The latest data released by the motorcycle industry trade association in the UK (MCIA) shows new motorcycle registrations there for November were up by +20.36 percent (6,042 units - the best November figure for nearly a decade) and +15.64 percent for the year-to-date (100,257 units).
In total PTW terms, November was +16.53 percent (6,753 units) and is +12.68 percent for the year-to-date (108,983 units). Total moped sales in the UK so far this year are down -13.0 percent at 10,029 units.
The 'Naked' style (+27.6 percent/28,973 units YTD) and Adventure Sport sectors (+26.5 percent/12,658 units) are the strongest growth markets in the UK, with Sports/Tourers and traditional Touring models the primary losers so far this year (-2.7 percent and -14.8 percent respectively). Custom style bikes were up by +13.9 percent (8,961 units) for the first 11 months of the year in the UK.
In displacement terms, as elsewhere in Europe, the fastest growing sector of the market in the UK is the 'middleweight' 651 - 1000cc market, which is +26.3 percent YTD. Total scooter sales in the UK (29,774 units YTD) are basically 'flat' at +0.5 percent.
Honda were market share leaders in the UK in November, selling 1,128 units; followed by Yamaha, Lexmoto, Triumph, BMW, KTM, Kawasaki, Piaggio, Suzuki and Harley-Davidson.
The UK 'bike park' is now said to stand at 1.2 million units - a figure that has remained largely static since 2011; 34,600 people passed the motorcycle rider test in the UK in 2014/15 - which is some 4,000 more than in the previous 12 months; the MCIA says that some 4.6 billion km (2.8 billion miles) were ridden on two wheels on the roads of the UK in 2014 - a figure that has remained largely static since 2011.
