FCAI wants governments to embrace dirt bikes after 2021 sales boom

The Federal Chamber of Automotive Industry is encouraging governments to take notice of the booming off-road motorcycle segment, following another year of increased new bike sales.

According to the latest FCAI quarterly report, sales of new motorcycles jumped by 13.4 per cent when compared to 2020. There were 123,530 new motorcycles sold in 2021, with the off-road segment accounting for nearly half of that figure.

The off-road segment recorded an 18.8 per cent increase compared to 2020, with 53,118 dirt bikes sold in 2021. The segment now accounts for 43 per cent of the total market.

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Dirt bikes appear to have grown in popularity since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic in early 2020, with punters looking to splash spare cash on new toys and hobbies that allow them to get outdoors and explore.

As a result of the increase, the FCAI is urging governments to take notice of the growing off-road segment and its benefits as a form of outdoor recreation.

“More and more Australians are using off-road motorcycles to increase their physical fitness, as a form of mental wellbeing, and as a way of experiencing the Australian bush,” said FCAI chief, Tony Weber. “It is important for politicians at all levels to be cognisant of this and to set aside appropriate land for it.”

Similarly, the FCAI wants more focus on road motorcycles and scooters as a solution to increasing stress on Australia’s roads and transport systems.

“Traffic is a major issue across Australia,” said Weber. “Getting more commuters on motorcycles and scooters will help to reduce congestion and increase traffic flow. “We are encouraging governments to consider how they can motivate commuters to use motorcycles and scooters as safe, practical, and efficient ways of getting around our cities and urban centres.”

The road motorcycle segment saw a 6.8 per cent increase in 2021, with 37,270 new bikes sold. Scooters, while only representing 3.9 per cent of the total market, recorded an 8.1 per cent increase in new sales in 2021. Only 4821 scoots were sold in 2021, but the number would likely increase dramatically if second-hand sales and brand’s not registered with the FCAI were taken into account.

Off-highway vehicles, such as quad bikes and UTVs, saw a 13.9 per cent increase compared to 2020, with 28,321 units sold.

Weber was encouraged by the overall increase in motorcycle sales given pandemic-induced restrictions that limited access to showrooms.

“The pandemic has meant less access to showrooms for consumers, but all sectors of the motorcycle OHV market recorded growth throughout 2021,” he said. “This demonstrates the quality of product that manufacturers are sending to Australia.”

It should be noted that the sales figures only include new motorcycles and brands that are registered members of the FCAI. Certain importers such as Urban Moto Imports (i.e Royal Enfield, Benelli, MV Agusta) and Mojo Motorcycles (i.e CFMOTO, Sherco) are not included in the overall sales figures.