Motorcycle sales hold up well

A drop in registrations of only 1 per cent last month signals that sales of motorcycles, mopeds and scooters are holding up well, despite the credit crunch and general economic gloom.

According to figures from the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA), a total of 14,897 powered two wheelers (PTWs) were registered in June – only 154 behind the same month last year. In the first six months of the year, 73,245 PTWs were registered, a drop in the market of just 2.2 per cent.

This compares favourably to the UK car market which saw a fall of over 6 per cent last month, with a year to date decline of 1.56 per cent.

Moped sales continued their upward trend, but the most significant sector gain was in adventure sport bikes with the BMW R1200 GS again the best seller in the category. These bikes are ideal for commuting and everyday transport as well as for leisure activities. Naked and touring bikes are also increasingly popular this year, suggesting a trend towards practical, multi-use bikes.

“Given that everyone is feeling the financial pinch, and the fact that summer weather has been poor, these figures are encouraging and slightly better than the industry expected,” said Craig Carey-Clinch. “The upward trend of multi-use bikes and smaller-engined machines could well indicate that people are thinking about alternatives to cars and public transport, especially for the daily commute.”

The top selling bike in June was again the Yamaha YZF R125. The best-selling make was Honda, followed by Yamaha and Suzuki.

The industry’s campaign, Now’s the Time, draws attention to changes in bike test legislation and highlights the advantages of motorcycling. The changes take effect in October and the MCIA provides helpful guidance at takeyourtestnow.com. National Motorcycle Week from July 14 – 20 this month, with Ride to Work Day on July 16 will be focal points for the campaign.