Bike boom is back!

New bike sales for August were up by 7.6% compared to the same month last year. It’s the second month on the trot to see a rise and comes on top of Department for Transport figures showing bike traffic up by 10.4% last year combined with a rise in the number of bikes in use.

Brilliant new bikes, great deals and affordable finance are thought to be driving the increase – along with an increasing number of motorists keen to beat traffic queues and London’s congestion charge.

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A Motor Cycle Industry Assocation spokesman, said: “Sports bikes still account for around a quarter of all new registrations, but more traditionally-styled machines such as Custom and Naked machines have become almost as popular, while specialist bikes with dual Tarmac/off-road uses continue to grow.

“These registration figures show that despite gloomy consumer sales motorcycle sales are forging ahead as people continue to vote with their wheels by switching from four to two to avoid traffic congestion.”

The news of a return to form for UK bike sales follows hard on the heels of record rises in the US – with American dealers reporting sales up by as much as 50 per cent on last year.

The MCIA says 40.3% of all UK sales are now accounted for by scooters.

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