Motorcycle Sales Down!

Yesterday the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI) released August's sales figures for powered two-wheelers.

7,020 new powered two wheelers (PTWs) were registered in August 2009, totalling 79,897 this year. An 18.2 per cent fall on 2008 and a fall of 30.5 per cent on August 2008!!!

However the Department of Transport's National Survey gives a positive boost to biking here in the UK, revealing that over half (52%) of all motorcycle trips in 2008 were made for the purpose of commuting. The National Travel Survey also found that the average motorcyclist uses their bike as their main mode of transport for over one-third of all trips, making 8 motorcycle trips a week, and travelling 80 miles.

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

We're not all Hells Angels!

Bennetts the UK's number one for bike insurance* has revealed from research released today that Britain's typical motorcyclist is 40 something, middle-class, professional family man, rather than the traditional stereotype of bikers being free-spirited Hell’s Angels!!

The full questionaire results are below and they reveal some interesting facts.

Questionnaire Results

Name: Ben

Sex: Male (96.8%)

Age: 41- 50 (31.6%)

Hair Colour: Brown (66.2%)

Glasses: No (62.3%)

Additional features: Tattoos (53.3%) and Beard (32.6%)

Height: 6ft (33.3%)

Occupation: Professional (29.0%)

Motorbike: Honda (30.1%)

How often do you ride: Twice a week (42.8%)

Do you use the bike to commute to work: Yes (54.9%)

Average annual mileage: 5,001 – 10,000 (43.0%)

Favourite genre of music: Rock/Heavy Metal (48.8%)

How long have you been riding: 1-3 years (22.9%)

How many motorbikes have you owned: 6 (47.9%)

Do you own a car: Yes (80.0%)

Favourite sport: Superbikes (52.8%)

Annual income: £20,000 – 39,999 (44.4%)

Ride safe.


Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/

Bikes in London bus lanes furore continues!

The Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA) has now weighed in on the debacle of the banning of motorcycles in bus lanes in London, by London Mayor Ken Livingstone.

I quote one very telling line from their press release, which I think sums up how many of us motorcyclist are feeling:-

“The report that Mr Livingstone has published today is little more than politically ‘spun’ tripe, pedalled to suit a negative view about motorcycling which has been heavily promoted by the Mayor’s anti-motorcycle transport advisors"


So again in this country we are facing with more blatant anti-motorcycling tripe, frankly I'm appalled that the Mayor has been allowed to get away with this, it some democracy we live in when bikers lives can be put at risk!!

Ride safe!

Jon Booth
Email: webmaster@inter-bike.co.uk
Blog: http://inter-bike.blogspot.com/
Swicki: http://motorcycling-swicki.eurekster.com/