Apart from some monkeying around to amend some 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 PCX 125 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 R1300GS 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.