UK Motorcycle sales slide in August; 2019 still up overall, Honda top

Motorcycle sales in the United Kingdom suffered a sizeable 7 per cent drop in August when compared with the same period in 2018, lowering expectations of staying above 2018’s overall total come the year end.

August traditionally sees a fall in sales as the final month of the incumbent registration nomenclature, with the new ‘69’ plates going into circulation from September.

However, total registrations of 6,924 was a full 7.4% down on the same period in 2018 and well down on other months, which up to the end of August have averaged at 9,538 per month in 2019.

The slide brings overall UK motorcycle sales – which have been buoyant year on year up to a sluggish summer period - down to a year to date growth of 2.1%. 

This is against the trend in Europe where motorcycle sales have been booming in the biggest markets of France, Germany and Italy, contributing to a 9% jump overall.

Brexit taking its toll on UK motorcycle sales?

It means without an upturn again, the UK is at risk of sale going into the red overall, in line with other industries which have pointed to the ongoing uncertainty of Brexit for dips across the board.

Indeed, with that October 31 deadline proving a hot topic amongst reporters and industry bods alike at the recent Frankfurt Motor Show, there is expectation that ongoing rigmarole and debate over whether it goes ahead – and more crucially whether a deal will be achieved – is likely to stall the motor industry in terms of sales, production and costs at least until November.

The best-selling motorcycles in the UK

Breaking down the data, Naked motorcycles continue to dominate the charts with more than 2,000 shifted in August, followed by Scooters, Adventure Sport and Custom motorcycles. Only the Adventure Sport, Enduro and Moped classes saw an increase in sales year-on-year.

As ever, Honda maintained its dominance of the market with 1,356 motorcycles sold – representing almost 20% of August’s entires sales – spurred on by topping the class in the Naked class with the Honda CB 125 F and Scooter market with the Honda PCX 125, the latter of which is also the best-selling two-wheel motorcycle.

Yamaha (722 sales) was second best-placed manufacturer, followed by Lexmoto (574), Triumph (436), KTM (435), Kawasaki (407) and BMW (302).