2020 UK motorcycle sales have almost bounced back to 2019 total

Sales of motorcycles in the UK for 2020 are now less than 6% down on 2019 despite more disruption in November by a second lockdown period

KTM 390 Duke
KTM 390 Duke

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. 

Keeway Superlight
Keeway Superlight

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.

CATEGORY HIGHEST SELLING NEW REGISTRATIONS Nov 2020
SCOOTER (MOPED) Lexmoto ECHO 50 40
OTHER (MOPED) Surron Light BEE 24
SCOOTER Yamaha NMAX 125 168
SCOOTER TRIKE Honda GYROCANOPY 22
ADVENTURE SPORT Honda CRF 1100 64
CUSTOM Keeway SUPERLIGHT 176
NAKED KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT 74
SPORT/TOUR Kawasaki Ninja 1000 SX 24
SUPERSPORT Lexmoto LXR 125 SY 125-10 140
TOURING BMW R 1250 RT 31
TRAIL/ENDURO KTM 300 EXC TP1 69
CATEGORY HIGHEST SELLING NEW REGISTRATIONS Nov 2020
0-50cc Lexmoto ECHO 50 40
51-125cc Keeway SUPERLIGHT 176
126-650cc KTM 300 EXC TPI 69
651-1000cc Yamaha TENERE 700 55
1000cc + KTM 1290 SUPER DUKE GT 74
RANK MAJOR BRANDS Nov 2020
1 HONDA 703
2 LEXMOTO 675
3 YAMAHA 578
4 KTM 525
5 TRIUMPH 362
6 BMW 294
7 KAWASAKI 253
8 KEEWAY 238
9 PIAGGIO 175
10 SUZUKI 136

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