UK new bike gross sales down as belts are tightened

THE Bike Business Affiliation (MCIA) new bike registration stats are in for February, and it wasn’t an important month with the figures exhibiting a drop of seven.6 % in comparison with February 2022.

The MCIA factors to provide chain points as simply one of many causes for the stoop, though different components, together with uncertainty across the economic system, rising vitality payments and extra, will even possible have one thing to do with it. Evaluating year-to-date knowledge, gross sales of latest powered two-wheelers (PTWs) are down 7.2 % in comparison with 2022.

UK new bike gross sales down

There have been some winners in February although, with trendy traditional bike fashions exhibiting an uplift in comparison with February 2022, together with bare bikes and apparently sports activities bikes. All instructed, February noticed 4,814 whole new bike registrations, in comparison with 5,212 for February 2022.

Electrical bikes had been additionally hit final month, with registrations of latest electrical bikes down 50 % in comparison with the identical month final 12 months – 220 registered in February 2023, and 440 in February 2022. Within the electrical sector, it was small capability moped equal machines that had been hit hardest, seeing a 70 % drop-off in registrations.

There have been some winners within the knowledge although, with BSA exhibiting the best variety of new bike registrations in February within the 501 to 750cc section. The classically styled BSA Gold Star 650 shifted 35 new items, though with that mannequin solely touchdown with UK sellers final month, a peak in registrations (and demand) is to be anticipated.

The Royal Enfield Basic 350 was the perfect vendor within the 126 to 500cc section, with the lovable retro registering 36 bikes on the MCIA’s knowledge. Prime of the tree for giant bikes was (predictably) the BMW R 1250 GS Journey with 35 bikes registered, and the BMW S 1000 RR with 46. One of the best-selling scooter within the 50 to 125cc class was Yamaha’s financial institution balance-friendly NMAX 125.

It’s not all doom and gloom from the MCIA although, as they count on this slight slide to show round because the 12 months goes on and we get into the bike driving season correctly. Talking in regards to the outlook, Tony Campbell, CEO of the MCIA, stated:

“A discount in registrations for the primary a part of Q1, while disappointing isn’t what we count on to proceed as a pattern as we transfer into the Spring and the primary promoting season for the sector. Curiosity in Powered Two Wheelers stays sturdy whether or not it’s for commuting, last-mile supply or leisure and we’re assured of 12 months in 2023”.