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The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) is keen to get new riders onto the roads in Britain.

At present the motorcycle industry has a significant impact on the wider UK economy creating annual sales of £5.2 billion, states a new MCI survey, with the expansion of the market offering opportunities for even more revenue for the sector through bike insurance and sales.

New sports bike insurance customers will be looking forward to the Get On campaign that provides free motorcycling sessions for beginners.

The event may go some way to correct statistics that put Britain among the countries with the lowest level of bike ownership, at 22 motorcycles per 1000 people.

There are approximately 1.4 million motorcycles and 1.5 million motorcyclists in the UK and the number of licensed motorcycles has increased by 50 per cent since 1999 and 100 per cent since the mid 1990s.

Innovations in research and development focussed on convenience and low-carbon technology that can boost bike sales, the report suggested.

Triumph, the UK's largest automotive manufacturer was the only European motorcycle manufacturing company to have recorded any growth in 2009.

UK registration statistics show that Triumph sold 25 per cent more new motorcycles in the UK in the first 11 months of 2009 compared to the same period in 2008, reflecting an increase of nearly 1,500 motorcycles.

There has been an improvement in the entry-level sector as the registration figures for March 2010 show an increase in the number smaller capacity bikes in the 50 – 125cc range.

Steve Kenward, MCI's CEO, said: "We know there is great potential to bring new riders on board and expand our existing customer database to a younger and more diverse group of people."

Motorcycle tours have also become more popular. GlobeBusters, which runs organised motorcycle tours around the world, now has a turnover of £500,000 per annum.

GlobeBusters recently announced their Silk Road, London to Beijing motorcycle expedition that will have bike insurance customers come fact-to-face with unpredictable challenges across a 12,000 mile journey.

Statistics published by the Department for Transport state that motorcycling accounts for less than one per cent of the vehicle traffic in Britain but riders suffer 14 per cent of total deaths and serious injuries on Britain's roads, suggesting motorbike insurance customers may need to exercise more caution.

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