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, corporations are usually influenced to punt out product fashions which can be:
- Simpler to evolve 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 in the present day’s information perusal:
- Powersports Gross sales (YoY), and what this implies for future bike fashions
- Damon’s searching for extra 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 info 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 trade, this one’s a goodie and linked to all types 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 most of the following machines in stock:
- ATVs
- Heavyweight bikes
- Off-road bikes
- Snowmobiles
Components related to sky-high stock ranges embrace 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 general 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 have been among the many most affected segments in these gross sales declines. Right here’s a listing of the extra fascinating particulars to bear in mind as we barrel forward into the brand new yr:
- Sellers are searching 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 herald extra gross sales, per regular.
For extra info, be at liberty to take a look at the survey for yourselves and tell us what you suppose.
What do you consider the BMO Capital Markets Powersports Seller Survey?
Electrical Every thing: Damon Motors Seeks Further Capital “to Fund Our Path to Manufacturing”
Current Launch Stays Clear on Firm Objectives Whereas Exhibiting Off New Motorbike
-and proper on the heels of BMO’s Seller 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 (by way of sec.gov).
Due to a press release from the company, 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 presently 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 programs 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 enough financing to execute the Firm’s plans.
…With ample funding, the challenge is anticipated 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 check 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 enough capital to make this substantial funding. This pre-production section has an estimated completion of late 2025. ” – Jay Jiraud, CEO, Damon Motors. Press release revealed November 26, 2024. |
In different phrases, Damon Motors hasn’t but landed enough 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 are able to’t say the identical for Energica, CAKE, or Fuell, not to mention the listing of extra marques on the cusp of a Chapter 11 insolvency.
For these wanting the closest attainable have 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 website of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC).
What do you consider Damon’s current press launch?
Husqvarna Debuts EV Enduro Bike: Meet the Pioneer
New Zero-Emission Enduro Bike Completes Husqie’s EV Trifecta
It’s official: We now have a brand new zero-emission machine from Husqvarna!
Readers who stored tabs on filings from different areas of the ‘web is likely to be conversant in the reference to a “Pioneer,” initially aired out by way of filings sourced from the ever-incomparable Dennis Chung at Motorcycle.com.
Immediately, 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 prime 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 parts. 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 way in which, options 250mm of journey on the entrance and 240mm on the rear, respectively.
To the above, we add three experience modes, in addition to Traction Management – to be activated in tandem with the aforementioned Experience Modes – in addition to three ranges of vitality recuperation for the battery.
Since that is an EV machine, riders will be capable of swap out the Pioneer’s battery for a fully-charged spare; whereas the primary recharges by way of an ordinary 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 retaining 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”
Bear in mind when Dennis Chung discovered paperwork exhibiting that Honda was engaged on a CBR400R 4?
Nicely, we now have information that tells us the CBR400R 4 might very nicely have a sibling incubating in the identical lab.
In accordance with Dennis Chung’s findings on Motorcycle.com, Honda has filed trademark papers for a “CBR500R 4,” including to the rumor that Honda’s engaged on a brand new middleweight vary… presumably even a variety housing four-cylinder engines.
We’re advised that the papers have been filed at the start of this month, and Chung is nearly utterly 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 supply a licensing class for 400cc and smaller bikes. This has led Honda to supply a 500 for the worldwide market and a 400 in Japan, as was the case with the present two-cylinder CBR500R/CBR400R.
The 2 current filings counsel it will once more be the case with the four-cylinder fashions… As is often the case, a trademark submitting solely confirms {that a} mannequin is in growth, nevertheless it doesn’t essentially imply it is going to progress to being a full manufacturing mannequin.” – Dennis Chung, Content material Creator, Motorcycle.com |
As for rivals, a four-cylinder midweight duo would probably be vying for area on podiums just 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 supply extra yank at decrease engine revs, thereby slicing down on general rev racket and sliding below the noise compliance rules.
Extra punt for a similar regulation approvals, fairly as you please.
Chung reminds us that Honda has beforehand given us good feats of american just like the 399cc inline-four-powered CB400 Tremendous 4/Tremendous Bol d’Or. These bikes have been round till 2022, so to see one thing comparable return to markets could be enjoyable, certainly.
Would you prefer to see Honda debut a CBR400/500R 4 duo?
*Media sourced from Auto Finance Information, Damon, The Pack, and Honda*
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