2020 UK motorcycle sales have almost bounced back to 2019 total

Sales of motorcycles in the United Kingdom are less than just six per cent shy of last year’s running total with only a minor dip in sales in November despite the country entering into a second lockdown period for a month.

In what has been a tumultuous year for the industry as the coronavirus gripped the nation in March, April and May - causing a huge slump in sales due to ‘Stay at Home’ measures - the industry has nonetheless been on a rapid recovery ever since.

As such, by the close of November, sales of PTWs (powered two-wheelers) in 2020 are now just down -5.6% overall according to figures released by the MCIA, compared with the -35.5% decline registered in May at the end of the first lockdown period.

Though sales did slip in November as a consequence of a new month-long lockdown period, figures remained relatively robust with motorcycles down -2.4% overall. However, once cushioned by a +12.1% rise in scooter sales, the overall drop year on year was only -0.4%.

In terms of segments, sportsbikes unusually saw an upturn by +18% heading into winter, while Adventure Sport motorcycles saw a growth of +1.8%. Only a slump of -17.8% of naked motorcycles hampered progress.

For the first time the MCIA is now classifying electric motorcycles in their own section, which shows sales up +15.3% in November 2020 compared with 2019. That combines with a vast +45.7% increase to date in 2020.

With one month of the year to go, to date 96,714 PTWs have found homes in 2020, compared with 1032,413 at this point last year. 

The best selling motorcycles in the UK in November 2020

A broader spread of sales meant Honda came surprisingly close to losing its almost locked-on spot as the UK’s best-selling motorcycle manufacturer, with its 703 sales almost surpassed by second place manufacturer scooter specialists Lexmoto, which fell just 29 sales short of an upset.

With fewer than 200 sales covering the top four brands, Yamaha held onto third position, while KTM - despite a smaller dealer network than its rivals - posted an impressive 525 sales to land in fourth.

That placed it ahead of Triumph, BMW and Kawasaki, while Chinese firm Keeway makes an appearance in the top ten in eighth after emerging as having the best selling motorcycle in the UK last month with the custom-inspired Superlight.

With 175 units finding homes, that was enough to place it ahead of the best-selling scooters, the Yamaha NMAX 125 and the Lexmoto LXR 125 SY.