Market reports – Motorcycle market in April 2005: spring restart –

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Motorcycle market in April 2005: spring restart

Market reports - Motorcycle market in April 2005: spring restart -

After a quarter plagued by the weather, the market starts again with spring. A timid development in 125 with (+ 0.8%) but clearly more dynamic in large displacement (+ 7.7%), boosted by the arrival in concession of most of the 2005 new models..

After a quarter plagued by the weather, the market starts again with spring. A timid development in 125 with (+ 0.8%) but clearly more dynamic in large displacement (+ 7.7%), boosted by the arrival in concession of most of the 2005 novelties. Sales of quads also benefit from this improved with 3.7% growth.

125 cc: Yamaha confirms its recovery

Yamaha has suffered a lot in this market for two years, but the counteroffensive is launched as evidenced by the first place of the Majesty scooter in April. The brand with three tuning forks is still third behind Honda and Piaggio but the gap has narrowed considerably.

With the upcoming arrival of the XT and YB 125, it could well reclaim its first place this summer. In addition, its subsidiary MBK is not to be outdone with an increase of 30% since the beginning of the year.

At Honda, motorcycles are still selling well, but scooters are on the decline: the Pantheon is overtaken by the Suzuki Burgman while the Lead 100 does not even enter the top 10, despite its floor price of 1,650 euros.

At Piaggio on the other hand, the X8 held up well but the X9 seriously slowed down, probably because of its very high price..

There is finally a certain rationalization among 125 scooters: customers favor mid-range models offering a good compromise between handling and comfort, to the detriment of heavy and expensive GTs or low-value entry-level models..

The Peugeot Elystar, which is no longer the only one to offer ABS, still fails to convince and still drives the Sochalian brand down (-26%) … A situation that contrasts with the good health of Kymco ( + 73%) and Aprilia’s comeback (+ 36%).

Large-displacement: mid-displacement roadsters and motorcycles with character

Market segmentation was further reinforced in April between, on the one hand, the Japanese medium-displacement roadsters which are leading the way (Z750, Fazer, Bandit, Hornet) and, on the other hand, high-end motorcycles with a strong character. which make big scores, carried by the novelty or the prestige: MT-01, R1200RT, GSXR 1000, R1, FJR 1300. Nothing else between the two except a UFO, the scooter Yamaha XP500 T Max. To wonder where the trails, basics and other GT sports have gone !

Suzuki (+ 8%) takes the lead again, not thanks to the Bandit 650 which is slow to take off but rather thanks to the arrival of the new GSXR 1000 (7th). The first examples of this queen of the track are being snatched up, a number of which will probably never see the road. Yamaha slightly slows down at -3%, even if the MT-01 (6th) confirms its nice success.

Honda is making the most progress among the Japanese with + 30%. In particular, the new Hornet regains its rank with a nice 4th place: bikers have succumbed to the gold inverted fork, further proof that the look remains an essential element in the purchase of a motorcycle !

Kawasaki (-8%) can still count on the Z750 firmly attached to the head of sales. But that’s not enough to make up for the declining popularity of the brand’s sports cars. Perhaps we are now waiting for an OJ effect to restore the image of green sportswomen ?

Behind, BMW (+ 19%) consolidates its 5th place with the success of the R 1200RT which now exceeds the R 1200GS: yet another record year in sight for the Bavarians! Conversely, KTM lost 11% with the end of the preparation for the enduro season. The Austrian manufacturer is still an off-road specialist and its road offer cannot yet provide the same volumes. We can observe the same trend but still accentuated at GasGas (-29%).

The best progressions are with Harley-Davidson (+ 40%!), Helped by a weak dollar which allows it to post lower prices, and especially Triumph. The British manufacturer has hit the nail on the head with its modern innovations: strong character but usable on a daily basis. It practically doubled its sales over the month and is up 73% since the start of the year! In comparison, Ducati, which keeps recycling its own image, looks poor with just stable sales: + 10% in April and + 1% since the start of the year…

Benoît LACOSTE

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