It seems that the world is finally noticing the motorcycle as both a practical and enjoyable mode of transport. Even before the current pandemic, motorcycles were already increasing in popularity, with a steady rise in sales. Between 2010 and 2019, the UK saw an 11% increase in new motorcycle registrations. This motorcycle boom has continued to increase exponentially since the beginning of the pandemic, until by September 2020, according to the MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association)PTW ( powered two wheelers) sales were up 11.8% on the same time the previous year. This summer during the pandemic sales rose by 41.9% from June to July as many people were really taking motorcycles on board and going over to them in droves to gain independence from a reliance on public transport.

Record numbers of first time riders taking CBTs are also being recorded. This means that once their CBT is passed, new riders can hop aboard 125s for their daily commute and forswear crowded public trains, buses and tubes. As a single person method of transport, the motorcycle offers much more safety from the possible risk of infection than travelling in a crowd and can get people to where they need to go without the need for them to be packed in like sardines with other people. This is particularly relevant during lock-downs when people are being asked to avoid public transport wherever possible if they still need to get to work and can't work from home, to try and curb the spread of Covid 19.

Although cars are also self contained modes of transport, a major congestion problem is caused, especially in cities, if all the train, bus and tube commuters switch over to cars. Independent travellers on motorcycles can get to their destinations quickly and easily and flow through the traffic without all the hold ups. Motorcycles are also much more economical to run and it could well be that once the motorcycle habit has been developed, and commuters realise just how much time and money motorcycles save them, that habit could continue.

Asia, Europe and the US are also all seeing this rising trend in motorcycling, and particularly scooter sales, are well up on previous figures.

This is not only a personal transport thing either, delivery companies which courier food or goods on motorcycles are also booming as customers opt for delivery rather than going out to get things themselves in a newly risky world. Deliveroo has twice as many food delivery riders now in 2020 as a direct result of the pandemic. Couriers do a valuable, sterling job out there and save people from a lot of risk, with the benefit to them of having work in a world where the job market is altering.

So all in all some good news as more folks discover the joys of motorcycling! Any comments drop us a line at:[email protected] or tell us what you think on Facebook