Motorcycle sales booming; ACC warning

MotoXtreme Kawasaki owner Kevin Dougherty with a Kawasaki Ninja 400cc, a popular choice among...
MotoXtreme Kawasaki owner Kevin Dougherty with a Kawasaki Ninja 400cc, a popular choice among buyers. PHOTO: GREGOR RICHARDSON
A boom in motorcycle sales in Dunedin comes alongside a stark warning from the Accident Compensation Corporation.

Sales of motorcycles in New Zealand are expected to reach 9000 this year, the highest annual number in the past decade.

MotoXtreme Kawasaki owner Kevin Dougherty, of Dunedin, said increased sales began earlier in the year when Level 4 lockdown ended and restrictions eased.

"We came back from Covid-19 and sold out of everything we had," Mr Dougherty said.

"There were no second-hand bikes left."

While things had cooled slightly in the past month, sales were still up about 15% on the corresponding time last year.

He thought sales were up due to New Zealand borders being closed.

"Without [international] travel people are buying some toys and having some fun here."

It was not only first-time riders buying bikes, but also former riders returning to buy again.

"It’s a real mixture. You’ve got young and old, experienced and not."

Shipping motorcycles from overseas was proving problematic.

"We’ve already got interest for next year but we’re struggling to get stock. There are massive delays."

Mr Dougherty recommended first-time riders take part in a Ride Forever course, an ACC initiative aimed at upskilling riders.

ACC data showed a steady increase in motorcycle-related accident claims in Otago over the past four years.

The highest number of claims was last year at 205, up from 165 in 2016.

In Southland, there were 116 motorcycle-related claims last year, up from 70 in 2015.

ACC injury prevention leader Dave Keilty said more than $15million had been spent over a five-year period helping people in Otago recover.

ACC data showed riders who completed a course were 27% less likely to make a crash-related injury claim.

Nationally, claims had fallen 8% this year compared with 2019 due to decreased activity during elevated Covid-19 alerts.

But the organisation believed as the number of motorcycles being bought increased, it was likely a higher number of accidents would follow.

Mr Keilty said everyone needed to be more aware of the dangers at intersections.

He urged drivers to be aware of their blind spots and double-check gaps in traffic.

"Look again for motorcyclists."

emma.perry@odt.co.nz

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