Yamaha's WR450F is the highest selling dirt bike in Australia so far this year.

Motorcycle sales in Australia have continued to surge in the first quarter of 2012, according to official figures released this week by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI).

A total of 25,526 new motorcycles, ATVs and scooters were sold in the first quarter of this year, which is an increase of 9.7 percent (2,249 units) over the first quarter in 2011.

Honda was the highest selling brand overall with 5,731 units sold, followed by Yamaha with 4,034 and Suzuki with just over 3,010 units.

More specifically, purchases of off-road bikes increased by 8.7 percent (to 7489 units).

“This is a strong outcome for new motorcycle sales in the first quarter of 2012,” FCAI chief executive, Ian Chalmers said. “While it is still early days, the data is a promising indication that 2012 will be a good year for the motorcycle sector.”

Honda Motorcycles general manager Tony Hinton is incredibly pleased with the market’s upward trend, with many of the brand’s top sellers in the road bike segment.

“This is a fantastic start to 2012, not only for Honda but to see the whole market improving is really exciting,” Hinton stated. “This start to the year is the best Honda has experienced in many years.”

Yamaha’s WR450F is the top-selling Off-Road and Enduro bike at 407, which is a massive 107.7 percent increase over the 196 sold in the first quarter of last year.

The next best selling Enduro bike is KTM’s 350 EXC-F on 184, both displacing Suzuki’s trusty DR-Z400E at the top of the charts.

In Motocross, Kawasaki holds the top slot with the KX250F on 243 sales, edging out Yamaha’s YZ250F on 237 sales and the Honda CRF250R on 228.

The top Open class bike in the sales is Yamaha’s YZ450F on 196 (fourth in Motocross overall), leading the Kawasaki KX450F on 180 and Honda CRF450R on 164.

With those results, Yamaha also ranks as the highest selling dirt bike brand in the country so far this year.

FCAI 2012 Australian Motorcycle Sales (first quarter)

Off-Road Overall Top 10:
1. Yamaha WR450F 407
2. Honda CRF230F 295
3. Honda CRF50F 245
4. Kawasaki KX250F 243
5. Yamaha YZ250F 237
6. Honda CRF250R 228
7. Yamaha PW50 228
8. Yamaha TTR50 205
9. Yamaha YZ450F 196
10. KTM 350 EXC-F 184

Enduro Top 10:
1. Yamaha WR450F 407
2. KTM 350 EXC-F 184
3. Suzuki DR-Z400E 167
4. KTM 500 EXC 159
5. KTM 450 EXC 122
6. KTM 300 EXC 106
7. Yamaha TT250 97
8. Husaberg FE570e 69
9. Husqvarna TE510 69
10. Honda CRF450X 68

Motocross Top 10:
1. Kawasaki KX250F 243
2. Yamaha YZ250F 237
3. Honda CRF250R 228
4. Yamaha YZ450F 196
5. Kawasaki KX450F 180
6. Honda CRF450R 164
7. KTM 50SX 144
8. Suzuki RM-Z250 130
9. KTM 250 SX-F 128
10. Suzuki RM-Z450 109

All Categories Top 10:
1. Honda CBR250R 729 (road)
2. Honda CT110X 462 (post bike)
3. Yamaha WR450F 407
4. Kawasaki Ninja 250R 388 (road)
5. Honda CB125E 300 (road)
6. Honda CRF230F 295
7. Honda CRF50F 245
8. Kawasaki KX250F 243
9. Yamaha YZ250F 237
10. Honda CRF250R 228