UK motorcycle registrations +3.48 percent to June
The latest information from the motorcycle industry association in the UK (MCIA) shows motorcycle sales +9.25 percent (12,509 units) in June 2018, following +1.29 percent (10,396 units) in May, leaving the UK motorcycle market at +3.48 percent (54,984 units) for the first six months of the year.
Moped sales remain soft in the UK (-13.83 and -15.11 percent in May and June respectively; -21.49 percent YTD at 2,444 units), meaning that total PTW sales are tracking motorcycle sales closely at +2.09 percent for the YTD (57,428 units).
Naked style bikes remain the most popular in the UK, with 18,259 units sold, a +8.4 percent increase on the first six months of 2018. Adventure Sport models are +0.5 percent YTD at 10,330 units sold; followed by Scooters at +2.1 percent (9,683 units sold); custom style bikes (5,023 units/+12.2 percent) and Supersport models the fifth largest market sector at 4,719 units sold for the first six months of 2018, but continuing their decline popularity at -16.7 percent. The Trail/Enduro sector was worth 3,511 units YTD (+13.3 percent).
The UK has 1.27m motorcycles in use as of 2016, the latest year for which data is available. 2016/17 saw 40,600 motorcycle test passes, the best figure for some years, though there has been some softening in early 2018; the MCIA estimates that motorcyclists rode some 4.6 billion km (2.8 billion miles) in 2016.
The UK saw 96,943 new motorcycles registered in 2017 (-18.52 percent), with 104,655 total PTWs sold (-18.05 percent).
Deliveries of BMW Motorrad premium motorcycles and maxi scooters in the first half of the year were close to the extremely high level achieved last year. In the year-to-date, a total of 86,975 units were delivered to customers, a decrease of 1.6% year-on-year. BMW Motorrad is significantly refreshing its model line-up in 2018, with nine new models being introduced, and the related adjustments in production are affecting deliveries. BMW Motorrad continues to strive for sales growth across the full calendar year.
KTM Industries AG reported a record first half for 2018 with motorcycle sales of 126,808 units (+15%). At € 821.8m, revenues were +8% with EBIT +19% at € 78.4m – the KTM balance sheet position was boosted by the sale of the Pankl-Group to Pierer Industrie AG-Group for € 103.5m. KTM EBITDA was up at € 126.2m from € 105.8m and says its market share in Europe was up by +36% (YoY) to a market share of 11.3%, stimulated by the successful launch of the two-cylinder 800 cc KTM 790 Duke and the 401 Svartpilen/Vitpilen and 701 Vitpilen Husqvarna road models.
Indian manufacturer and former Eric Buell collaborator Hero Motor Corp has splashed the cash on a new $3m Global Design Center in Manchester, England.
For students of vendor longevity, raise a glass for Central Wheel Components of Birmingham, England. Founded in 1897, the company has celebrated 120 years of continuous operation. The company stocks more than 15,000 motorcycle wheel rims and 500,000 spokes and nipples at any one time, most manufactured in-house. Its SM Pro Platinum rim is widely recognised as the world’s strongest and lightest aftermarket MX/off-road rim. These days the company is based at Coleshill, England, near the UK’s National Motorcycle Museum.
The Dakar Rally has been provisionally slated for Peru (only) in January 2019, with countries such as Argentina, Bolivia, Chile and others either increasingly less enthusiastic or being over-eager about hosting the event. The Rally found its way to south America in 2009 after cancellation of the 2008 race when it required rescuing from the difficulties it faced in Africa. Speculation is rife that it may well now return to something akin to its Paris-Dakar route origins in 2020.
CF Moto and KTM broke ground on the building of their new joint venture production facility in China in March. CF Moto GM Minjie Lai is quoted as saying the joint venture will bring CF Moto’s R&D and manufacturing capability “to a whole new level. CF Moto will benefit from KTM’s advanced technology and experience; KTM recognise how our manufacturing capacity, supply chain management and channel development could help them to implement their global strategy”.
New iXS Managing Director
Swiss apparel to bikes (Yamaha), tyres and parts manufacturer, brand owner and distributor Hostettler AG has announced a change in its leadership, with Anselm Zessler named as Managing Director (effective 1 January) of its iXS own brand apparel and Motochic third party distribution divisions.
Zessler joined Hostettler in 2016 and previously served as Head of Research & Development for iXS, overseeing the launch of several innovative new programmes.
“In the first quarter of 2018, iXS will launch an entirely new, CE-certified collection of motorcycle apparel, providing security for the business,” said Zessler. “This collection offers new and innovative solutions in iXS’s core competency concerning the PERFECT FIT.
“It includes the Montevideo Touring & Adventure collection, which recently received the internationally recognised ‘Red Dot Award’ in the category ‘Travel’. Also new is the RS-1000 sports line, featuring coloured slider elements for motorcycle outfits. These elements are interchangeable and meet customers’ requests for colours matching their motorcycles and/or helmets.”
www.ixs.com
Off-road billet clutch baskets
Legendary Californian specialist Barnett has new CNC precision-machined billet clutch baskets. Made from durable high-grade aluminium alloy, they feature patented, replaceable stainless steel inserts to prevent grooving of the basket where the clutch plate tabs make contact.
Oil passage windows are also machined into the basket to increase oil flow to the clutch plates, which results in cooler operating temperatures and a longer clutch life. Grade 8 quality fasteners are included, with a backing plate where applicable.
Select applications come with the centre kicker gear already installed. These baskets are available for popular 80 cc and up off-road motorcycles and sport ATVs.
BARNETT CLUTCHES & CABLES
www.barnettcables.com
Featherlite throttle cables for ZZR1400
Motorcycle control specialist Venhill Engineering now produces replacement pattern Featherlight throttle cables for Kawasaki’s muscular sports touring ZZR1400.
Available for the 2006-2015 ‘standard’ and ABS models, the new cables are almost identical to the factory-fitted items in appearance, but “are made in the UK to a higher standard, for a smoother throttle action and improved durability – they simply work better and for longer”.
Each set features Venhill's high-quality Featherlight cabling, which includes stainless steel inner wire, for minimum stretch, running through a PTFE liner for reduced friction and a lighter action – which also removes the need for lubrication.
The cables are ‘Bird-caged' – a special process applied to the end of the inner wire, which allows solder to penetrate the weave of the cable, making the bond with the nipple much stronger.
This process adds extra strength and durability, helping to reduce cable breakage when put under repeated stress and pressure – adding real peace of mind when riding longer distances. They are available in a choice of coloured outers for riders who want to personalise their machine.
VENHILL ENGINEERING
www.venhill.co.uk
Bitubo 300cc Supersport and mod-free Dual Sport upgrades
Italian suspension specialist Bitubo’s CLM11 is a monoshock for low and medium-powered displacement Supersport models, typically up to around 300cc.
Developed in collaboration with riders in the Supersport 300 World Championship and selected national championships, features include manually tool operated stepless spring preload at the cap body, 24-clicks of compression adjustment, 24-clicks of rebound adjustments and 8 mm of length adjustment “for optimum riding style and circuit set-ups”.
Equipped with a remote reservoir to ensure better fluid cooling and improved mounting position options, the use of this monoshock absorber is “recommended for street and race use, allowing a more sophisticated set-up of the bike and exploitation of the vehicle’s frame potential - with handling and response remaining more reliable and efficient over the time”.
Also seen here, the company’s JBH01V2 cartridges add an upside-down fork Dual Sport option to Bitubo’s JBH series cartridge line-up.
Described as allowing greater braking stability, improving the driving safety and vehicle control, the JBH01V2 is a fully rebuildable, durable and reliable Plug & Play install requiring no modification of the original suspension at any time. It is customisable by using different styles of springs and by replacing the ring on the red or black upper cap.
JBH01V2 cartridges have 15 mm of spring preload adjustment, and 20-clicks of rebound and compression adjustment. The kit includes 2 litres of oil.
BITUBO
www.bitubo.com
Italian motorcycle registrations +9.76 percent for half year to June 2018
According to the latest data available from the motorcycle industry trade association in Italy (ANCMA) the Italian market continues to be among the strongest of Europe’s major markets.
New motorcycle registrations were down fractionally in June (-0.70 percent at 10,752 units), having been +18.48 percent in May (13,271 units) and are running at +9.76 percent for the first six months of 2018 (58,258 units).
In total PTW terms, the Italian market is +4.30 percent at 130,297 units YTD, having been worth a total of 204,406 PTWs in 2017 (+5.41 percent). This is the strongest first six months for total PTWs in Italy since 2011.
Scooter sales in Italy were essentially flat for the first six months at +0.28 percent, 72,039 units. The top sellers remain Honda’s Italian produced SH 150/300/125 series, followed by the Piaggio Beverly 300 ABS and Yamaha X-Max.
The top selling larger displacement machines have been the BMW R 1200 GS (2,588), Honda X-ADV 750 (2,494), Honda Africa Twin (2,295), Yamaha T-Max 500 (2,194), BMW R 12 GS Adventure (1,654), Yamaha Tracer 900 (1,636) and the Honda NC 750 X (1,357).
