Is motorcycling becoming more popular?
Yes. More than 1.1 million motorcycles were sold in 2006, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council, a nonprofit trade group based in Irvine, California. The record was 1973, when Americans bought more than 1.5 million bikes. Sales cooled in the 1980s before starting to climb again in 1993. The council says the latest surge is partly because bikes have become more specialized and stylish. More than 300 models appeal to a broader range of potential riders. Sales are especially strong among baby boomers, who are taking up cycling as a hobby or returning to riding after breaks to raise families, industry representatives say. Higher fuel cost is another reason.
