Market reports – August confirms the good health of the market –

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August confirms the good health of the market

Market reports - August confirms the good health of the market -

With 18,159 two-wheelers sold in August, the French market is doing very well and 2006 is already shaping up to be another record year. The 125s achieve an increase of 30.6% and the large engines progress by + 8.3%. Analysis.

The two-wheeler sector in France confirmed its strength in August by posting again excellent results compared to an already satisfactory August 2005 (read).

The small-displacement market achieved a 30.6% increase in registrations compared to August 2005, thus consolidating the surge in sales since the start of the year: + 29.1% compared to the last year, i.e. 76,396 vehicles sold.

Among large cubes, we can be satisfied with the registration of 8,317 two-wheelers, which represent an increase of 8.3% in sales compared to August 2005. This brings the number of motorcycles sold in France since January 2006 to 87,572 units, compared to 85,032 at the same time last year.

Market 125

Yamaha recorded in August a further increase in sales in 125 (+ 41.9%) which allows it to capture more than a quarter of the market share with 25.5%. Main player in this feat, the Xmax: it has sold 778 copies (5,256 sales since January) and is approaching the Z750 (5,405) for the title of two-wheeler the best-selling in France !

The Yamaha scooter is well supported by the YBR (577 sales), which allows itself to overtake two other scooters: the Suzuki Burgman (569) and the Piaggio X8 (506). The Majesty (423) and the XT 125X (350) are also well placed in the monthly top 15..

It is therefore difficult for competitors to curb the excellent pace of the brand in tuning forks. Honda and Piaggio, the 2005 125 market leaders, are now vying for second place. And despite the drop in sales (-6.9%), the Japanese managed to overtake the Italian (+ 1.8%) over the first eight months: 12,865 registrations against 12,775.

However at Honda it is not a scooter which achieves the best sales of the manufacturer, but a motorcycle: the Pantheon (396 sales) is still left behind by the small Varadero (423). Would the offbeat look of the front of the small Honda GT destabilize French buyers? In any case, let’s hope that this does not slow down the imagination of the brand’s designers, who are often criticized for a style that is too bland….

On the Italian side, if the figures for 2005 are exceeded (1,416 against 1,391 in August 2005), they do not follow the market trend: the X8 falls two places in the monthly top 15 against the Burgman and YBR, but nevertheless retains a comfortable second position overall for the year with 4,723 sales.

Eighth in the ranking by model this month with 350 units sold, Peugeot’s Satelis 125 suffers from a high price compared to the competition but also from the arrival of the Compressor version, which has totaled 127 sales (or 259 since its release last month). As a result, the group‘s sales still continue to double (+ 107.2% compared to August 2005).

Despite his good results, the Sochaux lion lost his fourth place in the cumulative standings. Suzuki, which lowered its Burgman below the € 3,000 mark, had a good August with an evolution almost similar to that of all 125: + 27.7%.

The figures for MBK and its Skycruiser (189 sales) are a little less satisfactory: the increase in registrations by 22.6% still allows it to protect itself from Daelim, but for how long ?

Because if the Korean no longer has its frantic pace of the end of 2005, it still sold 133 S2 scooters with a total of 354 sales this month. And cumulatively, Daelim has now passed Kymco in 7th position !

Finally, Aprilia’s situation remains as delicate as ever: in a very buoyant market, the lion – of Noale this time around – fails to impose its Atlantic (99 sales) and is increasingly threatened by Sym…

Large engine market

After a rather gloomy month of July for the top Japanese trio (read), August is showing more leniency: all the meters are green, even if Honda remains below the overall market growth (+4 , 9% vs. 8.3%)

Still the leader, Suzuki shows an increase of 10.5% and crunches 23.5% of the MSRP, in particular thanks to its archi-domineering Bandit 650: the roadster still appeals to young drivers and sold 600 copies last month by placing far ahead of the Z750 (486) and the Fazer (428).

As in July, many French bikers fell in love with maxi-scooters last month: Suzuki stood out with its 400 and 650 Burgman (respectively 123 and 97 sales), but it is again the Yamaha Tmax which wins. the most popular scooter title over 125 cc in France, with 331 registrations.

Yamaha has therefore not abandoned the game even if its sales increase less quickly than those of its direct competitor: + 4.9% compared to August 2005. The brand in tuning forks remains however far ahead of the other two Japanese, who are fighting almost to one sale.

Honda and Kawasaki are in a pocket square with 1,216 and 1,189 registrations respectively. Kawa is more on the rise compared to last year, with a 29.5% increase in registrations against 10.3% for Honda, but the world number one continues to sell slightly more vehicles.

The fight for third place 2006 therefore remains tight! But with the two manufacturers, we are already looking towards 2007: the announcements of the 2007 novelties suggest a good battle (read,, and our). Even if we are still waiting for news of the Hornet 600 (and 1000?) Which could allow Honda to really make a comeback…

The black summer continues on the other hand for BMW which accuses in August a fall of 34.1% of its sales. The manufacturer has only 396 registrations and for the first time since March, its R 1200 RT is not in the top 15 !

After three satisfactory months, Harley-Davidson’s results also weakened, but in a less alarming manner: with -1.7% compared to August 2005, the attraction of American animals seems to have been more measured than that of Europeans.

KTM, Triumph and Ducati are pulling the plug around the 3% PDM, increasing their sales by 23, 15.5 and 26.8% respectively. The devious weather in August did not diminish the ardor of the French, who notably bought 25 Superduke, 88 Speed ​​Triple and 62 Mostro 695.

10th in 2006 with 1,083 sales, Aprilia was once again left behind by Piaggio scooters last month (117 sales against 109). Maxi-scooters now reach 1,043 registrations and could soon allow Piaggio to appear in the classification of more than 125 cc…

Finally, we note that in August, Moto Guzzi registered 74 vehicles, GasGas 70, Buell 56, Husqvarna 35, MV 13, Morini 8 and Voxan 5.

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