American Motorcycle Dealer AMD 229 August 2018 | Page 57

g Economy – ‘Riders Share’
‘user-generated repository’
platforms, and possibly the largest modern asset to
motorcyclists, is the evolution of content on YouTube.
Prior to YouTube, a big problem in the motorcycle
world was that gearheads were extremely generous
with their knowledge, but didn’t have a good place to
share information long-term. Much of that
information has been posted on forums, which are
great communities to discuss ideas, but aren’t built for
storing information as valuable threads are often lost
among other posts.
YouTube laid the foundation for a deep user-generated
repository of videos to preserve all that knowledge in
an organized, easy-to-access format. Today, millions
of detailed videos are accessible on-demand, and free
of charge. Thousands of enthusiasts and shops have
taken it into their own hands to post make and model-
specific videos on diagnosing problems, motorcycle
and gear reviews, and how to perform step-by-step
maintenance.
We are in a golden age for motorcycling. Pressured by
time, space and cost, modern riders demand flexibility
and a value-added experience as they advance the
sport. The sharing economy is paving the way by
creating frictionless solutions for how motorcyclists
engage with their bikes, service providers, and other
members of the community. Riders have never