USA ATV sales crash while SBS sales boom
By Andy Foulkes on 6th Jan 12
Sales of all types of ATV in the USA fell to around 300,000 units in 2011, down from a peak of over one million units just five years ago. On the up-side, Side-by-Side sales have quadrupled to over 200,000 units over the same period and manufacturers are falling over themselves to either stay ahead or get into the booming SBS sector.
Here in the UK we are still faced with the ludicrous situation of having no credibly audited sales figures for either ATV or SBS machines, with the manufacturers simply putting in a claimed sales figure each month.
Whatever the real figures, the UK SBS racing side is certainly starting to take off, with its own 2012 British Championship series running under the ACU, mostly at NORA-MX events.
On the surface the SBS class appears to be expensive, with a prepped racing SBS costing up to £25,000, but some hybrid quads can cost that, and how much is a top sidecar-cross rig?
And whilst there may be a few familiar faces signed up for the 2012 series, we need to look at the positive aspects of attracting ‘cross-over' racers, fans and sponsors from comparatively expensive motor sports.
If we do our best to welcome them, it can only be good for the future of quad and motorcycle sport.
For information on the 2012 SBS series go to www.nora-mx.org.uk.USA ATV sales crash while SBS sales boom
Sales of all types of ATV in the USA fell to around 300,000 units in 2011, down from a peak of over one million units just five years ago. On the up-side, Side-by-Side sales have quadrupled to over 200,000 units over the same period and manufacturers are falling over themselves to either stay ahead or get into the booming SBS sector.
Here in the UK we are still faced with the ludicrous situation of having no credibly audited sales figures for either ATV or SBS machines, with the manufacturers simply putting in a claimed sales figure each month.
Whatever the real figures, the UK SBS racing side is certainly starting to take off, with its own 2012 British Championship series running under the ACU, mostly at NORA-MX events.
On the surface the SBS class appears to be expensive, with a prepped racing SBS costing up to £25,000, but some hybrid quads can cost that, and how much is a top sidecar-cross rig?
And whilst there may be a few familiar faces signed up for the 2012 series, we need to look at the positive aspects of attracting ‘cross-over' racers, fans and sponsors from comparatively expensive motor sports.
If we do our best to welcome them, it can only be good for the future of quad and motorcycle sport.
For information on the 2012 SBS series go to www.nora-mx.org.uk.
