National Motorcycle Dealers Association Newsletter April 2013

‘We represent, you benefit’

Dear Colleague,

The National Motorcycle Dealers Association Newsletter contains information on the market plus other factors facing the sector.

If you have any queries or questions concerning any of the issues raised in this month’s update, please do not hesitate to contact us here at the NMDA on the contact details provided below. I hope you enjoy this latest update.

Steve Latham, Head of NMDA Email: stephenlatham@r mif.co.uk IN THIS  A COLD SPRING DEPRESSES MOTORCYCLE SALES ISSU  EARLY INDICATIONS SUGGEST CHANGE IN NMDA DEALER ATTITUDE SURVEY E:  YOUR MOT QUESTION ANSWERED  EU REPORTS LOWEST EVER NUMBER OF ROAD DEATHS  NEW THINK CAMPAIGN  TYRE SAFETY THIS SPRING

A cold spring depresses Motorcycle sales

The latest new motorcycle and scooter figures show last month sales overall were down 10.8% against March 2012. Under 50cc scooter sales were down 27.3% in March, while all larger over 50cc motorcycle sales have decreased by 8.9%. Whilst it is extremely disappointing to see motorcycle sales decline last month with sales well behind what is expected in a month that saw the introduction of the number plate. It is likely that the recent bad weather has had a knock on affect on the motorcycle market. The slowdown in demand for scooters continued in March with sales down 9.9% last month and the 51-125cc market as a whole was down 14.8% The over 1000cc market remained surprisingly stable during March with almost the same amount of bikes being sold as last year. These machines are often purchased by a more mature, discerning consumer who may not be experiencing the same financial concerns as the younger consumers, hence the resilience in this sector. The dominance of the larger, more expensive motorcycles in the market is similar to that in the car market where there has been growth in sales of luxury brands. Premier brands have also experienced a boost in sales in the motorcycle market with BMW, Triumph and Harley Davidson experience a boost in sales.

Early indications show change in NMDA Spring Dealer Attitude Survey

The results are yet to be published but early indications suggest that the dealers have scored the value of holding their franchise more radically than usual. Triumph regains its number one slot; however the real surprise is Ducati moving from last position up to third. Overall five brands received a decline in rating including KTM, Harley, BMW, Suzuki and Piaggio. Three brands improved their position and two remained static.

The whole detailed survey will be available to members in a week’s time. To receive a copy email [email protected]

PREVIOUS SURVEY RESULTS – AUTUMN 2012

20: Overall, how do you rate the value of holding your motorcycle franchise on a scale of 1 (low) to 10 (high) BMW 6.9 Piaggio 5.8 Ducati 5.0 Suzuki 6.1 Harley Davidson 7.4 Triumph 8.2 Honda 6.4 Yamaha 5.5 Kawasaki 7.1 KTM 8.5 AVERAGE 6.4

Your MOT question answered

Q. I wonder if you could give me a definitive answer on the fitment of led type combined rear lamp/stop lamp and indicator units that seem to be becoming more popular these days. When lit, the whole lamp illuminates with the stop lamp functioning as normal, and when the indicator is used, 50% of the light turns into flashing amber. There may have been a special notice regarding these types of lights but I have not seen one. Any help you could give would be greatly appreciated.

A. There are a number of types of LED combination lamps and it is important to recognise which are acceptable and which are not. Where two rear lamps are fitted, one on each side, that double as stop/tail lamps as well as direction indicators, such as commonly fitted on some Harley Davidson models, these are type approved and perfectly acceptable.

However, the type that I believe you are referring to, where there is only one centrally mounted lamp that combines stop/tail and both direction indicators are not legal. This is primarily because they do not meet the minimum separation distance between the direction indicators and they should be failed if they are fitted at the time of test. Unfortunately, there is not a specific Reason for Rejection for this, so we require that you use - the illumination of the lamp is affected by the operation of another lamp. This can be applied to both the stop lamp and the rear position lamp.

You may also like to look at the article on this issue in Matters of Testing, issue 53, which you can download from http://www.dft.gov.uk/vosa/publications/newsletters/mattersoftesting.htm

Road safety: EU reports lowest ever number of road deaths

Road fatalities across the EU have decreased by 9% in 2012. According to new figures published by the European Commission today, 2012 saw the lowest number of people killed in road traffic in EU countries since the first data were collected. Country by country statistics (see table below) show that the number of road deaths still varies greatly across the EU. The countries with the lowest number of road fatalities remain the UK, Sweden, the Netherlands and Denmark, reporting around 30 deaths per million inhabitants. Compared to the disappointing figures of 2011, when progress in cutting road deaths fell to 2%, the reduction of 9% in 2012 mean that Member States are back on track towards the objective of halving road deaths between 2010 and 2020. In order to reach this goal, an average reduction of around 7% is needed. The most worrying feature of the road safety statistics for 2011 was a high increase in the number of killed vulnerable users such as pedestrians, motorcyclists and elderly people – in spite of an overall reduction of road fatalities. Based on the provisional data for 2012, the number of vulnerable user fatalities has decreased substantially in 2012.

Country by country statistics on road deaths for 20121

Fatalities per million Member State Evolution of fatalities inhabitants Average annual decrease 2010- 2011- 1965 2010 2011 2012 2000-2010 2011 2012 Belgique/België 147 77 78 73 -6% 2% -12% България (Bulgaria) 91 103 89 82 -3% -15% -8% Česká republika 150 76 74 71 -5% -4% -4% Danmark 212 46 40 32 -6% -14% -18% Deutschland 234 45 49 44 -7% 10% -10% Eesti 178 58 75 65 -10% 29% -14% Éire/Ireland 124 47 41 36 -7% -12% -12% Ελλάδα (Elláda) 89 111 101 92 -4% -9% -10% España 114 54 45 41 -9% -17% -9% France 249 62 61 56 -8% -1% -8% Italia 186 68 64 62 -6% -6% -2% Κύπρος 162 73 85 59 -5% 18% -28% (Kypros)/Kibris Latvija 290 97 86 86 -10% -18% -2% Lietuva 250 90 97 100 -9% -1% 2% Luxembourg 250 64 64 65 -8% 3% 3% Magyarország 86 74 64 60 -6% -14% -5% Malta 36 36 51 26 -1% 40% -48% Nederland 202 32 33 32 -7% 2% -1% Österreich 252 66 62 64 -6% -5% 4% Polska 79 102 109 93 -4% 7% -15% Portugal 117 79 84 71 -6% -7% -16% România 98 111 94 96 0% -15% 1% Slovenija 327 67 69 59 -7% 2% -13% Slovensko 128 68 60 55 -5% -13% -9% Suomi/Finland 230 51 54 48 -5% 7% -11% Sverige 170 28 34 31 -8% 20% -7% United Kingdom 146 31 31 28 -7% 3% -12% EU 171 62 60 55 -6% -2% -9%

New ‘THINK’ Campaign

Further to the NMDA being part of a Road Safety group assisting the Dept for Transport develop a new theme to invigorate and update the established THINK! road safety message for motorcyclists, we are pleased to give you a brief outline of the concept on the new initiative, as set out below.

LOOK REACT STAY IN CONTROL The best ride is a controlled ride, where you can enjoy a smooth and safe journey. Stay in control with this simple advice:

Look Riding defensively means riding like you expect the unexpected. Take a ‘lifesaver glance’ – one last look around before a manoeuvre. Position yourself in the safest and best place to maximise your visibility of potential hazards.

React Skilled riders have a sixth sense about their surroundings. Always think ahead and give yourself time to react. Be aware of other road users and get in the right position on the road to anticipate potential hazards and take action.

Stay in control Controlled riding feels different. The right speed for the conditions you are in and sharpened skills turn a ride into an experience. Make sure you are riding at a speed that will allow you to slow down and stop in good time, whatever the road condition.

Sharpen your skills There are many different training packages to suit every type of rider, from first timers to returners to those just wanting a better experience. Qualified trainers can give you practical tips such as, how to position yourself in the best possible place on the road so that you can see and be seen.

Tyre safety this spring

With the distinct feeling of spring in the air, TyreSafe is urging tyre retailers, bike dealerships and other road safety professionals to get ready for the return of its successful ‘PACT’ campaign, designed to help bikers stay safe on the road in the months ahead.

Performance, Air pressure, Condition and Tread, is once-again the central theme in a range of posters and other promotional materials which are now available to the trade to help raise awareness about the importance of looking after bike tyres.

The message is simple – to get the best performance from the bike, whether it is improved handling, grip or fuel economy, riders should make a PACT with their tyres by ensuring they’re properly inflated, in a good condition and have plenty of tread. New for 2013 is a range of updated resources designed to help riders understand the benefits, importance and simplicity of regular tyre maintenance. These include an eye-catching infographic, campaign posters which promote free tyre safety checks and leaflets explaining what riders should do to get the most from their machines.

Meanwhile, the campaign has already received a welcome boost with the news that top British SuperBike championship riders, including past supporter Chris Walker, will be giving their backing to the campaign. “At this time of year, many bikers will be heading out for their first ride of the year after leaving their bikes in storage over the winter,” explains Stuart Jackson, chairman, TyreSafe. “It’s critical that before doing so, their tyres are given a thorough inspection to make sure they’re safe and legal. The trade has a crucial role to play in helping achieve this and we look forward once again to receiving some fantastic levels of support and local initiatives from retailers.”

Last year’s PACT campaign saw many retailers offering free safety checks throughout the campaign month and beyond. Anyone looking to support this year’s initiative can order free materials from TyreSafe by calling 0845 3016852 or by visiting www.tyresafe.org.