Motorcycle demand continues growth

The National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) has reported continued growth in the UK two-wheel market, reporting a 14 per cent increase in sales in July according to Motor Cycle Industry Association statistics. The cumulative growth of the motorcycle market remains in double digits for the year at 13.1 per cent. The trend was not uniform, with lower powered machines declining in popularity as new riders plumped for more robust bikes.

Stephen Latham, head of the NMDA, stated: “All bike sectors showed significant growth in July – apart from the 50cc bikes which saw a 15.5 per cent decline. This downward trend has continued over the past few months as new riders are opting for more robust 125cc machines.

“It is also interesting to note the popularity of these machines across many model sectors. The highest registrations were recorded in the 125cc Honda supersport, scooter and naked machines, followed by Yamaha in the custom sector. Demand for the 125cc value brand Lexmoto came in third place with 776 bikes registered.

“July also saw high demand for larger machines in the 651 – 1000cc category, with a reported increase of 28.3 per cent compared to July 2014, and a year-to-date increase of 26.3 per cent.

“Motorcycle dealers remain optimistic about the months ahead, however there are still reservations over stock availability. The NMDA is hopeful that the upward trend of motorcycle sales continues to grow.”