Market reports – Motorcycle market: March attacks! –

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Motorcycle market: March attack !

Market reports - Motorcycle market: March attacks! -

The results of the first quarter were excellent: the 125 cc continued its insane rise (+ 38.4%) and totaled 17,218 sales while the large cubes increased less quickly (+ 11.6%) but reached the record number of 26,565 !

The first quarter of 2006 is over and sales of two-wheelers continue to increase !

The 125 cc are the most dynamic with an increase in their sales of 38.5% compared to the first quarter of 2005. For the month of March alone, the increase in sales is even more impressive: + 45.4%! Yamaha largely dominates the debates but in the middle of the standings the battle rages on !

If the large engines increase "only" by 11.6% during this first quarter, they total a trifle of 26,565 sales, against 23,803 last year. The month of March was particularly satisfactory as sales are up 15.1% compared to March 2005.

In this big cube category, it is the Japanese leaders who are doing the best this time: have Western manufacturers reached their ceiling? ?

Market 125

In the leading trio Yamaha – Honda – Piaggio, the gaps continue to widen. The tuning forks brand is taking off in particular thanks to its Xmax scooter which alone represents more than 9% of the market for the month of March! Strong support from Majesty, YBR and DT also allows Yamaha to largely dominate the 125 debates..

Because at the same time, Honda and Piaggio barely manage to keep their pace of 2005 and are the only two manufacturers to slow down the market. Thus the increase of + 0.5% compared to the quarter of last year that the world number one recorded is disappointing, its 125 models falling into the top sales.

Similar observation at Piaggio which is well below the overall market increase of 45.4% this month with an increase in sales of 7.2%. The "number one French 2005" is struggling with the X8 and X9, victims of the 2006 innovations of the competition.

But the most contested fight – as often in competition – takes place in the middle of the standings. Thus, Suzuki doubles MBK for the month of March, approaching the French cumulative for the first quarter (1041 sales against 1091 for MBK).

And the presenter is Peugeot Motocycles, which gains 2 places this month with sales up 123.3% compared to March 2005! The arrival of the Satelis (read) has literally boosted the French lion and the upcoming releases of Geopolis and compressor versions should confirm this vigor..

At the bottom of the table, Sym reappears at the expense of the Austrian KTM. Its GTS 125 at a captivating price (2 990 €) seduced no less than 90 French people last month so that in the aggregate of the first quarter, the Taiwanese manufacturer is only "22 vehicles" from tenth place.

The other Taiwanese Daelim stands out again with its colossal increases (+ 617.2% this month), but these mainly highlight the few sales made last year..

Finally, the Italian Aprilia separates from these "small" manufacturers and totals 346 sales, of which 144 are made by its Atlantic.

Large engine market

Suzuki continues to dominate the large displacement market and all the more so that of MT1 – motorcycles under 34hp or power / weight ratio of less than 0.16kW / kg – with 467 sales against 88 for Yamaha, 77 for Kawasaki and 72 for Honda.

But Suzuki doesn’t just deliver bikes for beginners: as proof, its GSX-R 750 and 1000 both feature in the top 15 for March. The GSR (394 sales) was however surprised by a newcomer: the FZ1 and its 414 copies sold.

And the nasty Yamaha roadster is not the only one to make a remarkable entry on the market … The FJR 1300 is in 8th place this month with no less than 310 sales. Yamaha thus limits its drop in sales (-2.4% for the first quarter) and compensates for the slight erosion of sales of its bestseller Fazer 600 which is beaten by two Kawasaki models this month !

Because the Z750 is still selling well: 687 copies sold in March. And it is now joined by its little sisters ER-6 (n and f) which total 621 sales against 291 for the SV 650 – SV 650 S duo and the same result (291) for the CBF 600 all models combined. Despite this double, Kawasaki is still overtaken by Honda over the course of the first three months and the "Ninjas" join their customary fourth place..

The giant Honda continues to grow with 38.3% compared to March 2005, ie 1973 motorcycles sold. Two of its new models made their appearance in the top 15: the new Deauville (read) made 228 sales while the CBF 1000 (read) sold 204 copies with ABS and 39 without ABS..

KTM is down (-4.2% for the first quarter) but limits the breakage – due to the current situation in terms of "green" motorized leisure – thanks to its road motorcycles. The proportion of these models goes from a quarter of sales in March 2005 to a third in March 2006.

Harley Davidson and Triumph also saw a slight drop in sales compared to March 2005: -4.8% and -5.2% respectively. Should we then conclude that their networks are saturated? Only the future will tell us. Let us just note in their defense that the weather was not the nicest for motorcycles with a vocation much more leisure than utility..

Aprilia and Piaggio continue to fight at the gates of the Top 10. This month, the Italian match ends in a draw – 129 everywhere -. For this first quarter, Piaggio records 326 sales and the lion of Noale 295.

Spain’s Gas Gas sold 161 models last month, recording a nice 75% increase in sales compared to March 2005.

Finally, in March 2006, Moto Guzzi sold 74 motorcycles, Beta 69, Buell 58, Sherco and Husqvarna 54, MV 23 and Voxan 9.

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