Honda's CBR250R has enjoyed a solid start to 2011, assisting the Japanese brand to its position of top brand so far this year.

Motorcycle sales in Australia increased in the first half of 2011, according to figures releases today 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.

Growth in the Scooter and All-terrain Vehicle (ATV) segments was of particular importance McKellar said.

“Continued strong demand for ATVs in rural areas, and the increasing popularity of scooters in inner-city Australia has seen these segments grow 29 percent and 14 percent respectively over 2010 figures.

“The growth of scooter sales and the resilience of overall road bike sales suggest commuters are finding motorcycles to be a practical solution to continuing high fuel prices and inner-city traffic congestion,” 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 (to the end of June) for a 30 percent market share.

The road bike segment remains the single largest by market share, with half-year sales of 18,653 representing 37 percent of all motorcycles sold.

10,544 ATV deliveries represented a 21 percent market share (up from 16 percent in 2010), while scooter sales increased to 5914 for a market share of 11.7 percent (up from 10 percent in 2010).

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), Kawasaki (4882) and Harley Davidson (2955).

Kawasaki’s Ninja 250R road bike was the best selling single model with 1093 sales. Honda’s popular CT110, sold almost exclusively to Australia Post as a delivery bike, was the second best seller with 1034 sales.

Honda’s CBR250R has come in at a credible 889 sales, also leading the 1000cc sportsbike category with 282 CBR1000RRs sold.

Top-selling 600cc sportsbike for the first half of 2011 is the GSX-R600 at 178 units, while the GSX-R750 is close behind at 151 – both outselling the GSX-R1000’s 136 bikes sold.

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