New Bike Sales down 32% in Q1 2009

Some stats recently published in one of the industry magazines.

New motorcycle sales for the first 3 months of the yearare down 32% over last year.

Interestingly, the downturn isn't just limited to bigger, more expensive bikes. Scooter sales are down 37%, dual-sport bikes 24%.

Here's a link if you want to look at the complete stats.
www.dealernews.com/dealernews/Breaking+N...ntextCategoryId=2704

Interestingly, the parts side of the industry is not showing any of these signs. Companies like Motion Pro, All-Balls, K&L and others are all saying sales are very, very good.

thats good news for the mechanics of the world but really bad ews for the rest of the motorcycle world. it's gonna hurt a lot of people in shops all over north america there will be a major job loss situation happening soon in the whole industry. that is not good better be hanging on tight. it's gonna be a rough ride boy's.

I wonder if the gas price spike of last year led to a spike in bike/scooter sales (even though it wouldn't appear as a spike since the por economy would hedge the spike), and now with the deflation of gas, there isn't the same demand. 32% is huge.

(Side note...No surprise:

ExxonMobil's revenues bested Wal-Mart by more than $37 billion last year (2008), making the oil company No. 1 among Fortune 500 firms. Chevron and ConocoPhillips took third and fourth place with about $263 billion and $231 billion, respectively, in 2008 revenues. Forbes (04/19)

I'm glad parts suppliers are doing good since that is really where most of us are at, on KZR.

I would love to have a brand new bike, but I don't think I could do it even if I had the money.

You can get one a year or 2 old for thousands less than new, and most bikes don't get much mileage put on them.

As for parts sales, most people are probably pulling those old bikes out of sheds and fixing them up to save money on gas.

tachrev wrote:

I would love to have a brand new bike, but I don't think I could do it even if I had the money.

You can get one a year or 2 old for thousands less than new, and most bikes don't get much mileage put on them.

As for parts sales, most people are probably pulling those old bikes out of sheds and fixing them up to save money on gas.

I actually could afford to buy a new bike, but every time I look, I'm disappointed, irrespective of brand...I'll stick with my old Kawasaki's...not much saddle time but they sure look great

Mcdroid wrote:

tachrev wrote:

I would love to have a brand new bike, but I don't think I could do it even if I had the money.

You can get one a year or 2 old for thousands less than new, and most bikes don't get much mileage put on them.

As for parts sales, most people are probably pulling those old bikes out of sheds and fixing them up to save money on gas.

I actually could afford to buy a new bike, but every time I look, I'm disappointed, irrespective of brand...I'll stick with my old Kawasaki's...not much saddle time but they sure look great

The newest bike I've seen that I would actually buy, is a ZRX. Loved em since they came out, and that was before I had ever even seen a KZ.

But I wouldn't sell my KZ, she's here to stay.

I've bought a lot of new bikes over the years and thank goodness never let go of any of the KZs. I did sell my GPZ550, GPZ750 and GPZ1100 of which I'd love to have them back, mostly that 1100. Around 1985 was the end for me for the most part on motorcycles as they don't have comfort and you can't use them like a truck like I do the KZs. I did get that new Goldwing last year though and have to say it's fantastic. I pretty much have to buy new regardless of price because everyone adds all the mods which I **can't** have. Has anyone seen a Goldwing that's not all goofed up by goofy goofball add-ons? Mine is the only one.

you'd like a buddy of mine he has had at last count 5 stripped wings he almost wet himself when the valkrie came out until he rode one and told me after that honda could not give him one of those heavy evil handling pigs this guy knows what he likes so he will keep rebuilding the old ones until he can't find parts anymore he is the only hardcore wing rider he puts on about 20,000 miles a year on his that will not put a windsheild on.like i said he is hardcore.

I do think there are some nice bikes from the OEM's - just none of them seem to get released in the USA. When I look through the magazine ads from some of the European magazines, there seems to be many, many more 'standard' street bikes.

The USA arm of Japanese motorcycle companies seem to be hooked to big bloated cruisers or plastic adorned sportbikes. I sure as heck don't want an 800lb 2-wheeled car - damn, many of the fully dressed cruisers cost more than a decent car... ...and although I do like to still open the throttle once in a while, 185mph out of many of the sportbikes is a little crazy.

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

I do think there are some nice bikes from the OEM's - just none of them seem to get released in the USA.

Point taken...Canada only for 2009 CBF1000

we dyno a bone stock 2007 gsxr 1000 the other day and it made 162 horsepower and had just over 70 ftlbs of tourque at the back wheel the amazing thing tho was we rolled it on from 120 miles an hour to where it shuts down just around 180 miles an hour and it took just over 2.5 seconds that was insane my drag bike needs a starter set-up almost as heavy as my bike and makes about 6 horse less and only about 25 lbs more tourque these new bikes are rockets.

Jeff.Saunders wrote:

...and although I do like to still open the throttle once in a while, 185mph out of many of the sportbikes is a little crazy.

Agreed, they should do well over 200...:laugh: