The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) has described the latest registrations statistics, for February, as “overall good news”.
The association notes PTW registrations increased 1.2% in February and 7% for the first two-months, but scooter registations were down 2.1% in the same period, and asks: “Could this be the slow feed through of the incessant criminal yob culture that is stealing PTWs to commit street crime in towns and cities? The irony is that the media calls the snatching of phones from innocent pedestrians on their way home from work ‘moped-crime’, regrettable the police would have a better chance of apprehending these yobs if it were merely 49cc mopeds.”
NMDA chief Steve Latham continues: “While the news is concerning regarding scooter sales, the Euro 3 – 4 issues that so badly effected low-powered-machine sales last year must have now past as 125cc sales have modestly increased by 4.4% in February and up 2.2% for the year.
“The news is definitely brighter for other model types. Most other sectors apart from sport/tour motorcycles showed growth, with mid-size machines 126-650cc up from 1578 units last year to 2085 bikes in the first two months of this year, a growth of 32.1%. Machines above 1000cc also recorded healthy growth, up 18.9%.
“In volume terms February is always a low registration month with poor weather and many traditional bikers holding off until the new 18 plate is launched in March so we look forward to seeing this new trend of growth in the market continuing throughout 2018.”
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