Glass’s used market overview

The used motorcycle market remains buoyant, with sales activity from January to March proving stronger than expected. Mid-range machines in the £3000-£6000 price bracket are driving the majority of enquiries. However, some dealers are reporting that premium brands, including Harley-Davidson, Ducati, BMW and Triumph, are also performing well.

Used stock levels remain lean, with supply primarily sourced from trade-ins rather than active purchasing. As a result, fast-selling models continue to turn quickly. While discussions of a potential ceasefire in the Middle East have emerged, consumer spending confidence remains compromised. Nevertheless, the used market continues to benefit from being the more affordable option. Combined with a broader mix of stock becoming available as the season progresses, this should help underpin continued strength in the market.

NEW MOTORCYCLE MARKET

Data published by the Motor Cycle Industry Association once again indicates growth, with registrations running 15.1% ahead of last year. However, the early months of 2025 were negatively impacted by high volumes of pre-registered machines in the market. As a result, when comparing March 2026 with March 2024, sales were 10.4% lower, suggesting the market remains below the long-term norm, albeit the anomaly is shrinking. Meanwhile, year-to-date registrations for the first quarter of 2026 were 15.2% ahead of the same period last year.

Latest dealer feedback suggests that new motorcycle sales are outperforming last year’s levels. January through March exceeded targets for some dealers, supported by strong demand for key models such as the Honda NC750 and GB350S. Royal Enfield’s 0% finance offers have driven rapid sales, slightly lifting Consumer Finance Penetration. Dealer stock levels are generally healthy, although longer lead times persist for certain 1000cc models. Improved weather conditions and steady showroom availability leave dealers well-positioned for the main riding season ahead.

OUTLOOK

March was a mixed but mild month, with variable riding conditions. At the time of writing, April has also started on a variable note, though it has already provided an early taste of summer. With the clocks having gone forward, daylight hours are now increasing rapidly.

Glass’s does not expect any significant changes to values in the coming weeks.

Paul McDonald
Senior residual value analyst

Increased A2 appetite

Spring has delivered a fresh new look for MCN’s Bikes for Sale. The updated platform features a cleaner layout, improved navigation and a growing selection of bikes, with dealers adding new stock daily. As sales data builds under the new system we’ll be able to share deeper insights. In the meantime, the latest figures from MCN’s Bike Reviews reveal exactly where riders’ interests lie.

Triumph has surged into the top spot in the Bike Reviews segment, accounting for 19% of all user searches and views. Honda follows in second place with 16%, while BMW takes third with 11%, a reshuffle compared to last month. Triumph’s rise is largely driven by strong interest in its recent 400cc launches, the Thruxton and Tracker, both premium options targeting the expanding lightweight A2 market.

Naked bikes continue to dominate category interest, claiming 27% of review page views and searches. Adventure bikes hold steady with 19% in second place, while sports have slipped somewhat, allowing the retro bike category to climb into third, with 14% of page views this month.

Triumph’s new Street Triple 765 RX and KTM’s Duke 990 R have helped reinforce the momentum in the naked category. At the same time, growing anticipation around Honda’s forthcoming retro-inspired 400cc inline-fours could push the retro segment even higher in the months ahead.

Adam Oldfield
Digital reviews editor, MCN

Bikes for Sale

Most viewed brands

1. Honda 17.6%
2. Triumph 13.4%
3. BMW 12.7%
4. Kawasaki 9.1%
5. Yamaha 8.7%
6. Suzuki 7.8% <li”>Ducati 6.7%
7. Harley-Davidson 4.6%
8. Royal Enfield 3.5%
9. KTM 2.9%

MCN Reviews

Most viewed brands

1. Triumph 19.1%
2. Honda 16.1%
3. BMW 10.8%
4. Yamaha 9.3%
5. Kawasaki 8.9%
6. Suzuki 8.0%
7. Ducati 5.0%
8. KTM 3.5%
9. Aprilia 2.7%
10. Royal Enfield 2.1%

Honda dominates the fastest used sellers

In March, the used motorcycle market gained momentum, with Autotrader Bikes reporting an 8% year-on-year increase in sales. While market health held steady at 15.4%, this figure represents a four-point improvement from last year. Kawasaki’s Ninja 125 was the fastest-selling model, averaging just six days to sell, and demand for entry-level motorcycles remains strong. Among the top 20 fastest-selling machines, 125cc models account for 45%, which indicates that new riders continue to enter the market. Honda dominated the fastest-seller list, placing nine models ranging from 125s to the Gold Wing, which typically sells in just over a fortnight. Used motorcycles are currently selling within 37 days on average, nearly a week faster than 2025. Autotrader Bikes has now experienced 12 consecutive months of growth in the used motorcycle sector. Of those, eight months saw double-digit increases.

Eddie Bahn Account director, Auto Trader Bikes

Fastest selling bikes on Auto Trader

Average number of days advertised before sale