BMW announced it set a new company all-time sales record for a single month, delivering 14,587 motorcycles to customers in April 2013. That represents an 11.5% increase from the 13,088 motorcycles sold in April 2012.

The record month helped push BMW‘s overall sales over the first four months to 39,319 motorcycles and scooters, a 5.0% increase from the 13,088 units sold in the same period of 2012.

“Five per cent growth as compared to the first four months of the previous year is certainly satisfying as far as we are concerned,” says Heiner Faust, vice president of sales and marketing for BMW Motorrad. “It was April in particular that got us off to such a good start in 2013, having been the best month for sales in the entire history of BMW Motorrad.”

More impressively, the sales growth comes in spite of declining sales for the overall motorcycle industry, especially in Europe. Continue Reading »

The International Motorcycling Federation (FIM) has released an updated list of motorcycles homologated for the 2013 Superbike, Supersport, and Superstock racing season. Notable additions include the new BMW S1000RR HP4, the MV Agusta F3 and the Superbike-spec Ducati 1199 Panigale R.

To qualify a production-based racebike for FIM homologations, manufacturers have to meet certain production thresholds. Manufacturers must first produce 125 units ahead of a homologation inspection. After that, manufacturers have to produce a minimum of 500 units by June 30 and 1000 units by December 31 of the current year, and a minimum of 2000 units by the December 31 of the following year.

Production counts include both ABS and non-ABS versions of the same model, and at least 250 units of each version have to be produced. Production models must also be available for sale in either the U.S., Europe or Japan by the end of April of the current year to qualify. Continue Reading »

BMW reported a record year for motorcycle sales, supplying 106,358 motorcycles and scooters in 2012. This represents a 2.0% increase from the 104,286 units sold in 2011. Helping BMW reach its new sales record was a strong December which saw sales of 6,069 units worldwide, a 43.4% increase from the 4,232 units sold in December 2011. The record year includes 12,057 motorcycles sold in the U.S., a 14.0% gain from 2011.

“Never before in the history of BMW Motorrad have we been able to sell as many vehicles,” says Stephen Schaller, president of BMW Motorrad. “We have achieved this magnificent retail success in the context of a very difficult motorcycle market, especially in Europe. I would like to thank all our customers most sincerely for having placed their trust in us. The new all-time sales high demonstrates that our motorcycles and maxi scooters have been received extremely well.” Continue Reading »

When BMW released its second quarter report last month, the company reported a 4.2% decrease in BMW and Husqvarna motorcycle sales due mainly to a struggling European economy. The economic woes persist but BMW appears to be recovering, reporting a new sales record for the month of August.

BMW reports sales of 7,400 motorcycles and scooters in August 2012, a company record for the month and an 11.3% increase from the 6,646 units sold in August 2011 and 14.7% more than the 6,405 units sold in August 2010.

Sales were buoyed by the introduction of the new C600 Sport and C650GT scooters to the European market. The maxi-scooters should provide an additional boost when they reach other markets such as the U.S., BMW’s second largest market. Continue Reading »

BMW unveiled a new, more track-oriented sportbike based on its highly-successful S1000RR. The new BMW HP4 is an evolution of BMW’s HP2 series with the S1000RR’s inline-four engine.

Like the S1000RR, the HP4 claims 190 hp at 13,000 rpm and 83 ft-lb. at 9750 rpm. The HP4 however has been tuned to offer more torque from 6000 to 9750 rpm. Also like its predecessor, the HP4 will have four ride modes, Rain, Sport, Race and Slick. On the HP4 however, horsepower will have access to its full power in all four modes including Rain mode. The Rain mode has also been tuned for a smoother torque curve from 2500 to 8000 rpm.

The HP4 will be the first production model to come with dynamic damping control (DDC), BMW technology that adapts the suspension’s damping characteristics to road conditions. DDC uses information from sensors to electrically control the suspension’s regulation valves to optimize damping. Continue Reading »