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Motorcycle sales crash in first quarter

Motorcycle sales crash in first quarter

Australian motorcycle sales have hit their first downturn in several years with a massive 13.4% decline to 21,794 in the first quarter of 2017.

Road bikes had been performing best of all over the past few years, but were down by 15.5% in the quarter.

Off-road bikes were down 15.3%, scooters again fell significantly (22.3%) and ATV sales were only down 1.3%, according to Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries figures.

The 2017 sales stumble comes after a busy 2016, in which the industry recorded its best annual result since 2009.

Victory for Victory

Ironically, the only motorcycle brand to experience an increase in sales in the quarter was the axed Victory Motorcycles as customers rushed to buy them before they are gone forever.

2017 Victory Octane frenzy first quarter
2017 Victory Octane

Harley retains top position

Next best performer was Harley-Davidson which has been the top road bike brand in the country the past couple of years.

Harley was down only 1.1% in the quarter and retained its top-selling status in road bikes with 2261 sales for the first quarter, followed by Honda (-18.1%, 1943 sales) and Yamaha (-18%, 1455).

Bobber bobs up

Next best performer was Triumph which was down only 6.5%, thanks to the popularity of the new Bonneville range, especially the new solo-seat Bobber.

Triumph Bonneville Bobber is a styling hit first quarter
Triumph Bonneville Bobber

The stylish Bobber has been the most successful new model launch in Triumph’s history in the USA and caused such a rush, Avon Tyres has had to ramp up production of its Cobra tyres.

Triumph Australia marketing manager Dale McBride says that since it launched in February, it has been their best selling model with a “healthy order bank still to be fulfilled”.

Dealer demos aren’t lasting too long as they are sold to eager customers and then being replaced ASAP,” he says.

We had great reviews from our customers at this weekend’s National RAT Rally.”

Biggest losers

Biggest brand losers were Hyosung -82.7%, Aprilia -78.7% and Moto Guzzi -53.2%.

The sales crash in the first quarter is bad news for the industry and riders.

However, it could lead to a discount war among manufacturers and dealers over the next few months leading up to the end of the financial year as they try to clear floor stock.

We spoke to several dealers and industry figures, but no one wanted to go on the record.

They say it has been a difficult start to the year with extremes of weather – heat, cyclone, floods – and a slowing economy.

Yet motor vehicle sales had a record March!

TOP 10 MOTORCYCLES (excludes ATVs)

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

NBC110

527

863

-38.9%

Harley Davidson

FXSB

352

304

15.8%

Harley Davidson

XG500

322

395

-18.5%

Honda

GROM

294

0.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

279

384

-27.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 300

268

453

-40.8%

Honda

CRF450R

260

94

176.6%

Kawasaki

KLX110

258

257

0.4%

Harley Davidson

VRSCDX

254

171

48.5%

Yamaha

MT07L

250

392

-36.2%

TOP 10 ROAD BIKES

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

NBC110

527

863

-38.9%

Harley Davidson

FXSB

352

304

15.8%

Harley Davidson

XG500

322

395

-18.5%

Honda

GROM

294

0.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

279

384

-27.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 300

268

453

-40.8%

Harley Davidson

VRSCDX

254

171

48.5%

Yamaha

MT07L

250

392

-36.2%

Honda

CBR500R

221

170

30.0%

Yamaha

MT-09

219

174

25.9%

Harley-Davidson greenies Harley Softail Breakout Pix: Greg Smith iKapture first quarter
Harley Softail Breakout Pix: Greg Smith iKapture

TOP 10 CRUISERS

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Harley Davidson

FXSB

352

304

15.8%

Harley Davidson

XG500

322

395

-18.5%

Harley Davidson

VRSCDX

254

171

48.5%

Harley Davidson

FXDLS

167

0.0%

Kawasaki

Vulcan S

148

171

-13.5%

Harley Davidson

FXDB

133

214

-37.9%

Harley Davidson

FLSTFBS

83

115

-27.8%

Yamaha

XVS650/A

83

133

-37.6%

Ducati

Diavel

81

67

20.9%

Harley Davidson

FXDWG

75

86

-12.8%

TOP 10 SCOOTERS

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Piaggio

Fly 150

97

113

-14.2%

Suzuki

ADDRESS

88

97

-9.3%

Honda

WW150

81

101

-19.8%

Piaggio

ZIP 50

77

69

11.6%

Vespa

GTS 300

58

65

-10.8%

Vespa

PRIMAVERA 150

54

55

-1.8%

Honda

NSC110

53

103

-48.5%

Piaggio

Typhoon 50

46

48

-4.2%

Vespa

GTS 250

42

41

2.4%

Honda

MW110

41

50

-18.0%

TOP 10 LAMS 

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

NBC110

527

863

-38.9%

Harley Davidson

XG500

322

395

-18.5%

Honda

GROM

294

0.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

279

384

-27.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 300

268

453

-40.8%

Yamaha

MT07L

250

392

-36.2%

Yamaha

WR450F

247

529

-53.3%

Suzuki

DR-Z400E

223

234

-4.7%

Honda

CBR500R

221

170

30.0%

KTM

500EXC

176

141

24.8%

Yamaha R3 Yamaha R1 first quarter
Yamaha R3

TOP 10 SPORTS TOURERS

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

279

384

-27.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 300

268

453

-40.8%

Kawasaki

Ninja 650L

131

113

15.9%

KTM

RC390

92

101

-8.9%

Honda

CBR650FL

74

98

-24.5%

BMW

R 1200 RS

47

47

0.0%

Kawasaki

Ninja 1000

46

45

2.2%

Yamaha

MT09TRA

40

61

-34.4%

Suzuki

GSX-S1000F

29

12

141.7%

BMW

S 1000 XR

29

45

-35.6%

TOP 10 ADVENTURE TOURERS

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

CRF1000

191

270

-29.3%

Suzuki

DR650SE

139

135

3.0%

BMW

R 1200 GS Adventure

92

92

0.0%

BMW

R 1200 GS

89

88

1.1%

Honda

CB500XA

74

78

-5.1%

Kawasaki

KLR650

73

79

-7.6%

KTM

1190ADVR

48

64

-25.0%

Ducati

Multistrada 1200

44

38

15.8%

KTM

690ENDR

40

60

-33.3%

Triumph

Tiger 800 XC

40

99

-59.6%

TOP 10 NAKED

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

GROM

294

0.0%

Yamaha

MT07L

250

392

-36.2%

Yamaha

MT-09

219

174

25.9%

Honda

CB125E

140

192

-27.1%

Yamaha

MT03LA

127

45

182.2%

Triumph

Bonneville T120

89

29

206.9%

Triumph

Thruxton

78

29

169.0%

Yamaha

MT10

77

0.0%

Kawasaki

Z300

63

113

-44.2%

Honda

CB500FA

56

65

-13.8%

2016 Honda CBR500R first quarter
Honda CBR500R

TOP 10 SUPERSPORT

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Honda

CBR500R

221

170

30.0%

Honda

CBR300R

131

158

-17.1%

BMW

S 1000 RR

78

60

30.0%

Ducati

959 Panigale

70

89

-21.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja ZX-10R

54

84

-35.7%

Honda

CBR1000RR

49

87

-43.7%

Suzuki

GSX-R1000

48

30

60.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R1

41

59

-30.5%

Ducati

1299 Panigale

36

53

-32.1%

Triumph

DAYTONA 675

36

35

2.9%

TOP 10 TOURING

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2017

YTD 2016

% Chg

Harley Davidson

FLHXS

101

87

16.1%

Harley Davidson

FLHTK

63

57

10.5%

Harley Davidson

FLHR

46

38

21.1%

Harley Davidson

FLTRXS

38

33

15.2%

Harley Davidson

FLHXSE2

37

40

-7.5%

BMW

R 1200 RT

32

33

-3.0%

Yamaha

FJR1300

24

26

-7.7%

Honda

GL1800

22

22

0.0%

Triumph

T/Bird LT

21

23

-8.7%

Indian

Roadmaster

20

8

150.0%