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Clutch and Chrome!
Financial and motorcycle experts look to Daytona for economic indicators
By the Staff of Clutch and Chrome
February 12th, 2008
Motorcycle industry experts
as well as savvy financial analysts will be looking to
Daytona to answer the question; When is a Bike Week more
than a Bike Week?
Daytona Bike Week, which
starts February 29th and runs through March 9th is the first
major motorcycle event since manufacturers have released
mixed sales numbers, most of which have left many uncertain
about 2008.
Higher fuel prices were the
reason given for the slight drop in attendance at Sturgis
last August, affecting those attendees who towed (or trailered) their motorcycles to the event.
Since then, less
motorcycles have been sold compared to the same period from
the year before and financial experts have freely used the
word recession when discussing the American economy. Many
claim the country may already be in a recession while more
optimistic experts put the odds at 50% of one happening.
Organizers had the height
of Daytona's Bike Week attendance at 500,000, with that
number falling to as low as 350,000 in recent years. The
Florida rally has a friendly rivalry with Sturgis which
claimed an estimated 507,000 in 2007, slightly down from the
peak of 525,000 in 2005.
Because of the popularity
of Daytona Bike Week as well as the economic timing leaves
the rally as a major indicator to many financial trends
from discretionary income to the state of the motorcycle
industry in general.
For those that do attend,
Daytona Bike Week is promising
two weeks of activities,
rides and exhibits. Harley-Davidson has it's own
social calendar featuring
an
all women ride with over
500 participants. |
