THE FUTURE LOOKS bright for the new motorcycle market in Australia after it posted the fifth-highest sales result in the industry’s history in the 2016 calendar year – the strongest since 2009. The 114,783 new motorcycles, scooters and ATVs sold last year represents a 6.6 per cent increase over the 107,710 units sold in 2015.
The 2016 result was undoubtedly helped by the burgeoning ATV and side- by-side segment, which grew 14.4 per cent over the same period last year. Four-wheeled machinery made up almost 20 per cent (or 22,834 units) of total sales.
Roadbikes accounted for 41.6 per cent of the market, with 47,753 units sold – an increase of 5.3 per cent over 2015. And Harley-Davidson can lay claim to having Australia’s most popular range of roadbikes. The American cruiser brand sold 10,282 roadies compared to Honda’s 9651 and Yamaha’s 7768.
The off-road sector also enjoyed considerable growth – the 39,710 new machines sold in 2016 is a 6.3 per cent increase over 2015 and accounted for 35 per cent of the total market. Once again Yamaha remained untouchable in the off-road segment, moving 12,090 dirtbikes (up 0.3 per cent) compared to Honda’s 9848 (down 4.6 per cent).
The struggling scooter segment continued to flag, last year experiencing an 11 per cent decline over 2015, with just 4486 units sold. In terms of overall numbers, it was Honda at the top of the tree. The Japanese giant accounted for 22.9 per cent of 2016’s new bike market, moving 26,276 machines during the 12-month period and pipping Yamaha to the line by just 1377 units.
The two Japanese brands were similar in terms of growth, too, with Honda recording a 7.1 per cent increase over 2015 compared to Yamaha’s growth for the year of 6.9 per cent.
The postal-issue Honda NBC110 was top dog – if its 2558 units were subtracted from Honda’s overall total Yamaha would have been Australia’s most popular marque, it was that close.
Next up were three 50cc fun bikes: Honda’s CRF50F (2400) and Yamaha’s PW50 (1960) and TTR50E (1930).
Harley-Davidson’s learner- legal Street 500 was officially 2016’s most popular roadbike. The liquid-cooled V-twin recorded 1664 (up 3.5 per cent) new sales followed by the Yamaha YZF-R3 (1522 units), Harley-Davidson’s Breakout (1509 units) and the Yamaha MT-07 (1382 units).
Yamaha still dominates off-road sales (after the three aforementioned 50cc fun bikes, that is) with its WR450F. The road-registrable 450 is still enjoying considerable growth, too, its 2016 result of 1653 units a 39.5 per cent increase over 2015.
Ducati’s new-for-2016 959 Panigale was popular – the Italian sportsbike sold 350 units, though the sportsbike/ sports touring segment was dominated by Yamaha’s R3 (1522 units), Kawasaki’s Ninja 300 (1375) and Honda’s CBR500R (1275).
Honda’s CRF1000L Africa Twin (740 units) was the country’s best-selling adventure bike ahead of two Japanese stalwarts in the Suzuki DR6750SE (529 units) and Kawasaki KLR650 (388).
KEL BUCKLEY
