Do you know that many – if not most – bike dealerships are reporting a gross sales hunch in comparison with the identical month final yr?
When the market hits constant lows, firms are typically influenced to punt out product fashions which might be:
- Simpler to adapt to emissions and noise compliance
- Extra accessible
- (Doubtlessly) extra relevant to a number of bike genres
For manufacturers like Honda, Damon, and Husqvarna, the above tendencies are already built-in into their very own initiatives, therefore the next listing of stuff to ogle for at the moment’s information perusal:
- Powersports Gross sales (YoY), and what this implies for future bike fashions
- Damon’s on the lookout for further capital to fund the ultimate push to market
- Husqvarna’s persevering with to spend money on EV efficiency with the Pioneer
- Honda’s following up on “CBR400R 4 ” filings with trademark paperwork exhibiting “CBR500R 4”
Let’s get chomping on what the information is saying about current (and perhaps future) bike buys, yeah?
Business Insider: Powersports Sellers Say Gross sales are Down 6.3%
75% of Sellers Mark the Eighth Month of Gross sales Decline
Whereas it’s definitely not pleasurable to report a gross sales hunch for our business, this one’s a goodie and linked to every kind of projections for 2025.
In accordance with a report accomplished by BMO Capital Markets discovered on LinkedIn, 74% of sellers reported a year-over-year decline in new unit gross sales. This determine represents eight straight months of gross sales decline, with many of those sellers reporting that they’d too lots of the following machines in stock:
- ATVs
- Heavyweight bikes
- Off-road bikes
- Snowmobiles
Components related to sky-high stock ranges embody inflation, excessive rates of interest choking seller revenue, and the overall concept that we could also be hitting a recession; so as to add to the above, some sellers have marked manufacturers pushing for extra stock whereas remaining lean on total model assist, marking the explanation why so many areas are discovering themselves stuffed to the gills with bikes.
For these of you curious, this survey DID listing that sport bikes and off-road fashions had been among the many most affected segments in these gross sales declines. Right here’s an inventory of the extra attention-grabbing particulars to remember as we barrel forward into the brand new yr:
- Sellers are on the lookout for producers to decrease costs on new merchandise to make sure all events profit from a pleasant revenue.
- Some sellers have discovered that their Service Facilities are bringing in additional income than ever earlier than.
- Spring is projected to usher in further gross sales, per common.
For added data, be happy to take a look at the survey for yourselves and tell us what you suppose.
What do you consider the BMO Capital Markets Powersports Vendor Survey?
Electrical Every thing: Damon Motors Seeks Further Capital “to Fund Our Path to Manufacturing”
Current Launch Stays Clear on Firm Targets Whereas Displaying Off New Motorbike
-and proper on the heels of BMO’s Vendor survey comes information from Damon on how their firm is doing and what lies forward for the luxurious EV bike model.
For these of you wanting a refresher, Damon Motors is an electrical bike model constructed on the bones of a software program firm. Headed by CEO Jay Jiraud, Damon Motors has been making headlines for years with their eye-catching machines, the HyperSport and HyperFighter, now becoming a member of a brand new mannequin: The “HyperLite,” anticipated to hit markets by mid-2026 (through sec.gov).
Due to a press launch from the corporate, we now have a solution to the million-dollar query: What’s going on with Damon Motors, and the way shut are they to releasing their bikes to market?
In accordance with a letter from the CEO, Damon Motors is at present celebrating the next completion percentages for the next manufacturing processes:
- Progress in car mechanics is 90% full
- Progress in energy electronics is 90% full
- Progress in mechanical and cooling techniques is 90% full
- Progress of battery system growth is 70% full
The above is accompanied by Jiraud’s phrases on the matter:
| “… These achievements are important steps ahead however stay topic to dangers, together with the provision of ample financing to execute the Firm’s plans.
…With enough funding, the venture is predicted to progress to the pre-production stage, beginning with validation and design affirmation, the place we’ll purpose to make a run of pre-production prototypes and take a look at them in opposition to our design necessities and rules to verify the designs earlier than we launch [them] to tooling. Ordering all of the instruments [required for] our first run of components… would be the subsequent large milestone, topic to our means to boost ample capital to make this substantial funding. This pre-production part has an estimated completion of late 2025. ” – Jay Jiraud, CEO, Damon Motors. Press launch revealed November 26, 2024. |
In different phrases, Damon Motors hasn’t but landed ample monies to punt out their machines regardless of being backed by Fukuta Motors, NXP Semiconductor, Molicel, and a accomplished merger with Grafiti Holdings.
The silver lining: Regardless of their tight grip on stunning merchandise, Damon Motors remains to be alive and kicking with some first rate potential for a hefty Deux Ex Machina to swoop in and supply the ultimate funding required to make it to market. We will’t say the identical for Energica, CAKE, or Fuell, not to mention the listing of further marques on the cusp of a Chapter 11 insolvency.
For these needing the closest doable take a look at Damon Motors, their present state, and trajectories for the approaching years, we redirect your focus to Damon’s entry in the official web site of the U.S. Securities and Change Fee (SEC).
What do you consider Damon’s latest press launch?
Husqvarna Debuts EV Enduro Bike: Meet the Pioneer
New Zero-Emission Enduro Bike Completes Husqie’s EV Trifecta
It’s official: We’ve got a brand new zero-emission machine from Husqvarna!
Readers who saved tabs on filings from different areas of the ‘internet is perhaps acquainted with the reference to a “Pioneer,” initially aired out through filings sourced from the ever-incomparable Dennis Chung at Motorbike.com.
At present, we now know this machine to be a mannequin able to the next specs (per Husqvarna and The Pack):
- An 11 kW (14.8hp) motor
- 5.5 kWh (7.3hp) battery juice
- A operating time of as much as three hours
- 19.2 kW (25.8hp) peak energy
- 37.6 Nm (27.7lbs-ft) of torque
- A high velocity of 95 km/h (59.6mph)
- WMTC vary of as much as 137km (85 miles)=
Due to some new brain-squeezing within the Husqie lab, the Pioneer’s chromium-molybdenum chassis carries each the battery and motor as load-bearing components. Moreover, Husqvarna tells us that the Pioneer carries the next componentry:
- WP XACT forks full with adjustable compression and rebound
- A WP XPLOR PDS rear shock full with excessive and low-speed compression, rebound, and preload adjustment
- Michelin Enduro Medium rubber
- ProTaper handlebars
- Braktec brakes
Suspension journey, by the best way, options 250mm of journey on the entrance and 240mm on the rear, respectively.
To the above, we add three journey modes, in addition to Traction Management – to be activated in tandem with the aforementioned Journey Modes – in addition to three ranges of vitality recuperation for the battery.
Since that is an EV machine, riders will be capable to swap out the Pioneer’s battery for a fully-charged spare; whereas the primary recharges through a typical family provide (the included 660W charger), the swapping course of itself solely takes a purported 10 minutes.
Readers will keep in mind that the Pioneer was linked considerably to KTM’s launch of the Freeride E-XC; regardless of Husqvarna holding pricing a thriller for the Pioneer, we will estimate that the bike’s buy potential will vary someplace across the Freeride’s MSRP of $11,499 USD.
What do you consider Husqvarna’s Pioneer?
Honda Information Trademark for “CBR500R 4”
Information Accompanies Earlier Paperwork for “CBR400R 4”
Keep in mind when Dennis Chung discovered paperwork exhibiting that Honda was engaged on a CBR400R 4?
Properly, we now have data that tells us the CBR400R 4 could very nicely have a sibling incubating in the identical lab.
In accordance with Dennis Chung’s findings on Motorbike.com, Honda has filed trademark papers for a “CBR500R 4,” including to the rumor that Honda’s engaged on a brand new middleweight vary… probably even a variety housing four-cylinder engines.
We’re advised that the papers had been filed initially of this month, and Chung is sort of fully sure that this bike duo is being created with licensing lessons in thoughts – particularly, the lessons current in international markets versus Japan’s markets.
Right here’s Chung’s quote on the matter:
| “Whereas it may appear odd to file for 2 names for each a 400 and 500, it’s vital to keep in mind that Japan and another markets provide a licensing class for 400cc and smaller bikes. This has led Honda to provide a 500 for the worldwide market and a 400 in Japan, as was the case with the prevailing two-cylinder CBR500R/CBR400R.
The 2 latest filings counsel this may once more be the case with the four-cylinder fashions… As is normally the case, a trademark submitting solely confirms {that a} mannequin is in growth, nevertheless it doesn’t essentially imply it should progress to being a full manufacturing mannequin.” – Dennis Chung, Content material Creator, Motorbike.com |
As for opponents, a four-cylinder midweight duo would doubtless be vying for area on podiums much like that of Kawasaki’s Kawasaki Ninja ZX-4R.
IMPORTANT: Whereas Kawi’s machines have been detuned for sure markets, Honda’s determination to go large in displacement might provide extra yank at decrease engine revs, thereby chopping down on total rev racket and sliding beneath the noise compliance rules.
Extra punt for a similar regulation approvals, fairly as you please.
Chung reminds us that Honda has beforehand given us sensible feats of yankee just like the 399cc inline-four-powered CB400 Tremendous 4/Tremendous Bol d’Or. These bikes had been round till 2022, so to see one thing related return to markets can be enjoyable, certainly.
Would you wish to see Honda debut a CBR400/500R 4 duo?
*Media sourced from Auto Finance Information, Damon, The Pack, and Honda*
