Regarding e-start topic, personally I dont need it right now but with a very worn out 52 year old right knee, the day will come to where I rely on a button to start the bike 100% of the time, so its nice to know I have the option. Its also very nice to have that magic button when Im crossed up on the side of a hill, and cant reach the kicker. If you have never been in that situation, then youre not riding very challenging trails.
Are we getting lazy? You bet! Look at ATV sales 5 years ago, verves now. Where did those customers go??? They now buy SXS and why? It?s an even easier machine to operate.
In a previous life, I remember sitting in a meeting when the news of an e-start 2 stroke dirt bike would be introduced in a few years. I was the first to laugh out loud and claim this would do nothing but raise the cost of bikes while doing nothing to increase sales. My opinion was anyone who couldnt kick start a 250/300 2 stroke, needed to find something else to do on Sunday. I was so wrong!!! Bike prices are going to increase regardless, and riders who had entered the sport with buying a e-start 4 stroke, only to find the maintenance costs too much for their wallets, ended up switching over to the 2 stroke with a button. Now, we see 2 manufacturers offering models without a kicker, and that trend will continue, like it or not.
The big picture is this. In an continually shrinking market, the manufacturer must #1. Keep their current customers buying off-road motorcycles (aging riders) #2. Lure in new customers with user friendly products. That being said, the sport now has more females riding off-road than ever before, and older rider are staying involved longer.
I just wish lower prices for bikes were on that list...