Photo: Honda
The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) reveals the preliminary statistics for bike sales in the UK in 2015, and the figures are better than expected. With 2015 being such a prolific year in the sales of small-displacement two-wheelers, the trade organization expects that 2016 will surpass the previous year.
The news is most welcome, and not for the UK only, as it indicates that the markets are making a strong progress and are recovering from the recent recession. Around 2009, the world economy collapsed, and the motorcycle industry took a serious hit, with the unit sales dropping to all-time low figures and even threatening some businesses.
After 2011, the MCIA reveals, the sales started to grow once more and the last two years saw strong increases. 2014 records indicated a 10 percent increase over the previous year, and 2015 sees at least 12% superior unit sales over 2014.
Even though the Motorcycle Industry Association is still expected to deliver the final statistics for 2015, the estimations show that more than 114,000 motorcycles of all capacities were sold in the UK.
“Motorcycle dealers have been reporting an increase in families swapping a second car for a motorcycle, to beat the misery of sitting in traffic during rush hour. Motorcycles and scooters can filter through slow moving traffic and are tremendous fun, with riders tending to rate their commute more enjoyable than other transport users,” a survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics reveals.
The same study shows that “for journeys up to 30 minutes there was no effect on levels of happiness or anxiety for those who rode a motorcycle, moped or scooters to work. In contrast - for journeys between 15 and 30 minutes - those who walk, cycle, drive a car or take the bus - all experience an adverse increase in some or all of the factors measured.”
Also, the best-selling motorcycle in the UK remains the Honda PCX-125, one of the old-time favorites in the country.
After 2011, the MCIA reveals, the sales started to grow once more and the last two years saw strong increases. 2014 records indicated a 10 percent increase over the previous year, and 2015 sees at least 12% superior unit sales over 2014.
Even though the Motorcycle Industry Association is still expected to deliver the final statistics for 2015, the estimations show that more than 114,000 motorcycles of all capacities were sold in the UK.
Almost half of the bikes sold in the UK are in the 101-125cc segment, riders are happier than the rest
From this total, at least 43,700 motorcycles and scooters sold have capacities between 101cc and 125cc. Most bikes and scooters used for commuting slot in this segment, and this caused MCIA to estimate that more and more people are swapping cars for small-displacement motorcycles for their daily commuting.“Motorcycle dealers have been reporting an increase in families swapping a second car for a motorcycle, to beat the misery of sitting in traffic during rush hour. Motorcycles and scooters can filter through slow moving traffic and are tremendous fun, with riders tending to rate their commute more enjoyable than other transport users,” a survey carried out by the Office for National Statistics reveals.
The same study shows that “for journeys up to 30 minutes there was no effect on levels of happiness or anxiety for those who rode a motorcycle, moped or scooters to work. In contrast - for journeys between 15 and 30 minutes - those who walk, cycle, drive a car or take the bus - all experience an adverse increase in some or all of the factors measured.”
Also, the best-selling motorcycle in the UK remains the Honda PCX-125, one of the old-time favorites in the country.
Google News