Sales have boomed this year and he believes most of that is due to irrigation in North Otago making farms more profitable.
"We compare our sales to 2008, when it was boom, boom. So far this year we are doing even better," he said.
Normally, November and December were quiet months for farm bike sales, but this year they were looking good.
An economic benefit study of the North Otago Irrigation Company's scheme irrigating 10,000ha of land on the North Otago Downlands and in the Waiareka Valley shows it is generating an extra $29 million a year in cash farm expenditure, mostly in local communities.
Mr Selfe, who is with Oamaru Motorcycles, agrees the scheme has boosted sales and workshop trade, despite the recession.
Not just the North Otago scheme but irrigation as a whole in North Otago had benefited everyone and cushioned the region from the worst of the recession.
"It shows in our sales and work. Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton (Honda) dealers are selling more ATVs [all terrain vehicles] than any other [Honda] dealers," he said.
Gore used to be equally as strong, but sales slumped after this year's big spring snowstorm.
Oamaru, Timaru and Ashburton all had extensive irrigation and there was more dairying.
"It ticks me off a bit when townies complain about dairying and don't realise how big a contribution it is making to the local economy.
"Everyone is benefiting in one way or another," Mr Selfe said.
Dairying had brought in more farm workers and families, resulting in the demand for four-wheel-drive farm bikes.
"Without that, I would hate to think what sort of sales we would have had," he said.
