| Registrations by style | ||||||
| Year to Date | ||||||
| MOPEDS | May 2025 | May 2024 | % Change | May 2025 | May 2024 | % Change |
| Moped Naked | 30 | 56 | -46.4% | 148 | 231 | -35.9% |
| Moped Other | 44 | 62 | -29.0% | 230 | 359 | -35.9% |
| Moped Scooters | 267 | 282 | -5.3% | 1168 | 1432 | -18.4% |
| Total Mopeds | 341 | 400 | -14.8% | 1546 | 2022 | -23.5% |
| MOTORCYCLES | ||||||
| Adventure | 2108 | 2413 | -12.6% | 8243 | 10591 | -22.2% |
| Competition | 400 | 417 | -4.1% | 2211 | 2327 | -4.9% |
| Custom | 604 | 743 | -18.7% | 2407 | 3210 | -25.0% |
| Modern Classic | 1388 | 1587 | -12.5% | 5246 | 5691 | -7.8% |
| Naked | 2155 | 2241 | -3.8% | 7832 | 9542 | -17.9% |
| Road Sport | 832 | 1083 | -23.2% | 3485 | 4520 | -23.2% |
| Scooter | 1732 | 2003 | -13.5% | 6963 | 9710 | -28.3% |
| Touring | 167 | 185 | -9.7% | 836 | 1015 | -17.6% |
| Unspecified | 17 | 12 | 41.7% | 54 | 99 | -45.5% |
| Total Motorcycles | 9403 | 10684 | -12.0% | 37267 | 46705 | -20.2% |
| TRICYCLES | ||||||
| Other | 28 | 47 | -40.4% | 122 | 167 | -26.9% |
| Scooter | 28 | 41 | -31.7% | 115 | 190 | -39.5% |
| Total Tricycles | 56 | 88 | -36.4% | 237 | 357 | -33.6% |
| Total Registrations | 9800 | 11172 | -12.3% | 39050 | 49084 | -20.4% |
| Registrations by capacity | ||||||
| Year to Date | ||||||
| ENGINE BAND | May 2025 | May 2024 | % Change | May 2025 | May 2024 | % Change |
| 0 – 50cc | 278 | 293 | -5.1% | 1220 | 1310 | -6.9% |
| 51 – 125cc | 2647 | 3388 | -21.6% | 10381 | 14652 | -29.1% |
| 126-500cc | 1742 | 2044 | -14.8% | 7225 | 9265 | -22.0% |
| 501 – 750cc | 1295 | 1338 | -3.2% | 4739 | 5758 | -17.7% |
| 751 – 1000cc | 2151 | 2005 | 7.3% | 8077 | 8355 | -3.3% |
| over 1000cc | 1280 | 1800 | -28.9% | 6122 | 8252 | -25.8% |
| Total Registrations | 9403 | 10868 | -13.5% | 37764 | 47592 | -20.7% |
| Top ten brands | ||
| 1 | Honda | 2084 |
| 2 | Yamaha | 1127 |
| 3 | Triumph | 1014 |
| 4 | BMW | 788 |
| 5 | Kawasaki | 475 |
| 6 | Lexmoto | 414 |
| 7 | Royal Enfield | 386 |
| 8 | KTM | 357 |
| 9 | Ducati | 280 |
| 10 | Suzuki | 261 |
Pre-reg tail still wagging the dog
The fact that surplus pre-registered Euro 5 stock could be continuing to distort current registrations five months into this year is now tedious beyond belief. May’s overall headcount fell by 12.3% to 9800 units – the lowest total for 10 years, excluding pandemic-struck 2020. Within that, motorcycles and scooters were 12% down to 9403, mopeds declined by 14.8%, and trikes plunged by 36.4% to 56. Petrol-fuelled registrations incurred a 13.5% retreat to 9403, including five hybrids, while the electric cul-de-sac basked in a 30.6% increase to a hardly awe-inspiring 397 units.
Almost all of the internal combustion firmament, where whatever’s left of dealer prosperity resides, was spattered with a thick coating of negativity. The basic mobility and delivery sector spanning 0-125cc products dropped by 20.3% to 2933 units. “Best-sellers” – either Euro 5 compliant or derogated – were Honda PCX125 scooters, 280 of them.
At the opposite end of the spectrum, premium 1000cc-plus machines plummeted by 28.9% to 1280 units. Some 141 examples of the BMW R1300 GS were flying the Motorrad leadership flag in this rarefied atmosphere.
In between these two extremes, it was very much a case of scratch and sniff. The bargain 126-500cc slot sank by 14.8% to 1742 units, headed up by Honda’s dirt-cheap GB350S. 501-750cc stuff faded by 3.2% to 1295 units with another Honda, the NC750X, taking the top step. The only sparkle of positivity came from a 7.3% increase in the 751-1000cc range, boosted by Honda’s attractive new CB1000 Hornet. But that’s hardly going to last, given anecdotal reports of disgruntled Honda dealers in desperate pursuit of slim stock availability.
Maybe we should just ignore pre-reg detritus and accept underlying significant market shrinkage instead? Certainly, the MCIA best-selling brands chart in May suggests that might now be afoot. Year-on-year, only three brands out of the ten achieved monthly gains. Honda was 7.4% up to 2084. Yamaha rose by 4.6% to 1127. And Ducati posted 3.3% growth to 280.
The serried ranks of losers began with Triumph, 31.4% down to 1014. BMW Motorrad fell by 21.2% to 788. Kawasaki was 19.4% adrift on 475. Lexmoto declined by 21.4% to 414. Royal Enfield was 20.9% down to 386. KTM, compounding its many other woes, plunged by 38.8% to 357. And finally, Suzuki retreated by 24.8% to 261.
During the five months of 2025 to date, total registrations have now fallen by 20.4% to 39,050 units. Motorcycles and scooters are 20.2% down to 37,267. Mopeds have shrunk by 23.5% to 1546. Trikes are 33.6% lower on 237. Taking the powertrain split, petrolhead products are 20.7% down to 37,764, while electric machines are 13.8% in arrears on a negligible 1286.
Roger Willis
BDN financial editor
Concern over decline of new motorbike sales remains
Last month, the new motorcycle market continued its steady Q2 improvement. Despite this upturn, there is still an element of disappointment with this year’s stunted growth,” said Symon Cook, head of the National Motorcycle Dealers Association (NMDA), commenting on the latest registrations figures published by the MCIA.
“New registrations in May improved to -12.3%, which is up 2% compared to April’s -14.6% figure. The data, however, is ahead of the now “year-to-date” market of -20.4% compared to 2024.”
Cook continued: “Whilst this is a lift for the market, it is still disappointing to see volumes drop compared to 2024, and the slight recovery has been expected in keeping with the last few months.
“The NMDA has been pushing for the government to provide some clarity on the rider license review and tries to reassure dealers amidst a tumultuous first half of the year and economic uncertainty.
“For now, the NMDA urges dealers to try and remain positive as well as anticipate the market’s gradual improvement.”