Scooter, small motorcycle sales remain stable in depressed market

Late last year Tyres & Accessories spoke to Peter Smith, joint managing director of one of the UK's leading motorcycle and scooter tyre wholesalers, for an overview of the ‘PWT’ (powered two wheeler) replacement tyre market in 2012 as experienced by Bike Tyrestore.

During a similar conversation at the end of 2011, Smith indicated that the market for bike tyres generally had been in decline since the heady days of 2008, before the recession took effect. Unfortunately, the news was also not so good this time around; in 2012 the trade suffered a double-whammy of prolonged depression due to the economic downturn, and a record breaking spell of inclement weather.

“Manufacturers’ market shares haven’t changed much it seems, but volumes of product sold have been slashed due to the simple facts that consumers aren’t spending, and riders aren’t riding,” Smith commented. He added that motorcycle insurance renewals are said to have collapsed this past year, indicating that owners have simply garaged their machines, hoping for a financial and temperate climate that will tempt them back onto the roads.

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