The infectious bug passed from friend to friend, a fever striking many men when they reached middle age.
No, this is not the West Nile virus, but the contagious desire of middle-age men to buy motorcycles.
“Anyone that has ever owned a motorcycle knows what the fever is,” said Joe Reves, who is 51 and bought his Harley-Davidson Fat Boy motorcycle a month ago. “There is just something about riding on your own and being free.”
More and more middle-age men are buying Harley-Davidson motorcycles for freedom and fun.
The median age of Harley motorcycle riders for 2001 was 45.6, while in 1997 the median age was 44.6, according to Harley-Davidson customer demographics.
“When the wind hits your face in the wide-open, you feel the power and freedom underneath you,” said Paul Maynard, who is 49 and rides to relieve his stress after a hard day of work.
The national trend is also impacting Memphis.
“We’ve definitely seen an increase in 40-50 year-old men buying motorcycles in our store,” said Robyn Forstie, who has worked in the finance department at the Bumpus Harley-Davidson store in Memphis for two and a half years.
In one Collierville neighborhood alone, Fox Run, at least three men over the age of 45 have brought motorcycles within the past year.
Reasons for this increasing trend vary from rider to rider.
“I guess we’re living our second childhood,” Maynard said, who bought his Harley-Davidson Softail Deuce in August. “Maybe it is because we have gotten through our days of being responsible and raising children.”
Reves had been thinking about buying a motorcycle for the past four years. After suffering a mini-stroke crisis.
“Most people say it is a middle-age crisis, but I have never grown up,” Reves said.
Many men also owned motorcycles when they were younger.
In 2001, 41 percent of Harley-Davidson motorcycle owners had previously owned a Harley, according to Harley Davidson customer demographics.
“I owned my first bike in 11th grade,” said Maynard, who owned three bikes between that time and age 25. “After having two wrecks, buying a car and having children, I decided to sell my motorcycle.”
Reves also owned a motorcycle when he was 25, but had to sell his bike as well.
“We needed money for den furniture for our townhouse,” Reves said. “We were just kids - young, crazy and ignorant.”
For others, buying a Harley is a new experience that they have waited for all their lives.
About 28 percent of Harley owners are new to motorcycling or have not owned a motorcycle in the past five years, according to Harley-Davidson demographics.
“Many of our customers say ‘I should have done this 20 years ago,’” Forstie said. “Many are married, and their kids are now out of the house.”
Money is another reason many motorcycle enthusiasts must wait to buy a motorcycle until they are older, when they can better afford one.
“Most people always dream of owning a motorcycle and want to see what it is like,” Reves said. “Later in life, many people have more money to buy a bike.”
The median income for Harley owners in 2001 was about $78,000 a year, according to Harley-Davidson demographics.
Many wives support their husbands’ purchases.
“My wife was all for it,” Reves said. “She told me if that’s what I want, I should go ahead and do it.”
While Maynard’s wife said motorcycle riding is dangerous, she too encourages her husband to do what he wants.
“My wife said if it makes me happy, I should get one,” Maynard said. “Although, she is concerned.”
Some wives are even joining their husbands on motorcycles.
“We also have seen an increase in couples buying motorcycles,” Forstie said. “Husbands and wives are riding together now more than ever.”
