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Motorcycle Sales and Thefts Dropped in 2009


The latest report from the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) says that there was a 13 percent decline in motorcycle thefts last year, which continued a downward trend in thefts. Specifically, there were 56,093 motorcycles reported stolen in 2009, down from 64,492 the previous year.

The same report also shows that passenger vehicle and light truck thefts are also down, but so are vehicle sales. Sales of motorcycles decreased by 40.8 percent between 2008 and 2009, according to the Motorcycle Industry Council. The Japanese Automobile Manufacturers Association also reported a decrease in production: 47.4 percent fewer units produced in 2009 than in 2008.

Consumers considering the purchase of a motorcycle should remember that motorcycle insurance rates may be affected by the frequency with with certain models are stolen. The top five models stolen in 2009 were:

  1. Honda (13,688)
  2. Yamaha (11,148)
  3. Suzuki (9,154)
  4. Kawasaki (5,911)
  5. Harley-Davidson (3,529)
  6. Combined, these five makes accounted for 77.4 percent of total reported bike thefts, or 43,430 stolen vehicles.

    There were five states which, combined, saw 39 percent of the total motorcycle theft activity. They were:

  1. California
  2. Texas
  3. Florida
  4. North Carolina
  5. Georgia

Not surprisingly, most motorcycles are stolen in the summer months, with July seeing the most thefts in 2009.

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