Aussie bike market continues to slide
Eight per cent down in 2019, with scooter the only market segment bucking the trendCar sales are feeling the pinch in Australia, and data just released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) reveals motorcycles are treading the same rocky path.
From January to September this year, 62,973 motorcycles, ATVs and scooters were sold during the first, compared with 68,460 for the same period in 2018. This represents an eight per cent decline for the market, with all market categories except scooters affected by the downturn.
Honda was the overall leader with a 23.1 per cent share of the national market, followed by Yamaha (21), Kawasaki (10.6), KTM (9), Suzuki (7.6), Harley-Davidson (7.3), Polaris (5.8), BMW Motorrad (3.2), BRP (3) and Triumph (2.1).
Only one marque has managed to sell more bikes in 2019 than 2018 – Moto Guzzi, but only by a wafer thin three units.
Among the marques not included in the official sales figures (ie non-members of the FCAI) are MV Agusta, Benelli, Royal Enfield, Peugeot, Sherco, Kymco, Beta, SWM and Lambretta.
Scooters defy the trend
Across the industry segments, scooters defied the market trend, with a 14.5 per cent climb in sales year to date. On the flip side, road bike sales fell by 13.8 per cent, ATV/SSV is 11.3 per cent in the red and off-road motorcycles dipped 2.4 per cent.
“The slower sales rate experienced by the new motorcycle market is in line with the broader economic environment in Australia,” said Tony Weber, chief executive of the FCAI.
“We have seen many factors, including multiple weather events, federal and state elections, and tightened lending practices contribute to the overall economic conditions.”
Fun times galore
Four ‘fun’ bikes sit atop the overall best sellers list in 2019, with Kawasaki’s KLX110 (1189) units leading from the Honda CRF110F (1017), the venerable Yamaha PW50 (1011) and Honda CRF50F (1008).
Yamaha’s perennially popular WR450F enduro bike is next (909), followed by the Honda NSC110 (779), Honda CB125E (756), Yamaha TTR50E (752), Kawasaki Ninja 400 (749) and Yamaha’s MT-07L (693).
KTM’s new 790 Adventure R leads the adventure segment, just ahead of the Suzuki DR650SE – although from a ‘family’ perspective BMW Motorrad leads the way thanks to 559 sales for its new R 1250 GS and R 1250 GS Adventure ShiftCam platform.
Tags
Please see our Editorial Guidelines & Code of Ethics (including for more information about sponsored content and paid events). The information published on this website is of a general nature only and doesn’t consider your particular circumstances or needs.
