pioneer Zero began producing electric motorcycles about 15 years ago, giving them a head start over the competition that’s now arriving in the marketplace.

 

While it may have been easy to dismiss Zero and e-bikes as a fad 15 years ago, the rising popularity of electric vehicles has since made it clear that this is not a trend that will be going away anytime soon. And if that’s not enough, simply look at the fact that even the iconic Harley-Davidson now has its own entry (the LiveWire) into the growing e-bike market.

 

For now, e-bikes are still a growing trend, but as the technology evolves, look to them to become a real force in the motorcycle industry.

 

Retro Styling

 

Styling of any kind should always be considered a trend, because of how public tastes evolve over time. Yet, as trends go, the recent emergence of retro-styled motorcycles probably has more staying power than most.

 

The thing about retro-styling is that it doesn’t really go out of fashion. Retro styles tend to cherry-pick the best elements of bygone days to create a mishmash of looks that we recognize as coming from earlier eras.

 

But today’s retro movement even goes so far as to bring back elements like cafe racer builds, three-quarter helmets, and sidecars. This represents a deeper level of retro-styling that is likely to remain around indefinitely, even after the trend itself fades.

 

Stability

 

Enhanced stability is more of a technological development than a trend, but you’ll probably agree it’s a very good thing to see more and more manufacturers focused upon it. 

 

Teched-up anti-lock braking (ABS) and motorcycle stability control (MSC) systems are making this year’s crop of new bikes some of the safest ever made, hopefully raising the bar for future bike safety.

 

As a trend, we can only hope this focus on improved stability continues to drive more and more innovation for safety features, which will make it easier for new riders to get onboard and safer for experienced riders all around.

 

Liquid-Cooling

 

Another technological trend to watch for is both hot and cool at the same time. Liquid cooling has been a mainstay of automobile powertrains since forever, and now bike manufacturers are using liquid-cooling to increase fuel efficiency and reduce engine noise.

 

While some might see toning down engine noise as a drawback, we’re sure that everyone will welcome better mileage and a cooler bike, especially during these hot summer months.

 

This trend is likely to continue, and even accelerate as gas-powered motorcycle makers up their game to compete against e-bikes and hybrids coming into the market. So, even if you dislike the idea of electrics, you will still have to thank them for getting bike manufacturers to ratchet up their fuel efficiency offerings.

 

Conclusion

 

It helps to look ahead. Even if you’re not currently in the market for a new bike, awareness of these emerging and ongoing trends will give you a look road ahead, the same way looking at a map before heading out will help you to get wherever you need to go.

 

Ride safe, friends!