Australian motorcycle market down 22 percent

fter a strong finish to 2008, the Australian motorcycle market slumped 22 percent in the first month of this year.

Figures obtained by BikePoint reveal the scooter segment has taken the biggest hit, and is nearly 40 percent down on the same period in 2008. Off-road has lost 24 percent over the same stage, with both ATV and road dropping by 15.6 percent.

The total market was 8980 units in January, as opposed to 11,531 last year.

In off-road, Husaberg and Kawasaki are the only marques to have increased their sales, a momentum that Team Green has also taken into the road segment.

Only four brands - Kawasaki, BMW, Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta -- have increased their year-on-year sales in road, while Victory wasn't around this time last year.

Moto Guzzi and MV Agusta's increases are coming from a very low base, as well as BMW to some degree, so the result for Kawasaki is stunning, and has continued its momentum from the last quarter of 2008.

Of the other Japanese marques, Honda was down 26.4 and 25.1 percent in off-road and road respectively; Suzuki down 0.5 and 21.7; and Yamaha down 36.9 and 13.7.

Overall, Harley-Davidson was the leading road brand with 741 sales, ahead of Suzuki (567), Honda (562), Kawasaki (513), Yamaha (390) and Triumph (293).

In off-road, it's Yamaha (1000) way out in front from Honda (758), Kawasaki (467), KTM (422) and Suzuki (378).

Yamaha also dominates ATV sales, while the Piaggio group (Piaggio/Vespa/Gilera) leads the ailing scooter market from SYM.

The total market is being led by Yamaha (1897) from Honda (1700), Suzuki (1113) and Kawasaki (1094).

The slump in the Australian motorcycle market eclipses the 18.5 percent year-on-year drop for the car industry.

Photo: the Ninja 250 -- one of Kawasaki's success stories