ACEM

ACEM 2024 full year data puts European major markets at 1,115,640 units for 10.1% growth

The full year 2024 new motorcycle registration data released by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle trade association at reaching 1,155,640 units in Europe's 'Big Five major markets (Italy France Germany, Spain, UK) for a 10.1% market growth compared to 2023 (1,049,898) - excellent for the perceived market conditions, issues and wider pressures that Europe's consumers are facing.

Motorcycle registration volumes increased in Germany (248,618 units, +16.3%), in Spain (229,685 units, +14.2%), in Italy (352,294 units, +10%), in France (214.049 units, 3.5%), and in UK (110,994 units, 2.7%), showing an upward trend in all countries.

That said, as with the data from Europe's national motorcycle industry trade associations, some caution is needed with all data at this time. OEMs 'Channel Stuffed' unsold 2024 inventory in the final months of 2025, preregistering models that would no longer be fully compliant when the Euro 5+ regulations became active at the start of January 2025.

Moped registrations reached a total volume of 180,591 units in the six European moped markets monitored by ACEM (Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, the the Netherlands and Spain). This registration volume represents a reduction of -6.5% compared to 2024 (193,145 units). 

Italy finished the year positively with an increase of moped registrations (22,301 units, 19%) and Belgium followed (30,716 units, -0.2%) with no significant change compared to 2023. The other markets saw annual moped registration volumes reductions despite a good increase at the end of 2024 (due to the rush to preregister unsold inventory) - Germany (14,790 units, -16.1%), France (65,978 units -12,5%), Spain (14,574, -12,0%) and the Netherlands (32,232 units, -5.3%).

Antonio Perlot, ACEM Secretary General, is quoted as saying that : "The strong growth in motorcycle registrations across Europe’s largest markets in 2024 demonstrates the increasing appeal of motorcycling for urban mobility and leisure.

However, it should be acknowledged that a consistent part of this growth is also linked to stock registrations ahead of the new Euro5+ emissions standard, which was fully introduced on 1st January 2025 – a market correction is therefore to be expected in the first half of 2025.

"Euro5+ builds on the previous emissions standard, with additional requirements for durability, strengthening L-category vehicles as a viable and attractive choice for European citizens, and a solution for policy-makers to decrease congestion and make cities more liveable."

German motorcycle registrations

Germany 2024 - motorcycle registrations up by approx. +3.00%

The latest data from the German motorcycle industry association (IVM) shows motorcycle registrations even more drastically impacted by Euro 5+ pre-registration 'channel stuffing' than was the case seen in Italy with as many as 23,000 to 25,000 units rushed through in the final quarter of 2024 to beat the January 1,2025 cut-off.

Therefore the IVM's formal data has to be viewed with caution and the best estimates that we here at IDN can arrive at, based on our archives and experience, is that motorcycle registrations in Germany in 2024 were indeed up, but by something in the region of 3,000 to 4,000 units for the year, giving a 'real' 2024 market growth of around 3.00% at best (129,000 units). Certainly not the +21.47% (152,704 units) that the trade association and government registrations department (KBA) have had no choice in reporting.

Corresponding 'real' estimates in total PTW terms for the German market in 2024 would be around 223,000 units for approximate annual market growth of +2.5%.

The top selling model in Germany in 2024 was the BMW R 1300 GS with (a theoretical) 7,174 units sold for a 4.7% market share. This was followed by the Kawasaki Z900 (theoretically 4,126/2.70%), Honda CB 750 Hornet (2,935/1.92%), BMW R 1250 GS (2,631/1.72%) and Honda XL 750 Transalp overtaking the Yamaha MT-07 (2,581/1.69% and 2,512/1.65% respectively) 

The top 10 is rounded out by the KTM 690 SMC in 7th spot (2,285/1.50%), Yamaha Tenere 700 (2,255/1.48%), BMW F 900 R (2,205/1.44%) and Kawasaki Z 650 (2,173/1.42%) in tenth. Then come the Husqvarna 701 Supermoto, KTM 790 Duke, KTM 1290 Super Duke R, Honda CBR 650 R and the Yamaha MT-09.

The top-selling Suzuki YTD was the GSX-8S in 20th spot ( 1,355 units); the GASGAS SM 700 (1,398) was in 19th spot; the Scrambler 400 X was Triumph's best seller in 37th spot (1,025 units); the Multistrada V4 (911 units) was the best-selling Ducati in 45th spot with Harley-Davidson having dropped out of the top 50 best-selling models list entirely.

With 11 models in the top 50, it is no surprise that BMW remains the dominant market share leader in its home market, with 28,581 units sold (up on the 23,978 sold in 2023 though with a marginally reduced market share of 18.72%). 

This was followed by Honda with (14.03% share/21,431 units sold); KTM (15,559 units sold for a 10.19% share); Kawasaki (10.12%/15,460 units - up on 2023); and Yamaha (8.05%/12,296). The top 10 market shares were rounded out by Harley-Davidson, Triumph, Ducati, Suzuki and Husqvarna.

Overall, electric PTW sales were fractionally up over 2023 (1,733 units over 1,614 in 2023) with Kawasaki surprisingly in top spot with 561 units sold for 32.37% market share. This was followed by Zero Motorcycles (273 units/15.75% market share), Vmoto (135 units/7.79%), Tinbot (62 units/3.58%) and KTM (60 units/3.46% share); LiveWire has fallen out of the top 5 best-selling electric motorcycle brand listing.

For the record - In motorcycle terms, the German market was up in 2023 at +16.41% (125,709 units). In total PTW terms the German market was +6.98% at 215,501 units. The used market in Germany in 2023 saw 442,868 vehicles change hands in 2023. The top selling motorcycle in Germany in 2023 was the BMW R 1250 GS with 7,529 units sold for a 5.99% market share (the Kawasaki Z900 was second, Honda CB 750 Hornet third). BMW retained its top spot as German motorcycle market share leader with 23,978 units sold for 19.07% market share, which marked some 4.4% growth on its unit sales in 2022. Honda took second spot with Kawasaki third. 

Spanish motorcycle registrations

Spain - motorcycle registrations to October +7.15 %

As is the case in Italy and Germany, the latest new motorcycle registration data from ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry association in Spain, has to be treated with caution with late-year registrations of unsold inventory being registered before the 1 January, 2025 Euro 5+ deadline came into effect.

The data shows motorcycle registrations up by 11.54% for the year at 222,105 units. Based on prior year data and the monthly data through 2024, a more likely 'real' comparable would be in the region of 210,000 units for annual growth of around +8% - still a very good market performance in Spain for 2024and the best since before 2009.

Total new PTW registrations growth was likely to have been a little lower than for motorcycles, at around +6% at best (approximately 212,000 units). ANESDOR put electric PTW registrations at around 7,855 units, which down by 40.5%.

Honda was market share leader YTD selling 48,218 units for a 21.7% market share. It was followed by Yamaha (33,261 units for a 15.0% share), Kymco third (6.1%), BMW fourth (5.9%) and Piaggio fifth (5.2%). 

The best-selling models in Spain YTD were the Honda PCX 125 (8,934 units/4.0% share) and the Yamaha NMAX 125 (8,878/4.0% share), followed by the SYM Symphony 125 (2.5%) and the Yamaha X-Max (2.4%). 

Electric PTWs totalled 5,407 units YTD - a 2.4% share of the overall market and down 36.5% on last year; ICE models (216,698 units) still account for a 97.6% share of the total PTW market in Spain. 

For the record - 2023 saw motorcycle registrations up by +13.44% in Spain (199,120 units sold). In displacement terms it was larger cylinder capacity motorcycles (and therefore, typically, the most expensive models) that were the highest growth sector in Spain in 2023 with machines over 750 cc up by +24.1% and those between 125 cc and 750 cc up by +18.2%. Scooters continued to be the most popular single sector in Spain in 2023 with registrations up by +14.3% (110,467 units - some 55% of sales). 

UK motorcycle registrations

UK: motorcycles down by approx. - 2.75% in 2024

The latest data available from the Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) in the UK needs to be treated with the same caution as that issued by the trade associations in Italy, Germany and Spain due to the distortion by OEM 'Channel Stuffing' the market with unsold 2024 spec inventory prior to the enhanced Euro 5+ regulations becoming effective on January 1st, 2025.

2024 full year sales of 110,644 units for a +3.20% growth in the motorcycle market is likely to be overstated by between 9,000 and 12,000 units. A more realistic unit count of around 100,000 to 104,000 for the year being in keeping with the UK market's 2023/2024 trend data. This would yield a probable 2024 annual negative of somewhere between -2.20% and -3.00%; probably around - 2.75%.

The data that the MICA has had no choice but to work with show total registrations of 115,714 units (+2.63%) with only 3,750 of those being electric powertrain units (-7.7%). As elsewhere, the majority of the electrics sold in the UK are low power models.

For the record: the UK motorcycle market was down by -1.20% in 2023, at 107,215 units. Total PTW registrations down further by -2.53% (112,748 units). These statistics reflect the fact that the UK entered a small but definite technical recession in the second half of 2023 and through the winter into early 2024. Despite that, 2023 saw the second-best annual sales figures for the UK motorcycle market since before the 2007/2008 financial crisis.

White Motorcycle Concepts & Zero

Zero and WMC join forces on low-drag prototype

By Ben Purvis

British engineering consultancy White Motorcycle Concepts has partnered with Zero to create a proof-of-concept prototype that shows how WMC's patented idea of routing air though a duct in the middle of the bike can be implemented in a real-world electric motorcycle - boosting range and performance without the cost or weight of additional batteries or a larger motor.

WMC has already implemented its central duct concept at both the high-speed and low-speed ends of the motorcycling spectrum, initially presenting the idea in 2021 on the WMC250EV - a machine intended to vie for the electric bike land speed record - and later developing the hybrid powered, three-wheeled WMC300FR based on a Yamaha Tricity scooter. 

The WMC300FR has since gone into service with British police in limited numbers, and an all-electric version, the WMC300E+, was recently developed to create a zero-emission alternative to the original petrol-electric hybrid.

The prototype WMCSRS, based on the Zero SR/S electric sports tourer, is the most real-world adaptation of the idea so far though. Without altering the bike's chassis or its main powertrain elements, WMC's engineers, led by founder Robert White, have managed to free-up a remarkable amount of space for the company's patented central duct, creating a clear line of sight straight through the bike - entering under the nose and exiting below the seat. 

The duct splits into two channels to negotiate immovable sections of the standard Zero chassis, but still allows air that would normally gather in a stagnant high-pressure zone behind the front wheel to escape through the bike. 

A new aero front fender and teardrop shaped fork cowls help smooth its passage into the duct's mouth, and the seat is raised a fraction to clear its exit underneath. Other than that, the changes are limited to rearranging some of the control electronics inside the bike to clear the way for the duct.

The reward is a 10% reduction in drag, measured by computer simulation of the design, which should equate to a similar scale of increased range - all without adding any cost or weight of batteries. 

Whether Zero will pursue the idea further isn't decided yet, but WMC says that the response to the prototype has been extremely positive so far.

CFMOTO

CFMOTO 750SR-R sports bike leaked

By Ben Purvis

Any remaining doubts about how seriously China's motorcycle industry should be taken are rapidly being dispelled by the onslaught of impression new models from CFMOTO. Next, we can expect a 750 cc four-cylinder sports bike that's already been type-approved in China.

It will be China's first entry into the once-dominant 750 cc sports bike category - a field that's been all but abandoned in the decades since WSB shifted to a 1,000 cc capacity limit, but one that many riders will remember as a Goldilocks zone for motorcycle performance, filled with lightweight bikes offering more grunt than a 600 but without the white-knuckle experience of 1,000 cc superbikes. 

The specifications include a peak power of 82 kW (110 hp) and a kerb weight, including fuel, of 213 kg. Clearly more 'sports bike' than 'superbike' but enough to outperform CFMOTO's current range-topper, the three-cylinder 675SR-R. At 1,419 mm, the 750's wheelbase is 19 mm longer than the 675's, and the lone image shows it has a new chassis, with a trellis style front section attached to a pressed or cast swingarm pivot area. 

Like the 675SR-R, it has brake cooling ducts feeding air to Brembo four-piston calipers, but it forgoes the extreme head-down riding position of a typical sports bike for something a bit more practical - the bars are a little higher and wider than you might expect, given the styling. That styling also includes the inevitable front wings, this time biplane-style versions that sweep forward on either side of the fairing.

Bonamici Racing

Bonamici Racing - Triumph Triples

Fresh from its triumph with BMW Motorrad as a World Superbike team technical partner in 2024, Italian race parts specialist Bonamici Racing has taken its precision and performance and applied it to Triumphs of another kind - the Triumph Speed Triple 1200 RS, 1200 RR, Street Triple 765, and 765R.

Noted for attention to the details that make for high-performance aftermarket component control and precision, Bonamici Racing has developed a premium range of accessories designed to elevate the riding experience of Triumph's popular triples.  

Crafted from CNC-machined aluminium, Bonamici Racing rearsets combine strength, lightweight construction, and an ergonomic, race inspired design that enhances grip and comfort. Specifically engineered for the triples and a broad range of Triumph models, these rearsets offer precise adjustability and superior traction for the control needed to tackle corners with confidence, even in extreme conditions - giving riders instant feedback, improved stability, responsiveness, and overall safety.

Bonamici also offers a refined selection of brake and clutch levers that are engineered for maximum functionality and performance. Fully adjustable, these levers deliver precise braking feedback, ensuring optimal control in all riding conditions.

To safeguard the cockpit, Bonamici Racing's dash protection offers high-impact resistance, shielding the display and digital controls from potential damage during intense riding on the track.

BONAMICI RACING

www.bonamiciracing.it

Kappa

KS311 LED spotlights

Kappa took the opportunity  to present new accessories for 2025 at the Italian Motor Bike Expo, including the KS311 pair of auxiliary spotlights. They feature a shock-resistant chassis, a convenient coupling system to the motorcycle frame, and "top performance due a powerful degree of brightness".

They are CE certified and offer LED technology with a nominal output of 25W (+/- 10%) each (a light output of up to 6,000 lumens with a radiation range of over 300 m). The spotlights produce a rectangular tangent lighting effect, which does not dazzle oncoming drivers and minimises blind spots and dark areas through a wide beam.

The lighting mode can be controlled with a three-position control panel, which allows a choice between high beam, low beam and high beam with low beam. Additionally, they offer an IP67 degree of protection (dustproof and resistant to immersion in water up to 1 metre deep).  

The spotlight is made of aluminium with a die-cast lamp body. The lens is made of optical glass, which eliminates the danger of discolouration and allows excellent penetration of the light beam. 

The KS311s are easily fixed to the motorcycle with the kit supplied that allows any 20 to 26 mm tube to be used as a mount. The bracket is rotatable and the two spotlights can be positioned in four ways, thanks to threaded connections at the bottom, top, right and left. They are supplied with two totally watertight battery connection cables, a control unit to be connected anywhere on the motorcycle's 12 V circuit that disconnects when the vehicle is switched off, and a handlebar-mounted control unit that controls the 3 lighting modes. 

The operating voltage is 12-24 V; diameter is 56 mm; length is 60 mm; weight is approx. 1.5 kg. They are available in anodised black.

KAPPA

www.kappamoto.com