Bike sales rise again
Added on Monday, August 11th, 2008 by Carole Nash Editor | No Comments
Yamaha YZF-125: Top seller this month.
Motorcycle sales continued to defy the credit crunch in July with a 22% increase in new registrations.
Whilst car dealers continue to report a sales slow-down, with 13% drop on four-wheeled new registrations last month, the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) reported yet another rise in the number of new motorcycles and scooters taking to Britain’s roads.
Registration of powered two wheelers (PTWs) in July were 14,306 - 2,578 more than in the same month last year, leaving the year-to-date sales standing at 1% above last year in comparison to a 3% downturn in the car market.
In keeping with recent trends, sales of low-powered bikes and scooters saw the biggest rise, providing further indication that many new riders are ditching their cars in return for a cheaper and more favourable commute.
Scooter and moped sales increased by almost 27 per cent and 34.5 per cent respectively in July while naked motorcycles continued to perform strongly with a 46.5 per cent increase. Registrations of bikes of up to 50cc increased by over 35 per cent and engines from 51cc to 125cc increased by almost 31 per cent
The biggest selling bikes in July were two Yamaha 125cc models - the YZF R125 (338 units) and the YBR 125 (277 units).
“Against the backdrop of the credit crunch, inflation and economic uncertainty, this has been an up and down year for the market,” said the MCI’s Craig Carey-Clinch. “But there are signs that people are switching to two wheels in order to make daily travel and commuting easier and cheaper.
“Dealers report very high interest from new customers in practical commuter-type bikes, and test centres are booked solid with people wanting to take bike tests ahead of the test changes due to take effect in October.
“The July figures are good and the industry is cautiously optimistic that people are looking seriously at two-wheeled alternatives to cars and public transport.”
Carey-Clinch added: “Time wasted in congestion, expensive and uncomfortable public transport, high parking and congestion charges and the massive costs of car ownership coupled to rising costs of living make a moped, scooter or motorcycle increasingly attractive.
“A PTW is a real and viable alternative that can cut journey times, is easier to park, low cost to run and helps cut CO2 emissions. There’s probably never been a stronger reason to switch to two wheels.”
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