Reversal of motorcycle trend continues this fall

For a second straight month, metric manufacturers’ new motorcycle exports to the United States increased significantly over a year ago.

Shipments of motorcycle units to the United States rose nearly 67 percent in September, according to the Japan Automobile Manufacturers Association (JAMA). The association includes Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki.

The shipment increase — exports totaled more than 8,000 units —follows more than a 40 percent hike in August. That two-month trend is quite different from the first half of the year, when exports were down significantly.

Exports from JAMA members to Canada in September also increased. Exports there totaled more than 1,200 units, a more than 100 percent increase over the year-ago month. Exports to Canada the previous month actually decreased.

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