The Motorcycle Industry Association (MCI) has revealed that research into the spending habits of UK bikers reveals that four times as many of us travel to Europe for holidays than overseas bikers come to the UK.

100,000 independent bikers travel abroad by ferry or the channel tunnel for their holidays in Europe, whereas only 23,000 European riders visit the UK.

MCI Spokesperson, Sheila Rainger said “We are currently attracting a very low percentage of European riders. If we could attract the same number of bikers to the UK as leave the UK for holidays the industry could potentially generate over £30 million in income for every week they spent on holiday in the UK.
“Holidaying by bike is an excellent way of seeing more of the UK’s tourist attractions and stunning scenery at your own convenience. It contributes a significant amount to local and national tourism and now is a good time for the UK to try and open this up to markets further afield.”

Research carried out by the Motor Cycle Industry Association reveals that UK bikers are already a lucrative market as they contribute nearly £400 million to UK tourism.

In its survey of more than 2,000 riders and non-riders from across the UK, the MCI found that 84% of the UK’s 1.5 million riders prefer to holiday by motorcycle for holidays, short breaks and days out – even though the majority have access to a car.

One-quarter of riders use motorcycles as their preferred mode of transport to enjoy days-out in the UK. One-in-six take weekend short-breaks by bike and one-in-fifteen holiday on two-wheels . The average spend by motorcyclists is £68 per day on accommodation, food and entertainment.

Motorbikin.com comment: Blimey, I must say I am gobsmacked by the figures quoted in this survey. We contribute £400 million to UK tourism, wow!

As an aside, I wonder how much money was lost when Stratford On Avon council moved the unofficial bike parking from besides the river (in favour of market stalls!) to a crumby barely wide enough for a combo car park added onto the multi-storey?

Pete and I are part of the 84% who holidays by motorcycle and indeed our motorcycles are our preferred transport for days out and weekends away.

We do predominantly travel in the UK by motorcycle and its true that this country has a lot to offer in terms of great roads and places to go to and things to do.

However, we have been discussing recently how as avid motorcyclists we actually live in the wrong country if we want to enjoy our motorcycling for a larger part of the year!

Why? The weather – for a large part of the year it is not conducive to pleasant motorcycling conditions.

I suspect there lies our big disadvantage in this country – the weather – and is the reason why there is a mass exodus of bikers to Europe and beyond, every year. Plus not much interest in coming across the channel to this country as there is to go to Europe to get away from it.

Unfortunately there is nothing we can do about that.

Having said that most bikers are used to some degree to riding in the wet and no matter how unpleasant it doesn’t stop us enjoying motorcycling. Part of the answer, I suggest, might be a network of biker friendly hotels and b & b establishments that can not only offer safe bike parking but also facilities for drying clothing.

Surely the estimated £30million lost every week must be an incentive?

I have asked the MCI to provide me with more info on these statistics and I will let you know their basis once I get a reply.

I would love to hear your opinions below: