Published: July 17, 2008 09:46 am         

Higher gas prices fueling cycle sales, dealers say

By Libby Cluett
lcluett@mineralwellsindex.com

Not only does Steve Smith, owner of Mineral Wells’ Smitty’s Cycles, see “people digging more motorcycles out of garages” to use for commuting, he said the past “doom and gloom” days for the motorcycle trade seems to be changing.

Area dealers are seeing a sales increase or a shift in sales of new and used bikes and scooters. According to Bill Yoes general sales manager at Yamaha Suzuki West in Fort Worth, for some reason he said he can’t explain, “when the economy gets worse, motorcycles sales go up.”

“People are just looking for escapism – put the leathers on and go,” he added. “That’s what you’re selling them in this business, which we give them.”

Despite the volatile stock market, Yoes and Smith attribute rising fuel prices for some of the recent motorcycle mania, which keeps dealers’ products moving out faster than in.

“There are more people out buying – it’s a good excuse to get one,” said Smith, who has seen a rise in business over the past couple of months.

Smith’s store is independent of a dealership; he sells used bikes and has a repair shop. He said people from all over are coming to him because they can’t get what they want in Weatherford.

Lately, he said he has witnessed the market on used bikes become much more competitive. In the past couple of months, he said it’s harder to buy used bikes off places like Craig’s List – an online network offering free classified ads.

“If it’s two days old and if it’s priced right, it’s gone,” he said, noting that people can’t wait on a bike selling online like they could in the past.

EuroSport Cycle in Fort Worth sells European bikes like Ducati, Motoguzzi and Triumph. While owner Tony Lewis said his sales have been consistent with past yearly increases, he has seen a distinct shift in the popularity of models.

In the past, he said his clientele mostly purchased larger touring bikes and now people are buying more fuel-efficient bikes.

He said he believes the shift indicates that people are thinking more about motorcycles for their gas mileage and as transportation versus past purchases for sport and pleasure.

As a result of this shift, Lewis said models like the Triumph Bonneville – which has two versions with a smaller 865cc engine – has taken “front stage.”

“We’re running out of bikes as we speak,” he said.

Sales are up 22 percent this year at Yamaha Suzuki West in Fort Worth, according to Yoes. He said last year’s sales rose just 8 percent from the prior year.

Yoes concurred with Lewis that there is a shift in sales from larger bikes to more “low-and mid-displacement units,” like the 600cc to 800cc vehicles.

“We’re having a hard time keeping those in stock,” he said.

He said the bottom line for recent sales is fuel prices. Bikes that predominantly sold mainly to women, like the Yamaha V-Star, “now more guys are buying for their daily commute,” noted Yoes.

He also cited that models like the Suzuki GSF 650 – formerly known as the “Bandit” – sold at a rate of one per year in past years. This year, he said they have sold four to date.

Scooters are another story for Yoes. “We’ve been sold out for a couple of months. It’s hard finding them at other dealers.”