The organisation representing dealers, the NMDA, describes the 11.3 per cent increase in registrations for January as a “positive start to the year”.
“Most of the increase – 545 units – came from larger machines,” NMDA head Steve Latham notes, “in fact the sub 50cc starter bikes had low demand, with sales down 9.8 per cent against the previous January. Luckily this was made up for with the upturn of around 15 per cent for bikes over 125cc.
“This shows the continued confidence in the larger-powered leisure motorcycle market which is often fuelled by mature incomes and established riders. The 650-1000cc sales were up 20.3 per cent and the over-1000cc machines showed a massive increase of 24.5 per cent, indicating a return in demand for higher value specialist motorcycles.
“All the usual suspects are in the top ten bike brands, with Honda and Yamaha leading the registrations, but yet again budget bikes from the Far East are having a marked effect on demand, with Lexmoto in eighth position (193 sales) and Pulse in 10th (133).
“This new year seems to be showing strong signs of optimism. This is also evident in car and commercial vehicle registrations. Perhaps at last the general improvement in the economy and positive employment figures are reflected throughout all markets.”