In one area after another the economy seems finally to be stirring to life. Reports from three motorcycle companies this week give further support to the resurgence.
BMW on Friday announced that its motorcycle sales in the U.S. were up 7.4 percent in 2011. Their best-selling bike was the S 1000 RR superbike, which opened an entire new area for the company. Top-end sportbikes had not been a component of the company's line-up, and then they went straight to the top with the S 1000 RR.
Ural Motorcycles also announced big gains in 2011, with a 39 percent increase in cycles sold. The company also added 22 new dealers. The company's North American operation, headquartered in Redmond, WA, is also moving to larger quarters.
Finally, Brammo Inc., maker of electric motorcycles, will be enlarging its headquarters and adding a private dirt testing track. Employees at their Ashland, OR, headquarters, now numbering 40, will increase to 200 to 250 or so. Further plans for expansion are also on the horizon.
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