First it was smaller cars…now people in Kent are getting on their bikes to beat the credit crunch.

Motorcycle sales have gone up by nearly a fifth as people switch to two wheels.

Last week we reported how more Kent motorists were opting for lower emission cars and giving the cold shoulder to bigger engine cars to save on fuel costs and to avoid tax hikes.

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Now the number of motorbike registrations has jumped to 18.7 per cent between July 2007 and July 2008 – just below the national average of 22 per cent.

The figures were released by the Motor Cycle Industry Association (MCI).

Danny Gough sales manager of Laguna Triumph motorcycles in Ashford says business is better than it has ever been.

He said: "We’ve experienced the two busiest months since we opened a year and half ago.

"There has been a dramatic rise in these commuter bikes. Sales have gone up by 25 per cent over the last six months because of the congestion charge in London and the price of fuel."

Simon Small, spokesman from the MCI, said there has been an increasing trend of people moving away from the supersport bikes to practical every day bikes, such as naked and adventure models.

He said: "Bikes are cheaper and they are part of the solution to the congestion charge, not part of the problem.

"They take up no space on the road and are easier and quicker to get around without getting held up.

"The cost of fuel is driving this latest trend and it offers a whole better experience than being in a car."