Striking trends in the motorcycle world 2022
2022 is running to an end. A beautiful moment to look back on this year, in which it seems the supply of motorcycles couldn’t keep up with the demand. The ‘ever lasting’ production problems provide a true challenge for motorcycle shops. We look back at striking trends in the motorcycle world 2022.
More and more people start to ride motorcycles. The demand for new motorcycles, as well as for second hand bikes, has been on a rise for years. The Corona-thing gave it an extra push. This resulted in the fact that motorcycles were hard to come by and got more and more expensive.
STRIKING TRENDS
IN THE MOTORCYCLE WORLD 2022
Yamaha and BMW have been battling for first place the last few years, when it comes to who sold the most new motorcycles in the Netherlands. Kawasaki also peeks around the corner. Those three brands all sold way over 2.000 new motorcycles in 2021. The final numbers of sales in 2022 still have to come in, but we expect those three to be on top again.
THE 1000CC GAME
AND NOTHING LESS
The ‘1000cc game’ is on in the Dutch motorcycle world. it has been for quite some years now. In 2016, the total amount of new 1000cc motorcycles sold outdid the categories of 651-850cc and 851-1000cc all together. Like Jeremy Clarkson once said: “It’s all about speed and power”.
Of course, that doesn’t apply to everyone. But it is a striking trend in the motorcycle world of 2022. This does not apply to just one segment or type of motorcycle. Whether we want a touring motorcycle or an all road / adventure bike, Dutchies go for the heavy guys. We do see a preference for the middle weight segment at the naked bike category. But the 1000cc naked bikes sell fast as well.
A NAKED BIKE
OR ADVENTURE BIKE / ALL ROAD MOTORCYCLE
The average Dutch motorcyclists goes for a naked bike or an all road motorcycle / adventure bike. It is almost like other types of motorcycles don’t exist anymore. In 2021, the naked bikes took the lead, selling 800 more new motorcycles sold. In total, there were 4.722 new naked bikes sold. The all road segment sold 3.910 new motorcycles in the Netherlands. We expect similar numbers in 2022, if we may believe the rumors.
BEST SOLD
NAKED BIKES
The models that were best sold probably won’t surprise you. Take a quick glance at the road, and you see these models riding around everywhere. In 2021, the Kawasaki Z900 took first place. Until May 2022, the Z900 held onto that first place. Once the final numbers come in, we will let you know who won the 2022 battle.
The Yamaha MT-07 took second place in 2021. Halfway 2022, the MT-07 held onto it too, just like the Kawasaki. The third place was for the Kawasaki Z650 in 2021. Halfway 2022, Kawasaki lost that third place to Yamaha’s MT-09.
BEST SOLD
ALL ROAD MOTORCYCLES
I don’t think we have to tell you who took first place in this segment in 2022. And 2021, for that matter. You’ll probably guessed it already. Yep. The BMW R 1250 GS. This bike is everywhere. They don’t ‘just’ take the lead in sales numbers every year. They do so with a huge head start. And ended up selling 3 times more GS’s than any other model in the all road segment. Halfway 2022, they had the same head start.
In 2021, the Yamaha Tenere 700 took second place. Halfway 2022, that spot was taken by the Suzuki V-strom 650. Third place was for the Yamaha Tracer 900 in 2021. Halfway 2022, the Kawasaki Versys 650 showed up for that spot.
Again, we will finalise these numbers once the final results of 2022 come in.
TO THE LOCAL DEALERSHIP
FOR A USED MOTORCYCLE
We also visit professional dealerships more often to help us through the proces of buying a used motorcycle, according to the numbers of the RDC and RAI. Where the whole world digitalizes more and more, we seem to appreciate the offline services of local dealerships. And let’s be honest. Walking into a showroom on Saturday afternoon, for a nice cup of coffee while drooling over all those gorgeous bikes.. that’s something most of us love to do.
HONDA REMAINS A FAMILIAR SIGHT
ON THE ROAD
Honda might not have reached the top 3 in most sold new motorcycles, but the brand is very present in the current motorcycle offering on the roads. According to the numbers per 1st of January 2022, they take first place in the category of having the most motorcycles on the road. And by a long shot. From all 775.435 registered motorcycles, a whopping 167.706 wear the famous Wing-emblem of the Japanese manufacturer.
Yamaha takes second place in this category, with 122.506 registered motorcycles. BMW and Suzuki take the gloves off for third place, with 96K and 93K registered motorcycles.
When we take a look at all registered motorcycles in total (so new ones and used ones), we see twice as many 1000cc registered motorcycles in the Netherlands than motorcycles that fall into the 851-1000cc category. Like we said, Dutchies seem to love speed and power.
Second place is for the 451-650cc category, which gives the perspective that the midrange is still very populair. The top 3 is completed with the 651-850cc category.
OUR NEIGHBOURS IN THE SOUTH DO IT BETTER
WHEN IT COMES TO BUYING NEW MOTORCYCLES
We do quite well for such a tiny country. But our neighbors in the south do it better. Two-third more new motorcycles were sold in Belgium, compared to the Netherlands.
A striking trend in the motorcycle world 2022 in Belgium; BMW is also on top of the game when it comes to selling new motorcycles. But second place is for Honda, in stead of Yamaha, with only 200 less motorcycle sold than the German brand. Not bad, Honda! Yamaha takes third place.
WHICH COUNTRY SOLD THE MOST NEW MOTORCYCLES?
LA DOLCE VITA
The European country that sold the most new motorcycles is Italy. The Italians sold a whopping 269.955 new motorcycles! That is kind of crazy for such a small country. France takes second place with 206.955 sold motorcycles. We do have to mention, that the light weight category is favored in these countries. Less cc’s (and weight and width, height etcetera) come in handy in city traffic. Our German friends take third place with just under 200K new motorcycles sold.
CONCLUSION
2022 was a special motorcycle year. The production of new motorcycles had some challenges to overcome. And something tells us, those challenges won’t be gone for 2023. But we still saw some striking trends in the motorcycle world during 2022.
Yamaha, BMW and Kawasaki always have been big players in the game. And that didn’t change in 2022. The popularity of the heavy weights is still on the rise in the Netherlands. We love to get ourselves a 1.000cc+ motorcycle. The midrange segment does pretty well too, but we seem to love the big bikes. Especially when it comes to heavy and bike naked bikes and all road motorcycles.
Other striking trends in the motorcycle world 2022 were; we love to go to local dealerships to help us out and get a used motorcycle, we Dutchies love a Honda as a road bike even though they didn’t sell many new ones, and our neighbors in the South do better then it comes to buying new motorcycles.
Once the final numbers for 2022 have come in, we will update this blog and give you the latest scores. We can’t wait for the 2023 motorcycle season to start. See you on the road, or on track!
