The past 18 months have been stellar for BMW’s motorcycle division in terms of sales success. With a record year in 2013 and a record first six months in 2014, BMW Motorrad is thriving while other two-wheel marques struggle to stay even. Sales are so strong, in fact, that a down month in June (-5.7%) wasn’t enough to offset overall growth for 2014. Leading the charge, as always, is the flagship R 1200 GS and GS Adventure models, followed closely by the R 1200 RT. Surprising to no one, the new R NineT went on sale in March and is already selling well.

My personal curiosity is what sales will materialize for the new BMW C Evolution electric maxi-scooter once it hits showrooms. Will the market embrace BMW’s vision for the future of urban mobility, or will range anxiety steer would-be buyers toward the gasoline C-series bikes? Time will tell. Meanwhile, here’s the official word from BMW:

Official Release: BMW Motorrad has achieved an all-time six-month high in the first half of this year. With worldwide sales of 70,978 motorcycles and maxi scooters (previous year: 64,941 units), this amounts to an increase of 9.3% as compared to the equivalent period of the previous year. 11,827 vehicles (previous year: 12,541 units/ -5.7%) were sold in June 2014.

Heiner Faust, BMW Motorrad Head of Sales and Marketing: “We have achieved an all-time six-month high in the first half of this year. Never before have we sold this many vehicles in the first six months of a year. With an increase of 9.3 % in the first half of 2014, we remain on course to achieve an all-time sales high for the year as a whole.”

The best-selling model remains the BMW R 1200 GS. Almost 15,000 units were supplied to customers worldwide during the first six months of the year. This is followed in second and third place by the two new boxer models R 1200 GS Adventure and R 1200 RT with 9,708 and 7,420 units respectively. The R nineT launched in March surpassed the expectations with sales of 4,114 vehicles.

These new models as well as all the other BMW Motorrad models were at the focus of interest at the 14th Motorrad Days in Garmisch – Partenkirchen last weekend. Large numbers of test rides were taken. In addition to the motorcycles, the maxi scooter C evolution particularly impressed test riders with its electric drive and superb dynamic performance. Some 40,000 visitors attended the world’s biggest BMW motorcycle meet-up and were able to spend the weekend experiencing the entire spectrum of BMW Motorrad.

“The meeting of the community in Garmisch- Partenkirchen each year demonstrates again and again how diverse the BMW Motorrad universe is. The Motorrad Days provide an important platform for us to pick up on trends and engage in close dialogue with our customers,” said Heiner Faust.

Source: BMW