The domestic motorcycle market is showing signs of pulling out of the prolonged doldrums as sporty, easy-to-maneuver machines, with an engine displacement of 250cc, are attracting young people, including women.
Sales of new 125cc and bigger motorcycles totaled some 106,000 units in 2012, up 14.9 percent in the first year-on-year increase in seven years, according to the Japan Light Motor Vehicle and Motorcycle Association.
In particular, motorcycles with displacements of up to 250cc, which have low maintenance costs as they are not subject to regular mandatory safety inspections, logged a 16.5 percent sales increase to 45,300 units. Sales in the category jumped 52.2 percent in the first four months of this year from the same period last year.