ACEM

Q1 PTW registrations in EU markets -3.3 percent as anticipated Euro 3 inventory pre-registration impact shows up in industry statistics

The latest data released by ACEM, the Brussels based international motorcycle industry trade association, shows combined registrations of motorcycles and mopeds in the EU (all PTWs – Powered Two-Wheelers) reaching 254,487 units during the first quarter of 2017, representing a decrease of -3.3% compared to the same quarter of the previous year.

France has been the strongest market since the beginning of the year, with registrations reaching 51,164 units (+3.35% compared to Q1 2016), whilst registrations in Italy went up by +1.11% (50,230 units). This contrasts with the situation in the other large European markets such as Germany (42,525 units, -6.05%), Spain (28,851 units, -8.93%) and the UK (23,313 units, -14.9%).
Commenting on the latest figures, Antonio Perlot, Secretary General of ACEM, said: “The slowdown in the motorcycle and moped markets is the result of the final transition to the new Euro 4 standard. A large number of Euro 3 vehicles were registered in late 2016, which explains why fewer mopeds and motorcycles are being registered in the beginning of 2017”. 

ACEM Secretary General Antonio Perlot: “The slowdown in the motorcycle and moped markets is the result of the final transition to the new Euro 4 standard”

“We expect the market to regain positive momentum over the coming months, particularly thanks to the launch of the new models and the beginning of the motorcycle riding season. As a matter of fact, some of the largest European markets have already surpassed Q1 2016 registration levels”.
In motorcycle terms, registrations in the EU reached 193,097 units during Q1 2017 (-5.9% compared to Q1 2016). The Italian motorcycle market is currently the largest in Europe with 45,433 units registered in Q1 2017 (+1.71% compared to the same quarter of the previous year). Motorcycle registrations remained stable in France (33,884 units, +0.45%) and decreased in Germany (35,401 units, -7.12%), Spain (24,898 vehicles, -12.7%) and the UK (21,874 units, -14.28%).
Registrations of mopeds in the EU increased by +5.9% (61,390 units), led by strong growth in the two largest European markets, namely France (17,280 units, +9.5%) and the Netherlands (13,863 units, +6.47%). Moped figures remained stable in Germany (7,214 units, -0.32%) and decreased in Italy (4,797 units, -4.23%).
Total registrations of electric mopeds, motorcycles and quadricycles reached 5,447 units during Q1 2017, an increase of +31.5% compared to Q1 2016.
A total of 3,859 electric mopeds and 787 electric motorcycles were registered in Europe (+62% and +35.5% respectively), whilst figures for electric quadricycles went down from 1,178 to 801 (-32%) over the same period.
Commenting on the growth in electric vehicle sales, Antonio Perlot said that “the launch of new electric models to the market confirms that our sector continues to make a valuable contribution to the sustainability of Europe’s transport systems.
“The growth of registrations of electric vehicles in the EU reflects both the increasing interest from public authorities in electromobility, and the proliferation of shared vehicle schemes across Europe”.
“At the same time, our sector still needs a consistent approach to incentives – fiscal and otherwise – for electric vehicles, as well as a greater investment in the charging network. Although some European governments have launched subsidies to incentivise sales of electric vehicles, mopeds and motorcycles are not always eligible for these schemes”.
“This situation, which creates an unequal playing field between our sector and other means of transport, should be addressed by European and national authorities”.
Research by IDN estimates that some 40,000 motorcycles may have been unsold Euro 3 machines that were pre-registered before the December 31st cut-off; some 24,000 of which were sold from showroom floors in the first quarter of 2017, often on heavily incentivised package deals – enough for EU-wide Q1 new zero-mileage motorcycle sales to have been modestly up on Q1 of 2016.
In 2016 motorcycle registrations (vehicles with two or three wheels and an engine capacity of more than 50cc) for all EU markets for the full year were +13.3 percent at 1,009,529 units (891,219 in 2015). The largest market for motorcycles in Europe in 2016 was Italy, with 195,290 units registered (+13.5% on a year-on-year basis); followed by Germany +15.1 percent (174,624 units); France + 6.6 percent (163,335 units); Spain + 17 percent (155,003 units) and the UK + 13.4 percent (119,889 units).
In total Powered Two-Wheeler (PTW) terms, 2016 full-year registrations were +9.1 percent at 1,307,206 units, with the moped market still soft at -3.5 percent (327,786 units).

Spanish new motorcycle registrations

Spanish new motorcycle registrations -13.04 percent for first four months of 2017

According to the latest data available from ANESDOR, the motorcycle industry trade association in Spain, new motorcycle registrations in April were -17.71 percent (11,198 units), having been +1.70 percent in March (10,986 units). For the first four months of 2017 the market is -13.04 percent (36,190 units).

In moped terms April was +15.67 percent (1,543 units; March was +30 percent at 1,547 units); for the year-to-date moped sales in Spain are +23.21 percent (5,521 units). In total PTW terms April was -11.91 percent (12,741 units; March was +4.51 percent, 12,533 units), with sales for the year-to-date running at -9.51 percent (41,711 percent).
General Secretary of ANESDOR Jose Maria Riano has pointed to Easter and the resulting two fewer selling days in April as making 2016 comparisons difficult, but stated that “we are confident that in the next few months the motorcycle market in Spain will resume the positive trend, once it is over the impact of the change in the European emissions regulations, Euro 4”.
As elsewhere in Europe, the new regulations becoming effective January 1st 2017 resulted in there being a high number of heavily incentivised pre-registered zero mileage Euro 3 units being on showroom floors in the first months of this year and distorting, in reality, the number of “new” machines being bought.
ANESDOR point to an underlying trend that is hidden by the registration statistics with road-going motorcycle sales actually increasing by +3.8 percent in April (4,665 units, 42 percent of April sales); scooters were -23.3 percent (56 percent of sales).
Honda is market share leader in Spain for the first four months of 2016 having sold 7,533 units for a 20.8 percent market share. Yamaha was second with 5,156 units sold for a 14.2 percent share, followed by Kymco 9.8 percent, Piaggio 8.1 percent and BMW 8.8 percent.

Polish new motorcycle registrations

Polish new motorcycle registrations reported as -21.30 percent for Q1 2017

It no doubt has a lot to do with Euro 3 carry-over inventory being pre-registered in December, but according to the latest statistics released by the motorcycle industry trade association in Poland (PZPM), the number of new motorcycles registered there in March was down by -11.73 percent (1,837 units) and are running down by -21.30 percent (2,938 units) for the year-to-date. This was the third best March in Poland in the past 10 years.

New moped registrations were up by +38.22 percent in March (2,387 units) and are +25.65 percent for the YTD (3,699 units); total new PTW registrations were +10.92 percent in March (4,224 units) and are -0.60 percent for the YTD (6,637 units).
However, new model registrations are only part of the story where the Polish market is concerned. Poland is an important market for pre-owned vehicles from elsewhere in Europe, receiving their first registration in Poland – and they provide valuable service, maintenance and PG&A income for Poland’s franchised and independent motorcycle shops and the vendors they buy from.
Used motorcycle sales were +29.04 percent in March (7,883 units) and +8.81 percent YTD (12,329 units); used moped sales were +19.46 percent in March and are -2.43 percent YTD (1,527 units); total used PTW sales were +28 percent in March (8,723 percent), but overall are running -32.36 percent YTD (8,723 units).
In total, new and used motorcycle registrations were +18.64 percent in March (9,670 units) and are +1.35 percent YTD (15,267 units); new and pre-owned mopeds in Poland were +32.56 percent in March (3,277 units) and are +15.90 percent YTD (5,226 units); total new and pre-owned PTW registrations were +21.88 percent in March (12,974 units) and were +4.70 percent overall (20,493 units) in Poland for the first three months of 2017. The record of total new and used PTW registrations in Poland for a March was in 2008 when some 11,000 new registrations were recorded.
The full year 2016 saw 25,844 new motorcycles registered in Poland, with estimates of the net of Euro 3 pre-registrations suggesting that the market was down by some 6 percent/2,500 units over 2015. New and used motorcycle registrations combined were up by +1.43 percent for 2016 at 83,298 units. The total number of new and used/first registered PTWs of all kinds, including the pre-registrations of carry-over Euro 3 inventory in Poland was down by -6.49 percent at 117,309 units for 2016. Poland is the EU’s 9th largest market for new motorcycle registrations and the 7th largest total new PTW market, according to ACEM statistics.
www.pzpm.org.pl

SW-Motech

R nineT Scrambler luggage and protection options

German specialist SW-Motech is offering a selection of parts and accessories for BMW’s R nineT Scrambler, including a choice of side bag sets, tail and tank bags in their popular ‘Legend Gear’ soft luggage programme.

Available in a selection of capacities with model-specific mounting options and waterproof inner bags, ‘Legend Gear’ bags are constructed from coated canvas with robust, water-resistant Napalon synthetic leather for a convincing but durable vintage style look.

Also, as shown here, hard parts and protection accessories available include an aluminium engine guard, black steel crash bar, stainless steel brake cylinder guard, stepless adjustable aluminium gear lever, aluminium cylinder guard and black 66mm extensions for their BMW application mirrors. 

SW-MOTECH GmbH & Co KG
www.sw-motech.com

Valter Moto

High strength, lightweight custom options by Valter Moto

Established by Valter Esposito in 1998, Italian engineering firm Valter Moto continues to add top quality, precision-manufactured component designs for most popular makes and models.

Esposito’s speciality is high strength, light weight durable materials, with products such as rearsets, frame sliders, race and street hardware kits, licence plate supports, muffler brackets, footpegs, levers and handlebars.

At EICMA last November he displayed a 2016 SV650 that has been given the “Valter Treatment” with parts such as an aluminium headlight cover, chain cover kit, left and right exhaust system and radiator covers, durable 12-48 volt/15 watt LED spotlights, rearsets with heel protectors, folding pegs, naked handlebar with optional crossbar for improved strength and reduced vibrations (navi/smartphone support also available), handlebar ends, brake and clutch fluid reservoirs, ‘Flat’ style mirrors, license plates, fuel cap, passenger grab rails, saddlebag supports, chain adjusters, lever guards, engine protectors, muffler brackets, aluminium/nylon protectors and high strength, lightweight hardware…lots of hardware in fact, in model-matched or contrasting anodised colours.

Titanium is a specialty at Valter Moto, including the paddock stand seen here, hardware options, covers, protectors and brackets. Make-over kits and options are available for most popular sports and street bike makes and models, including the ZX 10R.

VALTER MOTO COMPONENTS S.r.l.
www.valtermoto.com

Akrapovic

Titanium ‘Racing Line’ for TMAX

Akrapovic has extended its titanium ‘Racing Line’ to include a new system for the Yamaha TMAX. 

Described as developed from a concept first shown at EICMA in 2015, this EC/ECE type approved Euro 4 compliant system is described as a lightweight, high-grade titanium muffler outer sleeve and stainless steel header, “with an imprinted design relief that blends in with the handmade carbon fibre end cap, giving a visual impact that is the ideal finishing touch to this stylish system”.
The use of race-proven materials has “produced an exhaust system that weighs 42% less than the stock version, delivering a power increase throughout the entire rpm range, but most importantly at the lower end of the revs”.
It is a simple plug-and-play installation with no remapping necessary, according to the company.

AKRAPOVIC
www.akrapovic.com

Shark Helmets

Shark Helmets adds new models and graphics

French manufacturer Shark Helmets has updated its 2017 programme with new models and graphics.
The Spartan Carbon full face, which was launched in 2016 and weighs in at an impressively light 1,290g, has been updated with 11 new colour schemes added to the original three.

The Spartan is now available in a multiaxial fibreglass version

The Spartan name has been extended to include a new 21-colourway Spartan line, which retains all the Carbon’s features and specifications except the shell composition - swapping the Carbon/Aramide outer shell structure for a standard multi-axial composite.

The Ridill is the latest addition to the Pulse helmet line

Brand new for 2017 is the ‘Ridill’, an injected thermoplastic resin shell featuring a 2.2mm flexible and scratch resistant Pinlock compatible visor and micro-lock buckle system.
Said to have been developed using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD), the ventilation of the helmet has been optimised and a glove-friendly, slider operated sunshield integrated. A removable and washable lining, Shark’s “Easy Fit” glasses system and a 5-year warranty make ‘Ridill’ a feature- rich option at the price.

D-Skwal has been “designed with both racing and performance in mind”

Also new for 2017, the D-Skwal is based on their popular Skwal with its characteristic integrated LED lights. Made in an injected thermoplastic resin shell with CFD optimised ventilation, features include an integrated sun visor, anti-scratch Pinlock ready visor and micro-lock buckle system. It also has Shark’s ‘Autoseal’ system, which flattens the visor onto the helmet – protecting against water, cold and wind noise – and a removable and washable liner that is compatible with the company’s ‘SharkTooth’ communications systems.
Their established Race-R Pro, Skwal, EVO-ONE and EvoLine ranges have also had new colour schemes and graphics added. The Shark range is available from distributors throughout Europe, including Nevis Marketing in the UK.

SHARK S.A.
www.shark-helmets.com