According to the latest data from the German motorcycle industry association( IVM) motorcycle registrations for the period to October 2025 were- 25.32 % at 92,041 units. In August they were-25.78 %( 8,233 units), better( less bad!) in September at-8.01( 8,365 units) and report as a massive decline in October at-36.15 %( 5,431 units) as the annual reporting starts to lap the Euro 5 / Euro 5 + pre-registration inflated data from Q4 2025. At present, the best that can be said is that the trend that appeared to be headed back towards some kind of equilibrium has stalled. Until we see full year 2025 IVM data, or the final quarter data from ACEM, we are therefore revising our ' best guesstimate ' forecast for the German market in 2025 to being some-12 to-15 % down for the full year, down further from sequentially worsening forecasts. Registrations data for the second half of the year has, as yet, failed to show any underlying growth and is not now likely to do so. Even though the number of ' pre-reg ' motorcycles in Q4 in Germany may have been as high as 25,000 units, the market is clearly seeing serious decline even when those are allowed for. Unlike in Italy where the strong demand for scooters continues to grow, the total PTW registrations data that includes scooters and other low displacement units in Germany were similarly down for the first
After two years of positive trends, and distorted statistics at the end of 2024, at this stage in 2025 it looks like European OE importers and distributors( and their dealers) are continuing to take higher levels of new unit inventory than might have been expected- especially at this time of year. After a massive + 126.84 % spike in August( 16,453 units exported by the ' Big Four ' that month), September was more subdued at-22.12 %( 13,428 units). The latest available data from JAMA( the automotive trade association in Japan, which includes representation of motorcycle manufacturers among its membership) shows total 250 + cc motorcycle exports to Europe from the Japanese factories were running at + 14.55 % for the nine months to the end of September 2025( 169,328 units). Aside from 2023( 177,192 units), this has been the strongest first three quarters export performance to Europe since 2008( 252,041 units), with the highest seen in the 21st century so far being the 359,690 units sent to Europe in 2000. The monthly export numbers for 2025 have varied wildly- January was + 29.11 %( 20, 835 units) with February + 18.67 %( 25,206) despite the unsold ' prereg ' units that were sitting on showroom floors or in warehouses around Europe. March was + 1.16 % with May-13.44 % and July was + 39.23 %. Regardless of the fluctuations, it would appear that
www. idnmag. com
PTW MOTORCYCLE X10-months of 2025, at-24.69%( 151,297 units). The traditional top seller- the BMW R 1300 GS- remains top of the pile in Germany with 7,492 units registered YTD for an 8.14 % market share. The Kawasaki Z900 remains second( 4,381 units / 4.88 % share), with the Z650 in third( 2,149 units for a 2.33 % share). Honda ' s CBR 650 R has dropped to fourth( 2,040 units sold for a 2.22 % share YTD), followed by their CB 1000 Hornet fifth( 2,015 units, 2.19 % share). The Yamaha MT-07 is sixth, followed by the CB 750 Hornet, the MT-09, the BMW F 900 R and the Ninja 650 in 10th. With 11 models in the list of 50 best-sellers in
there is real growth among the Japanese manufacturers here in Europe, at least where imports from their home factories are concerned, and there is evidence of this in the financial reports filed so far this year by the ' Big Four '. Total Japanese ' Big Four ' 250 + cc factory exports to news ROOM
Germany- Motorcycle Registrations January to October-25.32 %
225,000
150,000
75,000
German registrations to October
200,887
-24.69 %
151,297
132,242
2024 2025
-25.32 %
Japanese made motorcycle exports to Europe January to Sept + 14.55 %
300,000
225,000
150,000
75,000
92,041
Germany, it ' s no surprise that BMW remains top dog in its home market, with a 21.50 % market share( 19,791 units sold). This is an increased share on the same period in 2024, but reflecting the overall market decline in Germany this is on nearly 5,000 fewer units sold. Honda continues to close the gap on BMW, with a 20.10 % share, having sold 18,500 units YTD( only 650 fewer than the ' year-ago ') and was only 1,291 units behind BMW after the first 10-months of the year. Kawasaki is third with a 14.84 % share( 13,658 units; Yamaha fourth( 7.29 % share, 6,708 units) and Triumph is fifth with a 6.40 % market share on 5,999 units sold. Ducati, Harley-Davidson and Suzuki complete the top 10 brands in Germany YTD. In the electric( light) motorcycles segment in Germany Zero Motorcycles( now a Dutch global headquartered American manufacturer) remains ahead, with a reduced 12.48 % share( 274 units registered YTD). They are followed by Vmoto( 101 units / 4.60 % share), Kawasaki( 64 units, 2.92 % share), Livewire- boosted no doubt by its recent ' Twist & Go ' promotions are now up to fourth spot( 55 units sold for a 2.51 % share) and ahead of Bombardier( CAN AM) in fifth with 40 units sold for a 1.8 % share. These top 5 brands account for a combined total of 1,213 units registered in the year to the end of October.
Japanese exports to September
67,179
2024
+ 5.45 %
70,838
MOTORCYCLE EXPORTS TO US
2025
147,817
+ 14.55 %
169,328
MOTORCYCLE EXPORTS TO EUROPE
271,269
+ 14.44 %
310,444
WORLDWIDE MOTORCYCLE EXPORTS
the USA were + 5.45 % for the period from January to September, with 70,838 units registered. Total worldwide exports of 250 + cc motorcycles from Japan + 14.44 % at 310,444 units. Global total PTW unit exports were + 10.18 % at 366,728 units YTD. www. jama. or. jp
INTERNATIONAL DEALER NEWS- JANUARY / FEBRUARY 2026 7