In the first quarter of 2011, most major brands reported a rise in motorcycle sales. The Motorcycle Industry Council reports that major brands saw a rise of 7.2% in motorcycle sales during the first quarter of 2011, compared to the same time period last year.
The Motorcycle Industry Council’s Retail Sales Report, tracks the sales of the 18 leading brands in the US.
Scooters saw the biggest boost in sales, growing by nearly 50%. Dual-sport bikes, which are typically considered to be highly fuel efficient, grew 25%.
"Nothing compares to a motorcycle for combining fun with saving money," said Tim Buche, MIC president and chief executive officer. "There's no more enjoyable way to get to work and get around, and rising fuel prices have given our customers yet another great reason to ride."
The MIC also points out that motorcycle tire sales were up, indicating that a lot of people are out riding their bikes.
"Tire sales add to new-bike sales figures as a measure of motorcycle interest since there are still a lot of great used bikes putting on the miles, and older bikes that owners are reviving and enjoying once again," Buche said. "We see Americans leaving their cars at home more, enjoying the convenience and exhilaration of motorcycling, and getting into a different way of being green."
The MIC also says that the amount of miles ridden by motorcyclists has also increased in recent years. The MIC estimates that the amount of miles traveled in 2009 was 27.6 billion miles, a 5% increase over 2008.
