The latest data released by the MCIA (Motorcycle Industry Association) in the UK still makes for disappointing reading, even allowing for the Euro 3 inventory pre-registration cross-over.
Motorcycle registrations in March were -11.29 percent (13,818 units), -15.28 percent in April (9,743 units) and are -9.64 percent for May (10,264 units) – which is also behind the 2015 market performance. For the year to date the UK market is -13.46 percent with 41,689 units sold.
Moped sales were -24.25 percent in April (-29.27 percent in March, -25.82 percent in April) and are running at -24.11 percent year-to-date (2,502 units).
In total PTW terms the UK was down -10.48 percent in May at 10,792 units (-15.91 percent in April/10,283 units) and the market is running at -14.14 percent year-to-date (44,191 units).
‘Naked’ style bikes remain the most popular in the UK (13,095 units YTD), followed by Adventure Sport models (7,970 units YTD); the scooter market has seen sales drop by 25.2 percent YTD (7,542 units) and the historically dominant Supersport market is down -24.6 percent (4,333 units), with Touring and Sport Touring models off -13.9 percent and -11.8 percent respectively.
In power band terms the only growth seen is in the 651-1000cc market (+0.3 percent YTD, 12,780 units) and above 1000cc with sales of the largest machines +1.3 percent YTD (9,780 units); the combined 651+cc market was worth 22,560 so far this year, which is around 50 percent of the total.
The best-selling ‘Naked’ style motorcycle model in the UK in May was Triumph’s Street Triple RS; their Bonneville Bobber was the best-selling Custom style bike, with BMW’s R 1200 GS topping the Adventure Sport sector; Kawasaki’s Z1000 SX was the best-selling Sport Tourer.
Honda is overall market share leader (motorcycles and scooters), having sold 2,075 units in the UK in May; followed by Yamaha (1,534), Triumph (1,149), BMW (907) and Kawasaki (688).
