2020 UK motorcycle sales complete recovery as Lexmoto outsells Honda

Sales of motorcycles and scooters in the United Kingdom made an almost complete recovery at the conclusion of 2020, ending the year just 3% shy of the 2019 total despite the impact of the coronavirus and various lockdown measures.

Buoyed by a remarkable end to the year in December that represented a huge +58% rise in sales compared with December 2019, a total of 104,612 PTWs (powered two-wheelers) were sold during the entire year, down just -2.6% on 2019 (107,408).

The figures represent a superb recovery for an industry that was left reeling by the effects of lockdown during periods of 2020, one that in May saw YTD (Year to Date) figures drop to as low as -30% down. By contrast, the four-wheel industry suffered its worst year for sales since 1943.

In December sales of motorcycles boomed by +54.8%, complemented by a +93.9% growth in scooter sales compared with the same month in 2019.

Assisted by deals across the manufacturers looking to clear stock ahead of incoming Euro5 regulations, save for the Sport/Tour category, there were big jumps YoY in all categories

This has cushioned the blow of lockdown measures, though it remains to be seen if the current strict measures will affect trading in the first months of 2021.

What were the best-selling motorcycles for December 2020?

Interestingly, Honda - which normally tops the sales charts in the UK - slid to third in the December 2020 ranking as scooter specialists Lexmoto rose to the fore with a huge jump in monthly sales of 1,875 units.

Meanwhile, Suzuki leapt from the bottom end of the top ten to second with 726 motorcycles sold during the month, ahead of Honda in third on 691 units, BMW (513) and KTM (440).

Lexmoto also had the best-selling PTW overall with the Lexmoto Enigma ZS 125 T-46 shifting 309 units, complemented by the ZSB topping the Custom rankings, the ISICA leading the naked category and the LXR 125 the best-selling supersport.

Among the larger displacement motorcycles, the BMW R 1250 GS Adventure and RT topped the Adventure Sport and Touring segments, with the Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX retaining its position as the best-selling Sport/Tour bike for the month.