BMW R1200GSSorry for the monotonous reports month after month, but BMW Motorrad has done it once again. The Bavarian motorcycle manufacturer has posted positive sales for the first quarter of 2016 with a growth of 7.7 percent over the same quarter of 2015.BMW says 33,788 motorcycles and maxi scooters were sold to customers, compared with 31,370, 2,418 more than 2015. Leading the charge as always was the R1200GS and R1200GS Adventure, BMW retaining its edge in the ADV market. As for March, BMW says 16,465 motorcycles were delivered worldwide, which is up from 15,912 units in March 2016, showing a 3.5 percent growth in sales.
Heiner Faust, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing, says: “BMW Motorrad has started into the new 2016 motorcycle season with the best first quarterly sales of all time. With a solid growth of 7.7%, BMW Motorrad remains firmly on course for success following the record year in 2015.“The current model range is very popular with our customers. This is also reflected by the high number of incoming orders. We are expecting are very positive business performance this year, too.”BMW S1000XRRecord growth was shown across the markets, also; Germany remains strongest with with 5,668 units (+5.6 percent) followed by France (3,230 units, + 2.4 percent), Italy (3,125 units, +6.4 percent), Spain (2,190 units, +39.2 percent), and Great Britain (1,984 units, +9.2 percent). BMW reports that in China, sales have increased 74.4 percent to 853 units sold.As for models, 11,391 of BMW GS models were sold, followed by the S1000RR superbike (2,385 units) and the S1000XR (2,206 units).“Naturally last year’s new models are strongly contributing to growth, for example the R 1200 RS sports tourer and the S 1000 XR Adventure bike. However, our spring business is a result of our strong overall model range,” Faust says.“Even in its third year on the market, the ultimate travel enduro, the R 1200 GS Adventure, is continuing to achieve ever higher sales figures. Sales of our long running F Series, the F 700 GS and F 800 GS, also exceed last year’s sales overall. Our new C 650 maxi scooters, launched at the turn of the year, are also fully on target.”For additional information, visit BMW Motorrad.
Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory + Steve ’Stavros’ Parrish
byMotos and Friends by Ultimate Motorcycle
Hello everyone and welcome once again to Ultimate Motorcycling’s weekly podcast—Motos and Friends. My name is Arthur Coldwells.
Our first segment features the new Aprilia Tuono 660 Factory. Senior Editor Nic de Sena brings us his report on the flagship version of Aprilia’s upright middleweight machine. He gives us insight into whether it’s worth spending the extra money on the Factory version, and also of course, whether this sporting Aprilia is really the motorcycle for you.
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The next guest segment of Motos and Friends is brought to you by the faster and most technologically advanced, 2023 Suzuki Hayabusa—one of the most iconic sportbikes ever. Check it out in person at your local Suzuki dealer now, or visit suzukicycles.com to learn more.
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In this segment, Associate Editor Teejay Adams chats with (arguably) one of the most interesting Suzuki race riders of all time. the iconic RG500 alongside teammate double World Champion Barry Sheene. The two were almost as famous for their exploits off-track, as for their success on it. Those were the days! Steve also raced the Isle of Man TT for about ten years where he won 13 Silver Replicas, and got a podium finish. His insight into that particular brand of mayhem are fascinating.
But there’s waaay more to Steve Parrish than his motorcycle racing. He is also the most successful Semi-Truck racer ever, and, little known piece of useless trivia—he’s my birthday twin: 24th February. He is a natural entertainer and you can’t miss his recounting of the world’s most entertaining—and arguably terrifying—double-decker bus ride ever. If any of you were actually on that hell-ride then we’d love to hear from you!
