As the final bumper month of the season, boosted by a plate-change, September disappointed with thin growth. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
According to latest MCIA data, overall monthly registrations improved by just 2.2% versus September 2017 to 12,493 units. Factoring out the 2016/2017 Euro 4 transition flip-flop, that tally was 8.4% lower than the position in September 2015.
Best news this time round came from a 4% rise for motorcycles to 9479 and scooters up by 3.7% to 2245. The 51cc-125cc engine band also enjoyed a particularly strong month, recovering by 17.4% to 4234. And 126-650cc middleweights continued to perform well, adding 8.1% at 2109.
Unfortunately, bigger machines accounting for the fattest slice of dealer revenue were in retreat. The 651-1000cc sector fell by 2.7% to 3181 and over-1000cc tackle declined sharply by 10.1% to 2249. Pertinent to this 651cc-plus spread where it leads the market, the Adventure Sport style category dropped by 15.1% to 2228.
Major brands maintained the same running order as in September last year with one notable exception. Honda stayed on top of the pile but with numbers 7.6% down. Yamaha bucked its recent losing streak with a 4.8% rise. BMW Motorrad sank by 8.1% and Triumph lost 6%. And then Suzuki leapt up the charts to seize last top-five spot with an impressive 44.3% gain.
Having been relegated into sixth place, Kawasaki also suffered an uncharacteristic 6.6% fall. Chinese flag-carrier Lexmoto held station on a marginal 0.7% increase equating to four extra bikes. KTM maintained its rapid growth pace, rising by 16.3%, while Harley-Davidson went abruptly in the other direction, plunging by 9.1%. Finally, Piaggio clung on to back-marker status, 1.1% up.
For the year to date, total registrations are 2.1% up at 87,264 units. Motorcycles have risen by 3.7% to 67,237. Scooters are 4.2% higher on 15,362. Mopeds have plummeted by 21.3% to 4139. Trikes are 18.4% down to 526.    Â
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