Yamaha's YZ450F is the highest selling motocross model in Australia so far in 2011.

Motorcycle sales in Australia increased in the first half of 2011, according to figures releases this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

In the six months to the end of June, 50,379 motorcycles were delivered to Australian customers, representing an increase of 1501 units (or 3.1 percent) over the same period in 2010.

The growth in motorcycle sales has so-far outpaced the wider passenger and commercial vehicle market during 2011, according to FCAI chief executive Andrew McKellar.

“The overall market for motorcycles has continued to see a little growth during 2011 compared with car and light commercial sales, which are down 6.6 percent year-to-date,” he said.

Seven of the top 10 motorcycles remain off-road bikes, a testament to the ongoing popularity of motorcycling as a recreational sport and pastime in Australia.

The off-road segment accounted for 15,268 sales for a 30 percent market share. Meanwhile, the road bike segment has a market share of 37 percent, ATVs 21 percent and scooters 11.7 percent.

Japanese manufacturers continue to dominate sales. Honda was the number one brand, delivering 10,424 motorcycles to the end of June.

Yamaha was in second position to the end of June with 9349 sales, followed by Suzuki (6333) and Kawasaki (4882). KTM was sixth with 1937 sales, while Husqvarna’s sales of 1005 ranked it 10th – a massive 12.5 percent increase over 2010.

The top-selling motocross model so far this year has been the Yamaha YZ450F on 566, with Honda’s CRF250R second on 495 sales and top selling 250F.

KTM’s brand new 350 SX-F was the ninth highest in motocross sales, with 201 units sold in the first half of this year.

Apart from Suzuki’s trusty DR-Z400E, which sold 548 units, Yamaha’s WR450F was the top-selling enduro model on the market with 436 sales.

Interestingly, KTM’s 300 EXC two-stroke was the top seller in its enduro range with 211 bikes sold (the fifth highest in the enduro segment) – just 15 more than the 530 EXC four-stroke.

Motorcycle sales in Australia peaked in 2008, with 114,210 motorcycles delivered to customers that year.

Top 10 Motocross Sales January-June 2011:
1. Yamaha YZ450F, 566, -11.30%
2. Honda CRF250R, 495, -20.70%
3. Yamaha YZ250F, 449, -3.60%
4. Honda CRF450R, 411, -6.80%
5. Suzuki RM-Z250, 320, -4.20%
6. Kawasaki KX250F, 314, -28.60%
7. Suzuki RM-Z450, 256, 13.80%
8. Kawasaki KX450F, 229, -23.70%
9. KTM 350 SX-F, 201, 100.00%
10. Yamaha YZ250, 158 -4.20%

Top 10 Enduro Sales January-June 2011:
1. Suzuki DR-Z400E , 548, -9.90%
2. Yamaha WR450F, 436, 1.90%
3. Honda CRF450X, 278, -26.50%
4. Yamaha TT250, 224, 32.50%
5. KTM 300 EXC, 211, -14.60%
6. Kawasaki KLX250S, 204, 10.30%
7. KTM 530 EXC, 196, -18.00%
8. KTM 450 EXC, 189, -22.90%
9. Yamaha WR250F, 163, -37.50%
10. Husqvarna TE510, 159, 48.60%