MOTORCYCLE sales for the first six months of the year have been broadly flat, while car sales have shown their fastest rise in two years.
In the first six months of this year, 44,938 motorcycles were sold, a rise of just 1.2% on the same period in 2011. However sales of cars are up 3.5% for the year to date, with 9.6% rise in the last month alone.
The motorcycle capacity sector showing growth is the 51cc-125cc category with 18,428 unit sold, up 13.7% on last year. The only category types to show growth are Adventure Sport and Scooter (over 125cc). The Adventure Sport category is 32.6% up on last year, with 7,887 units sold, compared to 5,950 for the same period last year.
However, despite good sales of Adventure Sport and Maxi Scooters, every other sector is down, with Touring showing the biggest decrease; a 22.7% drop compared to last year.
Cheap finance is said to be the driving factor for the increased car sales, with cars like the Ford Fiesta and Vauxhall Corsa in the super-mini sector an impressive 93% up on 2011.
