Motorcycle market: Another month of decline

Commenting on the fifth consecutive month of decline in the UK motorcycle market, the head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA) referred to the market in 2017 as “dire.” According to figures released by the Motorcycle Industry Association, registrations in May fell by -10.5 per cent year-on-year, with the overall number of bikes being sold year-to-date down to 7,335, a reduction of -14.1 per cent.

“We put 2017’s dire market down to the surge of pre-registration Euro 3 machines that were registered in December 2016, however it is the 125cc market that is still the most depressed being down by -30.6 per cent in May, and -32.2 per cent behind in the first 5 months of this year so far,” said the NMDA’s Stephen Latham. “This equates to 5,824 less 51-125cc machines put on the road this year. The 126-650cc range is also falling behind, however less so at a -6.6 per cent reduction in May and a -10.6 per cent shrinking of the market for the first five months of 2017.

“The only positive news to come from May’s figures is a modest rise in 651-1000cc units from 2,891 machines in 2016 to 3,226 motorcycles registered,” Latham continued. “As usual, the over 1000cc motorcycles almost came in with the same registrations as last May with 2,403 new bikes registered. Year to date, this sector is holding down well with a modest 1.3 per cent growth for the year.

“May and June are usually very buoyant months for the industry as the summer weather attracts bikers out onto the road, however, with the uncertainty of the General Election and concerns over Brexit, motorcycle sales look set to continue to decline further over the coming few months.”