Strong start to year for UK motorcycle sales in January 2020

Motorcycle sales in the United Kingdom enjoyed a strong start for 2020 in January with a rise of 2.8% year-on-year, reversing a recent downward trend.

With sales of motorcycles generally more buoyant at the start of the year than in the closing months, January 2020 saw 6,146 motorcycles, scooters and mopeds find new homes – up from 5,976 from January 2019.

The figures are all the more encouraging as sales in 2019 started strongly compared with 2018 as well and eventually led to a 1.5% increase over the 12 months. Moreover, January 2020 was only the second time in the last six months that sales rose year-on-year.

Naked and Supersport machines enjoyed the biggest gains with a 22.8% and 35.1% uplift compared with January 2019.

All eyes will now be on whether consumer confidence will be affected by the UK’s departure from the European Union on January 31st, though measures to prevent disruption during the transition will remain in place this year.

Best-selling motorcycles in the UK for January 2020

The Honda PCX125 reclaimed its spot at the head of the sales tables with 216 units shifted in January, replacing the Yamaha NMAX that had ruled the roost for the last three months.

BMW also enjoyed a strong month with the BMW R 1250GS leading the way in the Adventure Sport class and the sister BMW R 1250 RT top of the Touring class. The Munich marque was also the best selling Supersport machine, with 69 2019 BMW S1000 RRs being sold to make it the most popular 651-1000cc model.#

As ever, Honda maintained its overall dominance in terms of brand sales with 1,280 models sold in January, followed by Yamaha on 706 sales, Lexmoto on 492 and Triumph with 485.