MCN : Retro models lead motorbike sales surge

[weeksy]

https://www.motorcyclenews.com/news/mot ... s-figures/

New bike sales are continuing to surge with commuters (including electrics) and retros particularly popular – however dealers are still urging caution. The latest figures are for May 2021 compared to the same time last year, when the economy had almost stopped completely, which is partly why the year-on-year growth is so high.

Total year-to-date sales still lag 10% behind those of 2019. May itself, however, is showing an encouraging, post-lockdown upsurge with the 10,871 bikes sold also 123% up on May 2019.

Standout sellers were 51-125cc scoots, where Yamaha’s new NMAX 125 was not only the best seller, usurping Honda’s PCX125, but also the overall best selling powered two-wheeler; and, among full-sized bikes, Royal Enfield’s Interceptor 650 and Triumph’s new Trident 660.


With no travel, less opportunity to eat/drink out, hardly any live sports or music to watch, one of the biggest winners were the Trail/Enduro bikes (-0.6%). With the KTM 300 EXC selling very strongly in December.

Total registrations for electric motorcycles increased by a whopping 51.2% compared to 2019. A final surge in December (+111.9%) showed that consumers are starting to adopt the technology as more models become available.

Strong global result for BMW
BMW Motorrad have announced that 2020 was their second best sales year on record, having sold 169,272 motorbikes and scooters worldwide. The figure was bolstered by a massive 33.7% growth in China and a slightly more modest growth of 6.4% in Brazil.

"Following difficult months from March to June, the entire BMW Motorrad team was able to turn the tide by applying a high degree of pragmatic flexibility and great personal commitment," said Dr. Markus Schramm, Head of BMW Motorrad.

"In addition to arguably the best BMW Motorrad product offering ever, it was this team effort, of which I am very proud, that made the second best sales result ever possible in 2020."
Despite a topsy-turvy 2020, new bike sales in the UK ended the year just 2.6% down on the previous 12 months.

As the Coronavirus pandemic caused havoc in dealers, biking bucked the automotive trend by offering viable and safe transport solutions for much of the year. A total of 104,612 machines were sold, just 2,796 less than in 2019. Even with the additional restrictions and changes in regulations, motorcycle sales saw a staggering 58.1% growth in December.

As consumers continued to choose two wheels to stay Covid-safe when commuting, many delivery businesses also required additional scooters and mopeds to meet the rising demand. All of this led to a 10.5% rise in scooter registrations for the year and only a 6.7% drop for motorcycles.

Continually strong performance through the year for adventure sport (-9.9%), sport/tour (-9.5%) and naked bike (-7.9%) segments, indicated that both new and old riders alike were still engaged and wanting to get onto new bikes. BMW once again showed great traction with the R1250GS Adventure and the touring R1250RT.

[Supermofo]

Well that's positive. Hopefully those scooter/commuter sales might keep some of them in biking after this.

[lostboy]

Total registrations for electric motorcycles increased by a whopping 51.2% compared to 2019. A final surge in December (+111.9%) showed that consumers are starting to adopt the technology as more models become available.

Always looks better when you make it a % rather than the actual number, when that number is dire and the narrative isn't what you want.