Pain at the pump has more looking at two-wheel transport
Rocket City Powersports Sales Manager Evan Vanzo has seen his motorcycle sales soar as larger gas guzzling vehicles get parked.
“We have had 25 more sales this June than compared to the same time last year. We’re going through the little bikes instead of the bigger bikes that we sold last year,” Vanzo said.
“In the past we have 20-year-old guys coming in for sports bikes and middle-aged men getting cruisers, but now everyone with horrible gas mileage is buying motorcycles from first time riders or people who haven’t been on bikes in 20 years,” Vanzo said.
Another breed of motorcycle, the Harley-Davidson, has seen a steady climb to popularity instead of rapid growth.
“Gas prices have helped sales but over the last eight to 10 year Harleys have gotten more popular we have seen motorcycle riding emerge as a hobby couples do together. Baby boomers have paid off their mortgages and their kids are out of college with lives of their own plus they might be down to one car payment instead of two so they have some extra income to spend on themselves,” Rocket Harley-Davidson Sales Manager E.J. Johnston said.
Another emerging trend Johnston has seen is an increase of women riders coming in to buy their first bike.
“What most people think of as a Harley rider is clich/ now. Harleys are ridden by people of all walks of life. For some of them Harleys are their main mode of transportation for their work commute to save a little on gas,” Johnston said.
Gas is not the only factor playing in to Harley’s popularity Johnston says but it also relies on the recognition and loyalty.
“Harley-Davidson is an American icon and it has a very loyal group of owner who exclusively buy them,” Johnston said.
Both Johnston and Vanzo recommend a host of safety equipment to help rookie and veteran riders keep control over their motorcycles.
“Beginning with a Department of Transportation approved helmet, eye protection such as goggles, eye wear or a face shield on the helmet, gloves, hard shoes like leather or steel toe boots and a riding jacket made out of special fabric, leather or at least heavy denim,” Johnston said.
Vanzo adds that safety equipment comes in bright colors and even glow-in-the-dark styles to improve riding conditions.
“Anything that helps with visibility is always a good idea. Sometimes we have people come in saying that they had a wreck and the other person say I didn’t see you, even though they nay have been looking right at the rider, but it doesn’t happen too often,” Vanzo said.
Training courses offer riders with trips to avoid accidents on the road in a variety of circumstances.
“I very much recommend the Rider’s Edge program even for experienced riders because there are many lessons on having a safer, more comfortable ride,” Johnston said.
An alternative to the Rider’s Edge program is the state training courses offered at selected Department Motorized Vehicle offices.
“Safety courses are not required by the state of Alabama even tough they offer them, but they help with insurance,” Vanzo said.
The number of insurance policies sold has gone up 300 percent over the last few weeks as a result of the increased motorcycle sales.
“We used to write five policies a week and now we are averaging around 20 policies. Our staff here can write about 80-90 policies a month since we opened up the office in the Harley-Davison showroom,” Geico insurance policy writer Dorothy Patrick said.
Motorcycles are not the only two-wheeled options available to residents wanting to cut back on spending.
“There have always been people who ride bicycles to work and the best part is there is no gas. I used to not see anyone biking but now I see at least one person a day,” Madison Cycles Salesman Jeff Critscer said.
Critscer says that most people coming in to buy a bicycle are making a four- or five-mile commute, but one customer is biking 25 miles to work.
“The ride to work gives them a goal like during school when you’re scared to take a test but you get motivated to study to do well,” Critscer said.
As gas prices rise Critscer is seeing more people switch to bicycles despite the warm weather.
“We’ve had more sales in June than we’ve had for January through May, but usually business is not good because it is too hot,” Critscer said.
Critscer says most people are turned off of riding bicycles because they find bikes uncomfortable.
“All of your weight goes to three places the saddle the pedals and the handle bars. If you don’t want to lean forward, like on most bikes, you can get a cruiser which has a bigger seat for supporting more of the weight, like a recliner and your legs are straight, unlike most bikes which put the weight on the pedals,” Critscer said.
