How many sold v how many problems

[Dave Ett]

Interesting to see the sales seem to have topped out. Recession? Lack of correct data? Alternatives on the markey eating into sales?

Also interesting to see how many there are on the road compared with how many reports of failures on here...

 

[Tim Cullis]

Sales of the F800GS dropped off with the introduction of the Triumph Tiger 800xc.

I guess BMW will be doing a mid-life kicker soon but these rarely have dramatic changes.

 

[Rasher]

Been on a ride out today (want to finish of rear tyre before I fit new pair for Alps) so just rode around, visited mates, stopped at dealers

I noticed most dealers have bikes growing roots, I know one one of them quite well and he told me new bikes just aren't selling, mid priced used bikes are moving, but new or late models are no go.

BMW have had some good years, E&C pushed the big GS and probably did nothing to harm smaller multi-purpose bike sales, they started making more bikes that appeal to the masses, and the masses have started to shift away from sportsbikes (probably because they have now developed way past the capabilities of mere mortals)

But everyone is now re-aligning, the big four have got more into adventure bikes, and released some good roadsters, the Europeans have great alternate offerings.

I think there are too many manufacturers and dealers chasing dwindling sales and BMW are probably going to suffer more than most as they are the priciest (to buy and maintain). They may start wishing they hadn't stitched up all their smaller outlets and replaced them with huge expensive to run designer shops.

Even without the recession we have had years of decline with regard to new bikers, todays "new bikers" are "born agains" but the current youngsters have never been "born" so when all us old duffers hang our leathers (or textiles) up there will be nobody left to sell motorcycles too.

The fact you can get a new car for less than a low end GS does not help, for the price of a base 1200GS you can get a bloody good new car, a fully loaded GS costs more than a damn good hatchback that has far more goodies.

By the way this is not a "have a go at BMW" rant, all new bikes are pretty bloody expensive and the whole industry has ignored new bikers for the last decade as all the middle aged E&C / Rossi / Fogarty wannabes have been splashing cash (and for the most part someone elses cash) on new bikes.

 

[v8legend]

Am I being completely thick and missing something?

Q3 2008 is beaten by Q3 2009, which is beaten by Q3 2010.
Q4 2008 is beaten by Q4 2009, which is beaten by Q4 2010.

Q1 2010 is beaten by Q1 2011.

Where have the sales topped out? Every comparable quarter is beaten year on year.

I wish my sales figures were this crap!

 

[Sooty09]

What dose Q1,Q2, Q3 and Q indicate?
The figures on the right "Vehicles registered for the first time" gives the true sales picture, up to the end of 2010 1593 were sold,

The 2010 sales figures are alarming with a drop of over 50%, Is there a similar chart to show other makes registrations to see if its a general drop or if other manufacturers have pinched sales.

 

[Dean]

What dose Q1,Q2, Q3 and Q indicate?
The figures on the right "Vehicles registered for the first time" gives the true sales picture, up to the end of 2010 1593 were sold,

The 2010 sales figures are alarming with a drop of over 50%, Is there a similar chart to show other makes registrations to see if its a general drop or if other manufacturers have pinched sales.

I think a huge impact has as Tim stated is the Tiger8 2010, is wnen orders were being taken.

I dont think Triumph can make them fast enough for demand Aledgedly

for various reasons, love it or not Its the new shiny kid on the block if it will continue who knows

Im away next month heading to the pyrenees four bikes in total 2 of which are Tigers and one PUMA ROARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR

 

[v8legend]

What dose Q1,Q2, Q3 and Q indicate?
The figures on the right "Vehicles registered for the first time" gives the true sales picture, up to the end of 2010 1593 were sold

The 'Q' relates to quarter. As sales are seasonal, it gives more year on year information when broken down.

Is this chart for BMW motorcycle sales, or just the F800GS (as the title suggests)? The info on the right doesn't seem to tally with the chart on the left?

 

[Dave Ett]

Am I being completely thick and missing something?

Q3 2008 is beaten by Q3 2009, which is beaten by Q3 2010.
Q4 2008 is beaten by Q4 2009, which is beaten by Q4 2010.

Q1 2010 is beaten by Q1 2011.

Where have the sales topped out? Every comparable quarter is beaten year on year.

I wish my sales figures were this crap!

As I read it those are bikes registered, not new sales. Which means that although the numbers do rise each quarter the graphs show the total number registered, not new bikes being sold.

This is the site if you want to look up other makes and models:

http://howmanyleft.co.uk/

 

[Sooty09]

It must be a government compiled chart, it makes no sense at all.
2008 Q3 503 bikes licensed (must be new bikes) and Q4 622 bikes. By my maths that adds up to 1125 bikes licensed for the first time yet the new registrations section states only 646 bikes.
Add up all the bikes licensed in 2009 it adds up to 3995, of which 1125 would be 2008 bikes renewing their tax. This still leaves 2870 new bikes licensed as opposed to the new registration section claiming 638.
Am I missing something, all new bikes are supplied with 12 months tax.

 

[Dave Ett]

It must be a government compiled chart, it makes no sense at all.
2008 Q3 503 bikes licensed (must be new bikes) and Q4 622 bikes. By my maths that adds up to 1125 bikes licensed for the first time yet the new registrations section states only 646 bikes.
Add up all the bikes licensed in 2009 it adds up to 3995, of which 1125 would be 2008 bikes renewing their tax. This still leaves 2870 new bikes licensed as opposed to the new registration section claiming 638.
Am I missing something, all new bikes are supplied with 12 months tax.

Possibly. Each chart is the TOTAL number licensed, or on SORN. Not the number of NEW registrations.

 

[Sooty09]

I understand that, but look at 2008 in isolation, there were no F800GS earlier so each license (Road tax) issued was for a new bike. 1125 licenses issued for only 646 bikes registered?

 

[Tim Cullis]

Your error was in adding Q3 reg to date and Q4 reg to date together to make the 1125, whereas the total as at end of Q4 should only be 622.

Total sales to date (Q1 2011) of roughly 1458 for F800GS and 1224 for F650GS making 2682. Triumph Tiger 800 sales of 473 of which 199 are the XC model, showing the road bias of Triumph's sales.

The Tiger sales more of less match BMW's F860/800GS sales reductions.