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Motorcycle Industry on Track for 12th Year of
Consecutive Growth
Nov. 18, 2004 - According to
Motorcycle Industry Council estimates, year-to-date
motorcycle sales are up 4.4 percent through October
2004, marking the 12th consecutive year of growth for
the United States motorcycle market.
Thanks to the continuing popularity of motorcycling,
24% more units have been sold in the last four years
than in the entire preceding decade (1990-1999).
“Our industry’s 12-year growth cycle is nothing short
of spectacular,” said MIC President Tim Buche.
“Motorcycling today is more mainstream than ever - and
the numbers prove it. The new MIC Owner Survey shows
that since 1998, there has been a 34 percent increase in
the number of motorcycles in use in the United States.
Motorcycles are everywhere - in advertising, editorial
layouts, movies, television - they’re an iconic
representation of freedom and individualism in our
American culture.”
In 2003, strong demand generated new unit motorcycle
sales of more than 996,000 units, up from 936,000 in
2002. If the current growth rate continues, MIC
estimates that new unit sales for motorcycles could top
1 million units by year-end 2004.
Canadian motorcycle sales are up also.
Mixed Signals on U.K. Motorcycle
Registrations
Jan. 30, 2005 - Motorcycle and scooter
registrations in the U.K. were reported up 17% in the
last two months of 2004 according to the U.K. based
Motorcycle Industry Council, but down overall by
approximately 14% for the year when compared to 2003.
A total of
133,938 motorcycles and scooters were registered
in 2004, down from a peak of 170,000 in 2000.
Since 2000, scooters represent 25% of the two-wheeled
market. In 2004, scooters represented 34% of new
registrations and sportbikes 28%. The most popular
motorcycles in 2004 were the Yamaha YZF-R1 at
2,713 and the Suzuki SV650S at 1,751 registrations.
U.S. Sales: The Motorcycle
Industry Council estimates that 2004 sales of
motorcycles and scooters in the U.S.A were 1,050,000
units, up for the 12th straight year and about twice the
number sold in 1999. The number of women
motorcycle riders is on the increase; women now make up
10% of the market. Top brands in 2003 (latest
numbers available) are Honda at 27.4%; Harley-Davidson
at 23.7%; Yamaha with 17.4%; Suzuki with 10.8%; and
Kawasaki with 8.7%. (More below).
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