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KTM, Husky defy road bike slump

KTM test ride demo motorcycle sales showroom selling motorcycles spiral
KTM rides out January slump

KTM and, to a lesser extent Husqvarna, have defied the Australian road bike sales slump of -11.9% last year, according to official statistics from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries released today.

Whatever KTM is doing, it seems to be working because the company, together with its acquisition Husqvarna, is also defying the worldwide downward motorcycle sales spiral.

They were the only two road bike companies in Australia to register positive growth last year: KTM was up 292 (18.3% to 1889 for the year and Husqvarna was up 64 (24.2%) to 329.

Despite a 2% drop in off-road sales, the result was enough to help KTM leapfrog Suzuki into fourth place overall for the first time.

At the other end of the scale was Honda which dropped 24.4% in road bike sales, its biggest fall in more than a decade.

Harley-Davidson topped road bikes despite dropping 643 (7.9%) to 6462, ahead of Honda, with Yamaha third.

Massive slump

The figures are the worst for road bikes since 47,752 were sold in 2016.

That’s a catastrophic slump of 16,771 sales or 33% in just four years.

The disastrous road bike figures should lead to the usual January sales, with MV Agusta the first with free on-road costs for any in-stock model.Slump

We don’t know MV Agusta’s sales figures because they are one of 23 minor manufacturers not included in the FCAI stats as they are not members.

The other missing brands are Benelli, Bimota, Bollini, CFMoto, Confederate, Daelim, EBR, Hyosung, Kymco, Laro, Megelli, Mercury, Norton, PGO, Royal Enfield, SWM, SYM, TGB, Ural, Viper and VMoto.

Road Bike sales

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Aprilia

129

194

-33.5%

BMW

2470

2835

-12.9%

Ducati

1368

1512

-9.5%

Harley Davidson

6462

7019

-7.9%

Honda

5306

7019

-24.4%

Husqvarna

329

265

24.2%

Indian Motorcycle

803

836

-3.9%

Kawasaki

3865

4396

-12.1%

KTM

1889

1597

18.3%

Moto Guzzi

125

125

0.0%

Suzuki

2303

2686

-14.3%

Triumph

1787

2122

-15.8%

Yamaha

5145

5702

-9.8%

TOTAL

31981

36308

-11.9%

Total sales

Australia’s total motorcycle market including the ATV/SSVs, fell 6045 to slump 6.1% to 89,199 which was a 35.8% market share.

Also, for the first time in ages, fewer road bikes were sold than off-road bikes which were down only 543 to 31,981 (38.5% market share).

ATV/SSVs accounted for 20.1% of total sales, which was a 8.5% slump to 17,906 mainly due to the drought.

The only good news was scooters which again took an increased share of the total sales with 5.6%, up 125.9% to 5014, but off a low base.

However, figures could be even higher as many of the non-included companies in the figures are manufacturers of small-capacity scooters.

It is worthy of note that new car sales were also down 7.8% last year.

Total bike/scooter/ATV sales 

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Aprilia

202

334

-39.5%

BMW

2675

2922

-8.5%

BRP Australia

2358

2423

-2.7%

Ducati

1368

1512

-9.5%

Harley Davidson

6462

7019

-7.9%

Honda

20819

22735

-8.4%

Husqvarna

2555

2251

13.5%

Indian Motorcycle

803

836

-3.9%

Kawasaki

8962

9376

-4.4%

KTM

7670

7497

2.3%

Moto Guzzi

125

125

0.0%

Piaggio

671

863

-22.2%

Polaris

5119

5443

-6.0%

Suzuki

6934

7557

-8.2%

Triumph

1787

2122

-15.8%

Vespa

744

884

-15.8%

Yamaha

19945

21145

-5.7%

TOTAL

89199

95044

-6.1%

Despite Honda dropping 8,4% overall, it retained the number one spot with 20,819 sales (23.3% market share).

Yamaha was second with 19,945 sales (22.4% share), followed by Kawasaki (8962, 10.0%), KTM (7670, 8.6%), and Suzuki (6934, 7.8%).

It should be noted that the figures only include FCAI members so 23 minor manufacturers are not included.

2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Breakout
Breakout 114 was the top-selling cruiser

They are mainly small-volume importers Norton, Hyosung, VMoto, Benelli, Bimota, Bollini, CFMoto, Confederate, Daelim, EBR, Kymco, Laro, Megelli, Mercury, MV Agusta, Norton, PGO, Royal Enfield, SWM, SYM, TGB, Ural and Viper.

Top 10 by Category – Cruiser

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Harley Davidson

FXBRS

885

794

11.5%

Harley Davidson

XG500

838

944

-11.2%

Kawasaki

Vulcan S

635

670

-5.2%

Honda

CMX500

630

746

-15.5%

Harley Davidson

FLFBS

461

453

1.8%

Yamaha

XVS650/A

445

515

-13.6%

Harley Davidson

FLSB

444

312

42.3%

Indian Motorcycle

Scout

404

496

-18.5%

Harley Davidson

FXBB

354

491

-27.9%

Harley Davidson

FLSL

231

209

10.5%

Top 10 by Category – Sport Touring

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

835

712

17.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 650L

249

304

-18.1%

Yamaha

MT09TRA

185

161

14.9%

Yamaha

MT07TRL

127

118

7.6%

Kawasaki

VERSYS-X 300

119

130

-8.5%

BMW

S 1000 XR

118

149

-20.8%

Kawasaki

Ninja 1000

98

148

-33.8%

Honda

CBR650FL

91

331

-72.5%

Suzuki

GSX-R125

88

83

6.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R15

72

97

-25.8%

Top 10 by Category – Touring

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Harley Davidson

FLHXS

353

272

29.8%

Harley Davidson

FLTRXS

200

118

69.5%

Harley Davidson

FLHTK

178

143

24.5%

Harley Davidson

FLHRXS

128

119

7.6%

Harley Davidson

FLHTCUTG

111

117

-5.1%

BMW

R 1250 RT

111

5

2,120.0%

Yamaha

FJR1300

108

108

0.0%

Indian Motorcycle

Chieftain

95

73

30.1%

Harley Davidson

FLHXSE

91

95

-4.2%

Harley Davidson

FLRT

65

75

-13.3%

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Top 10 by Category – Naked

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Honda

CB125E

1013

1113

-9.0%

Yamaha

MT07L

901

1002

-10.1%

Yamaha

MT-09

749

738

1.5%

Honda

GROM

536

715

-25.0%

Yamaha

MT03LA

463

616

-24.8%

KTM

390DUKE

336

356

-5.6%

Kawasaki

Z900RS

282

393

-28.2%

Honda

Monkey

244

266

-8.3%

Yamaha

MT10

241

220

9.5%

Yamaha

XSR700LA

235

318

-26.1%

Top 10 by Category – Super Sport

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Kawasaki

NINJA 400

989

1089

-9.2%

Honda

CBR500R

481

618

-22.2%

Honda

CBR650R

347

0

100%

Ducati

Superbike

205

86

138.4%

Yamaha

YZF-R1

167

151

10.6%

Honda

CBR1000RR

166

121

37.2%

Suzuki

GSX-R1000

136

124

9.7%

KTM

RC390

132

254

-48.0%

Suzuki

GSX-R750

128

212

-39.6%

Ducati

959 Panigale

98

156

-37.2%

Top 10 by Category – Scooters

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Honda

NSC110

1109

597

85.8%

Suzuki

ADDRESS

779

495

57.4%

Vespa

GTS 300

368

389

-5.4%

Honda

MW110

307

207

48.3%

Piaggio

Fly 150

298

309

-3.6%

Honda

WW150

276

295

-6.4%

Yamaha

GPD150A

224

126

77.8%

Vespa

PRIMAVERA 150

210

236

-11.0%

Yamaha

XMAX300

197

169

16.6%

Piaggio

Medley 150

121

95

27.4%

Top 10 by Category – LAMS Approved

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Yamaha

WR450F

1206

1136

6.2%

Honda

NSC110

1109

597

85.8%

Honda

CB125E

1013

1113

-9.0%

Kawasaki

NINJA 400

989

1089

-9.2%

Yamaha

MT07L

901

1002

-10.1%

Harley Davidson

XG500

838

944

-11.2%

KTM

300EXC

837

1052

-20.4%

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

835

712

17.3%

Suzuki

ADDRESS

779

495

57.4%

KTM

500EXC

762

746

2.1%