Other bike news in brief
Bike sales up on last year
Figures released by the CSO reveal that a total of 877 new motorcycles were registered in Ireland the first quarter of 2008, slightly up on the same period in 2007. New bikes still only account for half of the motorcycles brought into the country each year. Since 2005, a total of 9,968 new bikes were registered in Ireland, but 10,724 were imported from abroad during the same period. Already in 2008 some 764 used bikes have been registered in Ireland for the first time. Honda topped the first quarter sales figures for new bikes with a 20.5 per cent market share, closely followed by Suzuki (19.6 per cent), Yamaha (15 per cent) and BMW (10.4 per cent).
AA acquires new fleet
The AA has just acquired a new fleet of Honda Deauville NT700 motorbikes.
It is deploying additional bikes in Cork and Dublin, carrying a full range of diagnostic and repair equipment. "The bikes are perfect for use on the congested city streets, allowing us to beat the traffic and get to the member as quickly as possible," said membership director Dennis Fisk. "They are fully equipped and deployed from our state-of-the-art Rescue Centre, and can be used in busy areas more efficiently than a conventional Rescue van."