June was another disappointing month for motorcycle sales in Britain, according to trade magazine British Dealer News. Motorcycle Industry Association (MCIA) figures revealed that registrations fell by 5.8% compared to June 2023 – motorcycles were down by 2.4% and scooters by a whopping 18.9%.

Central to the fall in scooter sales was a 15.2% drop in the up to 125cc class, which has been strong in recent years, thanks in part to demand from fast food deliveries. Mopeds were marginally up (by less than 1%) but this masked a serious long-term decline in 50cc sales. Back in 2008, over 25,000 new fifties were registered in the UK – by 2023 the figure was just over 5500.

Why? Electric bicycles may have grabbed some of the moped commuter market, while 16-year-olds are no doubt put off by the cost of insurance and getting a licence.

But there was some good news, with the 126-500cc motorcycle sector showing strong growth of 23.6%. The top sellers – Royal Enfield’s Himalayan 452 and Meteor 350, plus Triumph’s Speed 400 – highlighted where at least some of the increase was coming from. Bigger 501-750cc bikes were up to, but by just 3.3% (top seller, Honda CBR600RR), while sales of 751-1000cc machines fell by 14.4% (top seller, Triumph Street Triple RS) – 1000cc-plus bikes proved less popular than last year too, down 6.2%.

Jim Freeman of the BMF said: “ I’m tempted to blame the weather, the economy and the football, but that’s probably a bit too obvious! The small bike market has to be affected by the rise of the MCIA’s bete noire, the PLEV [Private Light Electric Vehicle]. The average teen faced with a choice between just buying an electric 2-wheeler and riding off, or getting a licence, CBT, helmet and PPE , insurance and so forth along with a registered moped, is likely to do what I would have done, follow the path to freedom. The next segment, 125 to 500, represents what getting a ‘proper’ motorcycle means, is that what our hypothetical teen looks forward to when the limitations of an e-bike become clear? Why invest all that money and effort into something that you’ll want to change in a year or two anyway? ”

Written by Peter Henshaw

Top image courtesy of Triumph