January 2026 registrations

Encouraging start for this year’s registrations

Apart from some monkeying around to amend headcounts on the comedy routine that kicked off 2025 registrations, MCIA figures for January 2026 were almost a pleasure. Total monthly registrations rose by 16.1% year-on-year to 4878. Motorcycles and over-50cc scooters put on 17.5% to 4625, mopeds blinked, falling by 0.4% to 231. And trikes executed a 35.3% plunge to 22.

The internal combustion firmament within which most of our customers reside, boasted an 18% gain to 4754 units, while the battery-electric slot deteriorated by 27.9% to a mere 124 units.

The lower echelons of petrolhead powertrains were all remarkably positive. 0-50cc products put on 3.2% to 191 units, headed up by a 22-strong phalanx of excessively-monikered Lexmoto Diablo 50 LJ 50 QT-9M mopeds. The 51-125cc mobility/delivery sector stacked on 31.1% to 1692 units, fronted by a substantial fleet of 207 Honda PCX125 scooters. Growth continued into the 126-500cc budget range, rising by 30% to 1123 units and led by 79 samples of Honda’s cheap and cheerful GB350S. The 501-750cc bracket also mounted a muscular gain, climbing by 48.6% to 541 units. Once again, Honda boasted best-seller status, thanks to 49 NC750X steeds.

Bigger inches didn’t equate to bigger numbers, though. 751-1000cc volume shrank by 11.6% to 668. But Honda still got a shout, thanks to 38 CB750 Hornet best-sellers. Finally, 1000cc-plus premium products faded too, 5.3% down to 539 units. However, 60 of these were cash-cow BMW R1300 GS Adventure offerings. And in addition, BMW also earned the touring best-seller accolade as well, plating 35 R1300 RT machines.

It has to be said, however, that best-selling brand’s sales were a mixed bag, set against the shambles of last January. Market-leading Honda climbed back into a four-figure total of 1096, recovering from 851. But runner-up Yamaha fell to 434 from 443. Triumph was even more marginal, a mere three units better off on 391, against 388. And despite shifting a stack of big-ticket boxers, BMW in fourth spot managed to sell 104 fewer bikes with a January 2026 tally of 308. Fifth place was kinder to Lexmoto, with a 69-unit gain to 279, from 210.

Down in the cheap seats, KTM fell by a dozen to 229, while Kawasaki added 28 units to 179. Suzuki, which had vanished altogether last January, returned with 155 registrations. And Royal Enfield rebounded from just 76 a year ago to 144. Last but not least, MotoGB’s new-wave Chinese interloper Voge asserted its presence with 121 sales.

Given that registrations in January 2025 had plunged by a painful 30.5%, followed with February’s 32.3% dive and then the crucial new-plate jamboree in March being hammered by 22.1% shrinkage, we are very unlikely to suffer any repetition. So celebrations may soon be in order.