Bike boom

Statistics suggest as many new riders are getting onto two wheels as former riders are returning.

Last year was a record sales year and in the first quarter of '06, the sales rate has increased a further 20 per cent.

But unlike past years, the road bike segment is booming and is more than matching strong results from the off roader and ATV segments.

Roads bike sales increased 28.6 per cent in the first quarter of '06 compared with last year.

It is driven (ridden) by middle aged riders returning to motorcycling after family commitments have eased.

These are the riders exposed to a motorcycle boom in the late 1960s with the appearance of Japanese machines, in particular, the Honda CB750 "Four" and to a lesser extent, British machines from BSA, Triumph and Norton.

It was the catalyst that fired a generation of motorcyclists through the 1970s and into the early '80s.

But as they married, had children and acquired mortgages, motorcycles went off the agenda.

The new riders are predominantly on scooters as these machines enjoy a period of popularity.

It's "cool" to have a scooter.

Scooter sales have jumped by 47.3 percent year-to-date, building on sales growth of 30 percent during 2005.

The scooter scene is starting to build real momentum as the appeal of simple, easy-to- park, low cost transport becomes more widely known.

Scooter dealerships seem to be popping up all over town with an increasing number of models from Italy, Japan and Korea.

As ever more scooters reach the roads it creates a momentum that has led to more sales.

The "cruiser" category (heavyweight large capacity machines capable of comfortably covering long distances) also contributed significantly to the overall growth of the road bike segment.

These are purchased by lifestyle buyers similar in some ways to the "Grey Nomads" who sell up and buy a motor home to wander the country.

The market trend is interesting because it shows people are not only buying motorcycles primarily as transport, but using them for recreation.

They have the time and the money to do so.

Road bike sales have now passed dirt bikes as the largest segment of motorcycle sales for the first time in years.

And people powered two wheelers have also enjoyed a boom period with new push bike sales outpacing new car sales last year.

Push bike sales have continued apace in '06 with all indications of another record year in the making.