Cost crisis fuels bike boom

The bike is back! As the cost of owning a car rises, increasing numbers of motorists are swapping four wheels for two, according to research by
the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCIA).

In July, car registrations fell 13 per cent on the same period in 2007. But motorbike sales are blossoming – up 22 per cent in the last month alone, with 14,306 units sold across the UK.

Most popular models were both 125cc Yamahas: the YZF R125 and the YBR 125. MCIA bosses say this is an indication people are in the market for small-engined bikes, as they look to make travel easier and cheaper. And it’s not only youngsters and thrill seekers choosing bikes, either. The MCIA claims many first-time buyers are in their forties and fifties.