The last golden age of motorcycling was in the ‘70s, but with bike sales in Australia the best for seven years and fifth best of all time, maybe we are returning to the golden ages.
Unfortunately, the sales figures aren’t reflected elsewhere in the world except India which is up by more than a quarter and South East Asia, although mainly with small capacity bikes and scooters.
An Australian sales surge in the final quarter of 2016 led to a 6.6% (7073 bikes) annual increase in motorcycle, ATV and scooter sales to 114,783.
It was the fifth highest sales result in the Australian motorcycle industry’s history, according to the official Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) figures.
Honda was again the top-selling brand with 22.9% (26,276 units) of the market, but Harley-Davidson beat Honda for the second consecutive year to be king of the road bikes.
Road bike sales were up 5.3% to 47,753, accounting for 41.6% of the market. Harley took a 21.5% share with a 5% increase to 10,282 to lead the road bike sector despite a comeback from Honda with a 25.5% increase to 9651.
Third in road bikes was Yamaha with 16.3% (7768), then Kawasaki 10.1% (4798) and BMW with 6.7% (3178).
Road bike sales
| Rank | Manufacturer | 2016 | 2015 | % CHANGE |
| 1 | Harley Davidson | 10,282 | 9,794 | 5.0% |
| 2 | Honda | 9,651 | 7,691 | 25.5% |
| 3 | Yamaha | 7,768 | 6,914 | 12.4% |
| 4 | Kawasaki | 4,798 | 5,404 | -11.2% |
| 5 | BMW | 3,178 | 3,201 | -0.7% |
| 6 | Triumph | 3,125 | 2,900 | 7.8% |
| 7 | Suzuki | 3,124 | 3,404 | -8.2% |
| 8 | Ducati | 2,013 | 2,194 | -8.2% |
| 9 | KTM | 1,656 | 1,355 | 22.2% |
| 10 | Indian | 640 | 734 | -12.8% |
Sales are up mainly in learner bikes, so much so that the FCAI has actually included the list of top 10 LAMS bikes for the first time.
There was also growth in nakeds, cruisers and adventure bikes, thanks largely to the influx of new and upgraded models.
It’s a good sign of a healthy motorcycling future.
Golden age for riding
Meanwhile, off-road sales were up 6.3% to 39,710, ATV grew 14.4% to 22,834 and scooters continued their decline, down 11% to 4486.
Off-road and ATV sales reflect farming sales from good conditions in the country, but the road sales show indicate that learners are entering the market and we may be heading for another golden age of motorcycling.
Motorcycles are already the fastest-growing vehicular sector in Australia and we expect the ABS registration statistics fro 2016 to reflect that when they are released early this year.
Now we just need the authorities to recognise this in their road rules and infrastructure planning.
(Note: The FCAI statistics are only for those manufacturers who are members. Brands not included are: Benelli, Bimota, Bollini, CFMoto, Confederate, Daelim, Erike Buell Racing, Kymco, Laro, Megelli, Mercury, Norton, PGO, Royal Enfield, SWM, SYM, TGB, Ural and Viper.)
Top 10 motorcycles |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Honda | NBC110 | 2,558 | 2,112 | 21.1% |
| Honda | CRF50F | 2,400 | 2,343 | 2.4% |
| Yamaha | PW50 | 1,960 | 1,953 | 0.4% |
| Yamaha | TTR50E | 1,930 | 2,375 | -18.7% |
| Harley Davidson | XG500 | 1,664 | 1,608 | 3.5% |
| Yamaha | WR450F | 1,653 | 1,185 | 39.5% |
| Yamaha | YZF-R3A | 1,522 | 1,156 | 31.7% |
| Harley Davidson | FXSB | 1,509 | 1,552 | -2.8% |
| Honda | CRF110F | 1,483 | 1,381 | 7.4% |
| Kawasaki | KLX110 | 1,433 | 1,259 | 13.8% |
2017 Harley-Davidson Street 500
Top 10 Road Bikes |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Honda | NBC110 | 2,558 | 2,112 | 21.1% |
| Harley Davidson | XG500 | 1,664 | 1,608 | 3.5% |
| Yamaha | YZF-R3A | 1,522 | 1,156 | 31.7% |
| Harley Davidson | FXSB | 1,509 | 1,552 | -2.8% |
| Yamaha | MT07L | 1,382 | 1,427 | -3.2% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 300 | 1,375 | 1,947 | -29.4% |
| Honda | CBR500R | 1,275 | 1,215 | 4.9% |
| Honda | GROM | 1,162 | – | 0.0% |
| Honda | CB125E | 903 | 981 | -8.0% |
| Harley Davidson | VRSCDX | 902 | 702 | 28.5% |
Yamaha MT-07L
Top 10 Cruisers |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Harley Davidson | XG500 | 1,664 | 1,608 | 3.5% |
| Harley Davidson | FXSB | 1,509 | 1,552 | -2.8% |
| Harley Davidson | VRSCDX | 902 | 702 | 28.5% |
| Yamaha | XVS650/A | 779 | 753 | 3.5% |
| Harley Davidson | FXDB | 654 | 736 | -11.1% |
| Kawasaki | Vulcan S | 571 | 483 | 18.2% |
| Harley Davidson | FXDLS | 499 | – | 0.0% |
| Harley Davidson | FLSTFBS | 480 | 92 | 421.7% |
| Harley Davidson | XL883N | 452 | 459 | -1.5% |
| Ducati | Diavel | 418 | 307 | 36.2% |
Kawasaki Vulcan S
Top 10 Learner Approved |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Honda | NBC110 | 2,558 | 2,112 | 21.1% |
| Harley Davidson | XG500 | 1,664 | 1,608 | 3.5% |
| Yamaha | WR450F | 1,653 | 1,185 | 39.5% |
| Yamaha | YZF-R3A | 1,522 | 1,156 | 31.7% |
| Yamaha | MT07L | 1,382 | 1,427 | -3.2% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 300 | 1,299 | 1,947 | -33.3% |
| Honda | CBR500R | 1,275 | 1,215 | 4.9% |
| Honda | GROM | 1,162 | – | 0.0% |
| Honda | CB125E | 903 | 981 | -8.0% |
| KTM | 500EXC | 902 | 633 | 42.5% |
Kawasaki Ninja 300
Top 10 Sports Touring |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Yamaha | YZF-R3A | 1,522 | 1,156 | 31.7% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 300 | 1,375 | 1,947 | -29.4% |
| KTM | RC390 | 513 | 358 | 43.3% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 650L | 361 | 453 | -20.3% |
| Honda | CBR650FL | 345 | 19 | 1715.8% |
| Yamaha | MT09TRA | 179 | 308 | -41.9% |
| Yamaha | XJ6-F | 174 | 118 | 47.5% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja 1000 | 165 | 160 | 3.1% |
| BMW | S 1000 XR | 158 | 75 | 110.7% |
| Kawasaki | Verys 650 | 153 | 147 | 4.1% |
2017 Honda CBR650F
Top 10 Adventure Touring |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Honda | CRF1000 | 740 | 4 | 18400.0% |
| Suzuki | DR650SE | 529 | 610 | -13.3% |
| Kawasaki | KLR650 | 388 | 397 | -2.3% |
| BMW | R 1200 GS | 383 | 411 | -6.8% |
| BMW | R 1200 GS Adventure | 370 | 322 | 14.9% |
| Triumph | Tiger 800 XC | 276 | 334 | -17.4% |
| Honda | CB500XA | 271 | 322 | -15.8% |
| Ducati | Multistrada 1200 | 255 | 244 | 4.5% |
| BMW | G 650 GS | 241 | 263 | -8.4% |
| BMW | F 700 GS | 211 | 168 | 25.6% |
Honda CRF1000L Africa Twin
Top 10 Naked |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| 2016 | 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Yamaha | MT07L | 1,382 | 1,427 | -3.2% |
| Honda | GROM | 1,162 | – | 0.0% |
| Honda | CB125E | 903 | 981 | -8.0% |
| Yamaha | MT-09 | 692 | 822 | -15.8% |
| Yamaha | MT03LA | 622 | – | 0.0% |
| KTM | 390DUKE | 391 | 305 | 28.2% |
| Triumph | Thruxton | 367 | 152 | 141.4% |
| Honda | CB500FA | 292 | 249 | 17.3% |
| Triumph | Bonneville T120 | 289 | – | 0.0% |
| Ducati | Scrambler 800 | 284 | 395 | -28.1% |
Honda Grom
Top 10 Super Sport |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Honda | CBR500R | 1,275 | 1,215 | 4.9% |
| Honda | CBR300R | 611 | 1,044 | -41.5% |
| Ducati | 959 Panigale | 350 | – | 0.0% |
| BMW | S 1000 RR | 345 | 363 | -5.0% |
| Yamaha | YZF-R1 | 267 | 561 | -52.4% |
| Honda | CBR1000RR | 242 | 341 | -29.0% |
| Kawasaki | Ninja ZX-10R | 217 | 191 | 13.6% |
| Suzuki | GSX-R1000 | 216 | 189 | 14.3% |
| Ducati | 1299 Panigale | 192 | 148 | 29.7% |
| Suzuki | GSX-R750 | 167 | 142 | 17.6% |
2016 Ducati 1299 Panigale S Anniversario
Top 10 Touring |
||||
| Manufacturer | Model | Total | ||
| YTD 2016 | YTD 2015 | % Chg | ||
| Harley Davidson | FLHXS | 441 | 394 | 11.9% |
| Harley Davidson | FLHTK | 250 | 240 | 4.2% |
| Harley Davidson | FLHR | 202 | 149 | 35.6% |
| BMW | R 1200 RT | 171 | 181 | -5.5% |
| Yamaha | FJR1300 | 149 | 134 | 11.2% |
| Harley Davidson | FLTRXS | 141 | 129 | 9.3% |
| Harley Davidson | FLHXSE2 | 138 | 154 | -10.4% |
| Triumph | T/Bird LT | 86 | 96 | -10.4% |
| Honda | GL1800 | 64 | 99 | -35.4% |
| Harley Davidson | FLHTKSE | 63 | 58 | 8.6% |
Harley FLHXS Street Glide