Market reports – The two-wheeler market takes up the 2007 challenge! –

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The two-wheeler market takes up the challenge 2007 !

Market reports - The two-wheeler market takes up the 2007 challenge! -

After having recorded a record number of sales in 2006, the motorcycle market is entering the new year calmly: 13,478 registrations, ie an increase of 7.4%, still due to the good health of the 125! First assessment 2007.

This month of January 2007 tends to confirm the observations made in 2006 on the overall evolution of the motorcycle market: the 125s are more on the rise than the big cubes! But even for the 125, 2007 promises to be a delicate year because the goal is to beat the results of a record year (read)…

For the 125s, the year started very well: their sales increased by 21.5% compared to January 2005 (read) with a total of 6,113 vehicles sold. The cold and light rains of winter – finally arrived – did not discourage scooter enthusiasts, who monopolize the top 5 sales in the segment.

On the large-displacement side, it seems that the harshness of winter has more limited acquisitions, leading to a decrease in sales of 2% compared to 2006 … Unless bikers are obsessed with the 2007 novelties which will not be released until spring ?

In the meantime, the Japanese leaders take their troubles patiently while the Western brands see their number of registrations climb thanks to products less sensitive to fad effects..

Market 125

Yamaha has started the year well (+ 19.9%) and places its two main scooters in the first two places of French sales of 125. Thus the Xmax, best sales 2006 (read our), retains the top of the ranking with 485 sales against 433 for his Dauphin the Majesty.

On the other hand, the YBR saw its sales literally drop, going from 731 in December 2006 to 217 last month. The stock that does not meet the Euro3 standard is now liquidated, registrations of the small motorcycle find a more measured pace. Finally, her lack of protection and storage penalize her all the more at this time of year..

Likewise, Honda’s Varadero slipped two places in the model sales rankings. The rest of the Honda 125 range suffers similarly but the arrival of new injection models should recover the results of the world number one soon.

Sellers of comfortable scooters logically had a good start to 2007: Piaggio (2nd among manufacturers with 1167 sales) placed three scooters in the top 10 by model sales. Its X8 and X9 sold respectively 273 and 174 copies.

But for the first time, Pontedera’s best seller is MP3! The reassuring aspect of its front axle (read our test) seems to have hit the mark: with 377 registrations, the three-wheeler is the third best-selling motorcycle (two-wheeler greater than or equal to 125 cc) in France. !

And the exploits of scooters are not limited there: with 7.46% of market share in January 2007, Peugeot for its part delivered 456 scooters, that is to say almost three times more than in January 2006. Its Satelis is still in good shape. place with 202 sales in its standard version and 104 in its compressed version. The Elystar even allows itself an entry into the top 15 with 109 registrations.

Behind Peugeot, Suzuki is progressing but less quickly than the whole market (11.1% against 21.5%) despite the 4th place of its Burgman. On the contrary, Aprilia is riding the trend (+ 30.9%) and places the Atlantic in 12th position of the best sales of the month. The reduction in its price (€ 2,999 instead of € 3,649 until the end of February) has not gone unnoticed by scooters !

However, MBK ran out of fuel, which after Honda recorded the largest drop compared to January 2005: -24.6%. You have to go down to 52nd place in sales of all-displacement two-wheelers (excluding 50 cc of course) to find the Skycruiser and its 70 sales … A month to forget for the French number 2 !

While Kymco and Daelim stagnate – forgotten the euphoria of the launch – it is Yiying’s turn to be talked about: the Chinese takes 9th place among manufacturers with 138 registrations of his YY125T model. And behind him, Sym, Skyteam, JMStar, Kinroad, Shineray and Keeway battle with KTM and Husqvarna !

Large engine market

In the big cars, the mood is more gloomy: -2% compared to January 2005 for a total of 7,365 motorcycles sold. But it is the Japanese, despite many promotions, who are paying the most price at the start of the year..

At the top of the table, Suzuki saw its sales fall by 8.9% compared to last year. 4th and 5th best sales respectively, its Bandit 650 only made 195 sales despite some models negotiable at € 4,999, but its DRZ 400SM firmly supported it with 180 acquisitions..

The supermotard on sale at 5,499 € instead of 6,299 € will make people happy on the "wet and greasy" roads of the moment, just like the small V-Strom offered at 6,299 € against 7,499 € usually !

Yamaha saw a comparable decline in its pace (-6.2%), with 1,312 motorcycles registered. His Fazer in particular accuses the blow: from 464 registrations in January 2005 it drops to 251 last month! With 2006 models respectively displayed at 6,799 and 9,499 €, its WR250F and FZ1 limit the breakage.

The only Japanese manufacturer in the green on the Site dashboard, Honda is starting a particularly important start to the year as the new Hornet 600 is about to hit the market! The roadster – 2006 version – is the only representative of the world number one in the top 15 sales by model (9th with 157 sales).

On the other hand, nothing is going well at Kawasaki, which will have to wait a month longer than Honda to see its future best-seller: the Z750. With 312 registrations, the ER-6 (the 2006 models dropped by 200 €) try to make the Greens wait but the absence of the "seven and a half" is too great..

Kawa finally records a decline in registrations of 29.7% compared to a month of January 2006 when the Z750 were in number and the ER-6 in full launch…

European manufacturers, on the other hand, have had a more encouraging start to the year. In particular BMW, which can be satisfied with its 675 sales (compared to 591 in 2006) and the presence in the top 15 of three models, the least expensive of which still costs € 12,000: the R 1200R, 13th with 108 sales !

This fine German performance is not surprising, however: heavy riders buy in all seasons and are not afraid of the precarious weather conditions on the handlebars of their over-equipped Bavarians. And their more American-oriented counterparts were also quick to spend their Christmas gifts…

In fact, Harley-Davidson ends the month of January with a 45% increase in sales! The new Twin Cam 96, the injection Sportsters and other Night Rods have attracted no less than 380 bikers, allowing the Milwaukee firm to exceed 5% market share in France !

KTM is not to be outdone with a 25.9% increase in its registrations last January. A figure which must have given balm to the hearts of the dealers who came to participate in the convention organized during the JPMS this weekend (). The opportunity for them to discover the new 690, which should finally allow small riders to taste the pleasures of a Katoche on the road … But we will come back to it soon. !

Likewise, Triumph closed an excellent month of January with 301 sales, or 36.8% more than in January 2006. Its Speed ​​Triple is in 20th place in the ranking of sales of more than 125 cc with 90 registrations and its Tiger has sold 58 copies. Encouraging figures for the British as the arrival of a Speed ​​Triple 675 has recently been confirmed … To be followed closely !

Ducati for its part fell by 11.8% while sales of the 1098 surprised everyone, starting with the manufacturer himself! But his Mostros are struggling to establish themselves in the ruthless world of roadsters, largely governed by the wallet…

Tenth in January with 120 sales of large engines, Piaggio has a comfortable lead over Gas Gas (93), Moto Guzzi (88), Aprilia (76), Beta (58) and Buell (51). Next spring, the joint arrival of many new models and good weather could be a game-changer … To be continued on Site !

Finally, at the same time, Husqvarna has registered 33 large engines, Peugeot 29, Sherco 28, MV 15, Morini 8, Enfield 6, Benelli 3 and Voxan 2.

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