Born to be Mild?

After several years of slumping sales, motorcycles are once again on the upswing, with models that appeal to novices and aging Baby Boomers leading the way. According to the Motorcycle Industry Council, sales over the first seven months of 2012 were up by 3.6 percent, with so-called “step-through” touring scooters leading the way with a 5.6 percent sales gain. “Touring scooters provide a good starting point for consumers who are new to motorcycling because they have more stability and are easy to mount and dismount,” says Alex Lezama, a motorcycle market data analyst at NADAGuides.com. Also popular, especially among older riders, are three-wheel motorcycles that afford added stability, greater long-distance comfort and more car-like features that include independent suspensions, disc brakes, top-notch audio systems and large lockable storage compartments. “We’ve seen a definite spike in interest for these types of motorcycles over the past six months and it will most likely continue in that direction in the coming months,” says Lezama.