NCOM NEWS BYTES compiled and edited by Bill Bish
National Coalition of Motorcyclists (NCOM)
CYCLE SALES ON RECORD PACE Expanding
popularity and fuel prices in the first half of 2006 have put
motorcycle and scooter sales on track toward a 14th straight year of
record growth. Compared to the first half of 2005, among the 15
leading brands, bike sales jumped 10.9 percent through the second
quarter, according to Motorcycle Industry Council statistics. Sales of
on-highway motorcycles (not including scooters) rose 11 percent in the
first six months of the year, and scooter sales alone are up 19.7
percent compared to the same period last year.
"It's exciting to see continued, growing interest in motorcycling
across America, and that there are more and more reasons for the
demand," said MIC President Tim Buche. "There has been a lot of
attention paid to motorcycle and scooter sales this year because of
rising fuel prices. The reality is that a long-time trend of
increasing motorcycle sales, now more than a dozen years strong, just
continues revving along. Sales have gone up every year since 1993.
That's when the first 'Jurassic Park' was the summer blockbuster and
you could buy gas for under a dollar-fifty."
"Rising fuel prices are just another reason that millions more
Americans have purchased a bike, or are seriously considering one,"
Buche said. "With many motorcycles capable of 50 to 70 miles per
gallon, and many scooters getting 60 to 80 mpg, dealerships and
manufacturers are fielding a lot more inquiries about fuel economy,"
he said.
"But during the past 14 years, motorcycling also has found its way
into the fabric of American culture," Buche continued, "with
two-wheeling getting past old stereotypes and gaining acceptance and
traction as a great form of transportation and recreation."
"The motorcycling demographic is widening, from baby boomers who are
coming back to bikes, to Generation Y Americans into adventure sports,
entire families and growing numbers of women who ride," Buche said.
"Motorcycles, scooters, even gear and leather riding jackets are more
fashionable than ever. We used to have to look hard to find positive
motorcycle imagery in pop culture. Now you see bikes everywhere,
spicing up advertisements for a wide range of major industries, in
fashion layouts, in runway shows, in store windows, in art museums, in
the form of toys at the local department store and with many
celebrities, CEOs and folks from all walks of life."
"Another factor with the soaring sales has to do with the bikes
themselves," said Ty van Hooydonk, director of product communications
with Discover Today's Motorcycling.
"Motorcycles and scooters are simply better than ever, in performance,
style and variety, and still very affordable," he said. "The latest
Cycle World Buyer's Guide lists more than 400 models. And it's not
just sportbikes and cruisers and touring bikes. There are emerging
niches between these broad categories, appealing to a wider array of
personal taste in bikes. There's a fun little $3,000 sportbike that
gets 74 miles per gallon. There are beautiful big cruisers that cost
$12,000 or less. There are many desirable bikes at these prices and
beyond that Americans aspire to own and enjoy."
"Whatever the reasons for buying motorcycles and scooters, safety
comes first," van Hooydonk said, stressing five key messages for all
riders: 1) Get trained and licensed, 2) wear all the proper protective
gear, and that includes a helmet made to Department of Transportation
(DOT) standards, 3) ride unimpaired by alcohol or other drugs, 4) ride
within your own skill limits and 5) be a lifelong learner by taking
refresher rider courses.
In 2005, motorcycle and scooter sales topped the one-million level for
the third straight year, high marks last seen during the 1970s. The
MIC lists 1973 as the zenith for annual motorcycle sales, when
Americans bought more than 1.5 million bikes. Sales for 1979 topped
the one-million mark, then cooled in the 1980s and early 1990s.
Motorcycling began its 13 years of increasing success back in 1993,
with sales growing every year since:
U.S. New Unit Motorcycle Sales
1992 - 278,000 1999 - 546,000
1993 - 293,000 2000 - 710,000
1994 - 306,000 2001 - 850,000
1995 - 309,000 2002 - 936,000
1996 - 330,000 2003 - 1,001,000
1997 - 356,000 2004 - 1,063,000
1998 - 432,000 2005 - 1,116,000
FUEL PRICES DRIVE INCREASED MOTORCYCLING Motorcycle enthusiasts expect
to use their Harleys, Kawasakis and Hondas more often and for longer
periods of time than they did a year ago. Gas prices and a strong
passion for riding are two of the main driving factors behind the
increased desire to ride, according to a new survey by Nationwide
Mutual Insurance.
According to the survey, 35 percent of motorcyclists said they will
ride their bikes more over the next year as a result of fuel prices.
Enthusiasts are also turning their hobby into an everyday form of
transportation. Survey respondents reported they spent 26 percent of
their total riding time last year commuting to work.
"Motorcyclists know that riding is more than a hobby -- it's also one
of the most efficient means of transportation available," said
American Motorcyclist Association Chief Executive Officer Patricia
DiPietro. "As more Americans discover both the joys and the
cost-effectiveness of motorcycling, we're sure to see more motorists
dedicating their time, and their financial resources, to the passion
of riding. But before hitting the road, it's important all riders make
sure their insurance is up-to-date."
The survey conducted by Brandware of 2,544 motorcycle, power boat,
bass boat and ATV owners shows that both male and female motorcyclists
expect to ride their bikes for approximately 22 more hours than they
did in the past year. Male motorcyclists expect to ride 172 hours over
the next year, while female riders expect to ride 146 hours.
Motorcyclists are so passionate about their fuel-efficient bikes they
indicated they will pay $3 to $4 more per gallon before they stop
riding.
According to the survey, both male and female motorcyclists committed
over half of their total money spent on leisure activities to
accessories and improvements to their motorcycle over the past five
years. Male riders invested more than $7,000 on their bikes over this
time period, more than any other group of powersport enthusiast.
As motorcyclists invest more financial resources and increasingly rely
on their bikes as a form of daily transportation, the question of
adequate financial protection becomes a concern. While most
motorcyclists are insured, more than one in ten surveyed indicated
they are not. And even those who have insurance may not have enough.
Among insured riders, one in five said they are not covered for
liability and one-third are not covered for collision or medical
payments.
More than 30 percent of motorcyclists surveyed don't believe they have
enough insurance to cover the replacement value of their bikes and 14
percent said they would rather take their chances than pay to fully
insure it.
EPA ISSUES GUIDANCE FOR CUSTOM MOTORCYCLE BUILDERS The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has recently released a Letter
of Guidance for the “Certification Procedure for Highway Motorcycle
Engines,” which will allow the use of certified EPA-compliant engines
without restriction.
Under EPA regulations issued in 2003, custom bike builders are limited
to building only 24 non-compliant motorcycles per model year, and
individuals are allowed to own only one EPA exempt kit bike in their
lifetime. But now, following a year of successful efforts between the
EPA and industry and consumer groups, the “Certification Procedure for
Highway Motorcycle Engines” will allow builders of aftermarket engines
to provide EPA-compliant engine packages to individuals, dealers and
small volume motorcycle manufacturers, thus circumventing the strict
regulations applied to non-EPA compliant motorcycles. Therefore, the
new Certification Procedure will permit certified engines installed in
new highway motorcycle chassis to be operated or re-sold without
onerous construction and ownership restrictions, provided the
requirements of the procedure, as well as the federal Clean Air Act
anti-tampering requirements, are met.
By using motors that are certified to meet emissions regulations,
individuals and builders can now build EPA compliant motorcycles
without having to go through the complicated and costly emissions
testing procedures themselves, thus allowing small volume
manufacturers to build and sell as many custom motorcycles as they
want to, and individuals can now own, ride and sell them without prior
restrictions as long as the engine package is not altered in any way
that increases exhaust emissions.
BIG BEN WON’T PROMOTE HELMETS Ben Roethlisberger, the Super Bowl XL
winning quarterback whose June 12th motorcycle accident made worldwide
headlines when a car turned left in front of him, says he won’t be
promoting helmets any time soon.
Following his release from the hospital after undergoing facial
reconstructive surgery, the Pittsburgh Steelers star released a
statement saying that; “If I ever ride again, it certainly will be
with a helmet,” immediately raising hopes among pro-helmet law
advocates that he would barnstorm the country making speeches and
filming public service announcements to promote helmets. But don’t
count on it.
In an exclusive interview with "Good Morning America," the quarterback
told Robin Roberts why he wouldn't become an advocate for helmet use:
"I don't think that that's my place," he said. "You know, I think that
some people feel that, you know, I probably should be doing that and
being a big advocate for that. But for me, you know, I'm going to let
people make their own decision 'cause I think that's what it's
about…So I don't think you'll see me doing any kind of billboards or
advertisements."
INDIA RELAXES HELMET RULE Many motorcycle riders look happy about
relaxing the rule of wearing helmet for motorcycle passengers. For
them, they say, it is an escape from carrying around an extra helmet
and makes it easier for giving lifts.
Not wearing helmet by backseat rider is more risky than the joy it
brings. Doctors, who have to attend those injured in accidents, look
at it differently.
The making of wearing helmet optional for pillion rider was not a good
decision, said senior medical consultant and chief of medical
education at National Academy of Medical Science of Bir Hospital Dr.
Madhur Dev Bhattarai.
He said that pillion riders are more at risk of head injuries and even
deaths than drivers in motorcycle accidents.
Talking to The Rising Nepal, Dr. Bhattarai said he saw no reason in
scrapping the compulsory wearing of helmet for both riders. There is
no rationale in easing the rule at this time. "If it was done when the
security situation was more critical that would be understandable,"he
added.
Helmets were made compulsory even for pillion riders about three years
ago, but traffic police have eased the rule for pillion riders despite
pleas from the medical community that easing of the rule might make
women become more vulnerable as most of them are passengers and also
because of their seating position.
However, SSP at the Valley Traffic Police Office Bhisma Prasai said
that the option was given because of public complaints. He said they
have taken public opinion during one-month period before the decision
was taken and most of the riders opined that it would be better if it
was made optional rather than compulsory as we have limited road
length and the traffic speed is also slow.
NEWS OF THE WEIRD: Man Breaks Moving Violation Record -- An Italian
scooterist in Turin has shattered the previous record for moving
violations with a whopping 144 points in less than 15 minutes.
His crimes include: not wearing a helmet, riding without rear-view
mirrors, speeding, running a red light, not stopping when police
ordered, riding the wrong way down city-center streets, riding without
lights, riding on pedestrian footpaths, riding without insurance, and
worst of all, incorrectly attached license plates.
The previous Italian record had stood since April at 116 points in a
single night.
Not to be outdone, an American woman recently racked up 70 speeding
tickets in 5 months. As a mortgage broker in Phoenix, Arizona,
Francesca Cisneros is used to working with big numbers, but it's the
double-digit speed limits she has trouble with.
Speeding cameras in Scottsdale, a suburb of Phoenix, snapped pictures
of the 32-year-old woman as she tore through the sun-baked city in her
Honda Civic between March 2 and July 31, and she has been issued 70
speeding tickets.
"She told arresting officers she was speeding because she seemed to be
late for client meetings all the time," Scottsdale Police Department
spokesman Mark Clark told Reuters. "I guess she's got some time
management issues."
Police said Cisneros said she threw her speeding tickets away because
she thought nothing could happen to her if she didn't pay them. Clark
said Cisneros faces some $11,000 in fines and could have her license
suspended.
QUOTABLE QUOTE: "Liberty and freedom and democracy are so very
precious that you do not fight to win them once and then stop. You do
not do that. Liberty and freedom and democracy are prizes that are
awarded only to those people who fight to win them and then keep on
fighting eternally to hold them."
Sgt. Alvin York (1887-1964), WWI Medal of Honor recipient
AND THAT'S ALL THE NEWS THAT FITS! |
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