not sure how recent this is but came across it
UK Statistics On Bikes And Motorcycle Licence Holders
There are over 1 million of us in the UK
There are about 1 million UK licenced (taxed) motorcycles on the road each year. This implies 1.3 million active riders (given DVLA's assumption of 15-25% road fund licence evasion). But some of us have more than one bike taxed, which makes it a bit less.
So its somewhere around 1.1 - 1.2 million active riders in the UK.
(There are 5 million full motorcycle licence holders, so 4/5ths are inactive.)
(There are 525,000 female full motorcycle licence holders.)
Each year, there are about 139,000 new motorcycle registrations. So more than 1 in 10 of us bought a new bike.
450,000 motorcycles changed hands on the second hand market. About half of us bought or sold a bike last year.
(7,500 sidecars are in use in the UK. Less than 1%.)
We are 2.6% of the road population
If there are 1 million UK licenced (taxed) motorcycles on the road each year. And there are 38 million vehicles on the road
We are 1/38th of the road population - 2.6%
Figures supplied by Craig Carey-Clinch at MCIA.
Thieving scumbags and Accidents
In an average 24 hours
1369 vehicles are added to the Police register of 693415 stolen vehicles.
- 36 bikes a day.
2221 vehicles are written off and listed on the ABI Register (Category A, B, C, D insurance write-offs).
- 70 bikes a day.
PS In the City
There are 100,000 motorcycles registered in London. And a 1 in 20 chance of getting your bike nicked (higher if its a scooter).
PS In the USA
There are 6 million motorcycles in the United States. Of 245 million registered passenger vehicles, that's 2.4%. Interestingly the same percentage as the UK.
Figures MAG(UK)
I cant seem to remember.. I don't know where I'm going, but I'm on my way.
Glass' Guide published their view of the UK market yesterday.
Stock pressure on new and used
Many newly released machines are reported to have been eagerly collected by their retail buyers just as soon as they have been un-crated and prepared. Such has been the early season demand for most new models that we have already heard of several which are sold out until further batches arrive, in some cases not due until appreciably later in the year. This is a particular disappointment for some dealers who have been marking time seemingly for ages waiting for a refreshed model range to appear and now that they have something the customers actually want to buy they have found modest initial supply has quickly turned to a back-order situation.
At least in those instances dealers have been reporting good profit retention, with “no discount/full list price/do you want one?†being the order of the day. However, feedback still indicates that when previously existing models are readily available off the showroom floor, either carry-over 2013 or colour-change only 2014 versions, then the trading situation is just as tight as ever, with margins frequently cut right to the bone.
At least new machines come at a relatively fixed price, ignoring the distorting effect of volume bonuses, and most can be ordered at the press of a button these days. This is certainly not the case in the used market, where a marked shortage of showroom ready machines is having a significant impact on the prices retailers having to pay.
Used Sales
Much improved weather in March, following the storms seen earlier this year and in marked contrast with the really severe cold of March 2013, boosted consumer demand for all types and sizes of motorcycles and this trend continued even more strongly through April.
With customers and franchised dealers focussing on transactions for machines destined for a 1414 plate, feedback to Glass’s most recent trade survey indicated that demand for new exceeded that for used. However, retail sales of second-hand machines remained solid and anecdotal reports during April spoke of consistent and rising sales volumes.
The inflow of part-exchanges against new has satisfied some dealers’ requirements for additional used stocks and there is evidence of greater volumes now being traded on or being put to auction, particularly duplicated units and where particular examples are less tidy than others. However, that is not universally the case and even some dealers representing dynamic and successful franchises have been seen hard at work to secure additional used stocks with which to satisfy the peak of retail demand over the coming couple of months. This was confirmed in responses to Glass’s survey which showed 25% of respondents with used stocks too high, 25% with stocks about right but 50% reporting used stocks as too low.
A good and varied selection in the showroom is key, since the retailer never knows what the next prospective customer will be looking for, and this translates directly to trade requirements where anything presentable is worth considering. A measure of the shortage of clean and tidy machines has recently been illustrated by the relative success of run-of-the-mill roadsters, such as Honda CB, CBF 600 and 1000, Suzuki GSF, GSX and SV 650, 1000 and 1250. These are not always the most sought after machines, with supply frequently exceeding retailers’ demand, so reports of traders bidding on or even into book and still being able to make a margin when selling on are worthy of note. On the other hand, new models with modern riding dynamics such as the MT07 with its list price of £5,199/£5,599 ABS will, when freely available, place a firm limit on what can be achieved for a late plate used machine.
It is still the shortage of supersports machines that gets mentioned most frequently, and here auction bids and prices in the trade have been very strong lately. However, retail transaction prices have either not risen as quickly nor as far as trade buy-in prices, or in some showrooms have not risen at all, which perversely is putting even greater pressure on retailers’ margins at a time when those should be approaching their maximum.
With stock short, the few auction houses handling motorcycle sales usually attract strong trade interest. This has been rewarded recently with an increase in the number of lots entered.
One of the main and most obvious factors affecting the price achieved at auction is machine preparation, just as is the case in the typical retail environment. A well-presented example looking younger than its years can easily command strong interest, just like at the local disco on Saturday night, while a sad specimen wheeled through dirty and on two flat tyres will struggle to raise any attention at all. Another crucial element that appears to escape the notice of at least some vendors is a comprehensive description and this is taking on greater importance now that internet bidding is becoming more common. Naturally, if there is nothing good to say for a bike that has been to the moon and back, has 15+ previous owners and no service history then ‘mums the word’ probably applies. However, when a late-plate, litre-plus premium model with full spec and/or factory accessories appears on an auction form listed, to all intents and purposes, as its more basic sibling then the entrant is surely missing an opportunity and probably a few pounds too.
For the May edition, Guide values across the majority of categories have been held at the current high levels. However, due to particularly strong demand supersports and custom machines have seen another lift, particularly on old models which can offer attractive price points for retail buyers on a budget.
Harley-Davidson pages -Top Notes
Everyone knows that any retail customer for a Harley-Davidson wants it to sound like the ‘real thing’. In the past a full exhaust system and Stage 1 fuelling kit were very commonly fitted and Guide values were written to reflect that. However, over recent years, since the factory fitted injection system has some adaptability built-in, the majority of new H-D machines are being fitted with slip-on mufflers, which still deliver a personalised look and most of the V-twin beat, but at a much lower price-point. To reflect that changed situation the wording of the Top Notes on the Harley-Davidson pages has now been amended as follows:
HARLEY-DAVIDSON VALUES ASSUME SLIP-ON EXHAUST MUFFLERS FROM H-D OR RECOGNISED BRAND. ADDITIONAL CUSTOM PARTS INCLUDING FULL PERFORMANCE EXHAUST AND FUELLING KIT CAN INCREASE THE VALUES SHOWN.
That reduced specification and a correspondingly lower all-in new price for the machine plus fitted mufflers might be expected to necessitate a marking down of Guide values. However, demand for used custom machines is very buoyant and recent transaction prices have been sufficiently high that the majority of Harley-Davidson figures have been held for this edition, effectively reflecting a further strengthening in those values; entirely appropriate as the summer cruising season approaches.
Get On - Phase 3
A refresh of the Get On campaign was recently announced with the MCI taking on funding and operational responsibility. While staying true to the original brief to grow the motorcycle market, and still enabling test rides, the emphasis will move to directing website visitors quickly towards the target of their enquiry.
All the major motorcycle brands that are MCI members will have their franchised dealers listed as contacts on the Get On website; there will be no requirement for the individual dealership to make a data protection registration.
It is expected that the refreshed website, with an expanded directory of products and services, will be live in early May.
Massimo Tamburini
Legendary Italian designer of the iconic Ducati 916 and MV Agusta F4, Massimo Tamburini, passed away in April at the age of 70.
A true visionary, he was a founder member of Bimota in 1973 along with Valerio Bianchi and Giuseppe Morri, designing and developing better chassis for engines from existing machines. Next Tamburini joined Claudio Castiglioni’s Cagiva Group in 1985 shortly after it had acquired Ducati. The first Ducati designed by Tamburini was the Paso 750, before he penned the models that forever cemented his reputation.
Expert in Close Quarters Combat Filtering
Can is not the same as Should
“There are three types of lies -- lies, damn lies, and statistics.†
