New motorcycle sales continued to climb last year in the US, rising through the one-million mark and reaching levels not seen since the 1970s.

The Motorcycle Industry Council is currently estimating 2004 two-wheeler sales of nearly 1,050,000, and the upward trend continues as the industry has sold increasing numbers of bikes for the 12th straight year, a Business Wire report said.
Compared with 2003, sales of the major brands last year rose 4.7 per cent. Among those 12 brands, cruiser models, sportbikes, touring bikes, traditional (or “naked”) bikes, and dual-purpose bikes led the way in percentage increases. Cruisers remained the top sellers, followed by sportbikes and touring bikes.
“The success of motorcycling over the past 12 years is amazing,” said Larry Little, chairman of the MIC and vice president and publisher of Cycle World magazine.