Australian motorcycle sales down but we are faring much better than Europe

Australian motorcycle sales down but we are faring much better than Europe
By, Trevor Hedge

While over the first six months of 2009 the Australian motorcycle market suffered a 14% decline compared to the same period in 2008 the situation in Europe is markedly worse.

European motorcycle and scooter registrations were 35% down in the first quarter of 2009 compared to the first quarter of 2008. Over the same period the European car market was down 17.2%.

In 2007, more than 2.7 million motorcycles and scooters were sold in Europe. Having benefited from 6 years of continuous increase of the market (+ 22 % between 2002 and 2007), the motorcycle fleet had been steadily growing, reaching about 33 million motorcycles and scooters, mainly pushed by an increasing urban mobility demand.

In 2008, the market suffered a reduction to 2.5 million motorcycles (-7.4% over 2007). This drop mainly occurred during the last quarter of 2008, which showed a significant contraction (-34%) over the same period of 2007.

The first quarter of 2009 has been more severely impacted by a further deterioration of registrations (-35%) over the same period of 2008, with multiple consequences on manufacturers, suppliers and distributors. Given the seasonal pattern of motorcycles sales – mostly concentrated in the European spring/summer – the full impact of the current economic crisis will only become measurable in the second semester of the year.

— Detailed Australian Motorcycle Sales Results from the first half of 2009

— Brand Rankings
Brand Rankings – Overall – Honda number one in overall sales despite 22% decline; Suzuki and Triumph doing well
Brand Rankings – Roadbike – Suzuki Roadbike sales going gangbusters while competitors decline
Brand Rankings – Dirtbike – Yamaha lead dirtbike sales despite 22% decline; Suzuki, Husaberg and BMW grow strongly
Brand Rankings – Scooter – Scooter sales down 29% overall; Honda grow their scooter market share significantly
— Model Rankings – Top Ten
Model Rankings – Overall – Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R comprehensively dominating the motorcycle market
Model Rankings – Roadbike – Three Harley’s in the list of top ten selling roadbikes
Model Rankings – Dirtbike – Suzuki’s DR-Z400E continues stellar success in sales charts, top selling dirtbike in Australia
Model Rankings – Supersport – Yamaha’s R1 regains top dog status in the Sportsbike charts
Model Rankings – Cruiser – Unsurprisingly, Harley dominate Cruiser sales
Model Rankings – Nakedbike – Triumph’s Street Triple streets ahead in Nakedbike sales, and deservingly so
Model Rankings – Sport Touring – Suzuki continue ownership of the sports-touring sector
Model Rankings – Touring – Top selling Touring models nearly all record significant downturns
Model Rankings – Adventure Touring – Not a Honda or Yamaha to be seen in Adventure-Touring Top Ten
Model Rankings – Under 250cc – Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R dominating the under 250cc category
Model Rankings – Enduro – Suzuki’s DR-Z and KTM’s 300EXC only enduro models to increase sales compared to 2008
Model Rankings – Motocross – Honda retain top spots on the motocross charts with CRF250R and CRF450R
Model Rankings – Trail – Honda’s CRF230F dominating the soft trail market
Model Rankings – Supermoto – Yamaha XT660 beats Suzuki’s DR-Z400SM out of top spot in Supermoto by one unit
Model Rankings – Fun/Kids – Top Ten selling Fun/Play Bikes
Model Rankings – Farm – Suzuki’s DR200SE increases agricultural market share
Model Rankings – Scooter – Honda’s SCV100 the biggest selling scooter in the land