Synopsis
Fifty years after the American motorcycle market’s first “bike boom,” the sector finds itself at a concerning crossroads. The generations who helped shape what riding resembles today are preparing to pass this proud tradition along to the next cohort of younger participants. The problem, a storm of societal, economic and political headwinds, is that this new group isn’t seeking out seat time in the same style of time-honored tradition – if at all.
Of all the sales pitches to get more people back in the saddle, are entry-level electric motorcycles the solution that some segments of the sport have long been waiting for? Twilight of the Gods offers a defiant history lesson in three acts.
The known past: How and why were fledgling motorcyclists drawn to this emerging and exciting activity? Moreover, what factors spurred them to stick it out with – and spin wrenches around – such a demanding DIY discipline?
An uncertain present: What does the legacy of “vintage” motorcycling look like today, and what positive contributions does this hobby still offer? This section's tales from the track and trails are for those still pushing old bikes to the gate or grid.
One possible future: How can ever-evolving electric motorcycles learn from history without also erasing the past? If we can lean on electric as a problem-solving technology, there’s a chance to spark the second market surge.
Written half-way between 1970s sonic boom and 2070s aftershock, author Greg Adomaitis spent 2024 chasing championship points. As a former daily newspaper journalist and digital content writer for the power sports and automotive sectors, his own upbringing around a loud, fast and unforgiving sport laid the groundwork for higher hopes. Research regarding this non-fiction book’s proposals comes from synthesis of relevant print materials, personal interviews with industry stakeholders, and published freelance writings on the impacts of classic machinery in our current world.
Facing the unknown facts of two-wheel transportation's still-forming future, Twilight of the Gods waves a white flag. Not of surrender, but signaling one last lap to go in this race against time.