The Motorcycle Industry Council (MIC) reports a 7.2% increase for sales for the first quarter of 2011. It may be that the new motorcycle market has already bottomed out. These Q1 sales results are the first to be positive in more than 2 years and these sales numbers may be the confirmation tar the market has already bottomed out. Total sales (on and off highway, dual sport, scooters) were 102,547 (up 6851 sales versus 2010 Q1) . Not surprisingly, and a trend that may continue with the rise of gas price, scooters was the market segment with the largest increase, up 49.6% with 6246 units against 4176 during 2010 Q1. The second most buoyant market segment was dual-sport motorcycles, up 24.3%. The on-highway segment (cruisers, street and sport bikes) saw an increase of 6.9% (70,879 units sold versus 66,322 in 2010 Q1) The off-road or off-highway segment is the only one showing a decline of 5.5% (18,725 units sold compared to 19,812 during 2010 Q1)
MIC reports that since 2000 new motorcycle sales increased year after year until 2008 when the overall market started to collapse with 2009 sales down an outstanding 41% with another drop of 16% in 2010. If this trend continues, 2011 annual sales should reach pre-2008 levels of about 1 million new motorcycles sold annually.
The MIC collects its sales data from participating manufacturers, including, Harley-Davidson, Victory, BMW, Ducati, KTM and Triumph and Canadian marque Can-Am. Final sales totals rise when the MIC releases its Statistical Annual because it will include sales estimates from non-reporting manufacturers.
Let’s pray for 3 more quarters like that.
Very fragile bounce back for on-highway bikes… Let’s see.
In big urban cities and with $4 a gallon, you would think scooters sales would be a lot higher. The whole scoter scene just cant catch on like in europe.
That’s cuz with the price of gas no one can afford to drive their vehicles… 🙁