January’s registrations data from the MCIA didn’t qualify as a resounding “Boris bounce”. But at least it beat the three preceding months of progressively menacing negativity. BDN financial editor Roger Willis reports.
Total monthly registrations lifted by 2.8% to 6146. Concealed within that was a better 5.8% rise to 4383 motorcycles, set against a 7.9% decline for scooters to 1326. Mopeds put on 7.6% to 398 and trikes were 56% up to 39.
It’s wise to avoid jumping to conclusions about anything as the first few weeks of a new year unfolds. January isn’t a month in which to discern market trends.
Figures are congenitally low and frequently distorted — by rampant discounting of old inventory by one means or another, to clear the decks before new-season kit arrives, and fleets of fresh dealer demonstrators appertaining to imminent appearance of those new models. In the former case, for example, Triumph’s surge seemed remarkable. And in the latter instance, an abundance of Honda’s big-inch CRF1100 Africa Twin has apparently just joined the “try-before-you-buy” club.
These facets will go some way to explaining a 22.1% hike for the 651-1000cc band and a 15.4% over-1000cc increase — presumably also aided by improved availability of certain models. And there’s no point in feeling troubled by respective 5.8% and 7.7% retreats for the 51-125cc and 126-650cc sectors. Recently challenging winter weather has hardly incentivised entry-level or commuting demand.
Brand rankings are traditionally all over the place too, some suspicious, others not. Naturally Honda remained top of the pile, although it plated 14.7% fewer machines than last January. Yamaha took a distant runner-up spot, boosted by a 31% rise. Lexmoto grew by a muscular 37% to snatch third, throwing down an early gauntlet on behalf of aspirant Chinese supremacy. And then Triumph’s entertaining 65% advance ensured fourth position. KTM rounded out top-five status on the back foot, 25.8% down.
BMW Motorrad added 7.9% in sixth, claiming pre-eminence in Adventure Sport, Touring and Supersport style categories. While it’s credible that R1250GS and R1250RT products would be hardy perennials, shifting a sizeable phalanx of S1000RR superbikes in the depths of winter defies comprehension. Suzuki crept in for a seventh-place guest visit. Harley-Davidson and Kawasaki in eighth and ninth marked time, declaring respective losses of 4.8% and 7.8%. Final cheer goes to Royal Enfield, now a chart regular, taking tenth and topping both the Naked category and 126-650cc band with its best-selling Interceptor 650 twin.