Honda leads bike sales

The results for the first quarter of 2012 have also given the industry hope of a solid year.

The CBR250R and CB125E duo were first and fifth on the top 10 sales lists shifting 729 and 300 units respectively.

The CT110X "postie bike" sits in second with 462 sales, with Yamaha's WR450F dirt bike in third ahead of another learners' machine in the Kawasaki Ninja 250R.

Honda sold 5731 of the 25,256 bikes sales last quarter, up from Yahama on 4035 and Suzuki with 3010 units.

It is the highest first quarter recorded by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries since 2008 when 30,460 bikes were sold.

The only segment not to grow was scooters, with a 14 per cent slump to 2711 machines. Road bikes led the way with 9985 sales to grow by 14.5 per cent o on the same time last year and all-terrain vehicle sales were up 18 per cent to 5341 vehicles.

FCAI chief executive Ian Chalmers says the result is a positive one. "While it is still early days, the data is a promising indication that 2012 will be a good year for the motorcycle sector," he notes.

Honda general manager Tony Hinton agrees. "This is a fantastic start to 2012, not only for Honda but to see the whole market improving is really exciting," Hinton says.

Honda grew in all sectors of the market. The CBR and CB contributed to a 77 per cent growth in road bikes and farmers still like the Honda brand based on a 54 per cent sales jump. Even scooters defied the trend to be up 37 per cent for the brand.

"This start to the year is the best Honda has experienced in many years, to see customers supporting flagship models such as the CBR1000RR while also showing so much interest in brand new releases gives us a lot of confidence in what will be the pattern for the rest of the year," Hinton says.

TOP 10 SALES