Dortmund (dpa / lnw) – At the start of the new motorcycle season, the spring fair “Motorräder 23” was opened in Dortmund on Thursday. Around 300 companies are exhibiting vehicles, clothing and accessories – from small motorcycles with a maximum displacement of 125 cc to heavy custom-made Harley Davidsons with prices starting at 47,000 euros.
After two years of Corona-related cancellations, the demand for advance sales was high. More than 80,000 visitors are expected in the Dortmund exhibition halls by March 5, said exhibition organizer Hans-Jürgen Weigt. Around 600 motorcycles and scooters can be seen, including several dozen electric vehicles.
Since 2020, motorists over the age of 25 have been able to have their driver’s license extended to small motorcycles with 125 cc and a maximum of 15 hp with training courses without further testing. That had led to a boom in the 125 series. In 2022, new registrations of these scooters and light motorcycles increased by a good tenth to over 72,000 machines, the trade fair organizer reported, citing figures from the Federal Motor Vehicle Office.
Rollers in particular are in demand. Sales of these vehicles would have increased by 20 percent to 36,613 in 2022. The electric drive is also becoming increasingly popular, especially in the smaller two-wheeler classes, said Weigt.
Among the established brands with combustion engines, several manufacturers have this year, in addition to the top models with up to 200 hp, medium-sized new machines with well under 1000 cubic centimeters and an engine output of less than 100 hp. “The higher, faster, further is over,” said Weigt.