2014 November Registration Statistics

[ScaredyCat]

https://www.mcia.co.uk/Uploads/Statistics/November-2014-press-stats.pdf


Honda 1,008
Yamaha 708
Triumph 302


Suzuki right at the bottom again...


Overall registrations are up compared to last year.
____________________
Honda CBF125 ➝ NC700X
Honda CBF125 ↳ Speed Triple

[stevo as b4]

This is the first time I've ever really looked at these stats, but it's fairly interesting to see what a small pie the over 125cc market is to spread out over all the major manufacturers.

I think it does go to show that there is a good explanation why most manufacturers are:

1, Offering a lot more variants of machine in the 125cc sector, and why with the sales being good and therefore profit to be had, that the big Jap and European firms are looking to build in countries with cheap labour markets and for a little as possible, as it looks like 125's are propping up the whole market somewhat compared with everything else they could put money and rescources into.

2, Offering a few expensive high spec or race derived/race suited halo bikes, both to allow access to racing and also to further the brand and sales through having something trick or competitive. (The litre sportsbike market springs to mind most)

3, Basing most of the rest of their range of 500cc-800 bikes on machines that are good commuters, tourers and all rounders, but pushing the economy and cheap running costs and low maintenance cards as much as possible. (NC750X etc)
There seems to be little point in building anything that does not follow these fairly set formats though, and little point in being interesting/creative and different any more than it takes to tempt enough buyers to consider the bikes from the other above factors.

A2 specific bike, which don't have to be exciting, made of trick materials, or have cutting edge parts or electronics etc, seem to be the way to go for everyone. This is because these bikes don't have to be expensive to make, and if you can cater exactly for each licencing sector with a range of suitable bikes, then that's all that's really needed in a small market place where people are not buying for fun/wow factor or one upmanship like 10years ago etc.

[Matt B]

Makes me giggle that the Yamaha YZF R125 is in the Supersport category
____________________
stinkwheel: He had an animated .gif of a cat performing fellatio. It's not socially acceptable. It can have real life adverse effects on other people.

[Rogerborg]

[DrSnoosnoo]

[c-m]

They don't make a single bike I'd want. I guess that's part of their problem. Their product range just doesn't cut it. Add to that they've got a fair bit of overlap between products too.

[stevo as b4]

Me not want a career change to running a bike dealership that's for sure!

I think Suzuki, Kawasaki and Honda are all guilty of taking their eye off the ball in the last few years as to what people really want though.

I expect Honda ride it out better as they are pushing the 1/2 a car engine maximum MPG, stop start technology, sensible middleweight commuter/all rounder product harder than most. They were also good at jazzing up old solid but pain commuters like the CB500, into CBR's/CBF's and CBX 500's with either pretend sportsbike fairings, or handguards and wide bars for the mini adventure bike look, all while castrating them to the exact 47bhp A2 limit.

Kawasaki has not done anything interesting across the range as a whole. They did make a faster more top endy 1.4litre sports tourer though, which seems very relevant when you look at size the over 1300cc sales!

A good 600cc an 1000cc sportsbike, and a few reasonable all rounders like the Z1000SX, Versay's etc, but other than the nearly sporty enough, but less power than ideal for the category it's aimed at Ninja 300, they are not doing anything exciting or that could pull at peoples heart strings. A modern Z1/Z1000 to out retro and outhandle the XJR would be a nice bike to have for the nostalgia freaks. No scooters of their own, a crap 125, and not enough supermoto/trail or all rounders.

Suzuki are probably doing worse, but it's just more of the same but with no passion, soul or heart. I think all the Jap's need to take a look at Yamaha's Dark side for some inspiration, as however hyped up about nothing it may be, it's not doing Yamaha's sales any harm, and they are seeming to be braver than most (still not saying a lot) with the machines they sign off for production etc.

I think it's a good job for the Japanese manufacturers that things like the WK 650i, and bigger Hyosungs etc are not as cheap as they should be. If the Chinese and Korean 500-750's were cheap and had plenty of spec and electronics like ABS, Ipod docks, heated grip sockets etc, they would be in trouble in this day and age for anyone not going for a WSB replica.

[Rogerborg]

Too many marques, really.

Hyosungs were always too expensive, but it's interesting that you're (presumably) talking about the GT650 naked / GT650R naked-in-a-frock bikes. They got the attention, but the GV cruiser outsold them both handily.

CF Moto, I'd rather that they worked on the quality than the price.

I doubt they can knock much off retail, given shipping costs and our swingeing import duty and VAT. £4200 + OTRf for the ER6 clone completely original naked, although you'll get one for £4K OTR if you look around.

Except you won't get one, you'll get an SV650S for that money instead.

Amusingly, WK bikes have a https://www.wkbikes.com/test-ride.html page. I can assure you that their closest dealer to me is not remotely interested in letting anyone ride his Precious Bikes of the Showroom.

And that's where I think they're really failing it, in putting aspirational Japanese money bikes in showrooms next to Whang Dong JoyPop 50s sold on the thinnest margins.
____________________
Biking is 1/20th as dangerous as horse riding.
GONE: HN125-8, LF-250B, GPz 305, GPZ 500S, Burgman 400 // RIDING: F650GS (800 twin), Royal Enfield Bullet Electra 500 AVL, Ninja 250R because racebike

[arry]

[c-m]

[stevo as b4]

I still think the TLS/TLR 1000 engine was and is being wasted by Suzuki. It was a 996cc lump with more go than a Ducati engine, but it was never fitted into a truly inspiring bike IMO.

Can they not make a 1/2naked sports machine, that's 600cc sportsbike fast, and nimble but with twinny noises?

If the motor is not too heavy could it also not make for a 1000cc proper serious trail bike with a high spec chassis like a KTM990?

And it could have been used for a naked street bike if painted matt black, something not as awesome as a Street triple, but better than a Gladiarse?

[jjdugen]

Cagiva put the Suzuki 1000 V to very good use in the Raptor.

Honda are making a very big push into the bike fleet market. Had an interesting discussion with them at the NEC. They still run bike and car as separate entities, but are seriously considering running joint car/bike franchises as per BMW. It will be interesting to see whether they can get their act together and start appealing to the wider buying market.
____________________
The CBR900RR has been sold. Aprilia Falco worms its way into my heart.
Try Soi 23 on Amazon for a good read.... Self promotion? Moi?

[c-m]

[Rogerborg]