Motorcycle sales up for 2012

Motorcycle sales in the United States revved up in 2012, rising a healthy 2.6% over 2011, according to a report released Wednesday by the Motorcycle Industry Council.

Better yet, the trade group said, retail activity was up in all four motorcycle “segments” -- the first time that has happened since 2002 -- with increases in scooter, dual-purpose, off-road and on-highway motorcycle sales.

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Scooter sales rose the most, at 7.7%, with dual-purpose motorcycles (the ones capable of going on-road and off-road) following at 7.4%. Sales of dirt bikes rose 2.1%, while those of on-highway bikes, which make up by far the largest segment in terms of overall numbers, rose the least, at 1.8%.

The numbers were in line with expectations, and maybe a little better. The Motorcycle Industry Council had said in December that for the first time since the market softened in 2006 and then crashed in 2008, it anticipated reporting an increase in sales figures.

Just over 1.1 million motorcycles were sold in 2006, and fewer than half that many in 2011, it said.

Here’s a breakdown of the numbers:

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