Bikernereid
14th August 2008, 05:10
Soaring fuel and tax costs spark 22% jump in motorbike sales as motorists swap four wheels for two
As the price of fuel soars, we're getting on our bikes - motorbikes, that is.
Sales are accelerating as the eye-wateringly high cost of petrol and diesel makes owning a car prohibitive for many.
And forget the Hell's Angels stereotype - because it's well-heeled commuters who are feeling the call of the open road, according to industry sources.
Many are becoming 'born-again bikers' in their 40s and 50s.
Motorcycle sales soared 22 per cent last month to 14,306, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association. Total sales of powered wheelers - including mopeds and scooters - have risen one per cent for the first seven months of this year compared with the same period in 2007.
This compares with a three per cent dip in new car sales in the first seven months of this year and a 13 per cent dip in car sales last month compared with July 2007.
The association's Craig Carey-Clinch said: 'Against the backdrop of the credit crunch, inflation and economic uncertainty, this has been an up and down year for the market. 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.'
The biggest-selling bikes in July were two Yamaha 125cc models - the YZF R125 and the YBR 125 - reflecting an increasing demand for smaller-engined machines.
The average cost of petrol across the UK is 114.07p a litre, and diesel 126.33p.
As the price of fuel soars, we're getting on our bikes - motorbikes, that is.
Sales are accelerating as the eye-wateringly high cost of petrol and diesel makes owning a car prohibitive for many.
And forget the Hell's Angels stereotype - because it's well-heeled commuters who are feeling the call of the open road, according to industry sources.
Many are becoming 'born-again bikers' in their 40s and 50s.
Motorcycle sales soared 22 per cent last month to 14,306, according to the Motor Cycle Industry Association. Total sales of powered wheelers - including mopeds and scooters - have risen one per cent for the first seven months of this year compared with the same period in 2007.
This compares with a three per cent dip in new car sales in the first seven months of this year and a 13 per cent dip in car sales last month compared with July 2007.
The association's Craig Carey-Clinch said: 'Against the backdrop of the credit crunch, inflation and economic uncertainty, this has been an up and down year for the market. 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.'
The biggest-selling bikes in July were two Yamaha 125cc models - the YZF R125 and the YBR 125 - reflecting an increasing demand for smaller-engined machines.
The average cost of petrol across the UK is 114.07p a litre, and diesel 126.33p.