We’re going motorcycle mad with motorcycle registrations growing at a faster rate than any other type of vehicle over the past five years.
Registrations were up 31.2% from 567,569 to 744,732 from the 2008 census to 2013, according to figures released today by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS).
Western Australia experienced the biggest rise with registrations up 47.8%, followed by Tasmania on 42%.
In the past year, bike registrations around the country rose 5% which is just under the annual growth rate of 5.8% from 2008-13.
By comparison, passenger vehicles rose an average of 2% in the past five years, campervans 4% and light rigid trucks 4.6%.
NSW continues to have the highest number of registered bikes with about 200,000, followed by Queensland (about 170k), Victoria (165k), WA (120k), SA (50k), Tas (15k), ACT (10k), NT (5k).
ABS director of transport statistics Sybille McKeown says there are now about three-quarters of a million motorcycles on the road and 13 million cars.
“Once you add in trucks, campervans, buses and so on, there are over 17 million registered motor vehicles in Australia; up nearly three per cent since last year.” she says.