Motorcycle manufacturers have announced that they will be designing some of their bikes to further attract the mounting interest from the young people.
They say that the cost of owning and running a car has encouraged an increase in motorbikes from young people but road safety charity, Brake has warned that younger bikers need to be aware of the higher risk of having a road traffic accident.
Increase Driven By Costs Say Bikers
Honda, KTM and Yamaha are all designing for the burgeoning youth market and according to KTM younger people are drawn in mainly by the design of a motorbike. The DVSA (Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency) says there has been a demand for CBT (Compulsory Basic Training) which, along with a provisional licence, allows legal riding from the age of 16.
In an article written for BBC’s Newsbeat, bikers report that the insurance costs of owning a motorbike are radically lower than owning a car. Insurance companies have also said that they are sending a high number of quotes to the under 30s age bracket.
Tom Hobbs from Honda believes that there will be a ‘continued focus on lower capacity, affordable machines in future’ and with the changes in the motorbike testing systems last year, this looks even more likely. The changes mean that there is now a limit on riders under the age of 24 being able to ride certain sized engines and power outputs of motorcycles.
Road Safety Charities Say Using A Bike Is More of A Safety Risk
Despite the increased interest for smaller sized engines that are less capable of high speeds, road safety charity Brake says that young people need to realise that riding a motorbike carries a high risk. She said: Julie Townsend from Brake said: “While it’s understandable that young people want cheap forms of transport, they need to realise that riding a motorbike carries a much higher risk. She continued: Motorcyclists are roughly 35 times more likely to be killed in a road crash than people in cars.”
Have You Been Injured In A Motorbike Accident?
If you or someone you know has been injured in a motorbike accident then you may be able to claim compensation if the accident was not your fault. This party blame will need to be demonstrated and your claim will need to be made within three years of having your accident. For more information advice about starting a claim, please get in touch with our no win no fee solicitors at Motor Injury Lawyers on 0800 808 7733. You can also complete an online claim form available on this site.