As spring begins to turn towards summer, the used motorcycle market remains highly active, with sales and demand ahead of last year, according to feedback from many dealers.
When it comes to specific models, the Triumph Tiger GT Pro is a popular choice, with the adventure and naked segments continuing to perform strongly. Yamaha models, particularly the MT-07 and MT-09, remain consistently popular too. Harley-Davidson cruisers have seen an uptick in demand for some dealers, while the Yamaha R1 is a popular track-focused choice.
Stock availability is variable, with some dealers generating ample part exchanges, whilst others are having to be very proactive in sourcing adequate stock. Good quality 125cc machines remain difficult to come by.
Dealer stock levels are also variable, with some dealers understocked for the time of year, while other dealers report healthy levels of stock across a broad range of machines.
New Motorcycle Market
Data published by the Motor Cycle Industry Association indicated another month of growth for new bike sales, with April registrations running 18.2% ahead of last year. The early months of 2025 were negatively affected by a high volume of pre-registered machines in the market, but even when comparing April 2026 with 2024 (when pre-registrations weren’t an issue), sales were 0.9% higher, suggesting the market is showing signs of recovery.
Latest dealer feedback suggests that new motorcycle sales are mixed, with some dealers reporting a challenging spring, with March and April sales significantly lower than last year. It is believed that the recent military activity in the Middle East has contributed towards this downturn, further hindering consumer spending confidence. However, other dealers reported strong demand with sales ahead of targets. Mid-capacity models, particularly Triumph’s range of 400cc machines, continue to perform well due to their affordability, size and efficiency. Meanwhile, the Kawasaki Z900 RS and Yamaha Ténéré 700 lead their ranges. Supply issues seen in previous years have also eased, with dealer stock levels healthy.
Outlook
April was a very warm and dry month, offering ideal early-season riding conditions. At the time of writing, May has started on a fair note, and as summer rapidly approaches, the industry can hopefully look forward to some further great riding.
Glass’s does not expect any significant changes to values in the coming weeks.
Paul McDonald
Senior residual value analyst