Motorbike Insurance

Sales of both new and used motorbikes have risen of late, according to new figures, partly due to the surprisingly pleasant weather that the UK has enjoyed this spring.

All of the franchised dealers surveyed recorded an increase in demand for brand new motorcycles of late, while half of them also posted an increase in second-hand sales, compared to just one in four that suffered a decrease in trade.

Yet there were some negative signs as well, the poll by industry analyst Eurotaxglass revealed, with two out of three dealers having experienced an increase in the size of their discounts and the remainder having seen theirs stay the same for now.

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Nonetheless, motorcycle editor Randal Thomas explained that, in recent weeks, "the majority of anecdotal feedback we have received indicates an improvement in the quality as well as quantity of business for motorcycle retailers".

He continued: "In particular, where there is any shortage or delay in availability of new machines and therefore less likelihood of others retailing at cost price, then a dealer has an opportunity to retain a half-decent margin."

In terms of future outlook, three out of four motorcycle sellers expect their profitability to grow in the near future, while one in four expect theirs to fall during this period.

The Motor Cycle Industry recently announced a 7.8 per cent year-on-sales increase during February, speculating that such positive results may indicate that the motorbike is really beginning to eat into the popularity of cars in Britain.

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