Germany: January to July registrations up 6.25%
The latest data released by the German motorcycle industry trade association (IVM) shows new motorcycle registrations up by +2.28 percent for July (10,835 units), having been +5.79 percent in June (12,835). Registrations for the seven months through July are +6.25 percent at 82,374 units.
In total PTW (Powered Two-Wheeler) terms, the German market was +8.03 percent in July at 16,533 units (+7.78 percent in June) and is running at a very healthy +10.09 percent (113,605 units) for the period from January to July inclusive.
The top selling model so far this year in Germany has been the BMW R 1200 GS, with 5,856 units sold in the first seven months. With five models in the Top 20 it is no surprise that BMW remains market leader in its home market, even if its sales have declined by 10.51 percent over the same period of 2017, with 17,634 units sold so far in 2018 for a 21.41 percent market share (down from 25.42 percent).
Kawasaki is in second place with an increase in market share in Germany to 12.43 percent (10,243 units sold) with its Z 900 the second best-selling model (2,458 units sold); its Z 650 is the fourth best seller (2,202 units sold YTD).
Honda is third with 11.73 percent share (10,243 units sold) – its top seller is the CRF 1000 ‘Africa Twin’ in fifth place in Germany (1,822 units sold YTD). KTM is in fourth place (8,708 units sold for a 10.57 percent share) - its top seller is the 790 Duke (1,486 units sold, the sixth best seller in Germany), with its 390 Duke in eighth place (1,208 units sold).
Yamaha is in fifth place with a 10.19 percent market share (8,396 units sold) with its top seller in third place overall – the MT-07 (2,439 units sold YTD). Harley-Davidson has a 10.15 percent share in 6th, followed by Ducati (5.14 percent), Suzuki (5.08 percent), Triumph (4.48 percent) and Husqvarna in 10th with a 2.60 percent share (2,219 units sold).
Piaggio PTW sales +0.09% for first six months of 2018
In the first half of 2018 the Piaggio Group reported an improvement in all its main earnings indicators and a reduction in debt. The group sold 304,000 vehicles of all the kinds it makes worldwide in total, an increase of +8.3%, and reported consolidated net sales of 729.6 million euro.
Sales volumes increased in India and in the Asia Pacific region, while volumes in the EMEA and Americas regions were affected by the fall in demand for 50cc vehicles.
In terms of two-wheelers, the group sold 203,900 PTWs worldwide (202,100 in H1 2017), generating net sales of 520.5 million euro (538 million euro in the year-earlier period). The figure includes spares and accessories, on which turnover totalled 64.3 million euro, up from the first half of 2017.
Group two-wheeler sales volumes in the first six months of 2018 increased by +0.9%, with a downturn in net sales (-3.3%) largely caused by the exchange rate effect and a different geographical sales mix. In the first half, the Piaggio Group reported a sharp increase of +36.8% in two-wheeler sales volumes on the Indian market, assisted in particular by sales of Vespa scooters, the Aprilia SR, and the growth of the network, with the opening of more than 60 Motoplex stores in India in the first six months of 2018. There was also an increase of +9.8% in two-wheeler sales volumes in Asia Pacific compared with the year-earlier period.
In Europe, the Piaggio Group confirmed its leadership of the scooter segment with a share of 25.6%. In the scooter segment, the Vespa brand boosted sales volumes by approximately +10% from 30 June 2017, with a particularly positive contribution from the Indian market and the ASEAN area, and the Medley high-wheel scooter, which achieved growth of +12% in sales volumes.
In the Group motorcycle business, important results were achieved by the Aprilia brand, with a +17% increase in sales. Sales of the V7 family were a significant driver in Moto Guzzi net sales.
In commercial vehicles, the Piaggio Group reported strong progress with sales of 100,100 vehicles, up +27.3% from 78,700 in the first half of 2017, and net sales of 209.1 million euro, up +14.4% from 182.8 million euro in the year-earlier period (+21.3% at constant exchange rates). The figure includes spares and accessories, where sales totalled 23.7 million euro, up 8.6% from the first half of 2017.
Demand on the Indian market for three-wheel commercial vehicles showed strong signs of recovery, and the PVPL subsidiary had an overall three-wheeler market share of 22.8%. In the first half of 2018 the PVPL production hub exported 14,800 commercial vehicles.
Piaggio reported consolidated net sales up 729.6 million euro, up 1.2% (+6.2% at constant exchange rates); Ebitda of 116.6 million euro, up 2.3% (+3.1% at constant exchange rates); Ebitda margin up at 16%; industrial gross margin of 228.3 million euro, up +1.4% (+3.3% at constant exchange rates) and 31.3% return on net sales with Ebit of 61.9 million euro, up +16.8%, and profit before tax of 48.5 million euro, up +33.1%, with net profit of 26.7 million euro, up +26.2%.
Their net financial position (debt) is -431.4 million euro, an improvement of 15.3 €/mln. The industrial gross margin was 228.3 million euro, up by +1.4%; the return on net sales was 31.3% (31.2% in the first half of 2017).
Polaris reports 2018 second quarter results
Minneapolis based Polaris Industries, owner of Indian Motorcycle and the market-leading ATV, SxS and snowmobile manufacturer, reported Q2 sales of +10% to $1,503 million; net income +47% at $1.43 per diluted share; north American retail sales of +6% for the quarter; and north American ORV (ATV and SxS) retail up mid-single digits % with market share gains for both.
Taking into account improved volume expectations and the acquisition of Boat Holdings, LLC (its first venture into the marine sector), Polaris increased full year 2018 sales guidance to be up between 11 and 12% and adjusted its full year earnings per share expectations downwards to allow for the absorption of an estimated additional $40 million of tariff and related commodity cost increases for 2018.
Motorcycle segment sales, including PG&A, totalled $171 million, down by -13 percent compared to $198 million reported in the second quarter of 2017 due to a weak domestic U.S. motorcycle industry and timing of shipments for Indian motorcycles year-over-year; Slingshot sales were also down. Segment gross profit was up at $25 million, but down when adjusted for Victory wind-down costs.
North American Indian Motorcycle retail sales increased mid-single digit percent; Slingshot's retail sales were down mid-single digit. Domestic U.S. motorcycle industry retail sales of 900 cc and above were down mid-single digit percent in the 2018 second quarter, meaning Indian gained share in a declining market.
International sales, including PG&A, were +7% at $204 million due to foreign exchange movements and “strong sales in the company's EMEA business for ORV and motorcycles”.
Scott Wine, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Polaris Industries Inc, stated: “I am very pleased with the Polaris team and the strong execution they delivered across the business during the second Quarter. With solid retail growth and market share gains in both our Off-Road Vehicle business and Indian Motorcycle, we are clearly reaping the benefits of our safety and quality investments, new product innovations and improved delivery performance. Consumer sentiment and dealer traffic improved throughout the Quarter, building momentum, which will help offset the rising risk of tariffs in the second half”.
Sweden: motorcycles +4.31 percent for first six months
Having been +30.76 percent for May (2,032 units), the latest data available from the motorcycle industry trade association in Sweden (McRF) shows new motorcycle registrations at +5.81 percent for June (1,329 units) and tracking at +4.31 percent (6,870 units) for the first six months of the year.
Having been +18.66 percent (4,292 units) for May, new registrations of all PTWs in Sweden were tracking at -0.59 (14,349 units) for the first six months of the year.
With moped registrations down by -20.51 percent in June and running at -4.70 percent YTD (7,479 units), the overall PTW market in Sweden for the first six months of 2018, the small cc Euro 4 to Euro 4 transition that kicked in with January 2018 continues to keep the overall PTW market suppressed, but a very good snowmobile market (+15 percent at 10,878 units) has kept the powersports industry in Sweden “in shape”.
Swedish made vintage MX discs
Well known as a manufacturer of the “strongest stainless steel motocross, street, off-road and vintage spokes available”, in addition to model-specific, rims, hubs and complete wheels, Swedish MX wheel specialist Cross-Center International also makes one of the world’s widest available ranges of vintage MX wheels, with a claimed 99 percent coverage of all vintage models as well as comprehensive recent and late model MX brake discs.
“We are a true one-stop-shop for MX wheels and components for most models for nearly all years,” says owner Torbjoern Bergh. “We manufacture our discs in-house from genuine high-grade Swedish steel, and customers who have tried to source MX brake discs elsewhere, especially for the older bikes, tell us ours is the largest available range in the world”.
In fact, there are those who think that the high level of interest in vintage motocross at this time is doing much to sustain and fuel the late model market, and as a complete front wheel and component specialist, ‘Tobbe’ says he has seen the strong growth in the vintage market in recent years.
“Vintage MX is over 50 percent of the sales here in Sweden, and our export orders suggest the same is happening around the world. The enthusiasm for vintage is massive – I put a picture of my KX 500 vintage wheels on Facebook in April and over 30,000 people had seen it in less than three months.”
Tobbe is a bit of a purist when it comes to brake discs, believing that a lot of the current design tweaks on the market “sell well because they may look good, but are often a step backwards when it comes to braking power, reliability and disc and pad wear.
“There are many claims out there, especially when it comes to heat management, that just aren’t justifiable. Which is why we mostly make OEM style discs, and they sell and perform best in our experience. Sometimes we are able to add certain improvements and refinements, but we think that a round brake disc with a lot of material and large, straight arms, an inner ring and no floating rivets is by far the best performing, most reliable, durable and economic brake disc.
“Modern brake pad compounds and manufacturing techniques are so good now that many of the old issues and preconceptions about how to get the best out of a pad are no longer relevant – especially where the effects of gasses is concerned. The result is that some of the designs that are currently fashionable can actually reduce the life and performance of the pad, as well as the disc”.
The Cross-Center range is indeed comprehensive, with new discs being tooled each time the manufacturer design changes. This means that for Honda models, for example, the company offers four different designs with M6 bolts for fronts from 1997 and up (and two M8 bolt fitments) that all have the same measurements all the way up to 2018 (2008 being a one-off exception).
“The same applies to many other brands and models, though other manufacturers have been more consistent with their designs in the last 20 years, generally with one design for ‘97-‘01 and one for ‘02-‘19”.
CROSS-CENTER INTERNATIONAL
www.cross-center.com
BS15 fully automatic charger
Leading battery expert Benjamin Sebban, of Paris based BS Battery International fame, says the new BS15 that his company has developed is “the most practical battery charger for motorcycle batteries”.
Described as a smart, high performance, safe and ergonomic design (complete with a handy folding hook), it has “all the features that dealers need from a contemporary smart charger - it cannot be used incorrectly. This charger will always deliver a good charge and even recondition old batteries”.
It is a fully automatic 8-stage smart charger delivering 1.5 amp that is able to recover tired, deeply discharged or sulphated batteries.
The multi-axis, ergonomically designed integrated hook allows the BS15 to be hung anywhere (including the bike itself) as it can be rotated 360 degrees on its horizontal axis and 180 degrees vertically.
Compatible with all kinds of lead acid batteries - GEL, AGM, DRY or Calcium batteries, it is delivered with an isolated BS clamp and fused ring connection set.
The BS15 is available in seven different colourways, so there is a match for most primary manufacturer signature colours.
BS BATTERY SAS
www.bs-battery.com
Need more space?
Of course you do, you can never have enough baggage space on an Adventure Tourer, which is why German BMW parts and accessory specialist Wunderlich is offering this simple solution – German made add-on rails for securing extra soft bag luggage capacity to the original Vario case holders on the R1200GS.
The rails are easily mounted without any need for drilling - when the mounted luggage rails are used, even with luggage attached, the cases can still be opened without any problems.
The volumes can be adjusted and the soft luggage tied down safely and securely with the four practical lashing rings per rail. The brackets are made of lightweight, high-stability stainless steel and come in black with a complete fitting kit and a five-year warranty.
WUNDERLICH GMBH
www.wunderlich.de
