Bike sales still on a downhill

Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki and Kawasaki suffered, but Triumph and BMW held firm. Photo / Supplied

New car sales are creeping up as the fleet market gains confidence, but road-registered motorbike figures sit at 23 per cent below the same time last year, when sales were 42.7 per cent under 2008, according to Motor Trade Association figures.

The drop all but mirrors the fall in private car buyers, with individuals still reluctant to commit cash to a new vehicle. Yet though the big players are suffering - Honda and Yamaha sales dropped nearly 20 per cent and Suzuki and Kawasaki even more - it's not all bad news.

Although 2008 ended almost 10 years of growth, sales for all bikes over 60cc are above 2004 and Triumph and BMW figures have actually risen.

BMW Motorrad area manager NZ, John Glasswell, says just as car companies with new product to interest customers have done better than most, his dealers benefited from the arrival of new models - particularly the headlining R1000SS.

Experience Motorcycles general manager Wayne Ranford says the SS is targeted at the younger racer and brings new people into the showroom, while existing owners keep his service department ticking over.

Experience expanded its floor space to accommodate another brand to help sustain business in the downturn.

Ranford points out BMW lacks learner bikes and the lightweight off-roaders that would reduce its reliance on the road market. He expects to announce a complementary brand by October.

Another dealer to expand is Honda's top-performing dealership Cyclespot, on Auckland's North Shore.

Managing director Grant Woolford moved to bigger premises. It wasn't a good time to invest, "but it's been a really good step and it's increased sales; August will actually be up 25 per cent on last year", and that despite Honda's nationwide decline.

Cyclespot's customer base has grown in part because the new premises offer a more attractive environment, Woolford says, but also because he's proactive about pulling punters in by organising customer rides and events.

Woolford says when times are good, "everyone can sell anything and everyone can do it; in tough times good dealers actually shine."

Dealers and distributors alike are reluctant to predict numbers for the coming year, but keenly anticipate summer's annual lift in bike sales.