Tag Archives: sales

Indian launches closing-down sale

Indian Motorcycle Australia seems to be having a closing-down sale as it moves from company-owned Aussie stores to a system of privately owned dealerships.

The decision to close their Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Perth stores was announced just over a week ago and now they are offering generous deals on selected 2019 models.

They are offering $3000 off accessories or apparel and free on-road costs on Roadmaster, Chief Vintage and Springfield Dark Horse.

For their FTR 1200 and Scout Bobber the deal is $2000 off accessories and/or apparel with complimentary on-roads .

The deals end on January 31 and are not restricted to their four company-owned stores.

They say there will be a gradual closing down of their stores throughout the year as alternative dealerships are found.

By the end of 2020, Indian Motorcycle in Australia and New Zealand will operate solely with an independent dealer network, except for Christchurch for is independently owned.

Clearing out floor stock with sales offers will help them move the process along faster.

That’s one customer benefit from closing their company-owned stores. Another benefit they claim is that it will increase the spread of dealerships throughout the country.

Company history

 stores Victory-Indian-Perth-Dealership-Artistic-Render.jpgPerth store opened in 2016

The model of a mix of company owned and independent dealers has been operating since they started in Australia in 2008 with Victory Motorcycles.

Indian Motorcycle was added in 2013 after being bought by Polaris. They sold 102 Indian Chief models in their first year.

The traditional brand has experienced substantial growth since, even during the past few parlous years of motorcycle sales, but last year recorded a 3.9% decrease to 803.

That’s still far better than the 11.9% slump in total road bike sales in Australia.

Sales should increase with the launch of the new Challenger range early this year.

Indian ChallengerIndian Challenger

In 2017, Polaris axed the Victory Motorcycle brand, but continued with the company owned stores just for Indian.

However, it was only a matter of time before they switched to the conventional system as used elsewhere in the world.

Polaris Australia boss Alan Collins said customers needed “more locations and more support”.

“Moving to an independent franchised network of dealers is more sustainable for us and our partners as we look to grow in order to meet demand, while also enabling a broader network of support and options for our customers.”

Former Indian Motorcycle executive and now a senior motorcycle industry consultant Robert Pandya said the factory-owned dealership model was needed to establish the new brand in a new market.

Alan says they will double their dealer network in the next two years.

Sydney Indian and Victory store - platforms halogenSydney Indian and Victory store

They say warranties will not be affected.

Customers are invited to call their Indian Motorcycle Australia Customer Service Centre on 0460775949 “for a chat” or contact them via email.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

BMW Motorrad posts ninth record year

BMW Motorrad has posted its ninth consecutive record year with global sales of 175,162 motorcycles and maxi-scooters, a 5.8% increase over 2018.

That’s impressive, given many markets were down and Europe was only slightly up, yet BMW recorded 7% growth in Europe.

However, in Australia, BMW sold 2675 motorcycles and scooters which was 8.5% down on the previous year, coincidentally the same as the total market decrease.

Strong scooters buoyed those results with their road bike sales down a massive 12.9% to 2470.

BMW Motorrad boss Markus Schramm credits the launch of seven new models for their ninth record year, despite a global slump in sales of motorcycles and scooters.

The new R 1250 GS and outgoing R 1200 GS models claimed top honours as the bestsellers:

BMW R 1250 GS Ballina MotorcyclesBMW R 1250 GS

  • R 1200/1250 GS and R 1200/1250 GS Adventure: over 59,000 units worldwide
  • G 310 R and G 310 GS single-cylinder models: Over 20,000
  • F 750 GS and F 850 GS and other inline-twin models: Over 29,000

2020 outlook

BMW R 18/2 cruiserR 18/2

Markus says they are going for a 10th consecutive record year with the introduction of the F 900 range, revised S 1000 XR and, of course, the much-vaunted R 18 cruiser.

We don’t expect it will be a big seller, but it will add to sales as the cruiser is a whole new family and shouldn’t cannibalise any of their existing product.

The company is already taking orders for the cruiser, even though we do not yet know what it looks like.

Following two independent custom shop R 18 concepts, BMW Motorrad unveiled their Concept R 18 at the Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este in May 2019 and a second concept, the more modern R 18/2, was unveiled at EICMA earlier this month. in November 2019.

There have also been some spy shots, but not a full reveal which is expected soon.

However, we do know details of the Big Boxer engine that will power the cruiser.

BMW R 18 Big BoxerBMW R 18 Big Boxer

The air/oil cooled boxer will have 1802cc of capacity and develop just 67kW (91hp) at 4750rpm, but a whopping 158Nm of peak torque at 3000 revs.

More than 150Nm will be on tap from just 2000 to 4000 revs.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Ducati to launch Scrambler Motard or Desert X

Ducati will add another Scrambler model to its fleet “in the coming months”, either an 803cc street motard or an 1100cc desert-racing Dakar model.

The vague announcement came in the company’s annual report on 2019 global sales which were fairly flat at 53,183, just 179 more than 2018.

There was no mention of Scrambler sales figures.

Maybe they have slipped, although Ducati boss Claudio Domenicali said as recently as last November that Scrambler is now the company’s biggest seller with more than 70,000 sales since launch in 2015.

At the end of the official press release, they say:

Last but not least, the Ducati Scrambler range – which saw the new 800 Dark presented at EICMA – will see the introduction of a new model in the coming months.

It doesn’t give much away, but we suspect it will be either the motard or Dakar model debuted at EICMA in Milan last November.

Meanwhile, the Dark will be the new entry level 803cc model. It will be €800 cheaper which should mean at least $A1000 off the current price of $A13,990.

It features a matt black frame, black engine with polished fin ends, black seat with grey trim and round black mirrors.

Motard Scrambler2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

Claudio said at EICMA that their styling department was asked to create “something unprecedented but entirely possible”.

The results are the motard and scrambler.2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

The Motard will be based on the 803cc Scrambler.

“This is a bike we are working on right now,” said Claudio, so the production version can’t be far away.2020 Ducati Scrambler Motard

Desert X Scrambler2020 Ducati Scrambler Desert X

The Desert X is based on the 1100cc Scrambler.

It celebrates the 1990 Paris-Dakar Rally victory by Italian rider Edi Orioli on the Ducati-powered Cagiva Elefant. That bike is in now in Ducati’s museum above their Bologna factory.

Ducati Scrambler Motard Desert XDakar-winning Cagiva

“We want to build the future without forgetting the past,” Claudio said.

Interestingly, Desert X is the name of a contemporary art exhibition held in the Coachella Valley in Southern California.2020 Ducati Scrambler Desert X

While Ducati already has an 803cc Desert Sled which is more off-road capable, the Desert X will be the 1100cc equivalent.

Scrambler Ducati Desert Sled country roadScrambler Ducati Desert Sled

Ducati global sales

Ducati says they sold 8304 Panigales last year, confirming its status as the “world’s best-selling superbike with a market share of 25%”.

Two new bikes introduced in 2019 – the Hypermotard 950 and Diavel 1260 – racked up sales of 4472 and 3129 respectively, doubling the overall volumes achieved in 2018 by previous versions.

The Multistrada family performed equally well, scoring a 3% increase compared with 2018 thanks also to the addition of the 950 S and a revamped 1260 Enduro. Deliveries totalled 12,160, the best sales performance since the Bologna-built bike made its debut 16 years ago.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

KTM, Husky defy road bike slump

KTM and, to a lesser extent Husqvarna, have defied the Australian road bike sales slump of -11.9% last year, according to official statistics from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries released today.

Whatever KTM is doing, it seems to be working because the company, together with its acquisition Husqvarna, is also defying the worldwide downward motorcycle sales spiral.

They were the only two road bike companies in Australia to register positive growth last year: KTM was up 292 (18.3% to 1889 for the year and Husqvarna was up 64 (24.2%) to 329.

Despite a 2% drop in off-road sales, the result was enough to help KTM leapfrog Suzuki into fourth place overall for the first time.

At the other end of the scale was Honda which dropped 24.4% in road bike sales, its biggest fall in more than a decade.

Harley-Davidson topped road bikes despite dropping 643 (7.9%) to 6462, ahead of Honda, with Yamaha third.

Massive slump

The figures are the worst for road bikes since 47,752 were sold in 2016.

That’s a catastrophic slump of 16,771 sales or 33% in just four years.

The disastrous road bike figures should lead to the usual January sales, with MV Agusta the first with free on-road costs for any in-stock model.Slump

We don’t know MV Agusta’s sales figures because they are one of 23 minor manufacturers not included in the FCAI stats as they are not members.

The other missing brands are Benelli, Bimota, Bollini, CFMoto, Confederate, Daelim, EBR, Hyosung, Kymco, Laro, Megelli, Mercury, Norton, PGO, Royal Enfield, SWM, SYM, TGB, Ural, Viper and VMoto.

Road Bike sales

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Aprilia

129

194

-33.5%

BMW

2470

2835

-12.9%

Ducati

1368

1512

-9.5%

Harley Davidson

6462

7019

-7.9%

Honda

5306

7019

-24.4%

Husqvarna

329

265

24.2%

Indian Motorcycle

803

836

-3.9%

Kawasaki

3865

4396

-12.1%

KTM

1889

1597

18.3%

Moto Guzzi

125

125

0.0%

Suzuki

2303

2686

-14.3%

Triumph

1787

2122

-15.8%

Yamaha

5145

5702

-9.8%

TOTAL

31981

36308

-11.9%

Total sales

Australia’s total motorcycle market including the ATV/SSVs, fell 6045 to slump 6.1% to 89,199 which was a 35.8% market share.

Also, for the first time in ages, fewer road bikes were sold than off-road bikes which were down only 543 to 31,981 (38.5% market share).

ATV/SSVs accounted for 20.1% of total sales, which was a 8.5% slump to 17,906 mainly due to the drought.

The only good news was scooters which again took an increased share of the total sales with 5.6%, up 125.9% to 5014, but off a low base.

However, figures could be even higher as many of the non-included companies in the figures are manufacturers of small-capacity scooters.

Total bike/scooter/ATV sales 

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Aprilia

202

334

-39.5%

BMW

2675

2922

-8.5%

BRP Australia

2358

2423

-2.7%

Ducati

1368

1512

-9.5%

Harley Davidson

6462

7019

-7.9%

Honda

20819

22735

-8.4%

Husqvarna

2555

2251

13.5%

Indian Motorcycle

803

836

-3.9%

Kawasaki

8962

9376

-4.4%

KTM

7670

7497

2.3%

Moto Guzzi

125

125

0.0%

Piaggio

671

863

-22.2%

Polaris

5119

5443

-6.0%

Suzuki

6934

7557

-8.2%

Triumph

1787

2122

-15.8%

Vespa

744

884

-15.8%

Yamaha

19945

21145

-5.7%

TOTAL

89199

95044

-6.1%

Despite Honda dropping 8,4% overall, it retained the number one spot with 20,819 sales (23.3% market share).

Yamaha was second with 19,945 sales (22.4% share), followed by Kawasaki (8962, 10.0%), KTM (7670, 8.6%), and Suzuki (6934, 7.8%).

It should be noted that the figures only include FCAI members so 23 minor manufacturers are not included.

2018 Harley-Davidson Softail Breakout
Breakout 114 was the top-selling cruiser

They are mainly small-volume importers Norton, Hyosung, VMoto, Benelli, Bimota, Bollini, CFMoto, Confederate, Daelim, EBR, Kymco, Laro, Megelli, Mercury, MV Agusta, Norton, PGO, Royal Enfield, SWM, SYM, TGB, Ural and Viper.

Top 10 by Category – Cruiser

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Harley Davidson

FXBRS

885

794

11.5%

Harley Davidson

XG500

838

944

-11.2%

Kawasaki

Vulcan S

635

670

-5.2%

Honda

CMX500

630

746

-15.5%

Harley Davidson

FLFBS

461

453

1.8%

Yamaha

XVS650/A

445

515

-13.6%

Harley Davidson

FLSB

444

312

42.3%

Indian Motorcycle

Scout

404

496

-18.5%

Harley Davidson

FXBB

354

491

-27.9%

Harley Davidson

FLSL

231

209

10.5%

Top 10 by Category – Sport Touring

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

835

712

17.3%

Kawasaki

Ninja 650L

249

304

-18.1%

Yamaha

MT09TRA

185

161

14.9%

Yamaha

MT07TRL

127

118

7.6%

Kawasaki

VERSYS-X 300

119

130

-8.5%

BMW

S 1000 XR

118

149

-20.8%

Kawasaki

Ninja 1000

98

148

-33.8%

Honda

CBR650FL

91

331

-72.5%

Suzuki

GSX-R125

88

83

6.0%

Yamaha

YZF-R15

72

97

-25.8%

Top 10 by Category – Touring

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Harley Davidson

FLHXS

353

272

29.8%

Harley Davidson

FLTRXS

200

118

69.5%

Harley Davidson

FLHTK

178

143

24.5%

Harley Davidson

FLHRXS

128

119

7.6%

Harley Davidson

FLHTCUTG

111

117

-5.1%

BMW

R 1250 RT

111

5

2,120.0%

Yamaha

FJR1300

108

108

0.0%

Indian Motorcycle

Chieftain

95

73

30.1%

Harley Davidson

FLHXSE

91

95

-4.2%

Harley Davidson

FLRT

65

75

-13.3%

Yamaha MT-10 bargain hunter 4
Yamaha MT-10 is one of the few naked bikes to increase sales

Top 10 by Category – Naked

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Honda

CB125E

1013

1113

-9.0%

Yamaha

MT07L

901

1002

-10.1%

Yamaha

MT-09

749

738

1.5%

Honda

GROM

536

715

-25.0%

Yamaha

MT03LA

463

616

-24.8%

KTM

390DUKE

336

356

-5.6%

Kawasaki

Z900RS

282

393

-28.2%

Honda

Monkey

244

266

-8.3%

Yamaha

MT10

241

220

9.5%

Yamaha

XSR700LA

235

318

-26.1%

Top 10 by Category – Super Sport

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Kawasaki

NINJA 400

989

1089

-9.2%

Honda

CBR500R

481

618

-22.2%

Honda

CBR650R

347

0

100%

Ducati

Superbike

205

86

138.4%

Yamaha

YZF-R1

167

151

10.6%

Honda

CBR1000RR

166

121

37.2%

Suzuki

GSX-R1000

136

124

9.7%

KTM

RC390

132

254

-48.0%

Suzuki

GSX-R750

128

212

-39.6%

Ducati

959 Panigale

98

156

-37.2%

Top 10 by Category – Scooters

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Honda

NSC110

1109

597

85.8%

Suzuki

ADDRESS

779

495

57.4%

Vespa

GTS 300

368

389

-5.4%

Honda

MW110

307

207

48.3%

Piaggio

Fly 150

298

309

-3.6%

Honda

WW150

276

295

-6.4%

Yamaha

GPD150A

224

126

77.8%

Vespa

PRIMAVERA 150

210

236

-11.0%

Yamaha

XMAX300

197

169

16.6%

Piaggio

Medley 150

121

95

27.4%

Top 10 by Category – LAMS Approved

January – December 2019 compared to January – December 2018

Manufacturer

Model

Total

YTD 2019

YTD 2018

% CHAN

Yamaha

WR450F

1206

1136

6.2%

Honda

NSC110

1109

597

85.8%

Honda

CB125E

1013

1113

-9.0%

Kawasaki

NINJA 400

989

1089

-9.2%

Yamaha

MT07L

901

1002

-10.1%

Harley Davidson

XG500

838

944

-11.2%

KTM

300EXC

837

1052

-20.4%

Yamaha

YZF-R3A

835

712

17.3%

Suzuki

ADDRESS

779

495

57.4%

KTM

500EXC

762

746

2.1%

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Motorcycle sales continue to dive

Australian motorcycle sales took another 8.1% dive in the third quarter which contributes to a 33-month downturn in the industry.

By comparison, car sales are down 7.9% last month which is the 18th month in a row of decline, according to official data released by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

The FCAI figures come during the third annual Ride Your Motorcycle to Work Week.

It’s the economy

FCAI CEO Tony Weber is learning to ride a motorcycle NGK dive
Tony Weber

FCAI boss, Toby Weber, who is learning to ride a motorcycle, says the bike and car sales decline is “in line with the broader economic environment in Australia”.

“We have seen many factors, including multiple weather events, Federal and State elections, and tightened lending practices contribute to the overall economic conditions,” he says.

In the nine months this year, 62,898 motorcycles, ATVs and scooters were sold, compared with 68,460 for the same period in 2018.

Honda was the overall leader with a 23.1% share of the national market, followed by Yamaha with 21% and Kawasaki with 10.6%.

Road bikes dive

The biggest drop was in road bikes, which took a 13.8% dive.

Harley-Davidson was the road bike leader again with a 19.6% share, while Honda had 16.8% and Yamaha 16.6%.

Honda used to lead this segment, but as been hit by Australia Post not buying postie bikes, but converting to three-wheeler electric bikes.

Australia Post postie bike electric trike eDV
Australia Post postie bike electric trike eDV

Across the industry segments, Scooters defied the trend, with a 14.5% climb in sales during the first three quarters.

Honda held a 39.9% scooter share, followed by Vespa with 14.8% and Piaggio with 14.2%.

The ATV/SSV took a 11.3% dive with Polaris the leader on 28.1% share, followed by Honda 22.5% and Yamaha 19.3%.

Off-road category sales fell 2.4%, led by Yamaha 28.1% share, Honda 27.4% and KTM 18.8%.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Demo motorcycle rides increase sales 10%

Offering demo rides will increase motorcycles by 10%, according to EZ Rider Demo which has invented a system to help dealers offer more test rides.

Unlike car dealerships, motorcycle dealerships are reticent to offer demo rides for several reasons including heightened insurance risks.

EZ  Rider Demo has invented a system where potential buyers sign up for a demo ride through the dealer’s website.

They fill out an online form about their riding history and licence, then buy one-day insurance for $US20.

When approved, they get a code that unlocks the key from an electronically secured box at the dealership.

The company will soon begin testing their system in various Californian dealerships.

It’s an innovative, albeit complex, system aimed at addressing the problem of dealerships not offering demo rides.

Demo rides

You wouldn’t buy a car without a test ride, so why should riders be denied the opportunity to test out the bike first?

Some dealers don’t even allow customers to sit on their showroom bikes.Please do not sit

A 2015 US motorcycle industry study found that the availability of demo rides not only improved customer satisfaction of dealerships but also increased motorcycle sales.

The ninth annual Pied Piper Prospect Satisfaction Index (PSI) US Motorcycle Industry Benchmarking Study found that test rides were offered 63% of the time to mystery shoppers compared with 34% five years earlier.

It also found sales staff encouraged customers to sit on a bike 81% of the time, up from 70%.

A good dealer experience also translated to improved sales, with dealerships ranking in the top quarter selling 22% more motorcycles than dealerships in the bottom quarter.

It found Harley-Davidson, BMW and Ducati the most aggressive in offering test rides.

It is no coincidence that every Pied Piper study for the past decade or more has been led by those same three companies.

Aussie test rides

While there is no equivalent study in Australia, the results are perhaps indicative of strict global manufacturer training standards of dealer staff and attitudes to offering demo rides.

The lack of demo rides is one of the biggest complaints about dealerships we receive at MotorBikeWriter.com.

But many of these are for popular new models where demand outstrips supply and every bike that comes into the dealership is already sold.BMW Motorrad GS Off-Road Training

Perhaps the most aggressive brands offering test rides in Australia are Harley-Davidson, BMW and Indian.

Harley not only offers test rides to licensed riders, but also offers a static ride to unlicensed riders with their Jump Start program.

It’s rare for any dealer to offer test rides of off-road or adventure bikes because of the risk of damage, but BMW even hosts annual GS demo ride days around the country.

And Indian throws in free fuel and accommodation on their weekend demo ride offers!

We only have our own experiences and anecdotes of readers to go on, but it seems Japanese brands are the worst at allowing test rides.

Maybe that has to do with complacency because they are the four biggest sellers.

Sales trends

But with their sales down between 6.8-17.4% in the first quarter, they need to pick up their act.Slide sales motorcycles

It may cost more to have demo bikes available, but the results speak for themselves.

The motorcycle industry grapples with this basic sales technique.

Some dealers just see the cost of bike depreciation, fuel and staff time to take riders on escorted demo rides, rather than looking at long-term customer goodwill.

It also requires the manufacturers or importers to back them up with demo bikes and allow them to later sell them at a discount.

Riders see buying a bike as a lottery unless they can actually throw a leg over and feel the bike.

They need to evaluate the ergonomics for their body size, hear the noises, test the power and handling, and even feel the heat from the engine.

  • Have you ever been denied a demo ride? What did you do? Did you go elsewhere and buy the same bike or another brand? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Best 5 Motorcycles for Students

(Sponsored post for students in the North America)

Motorcycles are a fun and exciting way to commute, travel, and the adventurous nature of riding a bike fits young college students perfectly. Finding the appropriate motorcycle depends on the habits where you live and what you plan to do with it. When trying to find the best beginner motorcycle, it’s not the same if you want a bike for the open road, or if you plan to ride around the town mostly.

You could consider buying a used motorcycle to fit student budget, but there are also some excellent choices for new and affordable motorcycles for students.   Most young people love to travel, and the bike is an exciting way to go around.

Top 5 bikes for students

Other things to consider beside buying a motorcycle is the strength, insurance, additional equipment for safety, and travel. For safety reasons ‘don’t cut costs with features like ABS. You should think about getting a motorcycle license, insurance, and registration costs. Besides the bike itself, a motorcycle helmet is an essential part of the equipment.

Whit all that in mind, you will still have to think about the motorcycle, and here is our list of Top 5 bikes for students.

Honda Rebel 3002017 Honda CMX bobber women riders students

Lightweight bike ideal for beginners, Honda Rebel 300 has value price, and it comes with enough power packed in sporty aesthetics. The fuel-injected single-cylinder motor has midrange power and torque performance, and it is known for reliability. Beginners will appreciate the widened front wheel that creates an excellent opportunity for learning how to drive a motorcycle and gain valuable experience. Honda Rebel 300 is suitable for cruising and everyday commute and this model is very popular in Australia.

Suzuki SV650

SV650 combines old-school with modern design. Suzuki builds in 645cc V-twin engine with low emissions and fuel-efficiency. The frame is lightweight, and easy to handle even on more demanding terrain. Suzuki SV650 is bike from the low-price range category, and offer great value for what it gives you.

KTM 390 DukeKTM 390 Duke riding in the wet rain students

The single-cylinder engine in KTM 390 Duke has excellent performance and reliability. The motor provides low to medium torque, which makes him an excellent choice for beginners. The high and curved seat provides stability and superior control. Although it is affordable, it has features from pricier bikes. KTM used sporty geometric design, and the bike has an entire steel frame.

Yamaha XT250

For offroad lovers, Yamaha made XT 250, a bike with a dual-sport motorcycle, equally efficient both on the streets and off-road. The first generation was released back in 1980, and it was featured in Rambo movie. The XT250 stands out with dual-sport purpose and distinctive style. Students get carried away when riding a bike. A little guilty pleasure is fine, and if you ‘haven’t be able to finish academic obligations due to your cruising around the country. You might need essay service help with writing or correcting your works if you suddenly fell into a trap called open road motorcycle virus.

 Kawasaki Ninja 400Kawasaki Ninja 400 to cost more

Kawasaki Ninja 400 has a robust sports motor, and with only 172 kg, it is crazy easy to ride and handle. The bike has a sports design predominantly, and it’s been around for ages. The model 400 has a new engine, and the design has sports written all over it. Another great thing about Ninja 400 is the price.

Conclusion

For our top student motorcycles, we tried to satisfy all use cases from off-road, through sports bike to the open road and city dwellers. Bikes for beginners have a lower price, some features that can help you learn how to drive and with low to medium torque ‘it’s clear these are the best choices for safety. Another great thing about these bikes is the price range and affordability. Beginners will be satisfied with the performance, and when they learn all the tips&tricks and how to handle a powerful machine beneath you, you can think about the next step. Until then, choose the right bike for your college days and enjoy the ride.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Would you buy a motorbike online?

MV Agusta has now opened orders for all its motorcycles online in a trend that could send shivers down the spines of every motorcycle dealer.

Suzuki Australia recently offered online ordering for their new Katana model and declared it a success.

MV Agusta started their online ordering with the launch of the Superveloce 800 Serie Oro and the Brutale 1000 Serie Oro limited series.

MV Agusta Superveloce 800, Dragster 800 RR America and Brutale 1000 Serie Oro gold mirror online
MV Agusta Superveloce 800

Sales success

They also declared it a success and have now extended it to their entire range.

In both cases, customers are then referred to their nearest dealer to complete the order and handover.

MV Agusta CEO Timur Sardarov says the “digital ecosystem is a cornerstone for reaching worldwide growth and strengthen customer relationship”.

Suzuki Australia marketing manager Lewis Croft says dealers were, at first, very nervous about selling online.

But he says they loved it because it did all the groundwork with customers and all they had to do was the final paperwork and handover.

Suzuki Katana is a rider’s delight online
Suzuki Katana

But with dealers suffering in the third year of a sales slump, anything that takes them away from the process of selling could make them very nervous.

Online orders

Online ordering of cars has been happening in the US for more than a decade.

But cars are more modes of transport than motorcycles.

A 2015 US motorcycle industry study found that the availability of demo rides not only improves customer satisfaction of dealerships but also increases motorcycle sales.

demo ride online
Harley offers non-licensed people a demo ride with their Jump Start

You can’t do a demo ride over the internet.

We can understand the success of online orders for limited-edition motorcycles such as the MMV Agusta Superveloce 800 Serie Oro and Brutale 1000 Serie Oro as well as the Katana which is limited to 5000 worldwide.

Collectors would be more likely to buy a bike based on its collectibility, not its rideability.

But it may be difficult to extend that to mass-produced models.

  • Do you think online ordering is the future for motorcycle sales and will it destroy or promote dealerships? Leave your comments below.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

MC Holdings buying Fraser MC dealerships?

Fraser Motorcycles is believed to be negotiating to sell its retail concerns to MC Holdings who run TeamMoto, several other motorcycle dealerships, a riding school, repair business and Cassons Accessories.

We contacted both companies and received a “no comment”.

However, several motorcycle industry insiders have told us they have heard the two companies are in negotiations.

MC Holdings is already the biggest motorcycle dealership group in the country.

They currently have 31 dealerships in Queensland, New South Wales, Victoria and the Australian Capital Territory.

Fraser dealerships

Taking over the eight Fraser dealerships in NSW, Melbourne and Perth would give the company enormous buying power which could mean better prices and more influence over importers.

Some critics say MC Holdings is squeezing our “mum and dad dealerships” and heading toward a monopoly where they could charge whatever they want.

However, the motorcycle industry is in a slump and most dealerships are only too keen to do deals.

Motorcycle Holdings went public in May 2016 with a share price of $2.80. It hit a high of almost $5 in late 2017 but dropped to a low of $1.08 in May.

MC Holdings share price history
MC Holdings share price history

They have kicked up a little to $1.66 this month and could go higher on the speculation of a Fraser buyout.

Fraser Motorcycles is part of the Fraser Group of companies including NF Importers which imports rider gear, bike accessories and Ducati motorcycles.

There is no suggestion that NF Importers is being considered by MC Holdings.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com

Should you leave a deposit on a motorbike?

There can be several reasons for leaving a deposit on a motorcycle.

The most common reason is to secure it from being bought by someone else while you sort out your finances.

You may also want to put a deposit on limited-edition bikes to secure one or to get a special model made at the factory to your specifications.

Also, with some new models released several long months before being available in Australia (such as the Suzuki Katana and Indian FTR 1200) distributors take deposits to secure customers while they are still enthusiastic.

However, there are deposit pitfalls for the unwary customer.

Deposit advice

Retired and honoured motorcycle industry veteran Stuart Strickland says deposits can be a  complex issue if the buyer has not negotiated a full refund around specified criteria.

“Buyers should never leave deposits without a written guarantee from the dealer on delivery date which if not met, full deposit is returned,” he says.

“Dealers can retain deposits or part thereof if they can prove they specially ordered a unit in for the customer that they normally wouldn’t stock.” 

Dealer sale

If you are buying from a dealer, you should be guaranteed of security, but read the small print of the document you sign.

There may be conditions or a processing fee involved if you change your mind, so you won’t get the full deposit back.

Suzuki Katana is a rider’s delight
Suzuki Katana

For example, Suzuki Motorcycles Australia took $1000 deposits online for the new Katana. 

If you changed your mind in the nine months from when it was unveiled to when it became available for sale last week, you only get $450 back as Suzuki charged $500 processing fees, plus 10% GST.

Suzuki Motorcycle Australia marketing manager Lewis Croft says they were the first in the world to offer the online deposit system and may do it more often as it had been a success.

Indian Motorcycle Australia also took $1000 deposits on the FTR 1200 because of the long delay between the unveiling and recent availability in Australia and New Zealand.

Spokesman Christopher Gales says they only had one customer change their mind.

“In general we always give deposits back. It doesn’t do anyone good to hold a deposit of a customer,” he says.

Indian FTR 1200 deposit
Indian FTR 1200

Private sale

If you are buying a second-hand bike through a private buyer, before pay.ing a deposit you should check the credentials of the bike with a REVS search.

It will ensure the bike has not been written off, stolen, still under finance, etc.

You should also do some checks on the seller.

We suggest visiting them at their house. Get a copy of their licence and ensure the address matches.

Also, have an independent third-party witness the written transaction and maybe also record the deal with a photo or video.

If you decide to leave a holding deposit, you can use an escrow account such as Protecti which holds the money until both sides are happy with the transaction. However, fees are involved.

Bikes advertised through major online sites usually offer sellers and customers some protection. Check the website’s conditions of sale which may include a complaints section.

Source: MotorbikeWriter.com