Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/575161
FOCUS PSB Metric bikes 24 • October 5, 2015 • Powersports Business www.PowersportsBusiness.com Model years 2011 through 2013 all show increase on KBB.com BY LISA PELISSIER CONTRIBUTING WRITER Here's a look at how metric cruiser searches fared, with comparison dates of January-June 2014, and January-June 2015 on Kelley Blue Book's KBB.com: MOST SEARCHED CRUISERS BY MODEL YEAR Interest in newer vehicles is increas- ing. Model-years 2011 through 2013 all showed an increase in KBB.com web hits for 2015 when compared to 2014. Older years show inter- est gradually waning from a 3 percent drop for model-year 2010 to an 8 percent drop by model-year 2004. MOST SEARCHED CRUSIERS BY OEM To give market perspec- tive, Harley-Davidson is the clear leader on the most- researched cruiser manufacturer list, claiming 45 percent of KBB.com web hits. Metric cruisers occupy the next posi- tions below Harley-Davidson. Honda received 18 percent; Yamaha received 10 percent; Suzuki received slightly over 6 percent, and Kawasaki received slightly under 6 percent of KBB.com web hits. Other cruiser manufacturers to receive significant raw numbers of KBB.com web hits were BMW, Triumph, Victory and Ducati, even though as a percentile they lag behind the top five manufacturers. PSB Lisa Pelissier is a senior powersports analyst for Kelley Blue Book. Newer metric cruisers gaining interest CHANGE IN KBB.COM WEB HITS FOR CRUISERS BY MODEL YEAR KBB.COM WEB HITS FOR CRUISERS BY MANUFACTURER Source: Kelley Blue Book 24% 5% 5% -3% -4% -5% -6% -7% -7% -8% -10% -5% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 2013 2012 2011 2010 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 45% 18% 10% 6% 6% 2% 2% 2% 1% 0% 5% 10% 15% 20% 25% 30% 35% 40% 45% 50% Harley-Davidson Honda Yamaha Suzuki Kawasaki BMW Triumph Victory Ducati