After the previous month’s sharp decline, MCIA registrations for July returned to positivity — but recovery was still tentative. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Overall numbers rose by 4.3% to 9916. Motorcycles were 4.2% up at 7455 and mopeds added 29.6% to 617. But scooters were 2.5% down to 1668. And for what they’re worth, which is not a lot, tricycles put on 20.6% to 76.
Among engine capacity bands, the entry-level and small commuter 51-125cc slot continued to deteriorate, losing 2.3% with a tally of 3306. By far the best performance came from the 126-650cc range, surging by 25.5% to 1970. However, almost half of that 400-bike improvement was accounted for by the burgeoning Royal Enfield brand’s sector-leading Interceptor 650 — a presence that didn’t exist 12 months earlier.
And there was a very mixed message from more profitable larger machines. The 651-1000cc band slumped by 5.9% to 2179, while over-1000cc tackle grew by 4% to 1787. Taken together, 651cc-plus products were 1.7% lower at a total of 3966.
Anecdotal evidence suggests some stock availability issues which may have impacted on June’s poor results have now been addressed. That would certainly explain the usually robust Adventure Sport style category abruptly rebounding from 12.3% loss to 10.7% gain month-on-month.
As for top-10 brand rankings, Honda maintained market leadership with a 7.7% rise. Yamaha clung on to runner-up status despite plummeting by 23% and plating fewer than half as many bikes. Presumably mission creep pushed deliveries to customers of its long-awaited XT700 Ténéré into August. Kawasaki stood on the last podium step but boasted only a slight 1.3% increase. Triumph put on a modest 2.9% to claim fourth and BMW Motorrad in fifth gained 7.7%.
Lexmoto was best of the rest by the proverbial country mile, flaunting spectacular 73.7% growth. KTM followed, 17.7% up. And Harley-Davidson in eighth got back into the black by adding 5.4%. Then Royal Enfield climbed into the rankings, ready for regular appearances on current splendid form. Suzuki was the ignominious final entry, its monthly registrations executing a 36.6% dive. Did the much-hyped retro Katana land like a lead balloon?
For the seven months of 2019 to date, total UK registrations were 3.1% higher, reaching 69,381. Motorcycles were just 1.5% up to 53,259, scooters rose by 6% to 12,183 and mopeds stacked on 19.4% to 3486.     Â
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