For the third consecutive month of 2014, the registration of new two wheel vehicles is up on the same month of the previous year according to the latest set of figures from the Motorcycle Industry Association which cover the month of May. Overall new two wheel registrations rose 8.2% in May 2014 when compared with the same month of the previous year. Although the percentage rate of increase has approximately halved when compared with the April figures released just a month ago, it is still very positive news. Last year the UK saw a somewhat extended winter which no doubt had a dramatic effect on the number of new two wheel vehicles sold and registered in the UK meaning that their was definitely scope for a big rise on paper this year with, thanks to much more favourable weather conditions. However by May of last year the weather had improved, with similar mixed conditions to those we have experienced in the May of this year. With some sort of parity in terms of weather conditions, this latest rise could very well show the effects of the economic upturn, and goes some way to proving that we are seeing the positive early signs of real growth in the UK two wheel sector.
For the first time this year the figures indicate a growth in the 0 – 50cc engine band with a 3.3% increase in new unit sales for May, going from 891 last year to 920 registered in May 2014. However this sector does remain -3.2% down overall this year after a poor first four months. New motorcycle sales were up a total of 8.8% (774 units) in total climbing from 8821 in May 2013 to 9595 in May of 2014.
In terms of style the biggest percentage increases for motorcycle came in the touring and naked bike segments with a rise of 30% (87 additional units) and 29% (598 units) respectively. Sport touring and higher powered scooter styles also saw increases of around 10 – 12% compared with May of last year. There was however an -11.8% fall in the registration of new adventure sport bikes (176 fewer units) and a slight decrease of -1.9% for sales of trail & enduro models (7 fewer units).
By engine band the biggest rise came in the 651 – 1000cc category with a 15.7% increase in new unit registrations equivalent to an additional 329 units. The next largest rise was an 8.3% increase in the 51 – 125cc band which could very well indicate an influx of new blood taking their test and purchasing their first bike or scooter. The Over 1000cc category also saw a 5.9% rise with the remaining bands both coming in with an increase of 3.3% a piece.
The highest registering brands for May continued to be Honda (1919 units) and Yamaha (1561 units) followed by Triumph (983 units), BMW (779 units), Kawasaki (608 units) and Piaggio (494 units). The best selling model was the Yamaha YZF R125 with a total of 262 new units registered in May 2014. By style the highest registering models were as follows:
- Adventure Sport – BMW R1200GS
- Custom – Harley-Davidson Sportster N883
- Naked – Honda CBF125M
- Scooter – Honda PCX125
- Sport Touring – Honda VFR800
- Supersport – Yamaha YZF R125
- Touring – BMW R1200RT
- Trail & Enduro – Honda CRF250L
Although the pace of the rise in new two wheel registrations may be slowing in the UK, the weather in the early months of 2013 meant that there was plenty of catching up to be done. With the overall 2014 figures for all two wheel vehicles up 12.3% so far it’s a very good sign for the industry, and we will await the June statistics with great anticipation. Watch this space…
