My Motorcycle Checktop tips for used buyers April 2015: BMW HP4, Yamaha R1 and Aprilia Tuono praised as the season proper begins
MyMotorcycleCheck.com - the UK's No.1 motorbike and scooter provenance website - has saved many a biker from making an expensive two-wheeled mistake. In these monthly bulletins its Valuation Team's expert reveals significant trends in the UK market and suggests three wise buys.
Highly desirable: BMW HP4
Safe bet: Yamaha R1
Used star: Aprilia Tuono
My Motorcycle Check's Rob Hobson commented: "For our highly desirable model this month we've chosen the BMW HP4. This is such a complete package, it really is difficult to find fault. Remember, as well as revealing a bike's history, MyMotorcycleCheck.com also provides valuations - a great tool for haggling with dealers or private sellers.
"In terms of bikes that hold their value, safe bets don't come much safer than the Yamaha R1. Any clean, standard, early model R1 is likely to sell quickly. A word of warning though, many carry battle scars so do your homework and check before you buy."
"For our used star we've chosen the Aprilia Tuono. A well-maintained Tuono can make a fantastic road bike, real value for money, but this is a bike which many buyers seem to overlook. So long as you do a history check to ensure the one you're looking at is what it claims to be - for instance, that it hasn't been written-off - the Tuono has a lot going for it."
As to market trends, Hobson commented: "The new market was around 11% up on the same time last year at the end of February. Admittedly only two months of sales, but reason for optimism given the market went on to increase throughout last year. It is also important to report that all style sectors are showing increases year-on-year, with the naked bike style showing the biggest growth, around 35%. It would be great if this level of uplift could be maintained.
"Perhaps the only disappointing figure was the decline in scooter moped sales. It is frustrating to see this sector, renowned for periods of boom and bust, continuing to fall. This entry level onto two wheels is so important we really need to see a focused campaign to highlight the benefits of scooter moped riding, for 16 year olds especially.
"With the clocks on British Summer Time and longer, warmer days ahead, we can expect showroom demand to increase sharply. With the Easter break comes the new race calendar and the start of the season proper. It is now when the used market really picks up.
"As previously reported, there hasn't been a dramatic fall in used values during the winter months. Prices have been firm, based on the individual model demand, condition and, importantly, history. Looking ahead, we expect to see ticket prices and values increase throughout the market.
"With a sustained period of growth in the new market will come a welcome increase in used product. There's currently still not enough clean, low mileage stock to meet demand across the trade, so values can only remain firm in the short to medium term."
MyMotorcycleCheck.com's parent company, CDL Vehicle Information Services, performs over a million look-ups a day for companies including AutoExpress, CompareTheMarket, Confused.com, Go-Compare, Moneysupermarket, Swiftcover, Tesco Compare and WhatCar?.
It uses up-to-the-minute data from the Police, the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA), the Association of British Insurers (ABI) and major finance houses including Lloyds TSB and Santander.
To help UK consumers make the right choice, MyMotorcycleCheck.com provides an instant snapshot of all the key vehicle information. For only £4.95 you can confirm whether your potential pride and joy has ever been scrapped, stolen or written-off, has any money owing on it, has had a plate or colour change and much more.
Know what you're getting onto: MyMotorcycleCheck.com
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Notes To Editors
There's a "BMW_HP4" JPG to go with this.
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