The outlook for the local motorcycle market looks brighter this year, according to AP Honda Co, which is entering its third decade as the market leader.

Sales director Thirapat Jiwapong said the market in 2009 finished strongly with sales of 1.54 million units, reducing the year-on-year contraction from 2008 to 10%. Honda held a 66% share.

The industry recorded overall bike sales in December of 147,424 units, up 127% from the same month in 2008, when the global financial crisis was at its lowest ebb.

Honda outperformed the overall market for the period with sales growth of 136%, helped by the launch of new automatic transmission (AT) models in the latter half of the year, giving it a 50% AT market share.

"From the last quarter of last year, the overall bike market tended to grow steadily as a result of the recovering economy which restored consumer confidence," said Mr Thirapat.

Of the 147,424 new motorcycle registrations in December, 71,790 units were family models, 68,793 were AT bikes, 3,550 units semi-sport models, 1,069 units sport models and 2,222 units offroad and other types.

Of the total bike registrations of 1.54 million units last year, family models enjoyed the highest sales of 755,599 units for a 49% share, and AT versions recorded 715,801 units for a 47% share.

Honda's sales last year totalled 1.01 million units for a 66% share. It was followed by Yamaha selling 428,774 units for a 28% share, Suzuki (63,026 units or 4%), Kawasaki (14,801 units or 1%), JRD 1,537 units, Platinum 1,059, Tiger 1,143 and other brands 11,155 units.