With the general election concluded and the weather brightening up, it is disappointing to see the powered two-wheeler market record another downturn. July marks the second month of consecutive contraction in what is proving to be a rocky year for the sector,” says Symon Cook, head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA).
In July, total registrations decreased by 7.3%. Motorcycle sales fell by -6.6% and moped registrations decreased by -11.0%. Year-to-date figures show a slight decline of 1.6% for total registrations.
The various style categories exhibited a wide range of performances: modern classic was the only category to witness growth, up 15.3% for the month. Road sport dropped 7.6% and custom saw a significant decrease of 20.5%.
Electric two-wheelers contracted by 14.9% from 389 to 331 units. Year-to-date electric figures have now fallen behind the corresponding period last year, from 2313 to 2258 units, a 2.4% drop.
In terms of the different ICE capacities, the 126-500cc category witnessed growth (21.6%), whereas larger bikes saw a decrease, with 751-1000cc contracting by 11.8% and 1000cc+ contracting by -19.5%.
Honda once again emerged as the best-selling brand of the month, with 1578 units sold. It was followed by Yamaha (1132) and Triumph (830), while Ducati rounded out the top ten with 195 models sold.
Cook concluded: “This week, the NMDA released the results of its highly-anticipated Dealer Attitude Survey, highlighting dealer uncertainty amid a challenging financial market. This uncertainty is evidently being reflected in the market.
“The NMDA has already started engaging with parliamentarians, underscoring key issues from our manifesto, which outlines five key ‘asks’ for the new Labour government. These requests include providing a clear pathway for the decarbonisation of L-Category vehicles and streamlining licensing and training for younger riders.
“With interest rates cut, and the new plate month, there is optimism that these will provide the market with the boost it needs to get back on track.”