Best selling bike of 2008

[typonaut]

Perhaps this is old news, but here are the top ten best selling (new) bikes of 2008:

1 Honda CBR1000 RR 2,156
2 Yamaha YBR 125 1,866
3 Yamaha YZF-R 125 1,813
4 Suzuki GSXR 1000 1,754
5 Yamaha YZF-R6 1,686
6 Yamaha YZF-R1 1,590
7 Honda PS 125i 1,429
8 Honda CBR 600 RR 1,305
9 BMW R1200 GS 1,280
10 Suzuki GSXR 750 1,262

Pretty good showing for the GS don’t you think? But wait, there's more… if you combine the total GS (1,280) and GSA (1,131) units sold you get 2,411 - which appears to make R1200 GS variants the best selling bike in the UK by quite a large margin. Added to this BMW only sold 5,850 bikes in the UK during 2008, so over 40% of the bikes sold by BMW in 2008 were R1200 GS variants.

 

[John Armstrong]

That'll be why they're so common then

 

[blackbird]

But there is still more if you add

HONDA CBR1000 + CBR600 = 3461 BIKES CBR VARIANTS

YAMAHA R1 + R6 = 3458 BIKES R VARIANTS

SUZUKI GSXR 1000 + GSXR600 = 3016 BIKES GSXR VARIANTS

 

[typonaut]

But there is still more if you add

HONDA CBR1000 + CBR600 = 3461 BIKE...

Uh, yeah, but if you do that you may as well quote the BMW volume as all R1200 variants or all 650, 800, 1200 GS variants.

 

[the-other-bradders]

But there is still more if you add

HONDA CBR1000 + CBR600 = 3461 BIKES CBR VARIANTS

YAMAHA R1 + R6 = 3458 BIKES R VARIANTS

SUZUKI GSXR 1000 + GSXR600 = 3016 BIKES GSXR VARIANTS

nice apples & pears comparison

 

[blackbird]

If only you could get a gsxr 1000 adventure you are spot on typonaut

 

[the-other-bradders]

I'd live with a FZ1 and its 3 variants lumped together...but a 1200GSA and 1200GS are the same bikes in all but tank and seat, arent they?! cant say the same for an R1 and an R6

 

[the-other-bradders]

If only you could get a gsxr 1000 adventure you are spot on typonaut

great idea tho....gixxer thou motor in a GS chasiss...have to be made by Carlesberg tho coz it probabaly would be the best bike in the world!!

 

[Paul G (BHT)]

More info here

 

[Deleted account 220427002]

i wonder if they count the bikes they sell for racing R1 R6's gsxr's type...all seem to have quite a few out at short circuits and road races

 

[the-other-bradders]

depends on if it goes on registrations I would guess, most race bikes are, some arent

 

[typonaut]

If only you could get a gsxr 1000 adventure you are spot on typonaut

A GS and GSA are substantially the same bike, you can't say that about an R1 and an R6. If there were an "naked" and faired version of the R1 (like the Kawasaki ER 6N/EX 6N) then I'd think you could make the argument that their numbers could be combined… but other than that I really don't know what you're smoking.

 

[typonaut]

depends on if it goes on registrations I would guess, most race bikes are, some arent

My source seems to be talking about "registered" bikes, so that would exclude bikes that have never been UK registered (ie off-road/race bikes).

Just for the record, here's the manufacturers breakdown:

1 Honda 20,107
2 Yamaha 17,031
3 Suzuki 16,132
4 Piaggio 8,986
5 Kawasaki 7,314
6 Triumph 5,890
7 BMW 5,850
8 Harley Davidson 5,390
9 Aprilia 4,440
10 Peugeot 4,049
11 KTM 3,187
12 Ducati 2,214
13 SYM 2,010
14 Baotian 2,003
15 Gilera 1,549

Which is at odds with BMW's press release putting it at number 6.

One question does arise… just where are all those Harleys!?

 

[oldchris]

I suppose, as the Harleys were not in the original list, that they must be mostly used "off road".

 

[samual1962]

who cares what bike has sold the most? each to there own,you pays your money etc etc the 1100gs is still the best

 

[Den]

1200gs . Mondeo bike.

 

[Tricky]

1200gs . Mondeo bike.

Strange that some people get so jealous of the 1200s success as a great bike, and a top seller, that they just can’t stand it any longer…

Not me though. I love mine and think its success is well deserved.

 

[Aidan1150]

12 Ducati 2,214
13 SYM 2,010
14 Baotian 2,003
15 Gilera 1,549

What is a SYM or a Baotian?

 

[motobiker]

12 Ducati 2,214
13 SYM 2,010
14 Baotian 2,003
15 Gilera 1,549

What is a SYM or a Baotian?

Both are step through scooter types.

http://www.stuartsomers.co.uk/xcart/images/P/Baotian Tanco50 BT50QT-12.jpg

http://www.trustrentalskos.com/Media\Images\big\Sym_VS125_stpz(1).jpg

May be wrong - but neither seem to make a bike thats a 'traditional' motorcycle.

 

[Aidan1150]

Both are step through scooter types.

Thanks. I never heard of either of them, but there again I don't pay those wee machines much attention. 4000 of them sold in a year though.