U.S. motorcycle miles traveled are more than 27.6 billion miles annually.
Motorcycle sales among major brands rose 7.2% in the first quarter of 2011 compared to the same period last year, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council.
Not surprisingly the “inexpensive” scooter segment saw the biggest gain, up nearly 50%. Sales of dual-purpose bikes for on- and off-highway use – generally among the most fuel-efficient motorcycles- increased by almost 25%.
Tire sales, a strong indicator of motorcycle use, were up as well during the first three months of 2011, according to the trade group.
A MIC Owner Survey estimated order clonazepam that 11 million motorcycles were in use in 2009, a 5% increase over the 2008 motorcycle population of 10.4 million. (U.S. motor vehicles in use total more than 265 million.) Motorcycle miles traveled also increased 5% from 2008 to 2009 with a total of 27.6 billion miles. The percentage of U.S. households with at least one bike rose from 5.4% in 2003 to 6.8% in 2009.
“We see Americans leaving their cars at home more, enjoying the convenience and exhilaration of motorcycling, and getting into a different way of being green,” said Tim Buche, MIC president and chief executive officer.
