UK Motorcycle Sales in May strengthen rebounding industry as electric powers up

Sales of motorcycles in the United Kingdom for May continued to reflected an industry that has almost recovered from the lows brought on by the coronavirus as national lockdown measures were almost entirely eased.

It is little surprise figures are well up on this time last year when the entire UK population was grappling with the onset of COVID-19,, leading to widespread closures of dealerships and a shift in priorities away from commerce.

Indeed, while the UK remains affected by coronavirus, the latest - and most significant - easing of lockdown measures over the past month has ensured momentum for purchasing new motorcycles remains high, even if the weather didn’t exactly play ball.

It meant 13,398 units were shifted in May 2021, according to data released by the MCIA - a rise of 148.4% compared with May 2020. That has combined to elevate sales to 43,242 for the first five months of the year. This represents a massive 40.2% increase than during the same period in 2020.

All segments saw an uplift with Adventure Sport and Naked categories faring particularly well with 242% and 197% gains.. 

A more fitting comparison should therefore take April 2021, which saw 10,874 units solid, meaning May was comfortably up on the previous month too.

One take away from May’s figures though is the continued growth of the Electric motorcycle sector, which has swelled to such an extent the MCIA has now given it its own standalone section of its media-distributed statistics. Sales of electric two-wheelers - including scooters - is up 233% compared with 2020 thus far.

What were the biggest selling motorcycles in the UK for May 2021?

Honda retained its customary place at the head of the sales charts in terms of brands, the company selling 2,392 units over the month period, comfortably pushing Yamaha into second position with 1,717 sales.

However, Yamaha did have the best-selling model outright with its NMAX 125 well clear with 659 units of the scooter alone finding homes.

In third, Triumph consolidated its now lofty sales position thanks again to strong sales of its new and well-received Triumph Trident 660, heading off BMW in fourth, Kawasaki in fifth and KTM in sixth. 

Lexmoto ends the month with the seventh highest sales total, with Harley-Davidson, Royal Enfield - which has just brought the key Meteor 350 to market - and Ducati rounding out the top ten.