According to latest MCIA statistics, total registrations in May were just 3.5% up, at 12,134 units. Motorcycles were better than that, rising by 6.4% to 9121 units. But scooters were 1.8% down on 2238 units and mopeds fell by 10.9% to 697 units. So with a return to only feeble growth, it now looks like April’s stronger performance was the aberration, rather than a much gloomier result in March.
Among the higher-volume style sectors climbing into four figures, Custom ruled the roost percentage-wise — 14.6% up, led by Harley’s N883 Sportster. Adventure Sport was next in line, managing a 9.5% increase. BMW’s S1000XR topped that slot. Naked rose by 7.5% and claimed the largest total of 3663 units. Triumph’s new Bonneville Thruxton 1200R was star of this particular show and overall best-selling bike of the month. Supersport fell by 2.9%. In capacity stakes, the largest 51-125cc engine band was negative, posting a 1% fall. Hunkiest were 126-650cc middleweights, rising by 19%.
As usual, Honda topped the brand ranking chart. But its registrations were down by 3.5% and market share dropped from 16.9% to 15.6%. Runner-up Yamaha also suffered, with numbers falling by 2.1% and share declining from 15.3% to 14.3%. In sharp contrast, Triumph’s third place was a major success story as registrations leapt by 20.2% and share improved from 7.9% to 9%.
Lexmoto also did very well in fourth. This Chinese champion cranked up volume by 69.7% and raised market share from 5.2% to 8.4%. BMW Motorrad completed the famous five with a more mixed message. Although its registrations rose modestly by 1.9%, share fell from 7.2% to 7%.
Further down the top ten, Harley-Davidson in seventh boasted a 15.8% surge in sales and share improvement from 4% to 4.4%. Piaggio in ninth was a winner too with registrations up by 10.2% and share rising from 3.7% to 3.9%.
Kawasaki and Suzuki, respectively sixth and eighth, were both minor losers on both volume and share. Ducati in tenth took a spanking. Numbers were 17.4% down and share withered from 4.5% to 3.6%. Perhaps Triumph’s fresh batch of Bonnevilles are this year’s retro fashion statement and Scramblers have caught flared-trouser syndrome.
For the five months of 2016 to date, Overall registrations have increased by 7.5% to 51,872 units. Motorcycles are 7.8% up at 38,093 units. Scooters have added 11.8% to reach 10,080 units. Mopeds are 5.7% down on 3297 units.
Full stats here
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