We could use the weather as an excuse. Or perhaps not. But honesty simply underlines the UK market stagnation many of us have been banging on about for ages. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
According to MCIA data for June, total registrations fell by 5.8% to 12,734 units, equating to 784 fewer PTWs leaving dealer showrooms in the month. Motorcycles were 2.4% down to 10,010. Scooters fell by 18.9% to 2173. Mopeds slipped by 0.8% to 487. Trikes declined by 36.6% to 64. Overall petrolhead tally was 5.9% lower on 12,299. The trivial battery-electric contribution dropped by 3.8% to 435 units.
Sticking with mainstream internal combustion technology that feeds the vast majority of dealers, disappointment started in the up-to-125cc mobility and delivery sector, which fell by 15.2% to 3811 units. Honda’s PCX 125 scooter took the fleet crown, thanks to 310 units plated, for a third consecutive month.
Yet again, a solitary shining star of satisfactory growth came from the 126-500cc segment. Whether its adherents are a few newbie A2 licence holders, budget enthusiasts or upmarket scooterists, who really cares? There were 2233 of them, a muscular 23.6% increase. Notable purchases included 248 Royal Enfield Himalayan 452 and 78 Royal Enfield Meteor 350 products, plus 244-strong Triumph Speed 400 input.
The 501-750cc slot managed to stay shiny side up too, by a narrow 3.3% margin and 1594 sales. Some 162 samples of the new Honda CBR 600 RR took best-selling honours. Larger capacity classes were negative. The 751-1000cc firmament declined by 14.4% to 2457, which must have been a very mixed assortment, given the best-seller was Triumph’s Street Triple RS, just 132 of them.
Premium 1000cc-plus machines were 6.2% down to 2204. A swansong slice of 344 BMW R1250GS Adventure steeds were the headline sales act, pursued by 273 much cheaper Kawasaki Ninja 1000SX models. Current Boxer GS muddy luggage pluggers are now scheduled for replacement by a radically updated R1300GS Adventure, with three versions spanning price points from £18,870 to a minted £21,300. But Motorrad dealers evidently won’t be able to enjoy much benefit from their debut until late in Q4, when this year’s selling season will have faded away.
June’s best-selling brand chart was all over the place. In order of achievement, Honda led the way, but with a 12% sales reversal. Triumph followed, gaining 13.2%, as it urged stock through showrooms in the final month of its financial year ending on 30 June. Yamaha, which took the final podium step, wasn’t so fruitful, a grievous 19.3% in arrears.
Also on the back foot, BMW Motorrad sales fell by 13.5% — shamed by a magnificent 80.4% upwards lunge from Kawasaki. Team Green has obviously banished its past European supply-chain woes. Sixth-spot Royal Enfield also had a good month, adding 17.1% through successfully improved distribution.
Lexmoto topped the final three, climbing by 51.1% to recover credibility, after a very poor performance through stock shortages in June 2023. Then Suzuki went in the opposite direction, 40.7% down. Ducati closed the show on a 15.2% loss.
Total registrations in the six months of 2024 to date were 0.7% down to 61,818. For what it’s worth, registrations in the equivalent six months of 2023 had fallen by 2.6% to 62,277. Did we mention stagnation at the start of this epistle?