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Australia has experienced an unprecedented rise in dirt bike sales through the second quarter of 2020, increasing by over 40 percent in comparison to the first half of last year.

Understood to be as a direct result of the COVID-19 pandemic, reports from the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) has revealed that the industry is currently experiencing an extraordinary upturn.

In the opening six months of the year there has been 20,885 dirt bike sales, which is well above the 14,666 sold between January to June one year ago. The top-selling off-road brand was Yamaha at 6170 sales, followed by Honda (5497), KTM (3338), Kawasaki (3099), Husqvarna (1526) and Suzuki (1255).

Each of those brands remarkably recorded dirt bike sales increases, Yamaha by 49.2 percent, Honda 31.4 percent, KTM 36.6 percent, Kawasaki 72.8 percent, Husqvarna 59.8 percent and Suzuki 8.5 percent. Brands such as Sherco and Gas Gas aren’t currently part of the FCAI reporting.

The highest-selling motocross bike to date is the Yamaha YZ250F at 403 sales, followed by the Yamaha YZ450F (345), Honda CRF450R (334), Kawasaki KX450 (298) and Honda CRF250R (256). Enduro is led by the Yamaha WR450F (745), ahead of the KTM 300 EXC (554), KTM 350 EXC-F (433), Honda CRF450L (423) and KTM 450 EXC-F (323).

“It is wonderful to see some strong sales from our member motorcycle brands,” FCAI CEO Tony Weber said. “A year-on-year increase of 24.5 percent (overall) is significant and signals improving conditions for both members and dealers.

“The ATV and SSV segment is up a remarkable 50.9 percent and now represents 27.5 percent of the total market. And off-road bikes are also on fire, with an increase of 42.4 percent and claiming 39.5 percent of the total market.

“People can’t go for overseas holidays and for quite some time they couldn’t even go for holidays within Australia. So, we believe that instead of spending up big on expensive family vacations, people are treating themselves in different ways and this could mean they are taking up new sports like trail-bike riding.”

Overall, a total of 52,838 vehicles inclusive of new motorcycles, All-Terrain Vehicles (ATVs) and Side-by-Side Vehicles (SSVs) were sold from January to June 2020, in comparison to 42,457 during the same period in 2019. This represents a 24.5 percent increase in total sales, a bright spot in an economic environment that has been predominantly negative over the past four months.

Honda reported 12,563 sales for a 23.8 percent market share, followed by Yamaha with 12,344 sales for 23.4 percent share, Kawasaki with 6545 sales for 12.4 percent share, KTM with 4391 sales for 8.3 percent share and, finally, Suzuki with 3594 sales for 6.8 percent market share.

Detailed results (Top 10)

Detailed results (Comparison report)